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How to Rent a Car in Zanzibar: Permits, Prices, and Road Rules (2026)
In this article:
- Should You Rent a Car in Zanzibar?
- How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Zanzibar?
- Do You Need a Special Permit to Drive in Zanzibar?
- What Are the Road Rules in Zanzibar?
- How Do Police Checkpoints and Fines Work in Zanzibar?
- How Do You Choose a Rental Company in Zanzibar?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Plan Your Zanzibar Transport
You land at Zanzibar International Airport, and the taxi drivers quote a different price for every beach. You want to see Jozani Forest one day, Paje the next, and a sunset in Nungwi after that. Taxis for every leg add up fast, and a rental car sounds easier. Then you read about police checkpoints, a local permit you have never heard of, and fines that nobody can quite explain.
Renting a car in Zanzibar is straightforward once you know three things. You need a local Zanzibar driving permit, traffic keeps left, and police check cars often on the main roads. This guide covers what a rental costs, the official speed limits and fines, which documents to carry, and when a transfer or taxi is the better choice.
Should You Rent a Car in Zanzibar?
Yes, a rental car in Zanzibar is worth it if you plan to move between two or more areas of the island or take several day trips. If you are staying at one beach hotel, a pre-booked transfer and the odd taxi cost less and need no permit.
The table below compares the four common ways to get around the island. It shows who each option suits best.
If you want to try the shared minibuses, our dala dala guide explains how they work.
Who Should Skip the Rental Car?
Skip the rental car if you only need an airport transfer and a few tours. Most tours in Zanzibar, such as the spice farm tour and the Jozani Forest tour, include hotel pickup. Nervous drivers and anyone who has never driven on the left may also find a driver less stressful.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Zanzibar?
A rental car in Zanzibar costs about $25 to $120 per day as of 2026, depending on the vehicle and the season. A Toyota RAV4, the most common tourist rental, usually costs $25 to $55 per day (Zanzibar Cars, Zanzibar Rentals).
These prices come from local rental companies and change with demand. The table below groups typical daily rates by vehicle type.
What Is Usually Included in the Price?
Local companies usually include unlimited mileage, basic insurance, and free delivery to Stone Town or the airport (Zanzibar Cars). Confirm each of these in writing, because terms differ between companies.
What Extra Costs Should You Budget For?
Budget for three extras on top of the daily rate.
The Zanzibar driving permit costs $10 to $30 per driver, according to rental company quotes.
A full tank for a RAV4 costs roughly 60,000 to 100,000 TZS ($25 to $40) (Zanzibar Rentals).
Parking near Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town costs roughly 1,000 TZS per hour.
Fuel stations are full-service and most accept cash only. Tell the attendant how much fuel you want in shillings, and keep small notes on hand. Our money and ATMs guide explains where to withdraw cash.
Do You Need a Special Permit to Drive in Zanzibar?
Yes, every visitor needs a local Zanzibar driving permit on top of their home or international license. Section 88 of the Zanzibar Road Transport Act 2003 requires foreign license holders to register their license with the licensing authority and pay a fee before they drive.
The UK Foreign Office gives the same advice. You "need a local Zanzibar driving permit (which you can get through your hire car company)" (GOV.UK, updated May 2026). In practice, you send the rental company a scan of your passport and license before you arrive, and the permit comes with the car.
The government does not publish the visitor permit fee online. Rental companies quote $10 to $30 per driver as of 2026 and say the permit is valid for up to three months. Driving without a valid license carries a fine of TSh 116,500 (ZARTSA via Nipashe, March 2026).
Which Documents Should You Carry in the Car?
Police at checkpoints usually ask for four documents. Keep them together in the glovebox or a folder, and carry copies as well.
Your home driving license
Your Zanzibar driving permit
Your passport or a clear copy of it
The rental agreement and insurance papers
If you cannot show your license at a stop, the Act gives you 24 hours to produce it at a police station the officer names (section 87). An International Driving Permit helps if your license is not in English.
What Are the Road Rules in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar drives on the left, and most rental cars have the steering wheel on the right. The government sets three speed limits, which the Minister of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport announced under section 144 of the Road Transport Act (Daily News, June 2023).
The table below lists the official limits. Many rental guides still quote 40 and 60 km/h, so go by these instead.
The Road Transport Act sets three more rules that affect visitors.
Everyone in the front seats must wear a seatbelt (section 130).
Children under 10 may not ride in the front seat (section 130).
Drivers may not make or take calls on a hand-held phone (section 129).
What Are the Roads Like?
The main roads between the airport, Stone Town, Nungwi, and Paje are paved and in decent condition. Village roads and the tracks to many beach hotels are red dirt, sand, or loose gravel. During the long rains from March to May, low-lying dirt roads can flood.
Speed bumps sit at most village entrances and often come with little warning. Slow down whenever you see houses ahead, which also keeps you inside the 30 km/h and 50 km/h zones.
How Long Does It Take to Drive Around the Island?
Drive times from Zanzibar International Airport are longer than the distances suggest. The times below come from a local rental company and assume normal daytime traffic.
Source: Zanzibar Rentals. Read more about each area in our guides to Nungwi, Kendwa, and Paje.
Should You Drive in Stone Town?
No, you should not drive through Stone Town's old center. The alleys are too narrow for cars, and the whole of Stone Town has a 30 km/h limit. Park at the paid parking near Forodhani Gardens and walk in. Our Stone Town guide covers the sights within walking distance.
Is It Safe to Drive at Night?
No, driving at night in Zanzibar is not safe for most visitors. The UK Foreign Office advises travelers to "avoid driving outside major towns and cities at night" (GOV.UK). Few roads have streetlights, and pedestrians, cyclists, and livestock use the road edges after dark. Plan long drives, such as Nungwi to Paje, for daylight.
How Do Police Checkpoints and Fines Work in Zanzibar?
Police checkpoints are routine on Zanzibar's main roads, including the routes from Stone Town to Nungwi and to Paje. An officer checks your documents, and the stop usually takes a few minutes. One traveler was stopped 11 times during a 7-day trip (Czech It Sims).
Enforcement is rising. Zanzibar Police recorded 28,740 traffic offenses from January to June 2025, up 70% on the same period in 2024 (The Citizen, August 2025).
How Much Are Traffic Fines in Zanzibar?
Traffic fines in Zanzibar are high. In March 2026 the Zanzibar Road Transport and Safety Authority (ZARTSA) published the amounts below (Nipashe, March 2026).
How Do You Pay a Traffic Fine?
You pay an official fine through a government control number, not in cash at the roadside. The UK Foreign Office says "the police should not ask you to make any on the spot payments for traffic violations" (GOV.UK).
Some drivers report officers asking for cash for a minor offense. A few habits keep a stop short and official.
Stick to the speed limit, especially in the 30 km/h and 50 km/h zones.
Keep every document in the car and hand over copies where you can.
Stay calm and polite, and ask to see the officer's identification.
Ask for a control number if you are fined, and pay only through it.
How Do You Choose a Rental Company in Zanzibar?
Choose a local company with recent reviews, a clear written price, and cars that match the photos. The UK Foreign Office also advises using a reputable rental firm, because vehicle condition varies widely. Local companies often deliver to the airport or your hotel and cost less than international desks.
Ask these questions before you pay a deposit.
Does the price include insurance, and what is the excess if the car is damaged?
Will the company arrange the Zanzibar driving permit, and what does it cost?
Is mileage unlimited?
Where is the car delivered and collected, and is there a fee?
What happens if the car breaks down, and is there a phone number for help?
What Should You Check When the Car Arrives?
Walk around the car with the owner before you sign. Take photos or a video of every scratch, the tires, and the fuel gauge. Test the air conditioning, lights, and wipers, check that the front seatbelts work, and make sure the spare tire and jack are in the trunk.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions travelers ask most often about car hire in Zanzibar.
Yes, you can pick up a rental car at Zanzibar International Airport. Most local companies deliver the car to arrivals when you book in advance. See our Zanzibar airport guide for the arrivals process.
No, you do not need a full 4x4 for the main roads in Zanzibar. A small SUV like a RAV4 is still the better choice, because many hotel access roads are sandy or rutted and a small sedan can get stuck.
Yes, driving in Zanzibar is reasonably safe for a confident tourist who drives in daylight and sticks to the speed limits. The UK Foreign Office warns that road users often ignore the rules and serious accidents are common, so drive defensively and watch for overtaking motorbikes.
The speed limit in Zanzibar is 30 km/h in Stone Town and near crossings, markets, schools, and hospitals. It is 50 km/h in urban areas and 80 km/h on rural roads, as announced by Zanzibar's transport ministry.
Ask the rental company first, because many agreements cover the island only. For a mainland leg, it is usually simpler to take the ferry from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam as a foot passenger and rent a car there. Our guide to 4x4 rentals in Tanzania covers the mainland.
A scooter is cheaper and easier to park, but it offers no protection on busy roads. Helmets are compulsory for riders and passengers under section 130 of the Road Transport Act. Read our guide to renting a motorbike in Zanzibar first.
Call 112 for police, ambulance, and fire anywhere in Tanzania, including Zanzibar (GOV.UK). The French Embassy in Tanzania lists the Zanzibar tourist police at +255 712 950 318 (updated January 2026). Save your rental company's breakdown number as well.
Plan Your Zanzibar Transport
A rental car makes sense for a trip that covers several parts of the island. Let your rental company arrange the permit, keep your documents together, stay inside the 30, 50, and 80 km/h limits, and plan long drives for daylight.
If you would rather skip the driving, a private transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel at a fixed price. Check transfer prices for your route, or browse our Zanzibar transport guides for other ways to get around.
