All You Need to Know About Hiring a Car in Kampala

Where to find car hire services

This is the most asked question by those who want to travel to Uganda. It gets tough for travelers to connect one place to another in Kampala but this is when car rental agencies come in to fill the gap and provide a solution to your disturbing question of transportation.

Car hire services rendered to clients in Kampala are sponsored by high demands of traveling, chauffeur tours, self-drive safaris, airport transfers, business trips, group tours, urban and rural rounds, wedding transportation, filming, photography, and many others.

Car hire services are in every corner of Kampala but it will be difficult to spot their offices. With the availability of the internet, you simply have to google by typing in “car hire in Kampala” and then a list of companies will surface at the top of your screen.

Send an inquiry on a few websites about the car you want and the prices depending on the days of your adventure and keep waiting for the response which will come in a few minutes.

The reply from the reservation teams of the different operators will enable you to know which company offers the best cheap deals with reliable services that will reach your desired standards.

Not to hurt your pockets, do thorough research, check customer reviews as well ask questions while inquiring. Car hire companies offer a wide variety of car selections letting you choose from the available fleet.

The cars available for hire in Kampala include Toyota Rav4, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Wish, Toyota Fielder, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser popup roof, Land Cruiser extended, minivans, coasters, and other vehicles that are rented on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Tips to book car hire services in Kampala

Booking a rental car for your travel in Kampala and other parts of Uganda gets easier when you choose an affordable, reliable, and authentic company.

Anyone willing to travel, discover, explore, and adventure any tourist destination requires a private means that will maneuver the streets and off-beaten tracks. In Kampala, 4-wheel drive vehicles are provided by different rental companies.

Although there is a mammoth of rental companies, it is an uphill task to get reliable and perfect services for your travel. Below are some of the tips to book car hire in Kampala;

Online search

The world has been digitalized and everything is now found online. every car rental operator has a website where travelers can easily reach them for transport services.

There isn’t a faster and better way to gather all car hire and other related information than Google which is accessed on the phone, laptop, or a nearby internet café.

The website will list the available cars in the fleet with their indicated rates which are negotiable to some companies. Inquire about the car hire services via email or telephone contact or fill in the contact form pinned on the website as you wait for a reply in a few minutes.

Know more about the rental company to book with. 

All the necessary information about a particular rental agency is normally found on their website.  Check their About Us section to know their location, experience, reputation, and if they are accredited by any renowned Authority.

You should also go through the terms and conditions of renting a car to ascertain whether the deal is good enough for you.

Look at the vehicles and their prices 

Several rental cars are normally displayed on the websites of car hire companies.  Endeavor to look at these cars plus their features and rates to know which one best suits your needs.

Ask for a rate cut-down

When the reservation sends in the quote for the rental package, politely request a discount. In most cases, those who solicit a price reduction get their wish.

Requirements needed to rent a car in Kampala

People think that a lot of documents are required and much paperwork is done to rent a car in Kampala but less is demanded.  Renting a car in Kampala doesn’t require the involvement of third parties but rather it’s a mutual understanding between a car hire company and the traveler in need of the vehicle.

The person, the purpose of renting a car, and the destinations to visit normally determine the requirements needed by the operator to hire out a vehicle.  As you know not everyone is trusted more so in this business of giving off pricy vehicles without any staff monitoring their movements.

For the sake of car safety and knowing the identity of the person, the rental company is doing business with, some requirements are requested.

A valid driver’s license      

The authenticity and eligibility of a driver are determined by the possession of a valid driver’s license.  A driver’s license is not only helpful when hiring a car in Kampala but also when you encounter road law enforcers.

Driving without a driver’s license is a punishable crime.

A valid passport

A copy of a valid passport for foreigners is a must to prove that the information and particulars about you given to the company match that on the passport.

For the nationals, a copy of the national identity card must be presented for security reasons.

Minimum age

One must be 18 years of age or older to start driving and this should be after going through driving tests and possession of a driving permit. It’s illegal and punishable to drive in Uganda when you are below 18 years old.

Although the minimum age of driving in Uganda is 18 years, only persons 21 years and above are rented cars by Car Rental in Uganda.

Travel Insurance

This travel insurance is a piece of security that travelers must have to help them out in case of uncertainties.  This insurance should be from your country’s local insurance company and this will help cover all the losses incurred throughout your trip in case.

Number of car users

Always present the number of people you are traveling with to ensure that they fit in the requested car. Don’t forget to submit a copy of the driving permits, for those who will back you up in driving in case the journey gets long.

Pick-up and Drop-off of Rental car in Kampala

The pick-up and drop-off location of the rental car is determined by the hirer/client. The client has to inform the rental company during the reservation of the place to pick up and drop off the vehicle.

Pickups and dropoffs arranged in Entebbe and within Kampala city are normally free of charge. Not every location is suitable and convenient but only those that will not incur more expenses for the company.

Pickups and drop-offs of the rental cars are normally done at Entebbe Airport, hotels, places of residents, and other popular tourist spots in Kampala and Entebbe.

The arrangements are also done in the far remote areas, especially near the national parks and border points of Uganda and other countries.

However, an agreed fee is paid for the arrangements in the far areas to cater for the driver’s wages and fuel of transferring the car from or to our offices in Kampala

Driving in Kampala

Driving in Kampala is a bit challenging for both amateurs and experienced travelers It requires grit, patience, and awareness.  Kampala is characterized by small roads, too much traffic, obnoxious local taxis (Matatus) and motorcycles, and pedestrians coming from the left, right, and center.

However, when you keep on driving, you get familiar with the driving atmosphere and eventually enjoy the craziness. Kampala road networks have been improved and this has made them free and safe compared to other sub-Sahara African countries.

Most of the road networks are neat for example, those connecting out of Kampala to all four corners of the country. The roads have several streets for pedestrians and other roads for cyclists, bicycles, and cars.

While in the streets of Kampala lock the car doors to avoid any form of theft. Various streets in Kampala connect to innumerable roads heading upcountry to adventure destinations.

Driving in Kampala tends to be disturbing when you happen to catch a lane that disconnects you from your right direction.  Expect to find speed bumps and potholes that can cause unnecessary damage to the car if hit hard.

Where to go in Kampala

Kampala is not only the capital city of Uganda but also a place full of adventure and stunning attractions worth a visit.

It’s the starting point for most travelers who want to gather adequate information about the pearl of Africa before connecting to other tourist destinations upcountry.

Kampala is an impressive and entertaining city that can be explored day and night for an enchanting experience. Many fascinating places will captivate and blow your mind in the land of excitement and these include;

Kasubi tombs

This cultural site is located on Kasubi hill 5km along Kampala-Hoima road. It’s among the most treasured cultural centers by the central people in Uganda. It is the Buganda royal burial ground for the four kings and other royal family members.

Its main mausoleum is ranked as the largest in Uganda however their other smaller sites for caretakers and royal regalia.

Ndere cultural center                            

When you hear Ndere cultural center get to know that dance and drama meet adventure.  The center got its name from the famous Ndere dancing troupe which presents enticing live traditional performances to tourists through dances and drama of different regions in Uganda and its close neighbors.

They are represented by a flute symbolizing the natural sessional sound it produces when blown.

Uganda Museum

If you ever visited Uganda-Kampala and never reached the Uganda Museum, then you missed a great deal. This place demonstrates and discloses natural, and ethnological, artifacts with its natural history. The museum protects Uganda’s cultural heritage site and brings it closer to the outside world.

Craft shop

Many craft shops are selling beautiful handmade jewelry in Uganda. The largest craft shop is found at Buganda central Kampala also called the Old Kampala craft shop. During your tour in Kampala don’t skip visiting the craft shop to buy some souvenirs like sculptures, fabrics, and a collection of beautiful rocks and stones.

New and old taxi park

Kampala is among the busiest commercial city with the largest population of people. The new and old taxi parks are pickup stations for people heading to different destinations. They are found in the heart of Kampala and the taxis inside the park give a clear definition of organized chaos.

Uganda national mosque

This national mosque is also referred to as the Gadhafi mosque named after the late Libya president Gadhafi.  It is the largest mosque in Uganda for Muslims located at Kampala Hill in the areas of old Kampala. The mosque has a fascinating minaret at the top with impressive views inside and outside.