The short answer
- Yes, you can rent a car for one day on Mahé, but it’s hard to find and it’s usually charged as two days.
- One day takes about eight hours of staff time. Two team members and two cars to deliver, the same again to collect, plus fuel for every trip.
- A one-day rental blocks the car for two calendar days, so it can’t go to anyone else on either day.
- Most Seychelles rental companies have a three-day minimum. On Praslin that’s the rule at almost every company, including ours.
- With SeyBooking.com on Mahé, one day (24 hours or less) is charged as two days. When we have a car free, we do our honest best on the price.
- The one exception is the Mini Moke. One day in the open-top Moke is €110, not doubled.
We get this question almost every day, and it’s a fair one. From the outside it looks simple. One car, one day. So here is what actually happens behind a one-day rental, from the people who do it.
What a one-day car rental really involves
Imagine you’ve asked for a car from 9 am to 6 pm on a Tuesday, delivered to your hotel in the north of Mahé.
| Step | Who | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare the car. Cleaned, checked, fuelled, paperwork ready | 1 team member | About 1 hour |
| Drive to you. One drives your car, the other drives the car that takes them both home | 2 team members, 2 cars | Easily 1 hour |
| Handover. Walk-around, damage diagram, insurance, payment | 2 team members | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Drive back to base | 2 team members, 1 car | About 1 hour |
| Then all of it again to collect the car at the end of the day | 2 team members, 2 cars | Another half day |
That’s a whole morning gone for two people, plus fuel for every trip, just to deliver the car. Then the same again to collect it. A “one-day” rental is roughly eight person-hours of work and several car journeys to put one car in your hands for nine hours.
Why one day blocks the car for two
This is the part people don’t see.
A car that goes out on Tuesday at 9 am and comes back at 6 pm can’t be cleaned, checked and delivered to the next guest that evening. It’s out for Tuesday and isn’t ready for anyone until Wednesday. If it goes out on Sunday evening and comes back on Monday afternoon, it’s lost both days. Nobody else can rent it on either one.
Meanwhile, another family asked for that same car for five days and was told it wasn’t available. In busy months that happens a lot. Every one-day rental we accept is very often a longer rental we’ve turned away.
Why most car rental companies in Seychelles say no
So when you’ve written to five rental companies and three didn’t answer and two said “minimum three days”, this is why. It isn’t laziness, and it isn’t greed. The numbers simply don’t work for a small company.
- On Mahé, many rental companies won’t accept one-day or two-day rentals at all and keep a strict three-day minimum.
- On Praslin, a three-day minimum is the rule at most, if not all, rental companies. That includes ours.
- In peak season, November to April and in July and August, even companies that normally bend the rule stop, because the fleet is booked with longer rentals.
Why we charge one day as two
We’ve chosen a middle path. On Mahé we do accept one-day rentals when we have a car free, but one day (24 hours or less) is charged as two days. It’s printed on every car page and in every quote, so you see it before you book.
| Car on Mahé | Daily rate | One day, charged as 2 days |
|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Celerio automatic | €45 | €90 |
| Suzuki Swift automatic | €50 | €100 |
| Suzuki Brezza automatic SUV | €60 | €120 |
| Mini Moke convertible | €95 | €110 (not doubled) |
Charging two days covers the real cost of the two deliveries and the second day the car is off the road. It’s the only way a one-day rental doesn’t lose money. And because two days are charged anyway, keeping the car for the full 48 hours costs nothing more.
Pro tip from us: make your rental your airport transfer
If you only need a car for one day, plan that day around your flight. Take the car the day before you fly, explore the island, and instead of handing it back at your hotel, return it at the airport on your way out. Or do it the other way round. Collect the car at the airport when you land and we pick it up from your hotel the next day.
A private airport transfer on Mahé costs around €25 to €45 one way in a car, and €55 to €65 in a van for a family or a group, depending on where you’re staying. That’s the same as, or more than, the second day of a one-day rental. So the car stops being an extra expense. It becomes your airport transfer, with a whole day of beaches thrown in. It’s the smartest way to rent a car for one day in Seychelles, and it’s what we’d do ourselves.
The best cars for a single day
If you only have one day, make it a good one. The Mini Moke is the one car we don’t double for a single day, and an open-top day around Mahé is the best way to spend it. Prefer air conditioning? The Swift and the Brezza are the ones our one-day guests book most.
Mini Moke convertible
- Open top, the classic beach car
- Manual (one automatic on request)
- No deposit, no card hold
- Mahé, delivered free
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
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
How we still try to help
We understand how frustrating this is. You only need a car for one day. Maybe you’re on Mahé for one night between Praslin and your flight, or you want one day to see the south. You shouldn’t feel punished for it.
So here’s our promise. If we have the availability, we’ll try to accommodate you, and where we can, we’ll bring the price down. It isn’t always possible, especially in peak season, and we’ll tell you honestly when it isn’t. But we do try.
Celerio, one day, October
The normal one-day price is €90. We let it go for €55, as goodwill.
Brezza, one day, November
Sunday evening ferry to Monday afternoon flight, island fully booked. The only car we could find. One-day price €120. We did it for €100.
We can’t promise that every time. But if you ask us kindly and we have a car, we’ll look at it properly.
How to get a one-day rental, with us or anyone
- Send everything in one message. Date, delivery time and place, return time and place, the car you’d like, and your flight or ferry number. A complete request is much easier to say yes to.
- Be flexible on the car. If the small car is gone, an SUV might be free.
- Choose an easy place. Delivery at the airport or the Victoria jetty is simpler than a hotel at the far end of the island.
- Ask early. A one-day request two months out is far easier than one for tomorrow morning.
- Consider keeping it two days. It costs the same, and you get a relaxed evening instead of racing back.
- Return it at the airport. Time the rental with your flight and the car replaces your airport transfer.
When a rental car isn’t the best answer
Sometimes, for one day, a car isn’t the right tool. If you only need to get from the ferry to the airport, a private transfer is simpler. If you want to see Mahé in a day, a private island tour with a local driver means no mountain roads to drive, no parking, and someone who knows where the quiet beaches are. Tell us what your day looks like and we’ll suggest the best option, even if it’s not a car.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car for one day in Seychelles?
On Mahé, yes, from some companies including SeyBooking.com, subject to availability. It is usually charged as two days. On Praslin, most rental companies have a three-day minimum.
Why is a one-day car rental in Seychelles charged as two days?
Delivering and collecting the car takes two staff members and two cars each way, around eight hours of work in total plus fuel, and the car is blocked for two calendar days. Charging two days covers that real cost.
What is the minimum car rental period in Seychelles?
It varies. Many Mahé companies have a two or three-day minimum. On Praslin a three-day minimum is the norm. With SeyBooking.com on Mahé, one day is possible and is charged as two days.
How much is a one-day car rental in Seychelles?
With SeyBooking.com on Mahé, a one-day rental costs two days at the car’s daily rate, for example €100 for a Suzuki Swift or €120 for a Suzuki Brezza, with delivery, insurance and unlimited mileage included. The Mini Moke is the exception at €110 for one day.
What is the best car to rent for one day in Seychelles?
The Mini Moke. It is the one car SeyBooking.com does not charge as two days, €110 for a single day, and an open-top day around Mahé is the classic Seychelles experience. For air conditioning, the Suzuki Swift (€100 for one day) and the Suzuki Brezza SUV (€120) are the most booked.
Can I get a discount on a one-day car rental in Seychelles?
Sometimes. When a car is free we try to reduce the price, especially outside peak season. It isn’t always possible, but it’s always worth asking.
Can I use a one-day car rental instead of an airport transfer in Seychelles?
Yes, and it’s the best way to do it. Time the rental with your flight and return the car at the airport, or collect it there when you land. A private airport transfer on Mahé costs around €25 to €45 one way in a car and €55 to €65 in a van, the same as or more than the second day of a one-day rental, so the car replaces the transfer and you get a day of driving as well.
Can I rent a car for one day on Praslin?
Rarely. Most, if not all, Praslin rental companies require a minimum of three days.
Is it cheaper to take a taxi or rent a car for a day in Seychelles?
For a single trip, a taxi or private transfer is usually cheaper. For a full day visiting several beaches, a car or a private tour with a driver gives better value.
Need a car for one day?
Send us your date, times and places. We’ll tell you honestly what we can do, and if we have a car, we’ll do our best on the price.
Related reading: Airport car rental · Car rental insurance in Seychelles · Driving in Seychelles · Car rental terms and conditions
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