M-Pesa, Card or Bank Transfer: Paying for Car Hire from Abroad

How paying works with us

No credit card is required for checkout. Within 2 hours of booking, you pay a reservation deposit to secure your dates: 30% of your booking total, including VAT. Paying by credit card? We send you a payment link. Paying by M-Pesa? We share our M-Pesa details by WhatsApp, phone or email. The deposit is refundable if your plans change before the car is handed over to you. Only the reservation deposit is paid to hold the vehicle when you book. You pay the remaining balance when you see the car, or receive a full refund if you aren't satisfied with the vehicle at the delivery inspection. (There are no refunds for returning a car early.) We accept four ways to pay:

• Card.
• M-Pesa, including from abroad through a money transfer app.
• Bank transfer.
• Cash.

Your quote is all-in: the rental, delivery and collection (KES 1,000 each way), the cleaning and service fee of KES 1,000 per booking, a chauffeur if you want one, and VAT (value added tax), which is added to our rates at 16%, with no hidden fees added when you land. Every car includes comprehensive insurance covering damage to third parties.

1. Cards

An international card is one of the simplest ways to pay from abroad.

• How it works: we confirm the amount with you and arrange a secure card payment.
• The advantage: it is quick, and your card provider may offer extra protection on the purchase.
• Keep in mind: tell your bank you will be paying a Kenyan business, so the payment is not flagged as unusual. Your bank may also add a foreign transaction fee.

2. M-Pesa from abroad

Kenya runs on M-Pesa, and you don't need a Kenyan phone line to use it. Many international money transfer apps can send money from a foreign bank account or card straight to M-Pesa.

• How it works: we give you our M-Pesa payment details, and you send the amount from your app.
• The advantage: it is fast, often arriving within minutes, and many apps offer competitive exchange rates.
• Keep in mind: M-Pesa payments can go to a phone number, a Till number or a Paybill number. Check your app supports the type we give you before you send, and double-check every digit.

If you already have a Kenyan line with M-Pesa, or family at home who are helping with the trip, paying by M-Pesa locally is just as easy.

3. International bank transfer

A bank transfer suits large amounts, such as a long hire or a family trip with more than one car.

• How it works: we send you our bank details, and you make the transfer through your bank.
• The advantage: no card or app limits, which helps with larger payments.
• Keep in mind: international transfers can take several working days to arrive, and intermediary banks may take a fee. Use it when you are booking weeks ahead, not days.

Which option should you choose?

• Booking a few days ahead: card or M-Pesa, because they are quick.
• Booking months ahead for December: any of the three works. A bank transfer is fine if you are paying a larger amount.
• A family member in Kenya is helping: M-Pesa from their phone is simplest.

Currency and timing

Prices on our website are shown in Kenyan shillings (KES). If you pay from a foreign account, your bank, card provider or transfer app converts the amount, so compare their exchange rates and fees before you send.

December is peak season for car hire in Kenya, with the diaspora coming home for Christmas, weddings and family gatherings. The earlier you book, the more choice of cars you have. Plans change: if you need to cancel, you can do so any time before the car is handed over to you, and your reservation deposit is refunded in full. To move your dates, message us on WhatsApp.

Pay safely: our official contacts

Scams that copy real businesses are common, so only pay using details you have received from our official channels:

• WhatsApp and phone: +254 729 635 168
• Email: Sales@UrbanEscapeLuxuryCars.com

If you ever receive payment details from another number or email address, or a message saying our details have changed, don't pay. Message us on our official WhatsApp number first to check.

After you pay

Send us the payment confirmation or receipt on WhatsApp so we can match it to your booking. We check the money has arrived and confirm your booking, and closer to the day we confirm the delivery time and place with you. If you are paying for a car for family at home, for example a chauffeured Toyota Alphard for your parents, tell us who will be driving or being driven, and we will confirm what we need from them.

Why booking from abroad works

Because the paperwork and payment are settled before you fly, your arrival is simple. We meet you at arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), or deliver to your hotel or home, walk round the car with you and hand over the keys. Read our first-timer's guide to JKIA arrivals to see how pickup works.

Ready to lock in your car?

Choose your car from the fleet, send your request, and we will confirm everything on WhatsApp. See how booking works.