Renting a car in Zanzibar costs about $25 to $55 per day for most cars, and up to $100 per day for a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. With Zanzibar Car Rentals, prices start at $30 per day for a Nissan Juke and $35 per day for a Toyota RAV4. On top of the daily rate, budget for a one-time Zanzibar driving permit ($25 per driver) and fuel (roughly $50–90 for a week). A typical 7-day rental of a compact SUV comes to about $290–$400 in total.
Below you'll find every price that makes up that total — the daily rate for each car, the permit, delivery, insurance, fuel and payment fees — plus three real trip budgets and a comparison with taxis and private drivers, so you know exactly what to expect before you land.
Zanzibar car rental prices at a glance
| Cost | Typical price in Zanzibar | With Zanzibar Car Rentals |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rental rate | $25–$55 for most cars, up to $100+ for a large 4x4 | $30–$100 per day |
| Zanzibar driving permit | $10–$25 per driver, one-time | $25 per driver, one-time |
| Delivery to the airport, ferry or Stone Town | Often free | Free |
| Delivery to a beach hotel (Nungwi, Paje, Kendwa…) | $0–$30 each way | $20 each way |
| Zero-excess insurance (optional) | Varies widely | $15–$50 per day, depending on the car |
| Fuel | Never included | Not included (about $1.50 per litre) |
| Mileage | Sometimes limited | Unlimited |
| Security deposit | Often a cash or card deposit | None |
Aggregators such as Kayak show an average of about $30 per day for a rental car in Zanzibar, with SUVs like the RAV4 averaging around $37 per day. Local companies usually charge $25–$40 per day for a RAV4-sized car, and $90–$150 for a Land Cruiser Prado.
How much does each car cost per day?
Almost everyone who rents a car in Zanzibar chooses an SUV. The main roads are paved, but the tracks to many beaches, villages and spice farms are sandy or rough, and the extra ground clearance makes a real difference. Here is what each car in our fleet costs:
| Car | Type | Seats | Price per day | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Juke | Compact SUV | 4 | $30 | $210 |
| Toyota RAV4 (3-door) | Compact SUV | 5 | $35 | $245 |
| Toyota RAV4 (5-door) | SUV | 5 | $35 | $245 |
| Toyota Vanguard | SUV | 5 | $35 | $245 |
| Suzuki Escudo (5-door) | SUV | 5 | $40 | $280 |
| Toyota RAV4 Retro (5-door) | SUV | 5 | $40 | $280 |
| Toyota Harrier | Premium SUV | 5 | $50 | $350 |
| Toyota Alphard | Minivan | 7 | $55 | $385 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | 4x4 | 7 | $100 | $700 |
Our prices are the same every day of the year and for every length of rental: the rental price is simply the number of days multiplied by the daily rate. You can see live availability and your exact total for your dates on our Zanzibar car hire page.
What is the cheapest car to rent in Zanzibar?
The cheapest cars on the island are small hatchbacks such as the Toyota Vitz or IST, which some operators rent for $20–$25 per day. They are fine for Stone Town and the main roads, but they struggle on beach tracks. The cheapest SUV in our fleet is the Nissan Juke at $30 per day — ideal for couples and solo travellers. If you need five seats or more luggage space, the RAV4 at $35 per day is the best value.
How much does a Toyota RAV4 cost to rent in Zanzibar?
The Toyota RAV4 is the most popular rental car in Zanzibar. Expect to pay $25–$40 per day depending on the model and the company. With us, the 3-door and 5-door RAV4 cost $35 per day and the RAV4 Retro costs $40 per day.
How much does a 7-seater or 4x4 cost?
For groups and large families, the Toyota Alphard (7 seats) costs $55 per day. The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado — a full four-wheel-drive car with seven seats — costs $100 per day. You only need a Prado if you plan to drive rough tracks after heavy rain or want the most comfort; a RAV4 handles almost every road tourists use.
Not sure which car fits your trip? Our guide to which car to rent in Zanzibar compares them in detail.
The extra costs on top of the daily rate
The daily rate is only part of the total. These are the other costs to plan for — and what each one costs with us.
Zanzibar driving permit: $25 per driver
Every driver needs a temporary Zanzibar driving permit in addition to their national driving licence. An International Driving Permit is not required. Rental companies arrange the permit for you; prices quoted across the island range from about $10 to $25 per driver. With us it costs $25 per driver, one-time, and we prepare it before you land so it is ready when you collect the car.
Additional drivers pay only this permit fee — there is no separate daily charge for a second driver. Read the full Zanzibar driving permit guide for the details.
Delivery and collection: free or $20
- Free: Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ), the Stone Town ferry terminal and any hotel in Stone Town.
- $20 each way: hotels elsewhere on the island, such as Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, Jambiani, Matemwe or Michamvi.
- $10 extra: returning the car outside town after midnight.
Picking up at the airport is usually the cheapest option: delivery is free, and you avoid paying for a taxi to your hotel. See how it works on our Zanzibar Airport car rental page.
Insurance: basic cover included, zero excess optional
Every rental includes basic insurance with third-party liability. Without extra cover, you are responsible for damage to the rental car itself.
Optional zero-excess cover (Collision Damage Waiver with no excess) means you pay nothing towards accidental damage to the car. It includes theft protection and is priced by car:
| Car | Zero-excess cover per day | Flat price for the whole rental |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Juke, Toyota RAV4 (3-door), Suzuki Escudo | $15 | $400 |
| Toyota RAV4 (5-door), Toyota Vanguard | $20 | $500 |
| Toyota Harrier, Toyota Alphard | $30 | $700 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | $50 | $1,000 |
Theft protection on its own costs $5 per day. Like almost all rental insurance, the cover excludes tyres, rims, glass, mirrors, the roof, the underside of the car, the interior and lost keys, as well as damage from reckless driving or driving under the influence. Our guide to car rental insurance and damage deposits in Zanzibar explains what to check before you sign.
Fuel: about $1.50 per litre
Fuel is never included in the rental price in Zanzibar. Fuel prices are set by the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA) and were TZS 3,890 per litre for both petrol and diesel at the mid-2026 review — about $1.50 per litre. The car is handed over with enough fuel to reach the nearest petrol station, and you refuel as you go.
How much you spend depends on how far you drive. The island is small: Stone Town to Nungwi or Paje is about 50–60 km. As a rough guide:
| Car | Typical fuel use | Fuel for 500 km (about a week of sightseeing) |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Juke | 7 litres per 100 km | about $55 |
| Toyota RAV4 / Vanguard | 9 litres per 100 km | about $70 |
| Toyota Alphard | 11 litres per 100 km | about $85 |
| Land Cruiser Prado | 12 litres per 100 km | about $90 |
Petrol stations are easy to find in and around Stone Town and along the main roads, but scarce on the south-east coast. Fill up before long trips to the north or east.
Payment fees: 5% on card and payment links
Cash payments in US dollars carry no fee. Payments by credit card or by Pesapal payment link carry a 5% surcharge. We also accept bank transfer and mobile money, and cash in euros, pounds or Tanzanian shillings.
Optional extras
- Child and baby seats: free — just ask when you book.
- Hire with a driver: available if you would rather not drive yourself.
- Mileage: unlimited on every car, at no extra cost.
How payment works
There is no security deposit and no hold on your credit card. Your booking is confirmed straight away when you book online. We then send you a payment link for a 50% down payment, and you pay the rest when you collect the car.
If you cancel at least 48 hours before pickup, your down payment is refunded in full. If you cancel later than that, half of the down payment is refunded. Once you have collected the car, payments are not refunded for unused days, so book the dates you actually need.
Three real trip budgets
These examples use our current prices and the fuel estimates above.
A couple, 7 days, Nissan Juke
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rental: 7 days × $30 | $210 |
| Driving permit: 1 driver | $25 |
| Airport pickup and return | Free |
| Fuel: about 500 km | about $55 |
| Total without extra insurance | about $290 |
| Optional zero-excess cover: 7 × $15 | +$105 |
| Total with zero-excess cover | about $395 |
That works out to about $41 per day all-in — less than one taxi from the airport to the beach and back ($100).
A family, 10 days, Toyota RAV4 (5-door), staying in Paje
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rental: 10 days × $35 | $350 |
| Driving permits: 2 drivers | $50 |
| Delivery to and collection from a hotel in Paje | $40 |
| Zero-excess cover: 10 × $20 | $200 |
| Fuel: about 700 km | about $95 |
| Total | about $735 |
About $74 per day for a family of four or five, with full cover and two drivers.
A group of seven, 5 days, Toyota Alphard, staying in Nungwi
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rental: 5 days × $55 | $275 |
| Driving permit: 1 driver | $25 |
| Delivery to and collection from a hotel in Nungwi | $40 |
| Zero-excess cover: 5 × $30 | $150 |
| Fuel: about 400 km | about $70 |
| Total | about $560 |
Split between seven people, that is about $16 per person per day.
Is renting a car cheaper than taxis in Zanzibar?
For most visitors who want to explore, yes. Here is how a rental car compares with the other ways of getting around:
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rental car | $30–$55 per day + permit + fuel | Exploring at your own pace |
| Fixed-price taxi | $20 airport to Stone Town; $50 airport to the beaches | One or two transfers |
| Private driver | about $60–$100 per day | Not wanting to drive |
| Scooter | about $10–$20 per day | Short hops, experienced riders |
| Dala-dala (shared minibus) | under $1 per ride | The tightest budgets, with plenty of time |
A return taxi from the airport to Nungwi or Paje alone costs $100 — the same as three days in a Nissan Juke. If you plan even one or two day trips, such as Jozani Forest, a spice farm or Stone Town from the beach, a rental car is usually cheaper. If you will mostly stay at your resort, our fixed-price Zanzibar taxi is the better deal. Still deciding? Read is it a good idea to hire a car in Zanzibar?
What affects car rental prices in Zanzibar?
- The car. A compact SUV costs a third of a Land Cruiser Prado.
- The season. Aggregator prices rise in the high season — Kayak's data shows December as the most expensive month and May as the cheapest. Our prices stay the same all year.
- Where you collect the car. Airport, ferry and Stone Town delivery is free; beach hotels cost $20 each way.
- Insurance. Zero-excess cover adds $15–$50 per day.
- Number of drivers. Each driver needs a $25 permit.
- How you pay. Cash avoids the 5% card and payment-link fee.
How to save money on a rental car in Zanzibar
- Book a compact SUV. A Nissan Juke or RAV4 handles nearly every road visitors use.
- Collect at the airport. Free delivery saves a taxi fare on day one.
- Pay the balance in cash (US dollars). You avoid the 5% card fee.
- Only add the drivers you need. Each one costs a $25 permit.
- Book only the days you will drive. Many visitors spend the first and last days at their hotel; our itinerary guide helps you work out how many days you need.
- Start with a full tank where fuel is easy to find. Fill up in or near Stone Town before heading north or east.
Hidden costs to watch out for
Prices in Zanzibar are generally fair, but these are the costs that most often surprise visitors:
- Large cash deposits that are slow to come back. Ask how any deposit is held and when it is returned.
- A permit that isn't included. Check whether the quote includes the Zanzibar driving permit for every driver.
- Delivery fees to beach hotels that only appear at handover.
- Insurance that doesn't cover the car itself. Ask whether the excess applies and what it costs to reduce it to zero.
- An empty tank. Agree the fuel level at handover.
- Fines and parking penalties, which are always the renter's responsibility. Drive within the speed limits and carry your licence and permit; read our guide to driving in Zanzibar.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a car in Zanzibar?
Most rental cars in Zanzibar cost $25–$55 per day, and a Land Cruiser Prado up to $100. With Zanzibar Car Rentals, prices start at $30 per day. Add a one-time $25 driving permit per driver and fuel; a week in a compact SUV costs about $290–$400 in total.
Is Zanzibar cheap or expensive for car rental?
Car rental in Zanzibar is reasonably priced. A compact SUV costs $30–$40 per day — less than a single return taxi from the airport to the beaches. Fuel costs about $1.50 per litre and the island is small, so fuel rarely costs more than $10–$15 per day.
Is fuel included in the rental price?
No. Fuel is not included anywhere in Zanzibar. You receive the car with enough fuel to reach a petrol station and refuel as you go. Fuel costs about $1.50 per litre.
How much is the Zanzibar driving permit?
Rental companies charge between about $10 and $25 per driver. With us it costs $25 per driver, one-time, and we arrange it before you arrive. An International Driving Permit is not required.
Do I have to pay a deposit to rent a car in Zanzibar?
Not with us. There is no security deposit and no credit card hold. After you book, you pay a 50% down payment by payment link, and the rest when you collect the car.
Do I need extra insurance?
Basic third-party cover is included, but you are responsible for damage to the rental car itself. Zero-excess cover costs $15–$50 per day depending on the car, and we recommend it for peace of mind.
Is it cheaper to rent a car for a week?
The daily rate stays the same however long you rent, so a week simply costs seven times the daily rate. Longer rentals do get cheaper per day overall, because the one-time permit is spread over more days.
What do I need to rent a car in Zanzibar?
A full driving licence from your home country, held for at least one year, your passport, and a Zanzibar driving permit, which we arrange. Drivers must be between 18 and 78 years old.
What is the best way to get around Zanzibar?
For exploring the island, a rental car is the most flexible and usually the cheapest option. For a single airport transfer, a fixed-price taxi is simpler.
Ready to see your exact price?
Choose your dates on our Zanzibar car hire page to see the exact total for every car, or read more about Zanzibar car rental with free airport delivery. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp — we reply around the clock.