Hiring a car in Réunion
Tips, pitfalls and budget

In Réunion, distances look short on the map — 70 km from one end to the other — but every outing is an expedition: 400 bends to climb to Cilaos, a barrier that closes at 5:30 pm at the volcano, a dawn start to beat the clouds to the Maïdo. Without a car, it is impossible to experience the intense island at your own pace. Here is everything you need to know before booking: budget, insurance, classic pitfalls and driving tips tested on the spot.

🚗 Why a car is essential

The bus network (Car Jaune and local lines) serves the coast well, but the highlands very poorly: for Piton de la Fournaise, the Maïdo or the thermal baths of Cilaos, there is simply no practical alternative. And that is where Réunion is really played out: the finest panoramas are won early in the morning, before the clouds rise — something no bus timetable allows.

The local golden rule fits in one sentence: "leave early, come down early". Set off from the coast between 5:30 and 6:30 am, summits before 9 am, and start heading back before 4 pm. A hire car picked up right at Roland-Garros airport puts you in the right rhythm from day one.

💶 Budget and booking: the right reflexes

Expect to pay €20 to €35 per day for a city car in normal season, more during French school holidays and the southern summer (December-January). By booking several weeks ahead, you can find 10-day rentals for around €140-180 through comparison sites — prices climb fast as dates approach, since supply is limited on an island.

Three points to check before confirming: a credit card in the driver's name is almost always required for the deposit (debit cards are often refused); a French or European licence is sufficient; and fuel is generally handled "full-to-full" — fill up just before returning the car, as petrol costs around €1.70 to €1.85/L, some 10 to 15% more than in mainland France. To compare international brands and local agencies at a glance, go through a comparison site such as Discover Cars — and find our detailed selection on our Réunion car hire page.

📄 Insurance and excess: read before you sign

On mountain roads, a scratch happens fast: look at the excess before the price. A €22/day offer with a €1,500 excess can end up costing far more than a €28/day offer with excess cover included. Partial or full excess cover (often €5 to €8/day) pays for itself from the first scrape of bodywork.

When you pick up the vehicle, walk all the way around it with your phone: dated photos of every side, the wheels and the windscreen, and any defect noted in writing on the check-out form. Same reflex when returning it. It is the best protection against disputes — and it costs nothing.

⛰️ Driving in the cirques: Cilaos and Salazie

The RN5 to Cilaos is legendary: 31 km and around 400 bends, narrow tunnels carved into the cliff where two vehicles cannot always pass, and a few reverse manoeuvres to expect when facing buses. The local rules: give a short horn blast before blind bends, give way to vehicles climbing, and above all descend using engine braking (2nd or 3rd gear) — overheating brakes are the island's real danger.

The Salazie cirque, via the RD48, is the most accessible: a wider road, waterfalls right beside the tarmac, narrowing only towards Hell-Bourg. Watch out for falling branches in the wet season and for ravines that swell very quickly after a downpour. As for Mafate, no road leads there: the third cirque is earned on foot — park the car at the Maïdo or at Sans-Souci and lace up your trainers.

🌋 Volcano and Maïdo: the race against the clouds

The volcano road (RN3 then RF11) crosses the lunar Plaine des Sables: near-daily fog from late morning, visibility sometimes down to a few metres, and the Pas de Bellecombe barrier closed at 5:30 pm. The last 3 kilometres are a rough track: drive at walking pace — a city car makes it in dry weather. There are no petrol stations in the highlands — set off with a full tank.

For sunrise at the Maïdo (2,200 m), leave the coast around 4:30 am: tight hairpins above 1,500 m, a risk of black ice in July-August, and stray cattle wandering at first light on the Plaine des Cafres as in Salazie. Headlights on, 30 km/h in the mist, and patience: the show at the top rewards everything.

🌀 Cyclones, speed cameras and local rules

The highway code is the same as in mainland France: 50 km/h in town, 80 on open roads, 110 on the Route des Tamarins, alcohol limited to 0.5 g/L, and fixed and mobile speed cameras very much present along the coast. In cyclone season (January-March), check the Météo-France 974 alerts before every outing: orange alert = travel discouraged, red alert = forbidden, and the highland roads close progressively. Never cross a submerged ford, however harmless it looks — wait for the water to recede; it usually does so quickly.

📊 Which vehicle for which programme?

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