Ready for your Urban Escape?
How to book your car hire in Nairobi
We've made booking car hire in Nairobi as fast and transparent as possible. Whether you are in London, New York, Dubai or anywhere else in the world, you can choose your car, see your price and book in a few minutes. Your booking is confirmed straight away by email, and our team is on WhatsApp for anything else, our fastest way to talk across time zones.
Car hire in 5 steps
- Choose your car
Browse the fleet, all 2019 models or newer: Land Cruisers and luxury SUVs, Mercedes-Benz saloons, family seven-seaters, everyday cars, and vans, pickups and a bus for groups. Each car has its own page with what it is best for and its daily rate.
Going on safari? Our Land Cruiser Safari is the only car in our fleet allowed on game drives.
- Pick your dates and delivery point
Choose when you want the car and when you will hand it back (Kenya time), where we deliver it (arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your office, hotel, or home) and where we collect it.
Add a chauffeur if you would rather be driven.
- Get your all-in quote
The booking page shows your full price upfront:
the self-drive rental costs (the minimum is 3 days),
delivery and collection at KES 1,000 each way,
the one-time Returned Vehicle Cleaning and Service Fee of KES 1,000,
a chauffeur if you add one (KES 4,000 a day within Nairobi, or KES 5,000 a day if you are travelling outside Nairobi),
the subtotal excluding VAT (value added tax),
VAT at 16% and the total including VAT.It also shows the reservation deposit amount to hold the vehicle for your dates, and the refundable security deposit covering incidentals.
- Upload your documents and sign
Share a copy of your driving licence and passport or ID as well as your emergency contact name and phone number, and sign your rental agreement. You will receive a booking confirmation and reminders of your upcoming reservation.
- Arrive and drive
Land at JKIA and one of our drivers meets you in arrivals, or we deliver to your door. We show you the spare wheel and jack and film a quick video walkthrough of the car (we encourage you to film one too). Then the keys are yours, and your Urban Escape begins.
What you will need
- Your driving licence, held for at least 2 years (we can sometimes waive this; ask us). Many visitors drive on their home licence in English with a photo; check current NTSA rules before you travel. An International Driving Permit is a safe extra.
- Your passport, or your Kenyan ID if you are a Kenyan citizen.
- An Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for anyone entering Kenya on a foreign passport, unless their nationality is exempt.
- Every driver must be 25 or over. Extra drivers are welcome: we add them to the rental agreement, and they need the same documents.
Our guide to the documents you need to rent a car in Kenya has the full checklist.
What every booking includes
The minimum rental is 3 days, delivery and collection cost KES 1,000 each way, and a one-time Returned Vehicle Cleaning and Service Fee of KES 1,000 covers cleaning the car after you return it. Our prices exclude VAT (value added tax), which is added at 16% and shown in your quote. Every booking comes with:
- Comprehensive insurance covering damage to other people and their property and, on self-drive bookings, an Excess Fee for Damage that caps what you pay if our car is damaged.
- Unlimited mileage. Our cars stay in Kenya and on paved roads, and game drives are not allowed, except in our Land Cruiser Safari.
- A car that is a 2019 model or newer, serviced, maintained and cleaned before your rental, with GPS tracking and an anti-theft system.
- 24/7 help, and a replacement car if the car has a manufacturer (mechanical) issue.
- Flight tracking for airport pickups, so we are there when you land.
Prefer to book on WhatsApp or by email?
That works too. Send us the car you would like, your dates and where you would like it delivered, and we will reply with an all-in quote. WhatsApp is the quickest way to reach us across time zones.
Not sure which car to choose?
Tell us who is travelling, how much luggage you have and where you are heading, and we will suggest the right car. Or read our guides: Land Cruiser V8 vs Prado and self-drive vs chauffeur.
Deposits, fees and rules
Every charge that can apply
In your quote
- The daily rate (3 days minimum)
- Delivery and collection, KES 1,000 each way (airport included)
- The one-time Returned Vehicle Cleaning and Service Fee, KES 1,000
- A chauffeur if you add one: KES 4,000 a day in Nairobi, KES 5,000 outside (up to 12 hours a day)
- Child or booster seats if you ask for them: KES 500 a day for a child seat and KES 300 a day for a booster seat, each capped at KES 5,000 per hire
- VAT at 16%, on its own line
- A refundable security deposit, refunded immediately after the return handover inspection
Only if it happens
- Fuel below the level you received, at pump price
- Late return after the 1-hour grace period
- Fines and tolls, at cost
- Chauffeur overtime: KES 500 an hour after 12 hours in a day
- Chauffeur trips away from Nairobi: KES 1,000 a night for the driver, plus the driver's hotel and food
- A cleaning charge if anyone smokes in the car
- Damage to the inside of the car caused by a pet
- Damage, up to the Excess Fee for Damage
We never charge for mileage, an airport surcharge, admin fees on fines and tolls or a car wash on return.
How much is the security deposit, and when do I get it back?
The refundable security deposit is 10% of the rental before VAT, or the minimum for the car's class if that is higher: KES 20,000 for economy cars, KES 30,000 for mid-size cars and compact suvs, KES 50,000 for prado, land cruiser v8 and other large 4x4s, KES 75,000 for porsche cayenne and other luxury cars. It is due with your remaining balance by handover. It is not an extra charge: it is returned when the car is returned, immediately after the return handover inspection, minus only costs you owe under the agreement.
Only these can be taken off:
- fuel below the level you received, at the pump price
- traffic and speed camera fines, parking and tolls, at cost
- a late return, after the 1-hour grace period
- new damage shown on the handover and return videos, up to your Excess Fee for Damage
Anything taken off is on a written list, with the video or a receipt to show it, and there are no admin or processing fees.
With one of our chauffeurs driving there is no security deposit and no Excess Fee for Damage. We are also happy to waive the security deposit for example for returning customers upon your request.
What if I return the car late?
You have a 1-hour grace period. After that, each hour late costs 10% of the daily rate. If you are more than 5 hours late, a full extra day is charged. Need longer? Ask for an extension on your booking page before your return time.
How long must I have held my licence?
Every driver must be 25 or over and have held a driving licence for at least 2 years. We can sometimes waive the 2-year rule; ask us before you book.
What if I return the car with less fuel?
Return the car with the same fuel level. If it is lower, we charge only the cost of topping it up at the current pump price, with no service fee.
Who pays traffic fines and tolls?
Traffic fines, speed camera fines, parking fines and tolls are passed on at cost, with no admin fee. The Expressway toll from JKIA to Westlands is about KES 330 for a car (January 2026 rate; rates can change). Speed camera and traffic fines are sent to us, as the car's owner, sometimes weeks after your hire. We send you the official notice with your booking reference. You pay only the fine, at cost. There is no admin or handling fee. Fines are paid only through official channels (eCitizen, a bank or our official payment details), never in cash at the roadside.
What do I do after an accident?
1. Make sure everyone is safe, then call or WhatsApp our 24/7 support line. 2. For an accident involving anyone else, or a theft, report it to the police and get a police abstract (the official police report) within 24 hours. 3. Photograph the damage, the scene and the other party's details, including their number plate. 4. Do not admit fault, or agree any payment, with anyone else involved. On a self-drive booking, the most you pay for damage to our car is the Excess Fee for Damage in your agreement, as long as its terms are kept.
Do you have child seats?
Yes: KES 500 a day for a child seat and KES 300 a day for a booster seat, each capped at KES 5,000 per hire. Tell us your children's ages when you book and we will fit the right seat.
Can I smoke in the car?
Smoking in our cars is not encouraged. If anyone smokes in the car, a cleaning charge applies.
Can I bring a pet?
Pets are welcome if they travel in an approved pet carrier. Any damage to the inside of the car caused by a pet is charged.
Booking questions
Can I book from abroad?
Absolutely. The whole process works from anywhere: choose your car and book online, and your booking is confirmed straight away, so your car is locked in before you board your flight.
What are the payment options?
Pay a refundable reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (we send a card payment link, or M-Pesa details by WhatsApp, phone or email), then the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash. No credit card is required for checkout. Our guide to paying for car hire from abroad explains each one.
Do you offer chauffeurs?
Yes. If you would prefer not to drive, every car can be booked with one of our professional, vetted drivers, within Nairobi and throughout Kenya. A chauffeur costs KES 4,000 a day within Nairobi or KES 5,000 a day outside Nairobi, and on trips away from Nairobi you also cover your driver's food and overnight accommodation.
Do I pay when I book?
Your booking is confirmed straight away and emailed to you with your rental agreement. 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. The reservation deposit is 30% of the total, paid within 2 hours of booking: we send you a card payment link, or share our M-Pesa details by WhatsApp, phone or email. The balance can be paid by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash.
How much is the reservation deposit, and is it refundable?
The reservation deposit is 30% of your booking total, including VAT, and your quote shows the amount. It secures your dates and is part of the total, not an extra. If your plans change before the car is handed over to you, you get the whole deposit back, and you also get a full refund if you aren't satisfied with the vehicle at the delivery inspection. There is no refund for returning the car early.
What if the car is damaged?
On a self-drive booking, the most you pay if the car is damaged is the Excess Fee for Damage, shown on the car's page when you book and written into your rental agreement.
More answers on our frequently asked questions page.
Ready for your Urban Escape?
Call or WhatsApp us, or email Sales@UrbanEscapeLuxuryCars.com. We reply to every email within 2 hours, 7 AM to 10 PM Kenya time.
Book online in 3 minutes. Confirmed instantly. No credit card required for checkout. Pay in advance to streamline your travel or pay the balance when you see the car.
Free cancellation until handover.