Heading to Reunion Island for a few days’ road-trip? Here’s how to rent a car in La Réunion!
It’s a French department located almost 10,000 kilometers from Paris, in the tropics, as they say. It’s also probably the department that the traveler in you most dreams about. This island of 2512 km2, shaped by the forces of nature, is at once a land of volcanoes, water, rocky peaks and primary forests. It’s also a land of incredible cultural richness, thanks to the intermingling of its people. You’ll be spoilt for choice, but your taste buds won’t be left out either! And to make the most of your trip, the best option is to rent a car in La Réunion.
Whether you want to tour the most beautiful beaches, explore the breathtaking cirques, discover ancient lava flows or reach the main towns, renting a car on Reunion Island is a must. Although the public transport network is well-developed, it doesn’t allow you to take full advantage of the island. You can’t stop as you please, you’re subject to time constraints and some natural wonders are simply inaccessible to you.
Here are our tips for renting a car on Reunion Island and setting off on your road trip!
Where to rent a car in Reunion
Photo credit: Shutterstock / De infografick
At the airport
Saint-Denis Roland Garros airport is the island’s main airport, and is the hub for international flights. As a result, this is where you’ll find the most extensive range of car rental services on Reunion Island. The major international brands have a counter here, as do a number of local agencies.
Pierrefonds airport is mainly used for flights to and from Mauritius and for certain stopovers. However, to rent a car, you need to contact the agencies via the numbers provided on the airport’s website.
In town
If you want to wait before renting a car in La Réunion, you’ll also find agencies in town, notably in Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre. Here again, you’ll find both international companies and local rental companies. The only drawback of the latter may be their closing hours, but they usually offer free airport transfers.
Itineraries on Reunion Island by car: some ideas for road-trips
Photo Credit: Facebook – Map of Reunion Island – L’ile aux trésors
If calculations are correct, 40% of the island’s territory is classified, which means you’ve got a lot to see!
Here are a few possible itineraries once you’ve rented a car in La Réunion.
The coastal road
Do you swear by the ocean and want to make the most of the turquoise blue? Then take a tour of the island along the coastal roads.
- Set off from Saint-Denis and take time to discover its cultural monuments and pedestrian streets lined with Creole houses.
- You can then head for the east coast, stopping off at the Tamil temples of Saint-André.
- The south of the island, with the lava flows of Piton de la Fournaise, is waiting to be explored.
- Then head west, enjoying the nightlife and famous market of Saint-Pierre. In Saint-Leu, you can visit the turtle observatory, before finishing in style in Saint-Gilles.
A basic safety rule: unless you’re in the mood for a Jaws remake, don’t swim unless explicitly authorized.
Direction Piton de la Fournaise
If you’re more interested in wild landscapes, head down to the south and south-east of the island, and the Piton de la Fournaise is yours!
- On the way, take the time to visit a Bourbon vanilla plantation and don’t forget to stop off at Notre-Dame des laves, a church miraculously spared by a mudslide that spread around its foundations.
- Afterwards, recharge your batteries at Anse des Cascades before devoting several days to the famous volcano and the Plaine des Sables. The route des laves is a must if you have a rental car on Réunion Island.
- Finally, head gently west after admiring the view from Pointe du Tremblet. Along the way, don’t forget to stop at the Langevin waterfall and the Étang Salé chasm.
Long live nature
The central and northern part of the island is famous for its natural cirques, and this is typically the part that justifies a car rental on Reunion Island.
- You can make a loop around the cirque de Salazie from Saint-André to the east. Along the way, take a stroll through the Bélouve forest, a primary rainforest.
- You can then reach the cirque de Cilaos via Le Tampon and Entre-Deux.
- From there, you’ll have to head back to the coast and, why not, take a break at La Saline Les Bains, before admiring the panorama of the Mafate cirque from Le Maïdo. This is the only viewpoint accessible by car, as the cirque can only be reached on foot.
How to compare and book your rental car online?
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Balate Dorin
To rent a car in Reunion Island, you have the choice, as mentioned above, between international and local agencies. To make up your own mind, the best thing to do is to compare the offers with their advantages and disadvantages. You can use the Rentiles website, for example.
Other sites, such as Rentîles, specialize in independent car rental networks in the French-speaking islands. Booking your rental car on Reunion Island with a local agency that doesn’t have a counter at the airport can be a great budget-saver.
How much does a rental car cost in Reunion Island?
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For a comfortable city car, the average price quoted by the various comparators is €25/day. If you’re looking for an SUV, prices quickly rise above €40/day.
For a week, you should expect to pay a minimum of €130 for 7 days with a local agency, but more like €200/week with an international agency.
Driving on Reunion Island: traffic rules you need to know
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / ThomasLENNE
You don’t need to take any special precautions when driving your rental car on Reunion Island. It’s a French department, so the same rules apply as in mainland France. However, here are 2 or 3 things you should know:
- Part of the coast road may be closed for various reasons, so plan ahead, as you may have to make a detour.
- Traffic jams are frequent on Reunion Island, particularly on the Tamarins road. At certain times of the day, it can take 2 or even 3 hours to get from north to south and vice versa.
- Finally, when driving in the center of the island, especially on the roads leading to the various cirques, it’s a good idea to blow the horn before each bend, as the roads are narrow and winding.
Our advice for your car rental in Reunion Island
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Stefano Ember
Renting a car in La Réunion: what conditions must you meet?
Here are the requirements for renting a car in Reunion Island:
- As in many places, if you want to rent a car in La Réunion, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old and have had your license for more than a year. On the other hand, if you’re under 25, you’ll have to pay an additional fee. Finally, all drivers must declare themselves on the rental contract.
- As far as credit cards are concerned, your rental is in a French department, so unless you have a very specific card, you shouldn’t have any problems. On the other hand, check that your bank account is sufficiently funded for the security deposit.
Limited or unlimited mileage?
Unlimited mileage is the safest option for road-tripping. In fact, this is the option most often offered.
Do I need insurance to rent a car on Reunion Island?
The first thing to do before booking your rental car in Reunion Island is to compare the various coverages and deductibles that apply to your contract.
Pay particular attention to the conditions in the event of tire problems, which are sometimes not covered by the insurance offered. In this case, it may be worthwhile to take out an additional policy for a small fee, or to check the one offered with your bank card, provided you use it as a means of payment.
Parking on Reunion Island
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Parking facilities are readily available in the island’s towns and villages. In addition to these, there are two identifiable on-street parking zones:
- The orange zone for short stays
- The green zone for long 8-hour periods
If you want to go hiking, you can leave your car at the start of the circuit in supervised parking lots, even at night, but you’ll have to pay for this (€12 for the Col des Bœufs parking lot). To find cheap parking close to the airport, check out this article.
What is the most practical category of car for visiting Reunion Island?
The island’s roads are in very good condition and paved, so a city car is more than adequate. If you want to explore more of Réunion’s wilderness, opt for a 4X4.