Coming home
Car hire in Kenya for the diaspora
Last updated
Yes, you can book a car in Kenya from the UK, the USA, Europe or the Gulf and have it waiting at JKIA when you land: rates start at KES 4,000 a day before VAT, and no credit card is required for checkout. Around 70% of our clients are Kenyans coming home, so we know the trip: a long flight, family waiting, a list of visits upcountry and not enough days.
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.
The cars that fit, with prices
Daily rates before VAT. The all-in totals add delivery and collection in Nairobi, the cleaning and service fee and VAT at 16%, self-drive (the Alphard always with our chauffeur).
| Car | Seats | Per day | 7 days, all in | 14 days, all in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla Fielder Station wagon | 5 | KES 4,500 ≈ $35 USD / £26 GBP / €31 EUR | KES 40,020 ≈ $308 USD / £233 GBP / €275 EUR | KES 76,560 ≈ $590 USD / £446 GBP / €526 EUR |
| Toyota Harrier Luxury crossover SUV | 5 | KES 9,000 ≈ $69 USD / £52 GBP / €62 EUR | KES 76,560 ≈ $590 USD / £446 GBP / €526 EUR | KES 149,640 ≈ $1,153 USD / £872 GBP / €1,029 EUR |
| Mazda CX-8 7-seater SUV | 7 | KES 9,000 ≈ $69 USD / £52 GBP / €62 EUR | KES 76,560 ≈ $590 USD / £446 GBP / €526 EUR | KES 149,640 ≈ $1,153 USD / £872 GBP / €1,029 EUR |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Premium 4x4 | 7 | KES 14,000 ≈ $108 USD / £82 GBP / €96 EUR | KES 117,160 ≈ $903 USD / £683 GBP / €806 EUR | KES 230,840 ≈ $1,779 USD / £1,345 GBP / €1,587 EUR |
| Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Executive 4x4 | 7 | KES 25,000 ≈ $193 USD / £146 GBP / €172 EUR | KES 206,480 ≈ $1,591 USD / £1,203 GBP / €1,420 EUR | KES 409,480 ≈ $3,155 USD / £2,386 GBP / €2,816 EUR |
| Toyota Alphard Luxury van | 8 | KES 15,000 ≈ $116 USD / £87 GBP / €103 EUR plus chauffeur | KES 157,760 ≈ $1,216 USD / £919 GBP / €1,085 EUR | KES 312,040 ≈ $2,405 USD / £1,818 GBP / €2,146 EUR |
Book from abroad, confirmed straight away
Choose your car on our fleet page, pick your dates and where we should meet you, and book online. Your booking is confirmed straight away and emailed to you, so you can board your flight knowing the car is sorted. No credit card is required for checkout. You pay a refundable 30% reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (card payment link or M-Pesa), and the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash.
Met at JKIA with your name on a sign
Add your flight number and we track your flight. The evening before you land, we send your driver's name and number on WhatsApp. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. No Kenyan SIM yet? Use the airport Wi-Fi and WhatsApp. Read the full airport promise and how JKIA car hire works.
Prices you can plan with
Every car's daily rate is published in Kenyan shillings, with a guide in US dollars and euros, on our prices page. Delivery and collection anywhere in Nairobi, JKIA included, is KES 1,000 ($8 USD / £6 GBP / €7 EUR) each way. There is a one-time cleaning and service fee of KES 1,000 ($8 USD / £6 GBP / €7 EUR) plus VAT, and VAT at 16% is added on top of our rates. You see every line before you book, and the price you see is the price you pay.
Booking for family
Booking for parents or a sibling at home? You can book and pay from abroad and have us deliver the car to them. Whoever drives must be at least 25 and have held a full licence for at least 2 years, and must show us their licence and ID or passport. For relatives who would rather not drive, add one of our chauffeurs: KES 4,000 ($31 USD / £23 GBP / €28 EUR) a day in Nairobi, KES 5,000 ($39 USD / £29 GBP / €34 EUR) outside.
Your licence from abroad
You can drive in Kenya on a valid foreign driving licence for up to 90 days from arrival. If your licence is not in English, you also need an International Driving Permit. Staying longer than 90 days means converting to a Kenyan licence through NTSA (the National Transport and Safety Authority), so confirm with NTSA if you are staying longer. Our guide to documents to rent a car in Kenya covers the rest.
Upcountry, weddings and family visits
Heading "shags" for a few days? Most of our cars can go anywhere in Kenya on paved roads with our approval: tell us your route when you book. Murram (dirt) roads to family homes are allowed with our approval, as part of your area of use. Tell us the route when you book. Families like the seven-seat Mazda CX-8, the Toyota Prado and the Land Cruiser V8. For big family events, the Toyota Alphard and Toyota Coaster come with a driver.
Fair when you hand it back
We film the car with you at handover and again at return, and give you a written return receipt. Your security deposit is refunded immediately after the return handover inspection. Read our fair damage promise and the rental terms in plain words.
Who we are
Urban Escape Luxury Cars is a woman-owned Nairobi company, founded in 2018. Read our story. For the rest of your trip, from where to stay to safaris, our sister company Urban Escape Kenya has a diaspora homecoming guide. Coming for Christmas? Read December car hire in Kenya and our December homecoming checklist.
How it works at Urban Escape
- Delivered anywhere in Nairobi and JKIA: JKIA arrivals, your hotel or your home. Delivery and collection cost KES 1,000 ($8 USD / £6 GBP / €7 EUR) each way anywhere in Nairobi.
- Flight tracking: add your flight number and your driver works to the real landing time. The evening before you land, we send your driver's name and number on WhatsApp.
- A video walk-round: we film the car with you at handover and again at return, and you leave with a written return receipt.
- 2019 or newer cars: every car is a 2019 model or newer, serviced and cleaned before each hire. In most cases you will know the exact car assigned to you in advance: your booking page shows it, with its licence plate and photos.
- A replacement car if the car has a manufacturer (mechanical) issue.
- 24/7 support: one call or WhatsApp message reaches a person, day or night.
The rules that matter
- Drivers must be 25 or over and have held a full licence for at least 2 years. We can sometimes waive the 2-year rule; ask before you book.
- The minimum hire is 3 days.
- Mileage is unlimited on every car.
- Paved roads only. Game drives only in our Land Cruiser Safari.
- No border crossing: our cars stay in Kenya.
These are the headline rules. The rental agreement you sign for each booking is the one that counts, so check it before you drive. Our rental terms in plain words explain every clause.
Paying today
No credit card is required for checkout. You pay a refundable 30% reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (card payment link or M-Pesa), and the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash. Cancellation is free until the car is handed over. Paying from abroad? Our guide to paying for car hire from abroad explains each option.
Read before you book
Driving in Kenya with a US, UK or EU Licence (2026)
The 90-day rule for foreign licences, when you need an International Driving Permit, and the documents we ask for at handover.
December Homecoming Checklist: Flights, eTA, Car and SIM
Flights, eTAs for children on foreign passports, the car, the SIM, money and the key dates, in the order to do them.
M-Pesa, Card or Bank Transfer: Paying for Car Hire from Abroad
How card, M-Pesa and bank transfer payments work from abroad, and how to pay safely.
What our customers say
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado “Smooth booking process, fast replies and clear communication. The car was clean and well maintained. I was uneasy with the process since I was visiting Kenya for a few days but they put my mind at ease. Would highly recommend.”
Toyota Land Cruiser V8 “I've hired a Toyota V8 from them and it was clean and well maintained. The response when I was extending was fast. I'll definitely use them again on my return trip.”
Toyota Harrier “Best customer service experience I ever had in Kenya, clean cars inside and out and the best part is the price.”
Questions
Can I book car hire in Kenya from abroad?
Yes. Book online from anywhere, and your booking is confirmed straight away. No credit card is required for checkout. You pay a refundable 30% reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (card payment link or M-Pesa), and the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash.
Can I hire a car in Kenya from the UK or the USA?
Yes. Most of our clients book from the UK, the USA, Europe and the Gulf. UK visitors usually search for "car hire" and US visitors for "car rental": it is the same service, delivered to JKIA or wherever you are staying.
Can my relative collect the car for me?
Yes, we can deliver it to them. Anyone who drives must be named on the booking, be at least 25 and have held a full licence for at least 2 years, and show us their licence and ID or passport.
Can I drive in Kenya on my foreign licence?
Yes. You can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 90 days from arrival. If it is not in English, you also need an International Driving Permit. Staying longer? Confirm with NTSA.
When do I get my security deposit back?
You see the exact security deposit for your car in your quote before you book, and again on your booking page. It is fully refundable and due with your remaining balance by handover. It is not an extra charge: it is returned when the car is returned. Your security deposit is refunded immediately after the return handover inspection. It comes back the same way you paid it: by M-Pesa to the number it came from, to the bank account you paid from, back to your card, or in cash. We check the car together and film it, just as we did at handover, and you get a written return receipt. If nothing is owed, you get it all back.
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.
Which car is best for a family coming home?
The seven-seat Mazda CX-8 for good roads, the Toyota Prado for long drives upcountry, and the Toyota Alphard with our chauffeur for elderly parents.
Ready when you are
Choose your car and dates.
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.