The rules that govern every booking with 4Drive Zanzibar. Please read them before you confirm a car - they are short, and they explain exactly what you are agreeing to.
4Drive Zanzibar ("4Drive", "we", "us") is a direct car rental operator based on Zanzibar island, Tanzania. We deliver vehicles to Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ), Stone Town and beach hotels across the island - we do not operate a rental counter. By booking a car through 4drivezanzibar.com, by phone, or through WhatsApp, you ("the driver", "the customer") agree to the terms below.
A booking is confirmed once a prepayment of 15-20% of the total rental value is received. This prepayment replaces the security deposit on most vehicles - it is not an additional fee, it is deducted from the final balance due at handover. The balance is settled in cash (USD or TZS) or by debit card when the car is delivered. Full details of how the no-deposit system works are on our no-deposit page.
Most cars in our fleet - Suzuki Alto, Celerio, Toyota IST - are rented with no cash deposit at all. Larger vehicles, including the Jimny 4x4, Rush/RAV4 and Noah minivan, may require a refundable cash deposit at handover, returned in full at drop-off if the car comes back undamaged and with the fuel level agreed. Any deposit requirement is stated clearly before you pay the prepayment, never after.
We do not hold a credit card and we do not take a card guarantee. Accepted payment methods are debit card online for the prepayment, and cash in USD or TZS, or a second debit card payment, for the balance at handover. See renting without a credit card for the full breakdown of accepted currencies and receipts.
The driver must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid national driving licence held for at least one year. Tanzania requires a visitor driving permit to drive on Zanzibar - 4Drive arranges this permit for every rental at no extra cost, and hands it over together with the car and the rental contract. The permit and your licence must be kept in the vehicle at all times; police checkpoints on the main roads are routine and may ask to see both.
There is no rental counter on Zanzibar. Handover happens where you are - the airport arrivals area, your Stone Town hotel entrance, or your beach lodge. A short walkaround with photos is done together with the driver before you sign the contract, noting the fuel level and any existing marks on the car. Keep a copy of this walkaround; it protects both sides at return.
The car is delivered with a set fuel level, noted on the contract, and should be returned at the same level. Fuel stations are concentrated around Stone Town and the main junctions, so plan a top-up before heading north to Nungwi or east to Paje and Jambiani.
Every rental includes full insurance cover with no hidden excess. Insurance does not cover damage from reckless driving, driving under the influence, off-road use outside sandy access tracks to beach lodges, or use by an unauthorised driver not named on the contract. Any incident should be reported to 4Drive immediately by phone or WhatsApp.
Zanzibar drives on the LEFT. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns and 80 km/h on the open road. Main axes - airport to Stone Town to Nungwi, and the east coast road - are tarmac and in decent condition; the last stretch to many beach lodges is a sandy track, which is why a Jimny or SUV is often the more comfortable choice. Dala-dala minibuses stop abruptly and pedestrians share the road - drive accordingly, especially after dark on unlit stretches. Full guidance is on our driving in Zanzibar page.
Cancellations made more than 48 hours before the pick-up time are refunded in full. Cancellations inside 48 hours, or a no-show at the agreed delivery point, forfeit the prepayment. Date changes and extensions are handled directly with our team by WhatsApp or phone, subject to vehicle availability.
Delivery is free to Zanzibar Airport, Stone Town and every beach zone on the island, from Nungwi and Kendwa in the north to Kizimkazi in the south. Delivery windows are agreed at booking; for airport pick-up, a driver meets you at arrivals with a name sign - there is no counter to find. See hotel delivery for zone-by-zone detail.
The driver is responsible for parking fines, traffic fines and checkpoint penalties incurred during the rental. 4Drive is not liable for delays caused by weather, road closures, or circumstances outside our control, though we will always work to get you moving as quickly as possible.
These terms are governed by the laws of Tanzania. Any dispute arising from a rental is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Zanzibar.
Questions about these terms, an active booking, or anything else - reach us through our contact page. General policy questions are also answered on our FAQ, and how we handle personal data is set out in our privacy policy.