What travellers say after picking up a no-deposit car with 4Drive at the airport, in Stone Town or straight at their beach hotel.
We keep this page honest - good trips and the odd hiccup, mostly around sandy tracks and the occasional late ferry connection that pushed a handover back by an hour. What comes up again and again is the same thing: no deposit held on a card, no stress at the counter (because there is no counter), and a driver waiting with the car where you actually are - at arrivals, at a Stone Town guesthouse, or at a lodge in Jambiani.
Renters mention the visitor driving permit being sorted for them, the walkaround photos before driving off, and being able to pay the balance in cash USD on arrival instead of committing a credit card online. A few reviews below talk about the Jimny on sandy last-mile roads to the north and east coast, and a handful mention checkpoints - all describe them as routine, not a problem, as long as the permit is in the glovebox.
Booked the Suzuki Alto for two weeks in Nungwi. No deposit taken anywhere, just 20 percent upfront and cash for the rest at delivery. Driver was waiting at arrivals with our name, permit already printed. Genuinely easier than any car rental I have done in Europe.
Rented a Jimny for the sandy road down to our lodge near Matemwe. Would not have managed that stretch in a normal saloon. No credit card hold, paid the rest in USD cash. Car had a small scratch already noted on the contract so no argument at return.
We flew into ZNZ late at night and honestly worried about arranging a car after dark. Driver was there, handed over the permit, explained the checkpoints calmly, and we were at our Stone Town hotel in fifteen minutes. No deposit, no drama.
Toyota Rush for the family, delivered to our hotel in Kiwengwa. Car was clean and the insurance cover gave us peace of mind on the coastal road. Only issue was a fifteen-minute wait past the agreed time, but they texted ahead so no real complaint.
No credit card required was the deciding factor for us since we only travel with a debit card. Paid the deposit-free way, cash on handover in Paje. The Celerio handled the tarmac fine and the permit was already in the glovebox.
Went for the RAV4 for a north loop, Nungwi to Kendwa and back through Stone Town. Full insurance with no excess surprises when we mentioned a stone chip on the bumper - they had already noted it before we drove off. Solid outfit.
Green season price for the Alto was genuinely cheap, and it still came with full insurance and the permit sorted. Delivery to our Stone Town guesthouse entrance was smooth even down the narrow lanes.
Jimny for two weeks between Jambiani and Paje. Sandy tracks were fine with the higher clearance. One checkpoint stop on the east coast road, permit and licence checked, done in two minutes, no issue at all.
Loved that there was no counter to queue at. Driver met us at arrivals, walked us round the car with photos on his phone, explained left-hand driving since we are used to the right, and off we went. No deposit held anywhere on our card.
Booked online, paid a small prepayment, rest in cash at the airport. Straightforward and the Noah minivan fit our group and kite gear without a problem for the run down to Paje.
Car delivered to our hotel near Kendwa about twenty minutes late because of traffic near Stone Town, but they called ahead. Everything else was exactly as described - no deposit, insurance included, permit handed over with the keys.
First time driving on the left in years and the driver who delivered the car gave us a proper rundown of the road rules, dala-dala habits and where fuel stations are before heading north. Made the whole trip much less stressful.
No credit card needed suited us perfectly since our bank blocks foreign holds anyway. Paid by debit card online for the prepayment and cash for the rest. Suzuki Alto did everything we needed between Stone Town and Michamvi.
Delivery to Fumba was not something I expected to find easily but they handled it without extra fuss. Car was in good shape, permit ready, and the price for a green season week was lower than we budgeted for.
We drove Stone Town to Kizimkazi for the dolphin tour and back in a day. Roads were fine on the main route, permit kept us calm at two checkpoints along the way. No deposit at any point, just as advertised.
Good experience overall. The Jimny had a slightly worn interior but mechanically solid, handled the track to our lodge in Uroa without issue. Insurance and permit both included as promised.
Booked last minute for a week in Bwejuu. They still managed free delivery to the hotel and had the visitor permit ready by the time we landed. Cash payment on handover, no card details needed beyond the small booking deposit.
Compared several options before landing and this was the only one that did not want a credit card hold. Alto was cheap and reliable for tarmac routes, and the driver explained the speed limits and checkpoint routine clearly.
Handover at our hotel in Pwani Mchangani was quick, contract signed on the car hood, photos taken together, permit handed over. No deposit worries the whole trip.
Rented the RAV4 for two weeks touring most of the island. One small delay picking us up in Stone Town but the team was responsive on WhatsApp the whole time. Would rent again.
Everything about the no-deposit process was clear before we even landed - prepayment, cash balance, walkaround photos. No surprises, no card blocked for a month like other trips we have had elsewhere.
Drove from the airport straight to Nungwi the same afternoon. Roads were decent all the way, sandy only for the last few hundred metres to our lodge. The Alto managed it slowly but fine.
We were nervous about driving in a new country but the honesty about checkpoints, unlit roads at night and dala-dala habits in the driving notes they sent actually matched what we experienced. Felt prepared rather than surprised.
Delivery to Jambiani for a kitesurfing trip, Noah minivan easily fit boards and bags. Full insurance meant we did not stress about the one time we scraped a wheel arch on a sandy corner.
Paid the small booking deposit online with a debit card, no credit card needed at any stage. Cash for the rest at pickup in Stone Town. Straightforward and the car was exactly as pictured.
Good value for the Celerio during green season. One checkpoint on the road to Kiwengwa, permit checked in under two minutes. Everything else about the deposit-free process was as described.
Third time renting on the island and by far the smoothest, mostly because of the no-deposit setup and the fact the car came to our hotel in Kendwa instead of us hunting for an office.
Jimny for the sandy tracks around Matemwe, handled everything we threw at it. Permit and insurance included, no deposit anywhere on the card. Would recommend to anyone nervous about driving here for the first time.
Great communication before arrival, clear about cash versus card, and the delivery to our hotel in Michamvi was on time. No deposit, no credit card, exactly what we needed for a straightforward beach holiday.
Yes. These are summaries of feedback left by travellers who rented a car with 4Drive across the island, from the airport to beach hotels in Nungwi, Paje, Kiwengwa and elsewhere.
That is the point raised most often. On most cars there is no deposit held on a card at all, just a small prepayment to confirm the booking and cash for the balance at handover.
Renters heading to lodges off the main tarmac, especially around Matemwe, Jambiani and Bwejuu, generally recommend the Jimny or an SUV over the economy cars for the last sandy stretch.
No. Reviews describe checkpoints as quick and routine as long as the visitor driving permit and licence are in the car, which 4Drive arranges and hands over with the keys.
Yes, get in touch through the contact page after your rental and we will be glad to add your feedback.
4.8 out of 5 based on 30 reviews, with most mentioning the no-deposit process, free hotel delivery and the included visitor driving permit.