The short answer
- There is no rental desk in Seychelles. A member of our team meets you with your car at the airport, the ferry jetty or your hotel, holding a sign with your name.
- You check the car together, note any marks on the booking form, and take your own photos and a short video.
- You pay at delivery, in cash (euros or rupees) or by Visa or Mastercard. A debit card works. Most of our cars need no deposit and no card hold.
- You return the car at the entrance of the main airport car park, or at the jetty or your hotel, at the time you agreed. Hand over the keys and you are done.
- Delivery, return, insurance, unlimited mileage and a second driver are included. No fee if your flight lands late.
This article exists because of Carla.
Carla, a guest from Italy, wrote to us this week with a simple question. How does the pick-up and the drop-off work? Is there a place near the ferry terminal and the airport? Then she added something that stopped us. She couldn’t find anything about it on the internet.
We told her it was a great idea for a blog post. If she couldn’t find it, others probably weren’t finding it either. So, Carla, this one is for you, and for everyone who lands in Seychelles wondering the same thing. Here it is, step by step, from the people who hand over cars on Mahé and Praslin every single day. Thank you for the inspiration.
Why there is no rental counter at Seychelles airport
Most visitors expect a row of rental desks in the arrivals hall, the way it works in Europe or Dubai. Seychelles is different. Rental companies here are small, often family run, and the cars come to you. That is the whole model. It’s called delivery and collection, and on a SeyBooking.com rental it is included in the price at the airport, the ferry terminals and most hotels and guesthouses on Mahé and Praslin.
It means no paperwork queue after a long-haul night, and no hunting for a car park in a country you’ve just landed in.
Step 1. Arriving at the airport (SEZ)
Once you’re through immigration, baggage and customs, walk out into the arrivals area. A member of our team will be waiting with a sign showing your name.
Give us your flight number
We follow the flight. If you land late, we’re there when you land. There is no late-arrival or after-hours fee.
Don’t rush
Immigration queues happen and we know it. The car isn’t going anywhere.
Keep WhatsApp on
Connect to the airport Wi-Fi or an eSIM. If anything changes, one message reaches us directly.
Step 2. Arriving by ferry at the jetty
Many guests start on Praslin or La Digue and come back to Mahé by Cat Cocos, arriving at the Inter-Island Quay in Victoria. Others arrive on Praslin at the Baie Sainte Anne jetty.
It works the same way. When the boat arrives, step off and look for a member of our team. They’ll have a sign with your name on it and a big welcoming smile. Ferries can run a little late with the sea. The car waits for you.
Step 3. Checking the car together
This is the part people worry about, and it’s the simplest part of all.
Our team member walks you to the car. Together you walk around it and point out any existing marks, scratches or dents. Each one is noted on the diagram of the car on your booking form, so you both agree on its condition before you drive anywhere.
Our honest advice, which we give to everyone
Photograph every side of the car on your own phone, plus the wheels and the windscreen. Then film a slow thirty-second walk-around video. It’s timestamped, it’s yours, and it settles any question at the end in seconds. Note the fuel level too. You bring the car back with about the same level, and if it comes back lower a refuel is charged.
Then have a quick look inside. Air conditioning on, seatbelts, child seats fitted if you asked for one. If something isn’t right, say so now and we’ll fix it.
Step 4. Signing and paying
Once you’re happy with the car, you sign the booking form and pay the person who delivered it. Payment happens on the day, at delivery, not weeks before.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cash? | Yes, in euros or Seychelles rupees. |
| Card? | Yes, Visa or Mastercard. A small bank card fee is added, shown on your quote (currently 4%). |
| Do I need a credit card? | No. A debit card works. |
| Deposit or card hold? | None on most of our cars. A few models carry a small cash deposit, handed back in cash at return. If yours is one, the quote says so in writing before you book. |
| What’s included? | Collision damage waiver insurance, unlimited mileage, a free additional driver, delivery and collection, and free cancellation or changes. |
The insurance excess is on your quote, for example €1,800 on most of our Mahé cars, and you can choose to lower it at delivery for a small amount per day. You decide on the spot. Our car rental insurance guide explains what is and isn’t covered.
Then you get in your car and go. The island is yours.
Choose your car
These are the three cars our guests book most. Each one is delivered to the airport, the jetty or your hotel exactly as described above.
Suzuki Swift automatic
- Automatic, 2025 and 2026 models
- 5 seats, easy to park
- No deposit, no card hold
- Mahé, delivered free
Suzuki Brezza automatic
- Automatic SUV, higher seat
- Room for 5 and the luggage
- Made for the mountain roads
- Mahé and Praslin
Mini Moke convertible
- Open top, the classic beach car
- Manual (one automatic on request)
- No deposit, no card hold
- Mahé, delivered free
Every car includes insurance, unlimited mileage, a free second driver, delivery and collection, and free cancellation. Pay on the day, cash or card. See the whole fleet
Step 5. Before you pull away: driving in Seychelles
Seychelles drives on the left. The cars are right-hand drive and most of ours are automatic, so you only have to think about the side of the road, not the gears.
- Roads are narrow and winding, especially over the mountain passes on Mahé (Sans Souci, La Misère) and around Praslin. Take your time. Locals will overtake you, and that’s fine.
- Speed limits are low. 40 km/h in built-up areas, 65 km/h on open roads, 80 km/h on the short dual carriageway to the airport.
- Watch the drains. Many roads have deep concrete gutters right at the edge. Keep away from the edge, especially when you pull over.
- Buses are big and they own the road. Let them pass.
- Your licence. Drivers must be 18 or older and have held their licence for at least 12 months. Your national licence is fine. Every driver should be present at delivery so they can be added to the form.
More local tips are in our guide to driving in Seychelles.
Step 6. Returning the car at the airport
Returning is just as easy.
Before your flight, drive to the airport and head for the entrance of the main airport car park. The same team member who delivered your car, or a colleague, will be waiting for you there. You’ll recognise them straight away. More likely, they’ll recognise their car and wave you down.
You park. You go over the car together, the same way you did at delivery. You hand over the keys. Say your goodbyes, and they’ll wish you a safe flight home.
How early should you return the car? Agree a return time with us that leaves you comfortable time for check-in. Tell us your flight time when you book and we’ll set it with you.
Returning the car at a jetty or a hotel
Leaving Mahé for Praslin or La Digue? We can collect the car at the Inter-Island Quay before your ferry. Staying on? We can collect it at your hotel. The handover is the same. Walk around the car, check it against the form, hand over the keys. Just agree the place and the time when you book.
How rental days are counted
Every rental runs on a 24-hour clock from the moment of delivery. Delivery on the 10th at 14:00 and return on the 12th at 14:00 is two days. Return at 15:00 on the 12th starts a third day. Your quote shows the exact number of days, so there’s nothing to work out on the spot.
Frequently asked questions
How does car rental pick-up work at Seychelles airport?
There is no rental desk. A member of the rental team meets you in the arrivals area with a sign showing your name, walks you to your car, checks it with you, takes payment and hands you the keys.
Can I pick up a rental car at the ferry terminal in Seychelles?
Yes. We deliver to the Inter-Island Quay in Victoria on Mahé and the Baie Sainte Anne jetty on Praslin. Look for a team member with your name on a sign when you step off the boat. The car waits if the ferry is late.
Where do I return a rental car at Seychelles airport?
At the entrance of the main airport car park, at the time you agreed. A team member meets you there, checks the car with you and takes the keys.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Seychelles?
Not with SeyBooking.com. You can pay in cash, in euros or rupees, or by Visa or Mastercard, and a debit card is accepted. Most of our cars need no deposit and no card hold.
When do I pay for my rental car in Seychelles?
At delivery, to the person who brings you the car, after you have checked it and signed the booking form.
Is there a fee if my flight is delayed?
No. Give us your flight number and we meet you when you actually land, at no extra cost.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Seychelles?
No. Your national driving licence is enough, as long as you are 18 or over and have held it for at least 12 months.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Seychelles?
The left. Cars are right-hand drive and most rental cars are automatic.
Should I take photos of the rental car?
Yes. Photograph every side, the wheels and the windscreen, and film a short walk-around video at delivery. It protects you and makes the return quick.
Your name on a sign. Your car at the door.
Delivery and return at the airport, the jetty or your hotel, with insurance, unlimited mileage and a second driver included. Pay on the day, cash or card.
Related reading: Airport car rental · Car rental insurance in Seychelles · Driving in Seychelles · Car rental terms and conditions
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