Car hire on Reunion Island: compare, book and drive in 2026
Over 140 deals on the island, from €20-a-day city cars to 7-seat SUVs, all with free cancellation. A comparison of rental companies, real prices I've found, and everything you need to know to drive on Reunion Island without nasty surprises.
- 146 deals compared
- Free cancellation
- Instant confirmation
- All-inclusive pricing
The essentials at a glance
A car is the only practical way to explore Reunion Island at your own pace. Traffic drives on the right, as everywhere in France, and the island has no tolls. If you normally drive on the left (UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia), take it easy on the coast roads before tackling the mountain hairpins. After that, the main choices come down to the type of rental company, your arrival airport and the size of vehicle your trip needs.
Why use a comparison site
Booking directly with one rental company means trusting a single price list. A comparison site aggregates every deal available for the same dates and shows the real gap between providers. In Reunion Island, where around thirty rental companies operate side by side, that gap can reach €40 to €60 over 8 days for the same category.
One screen, the full picture
Local companies (Multiauto, ITC Tropicar, Cool Location, CITY LOCATION, Jumbo Car) and international ones (Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget) side by side, with customer ratings, distance to the counter, cancellation terms and fuel policy.
Free cancellation
Nearly every deal featured on Discover Cars can be cancelled free of charge up to 48 hours before pickup. Invaluable when a flight changes or a cyclone shifts your trip by a few days.
All-inclusive pricing
The price shown includes local taxes, unlimited mileage and basic insurance. No surprise counter fees, no hidden young-driver surcharge buried in the small print. Your booking confirmation is what counts.
Instant confirmation
A voucher lands in your inbox within a minute, ready to show at the counter. No manual approval wait from the rental company, so no risk of losing the deal between booking and pickup.
Aggregated customer ratings
Every rental company shows its average rating and review count. CITY LOCATION hovers around 9.5/10 on the island, something you'd never spot going straight to a single rental company's own site. A good indicator of counter service.
Powerful filters
Filter by transmission (manual/automatic), number of doors, child seats, hotel delivery, airport shuttle, young driver. That way you only see the deals that genuinely match your needs, instead of reading every line one by one.
How much does an 8-day car rental cost on Reunion Island?
A selection of prices recently spotted for an 8-day rental starting from Saint-Denis, based on mid-May availability. These prices reflect a single snapshot in time and obviously vary by date, season and the rental company's stock, but they give a solid ballpark: you'll very often see the same ranges for the same categories.
Renault Clio or similar
Kia Picanto or similar
Peugeot 108 or similar
Citroën C3 or similar
The minimum budget for 8 days, by vehicle size
The prices shown reflect availability observed at a given moment and don't constitute a firm commercial offer. The actual rate for specific dates may vary, but almost always stays within the same range for the same category. The only way to get the exact price is to test your own dates in the comparison tool below.
What type of car to rent on Reunion Island
The island is small (70 km at its longest) but the roads vary enormously: the smooth Tamarins motorway at 110 km/h, tight bends towards Cilaos, a forest track towards Maïdo. The right vehicle mostly depends on how many passengers you have, your budget and your itinerary.
City or compact car
A Clio, a 208, a Picanto are more than enough. Boot space fits 2 cabin bags plus 1 large one, modest fuel use, easy to park anywhere, including the narrow streets of Saint-Denis or Saint-Pierre.
5-door compact or small SUV
208, C3, Duster, Hyundai Bayon, Renault Captur. 350-450 L boot, liveable back seats, useful ground clearance for the volcano's forest road or the tracks around Cilaos. The C3 is often excellent value on the island.
People carrier or 7-seat SUV
Dacia Jogger, Peugeot Rifter, Citroën Berlingo, Nissan Qashqai+2, Dacia Lodgy. 7 real seats with or without boot space, bulkier to manoeuvre but essential once you're past 4 adults or bringing a baby car seat.
Mini or city car, full tank to full tank
Twingo, Picanto, i10. €4-5 a day in fuel, easy to park, perfect if you're sleeping in hotels or gîtes. Over 10 days, the gap with an SUV really shows on the total budget (€100 to €200).
SUV with ground clearance
Duster, Bayon, Captur, Kona. No cirque requires a 4x4, but decent ground clearance makes the Maïdo road, Le Bélier, Col des Bœufs and some gîte access tracks much more comfortable, especially in the wet season.
Saloon or mid-size SUV
Renault Mégane, Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen T-Roc. Comfortable on the Route des Tamarins motorway, premium air conditioning, active safety features. Sixt, Hertz and Europcar loyalty programmes usable, rentals beyond 28 days negotiable directly.
Roland-Garros, Pierrefonds, city-centre agency
Three possible pickup points depending on your stay. Each has its own pricing and practical pros and cons, summarised below.
Where to rent a car on Reunion Island
Four types of rental option coexist on the island. Each has its own appeal depending on budget, traveller profile and specific needs. The comparison site then lets you cross-reference the first three on a single screen.
Multiauto
The island's long-standing rental company, Multiauto runs an office in Saint-Denis and a branch on the Saint-Gilles side. A fleet of city cars and SUVs, flexible young-driver terms (a reasonable surcharge from age 21). Responsive local service, airport delivery available on request.
Best for: Independent traveller, standard stay, tight budget
ITC Tropicar
An established name on the island, ITC Tropicar runs a wide fleet including SUVs and vans, with a desk at Roland-Garros. Slightly pricier than the independents, but a more structured setup for cancellations and assistance.
Best for: Short stay with professional guarantees, business travel
Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget
Desks at Roland-Garros and sometimes Pierrefonds. Prices in line with mainland France, usable loyalty programmes, standard terms. Worth choosing if you hold Gold status or a corporate contract.
Best for: Loyalty cards, flight + car bundles
Zotcar, Nouloutou, Getaround
Platforms that connect owners and renters. Zotcar is the go-to local platform for peer-to-peer car rental on Reunion Island. Prices often lower than professional rental companies, a personal welcome, sometimes direct delivery to where you're staying. Terms and insurance vary by listing, read carefully.
Best for: Small budget, experienced renter, long stay
6 ways to bring the bill down
The car budget can run €200 to €400 over an 8-day stay depending on your choices. These practical tips can cut 15 to 40% off the total without cutting corners on vehicle quality or insurance.
Compare airport vs city rates
Airport rates often include a surcharge (8 to 15% depending on the rental company). If your stay starts with 1-2 nights in Saint-Denis, picking up the car from a city agency on day 3 saves €30 to €60 over 8 days.
Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead
December-January, July-August and French school holidays: demand spikes. Booking early locks in the price and the model. Outside peak season you can try last-minute, but economy stock runs out fast on the island.
Choose free cancellation
Flights change, connections too. Every deal featured on Discover Cars offers free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, which covers 95% of changed plans.
Shift by 2-3 days when you can
For the same vehicle, weekends and Monday mornings push prices up. Starting on a Tuesday or Wednesday can cut the total by €15 to €25 over 7 days, especially with city-centre rental companies.
Use a premium bank card
A premium credit card (Gold Mastercard, Visa Premier or higher) often covers the excess waiver; check your own card's terms before relying on it. That avoids €8 to €15 a day in counter add-ons, or €60 to €120 over an 8-day stay.
Check the fuel return policy
Full-to-full policy: you pick the car up with a full tank and return it full. Always the cheapest option. Fill up 3 km from the airport on your way back (at a station outside the rental company's own) instead of the premium pump at the counter.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Four points that make the difference between a clear quote and a surprise at the counter. Worth checking before you click.
Book ahead during school holidays
December-January, July-August, Easter holidays: demand spikes on the island. Booking 4 to 8 weeks ahead guarantees the price and the model. Outside peak season, you can negotiate on the spot or via a comparison site, sometimes with last-minute deals.
Compare airport vs city agency
Airport rates can include higher taxes. For a stay that starts with 1 or 2 days in Saint-Denis, you can pick up the car from a city agency on day 3 and save on the budget. Conversely, for simpler logistics, the airport remains the most convenient.
Check mileage and the fuel return policy
Unlimited mileage is standard on most deals, but not universal. Read the contract before signing. For fuel, the full-to-full policy (pick it up full, return it full) is the cheapest: fill up 3 km from the airport on your way back, never at the rental company's own station.
Watch for under-25 surcharges
Most rental companies charge a young-driver surcharge between ages 21 and 25, from €8 to €20 a day. It is usually included in the online quote, but is sometimes added when you collect the car. Check the booking confirmation to avoid a surprise at the counter.
Six things for stress-free driving
A few local quirks are worth knowing before your first drive out of the airport. Weather, animals, petrol stations, mobile signal.
Weather and alerts
Follow Météo France Réunion 974 on the app or radio. During heavy rain, the Route du Littoral (RN1 between Saint-Denis and La Possession) switches to its mountain-side backup lane. Ravines can rise very fast, never cross a flooded ford.
Speed cameras and speed bumps
Fixed speed cameras across the island, mobile cameras common at weekends. Speed limits: 110 km/h on the Route des Tamarins, 90 km/h on main roads, 50 km/h in town, often 30 km/h in village centres. Speed bumps are common on minor roads, so slow down on approach.
Animals and obstacles
Stray dogs are common at night in some areas, so stay alert after 7pm. At altitude (Maïdo, Plaine des Cafres, Plaine des Palmistes), pastures line the road and cows or goats may cross. Cyclist groups are common on Sunday mornings.
Petrol stations and fuel
Total, Shell and Vito stations are spread across the island. Unleaded 95, 98, diesel, sometimes E10. Regulated prices, cheaper than mainland France. Many stations close at night outside towns, so fill up before 7pm when leaving a cirque. Attendants at several sites, a tip is appreciated.
Traffic and rush hour
Rush hour is 7-9am and 4-7pm on weekdays, especially around Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul. The Route du Littoral regularly closes for rockfalls, switching to the cliffside road. Avoid returning from the airport at peak rush hour.
GPS and mobile signal
Decent mobile coverage on the coast, patchy in the Hauts (Plaine des Cafres, Cirque de Cilaos, some Salazie trails). Download offline Google Maps before you set off. In Mafate, there's no signal at all: print or screenshot your route beforehand.
Helicopter: the perfect complement to your road trip
You can see almost everything by car, except Mafate. The only roadless cirque is reached on foot or by helicopter. For a short stay, or if someone in your group doesn't hike, a scenic flight remains the ideal complement to a car, departing from Pierrefonds or Saint-Gilles.
The campervan: your vehicle and bed in one
Instead of a car plus a hotel every night, you can rent a campervan that combines transport and accommodation in one. Yescapa offers Volkswagen T5, Pössl and Fiat Ducato models to rent, with delivery to Roland-Garros airport available. For kitting out a vehicle for self-sufficient travel, rooftop tents you can fit to your car remain a solid option.
Rent a Yescapa vanComplement your car with these options
★ 4.9(397)Helicopter Flights Over Reunion Island: Prices
9 helicopter flight options over Reunion Island from €204: volcano, cirques, waterfalls. Prices, operators and honest advice.
★ 4.5(9)Private Airport Transfer in Reunion Island
Private door-to-door transfer from Roland-Garros airport, from €56 per vehicle via Viator, plus the Cars Jaunes public bus for budget travellers.
Road trip freedomVan Rental in Reunion Island: 3 Packages
Rent a campervan peer-to-peer via Yescapa: 40+ vans from €50/day. Small van, fitted van, 4-berth pop-top van for a free-roaming road trip.
Ready to compare for your dates?
One comparison tool, 30 seconds to fill in, and every rental company on the island ranked from cheapest to priciest. Free cancellation, all-inclusive pricing, instant confirmation.
Renting a car on Reunion Island, in practice
What's the average price for a car rental on Reunion Island?
How do you find the best price for a car rental on Reunion Island?
Do you need an International Driving Permit for Reunion Island?
Can you rent a car as a young driver?
Is it better to rent at the airport or from a city agency?
Is insurance included in the rental?
Do you need a 4x4 to visit Reunion Island?
Can you drive to Mafate?
Are there tolls on Reunion Island?
What should you do with valuables in the car?
Can you rent a campervan instead of a car?
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Article updated 25 September 2026.