Travelers renting a car must pay special attention to road conditions in Kenya, as they may differ from those in the U.S. Cars in Kenya drive on the left side of the road similar to the British system. Vehicles are poorly maintained and lack basic safety equipment. The roads are usually bumpy, unpaved and present a threat, especially during the rainy season.
According to African government policies, in order to rent a car in Kenya you have to be at least 23 years-old and younger than 70 years-old. You must have held your drivers license for a minimum of two years. International or Commonwealth licenses are also valid when renting a car. However all rentals can be subject to the company's standard form of agreement. On some of the vehicles the rental company may require the presence of one of their own drivers at the renter's expense.
Due to the country's road conditions, rental companies will not allow visitors to rent two-wheel drive vehicles unless driving between major cities. For entry into some national wildlife parks only four-wheel drive vehicles are permitted. Rental cars must be licensed as a passenger service vehicle (PSV) and must show a PSV sticker behind the windshield.
Rental companies require the driver to return the car with a full fuel tank, otherwise the company will charge the driver double the fuel price.
Insurance is the reason car rentals in Kenya may seem more expensive than in the U.S. Rental vehicles in Kenya are insured against third party damage and liability. To reduce liability in case of an accident or theft the renter can opt for a Collision Damage Waiver and a Theft Protection Waiver. As of 2010, in both of these cases the renter is responsible for the $750 deductible. There is also insurance against the loss of your personal effects from the vehicle, which is the Personal Effects Cover and Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) in case of an accident. The PAI offers emergency evacuation and medical aid.
