Mauritius Airport Car Rental: SSR Airport Pickup Guide

After a long flight, the last thing you want is a queue, a confusing shuttle or a negotiation over the car you booked. Collecting your rental at the airport is the simplest way to start a Mauritius holiday: you land, meet your car and drive to your hotel or villa on your own schedule.

This guide explains how airport pickup works with Codexia, what to prepare before you fly and what to expect when you arrive. For general information about the airport, see our SSR Airport guide and the airport car rental page.

About SSR International Airport

The island’s only international airport is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport at Plaisance, close to Mahébourg in the south-east. It handles direct and connecting flights from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and many arrivals land in the early morning or late evening. Knowing this helps you plan: if you land at night or at dawn, public transport is limited and a car waiting for you becomes even more valuable.

How airport pickup works

1. Choose your car on our fleet page and open the booking form.
2. Select SSR Airport as the pickup location, enter your arrival date and time, and add your flight number.
3. Add any extras you need (child seat, tourist SIM card, additional insurance) and complete the booking and payment online.
4. We use your flight details to plan the meeting, so the car is ready when you arrive.
5. Complete the handover: documents, vehicle check and keys. Then you are on your way.

What to bring

• Your passport or valid national ID.
• A valid driving licence held for the minimum period in our rental conditions.
• The booking reference we emailed you.
• The payment card or details used for your online payment, in case we need to verify them.
• Your flight number and arrival time, entered at booking so we can plan your meeting.

The handover

A Codexia team member will walk around the car with you, note any existing marks, explain the fuel policy and show you how to operate controls you may not know, such as the lights, wipers and air conditioning. Take your time here: it is the best moment to ask about local roads, parking and where to refuel. Check that your child seats, if booked, are fitted correctly.

Delayed or early flights

Because we ask for your flight number, we can plan around your arrival. If your flight is delayed or arrives early, tell us through the contact details in your confirmation or via our contact page, so the meeting point and time stay accurate.

Driving from the airport to your accommodation

The airport is in the south-east, so journey times depend on where you are staying. Mahébourg and the south-east are close. The east coast resorts around Belle Mare and Trou d’Eau Douce are a moderate drive, while Grand Baie in the north and Flic-en-Flac and Le Morne in the west and south-west take longer. Allow extra time for traffic, particularly near Port Louis on the way to the north and west, and set your route in a navigation app before you leave the car park. If it is your first time driving on the left, read our driving guide on the flight.

Returning the car at the end of your trip

Recovery at the airport is free too. Arrive with the fuel level required by your rental terms, remove your belongings and agree a time with us for the return. Allow a comfortable margin before your flight, because check-in and security take time and the drive can be slower than expected.

Tips for a smooth airport pickup

• Book early in peak seasons so your preferred car, especially an automatic or seven-seater, is available.
• Keep your documents together in your hand luggage, not in the checked bag.
• If you are travelling with young children, add a baby or booster seat to the booking.
• Add a tourist SIM card if you want data for maps from the moment you land.

Arriving at night or very early in the morning

Many long-haul flights land outside normal hours. If you arrive at night, make sure your accommodation knows your arrival time, and consider asking for a simple route to your first stop. If you arrive at dawn, remember that check-in times at hotels are often later: plan breakfast, a short beach stop or the nearest viewpoint while you wait, instead of driving tired for long distances. Tell us your flight number at booking so the handover is ready when you are.

Your pre-arrival checklist

• Booking reference saved on your phone and printed if you prefer.
• Driving licence and passport in your hand luggage.
• Offline map of Mauritius downloaded, with your accommodation pinned.
• Child seats confirmed in the booking if you travel with children.
• A charged phone and a charging cable for the car.