The Guide to Renting a Car in Fiji [2025]

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Where Can You Hire a Car in Fiji?

Out of Fiji’s 333 islands, you can only hire a car on the islands with the largest road networks: Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

Car Hire on Viti Levu

With the largest road network and the best quality roads in Fiji, Viti Levu has plenty of car rental companies to help you get around. More than 35 car rental companies can be found in Viti Levu, most located in Nadi (where Nadi International Airport is located) and Suva, with some rentals scattered along the Coral Coast. Car rentals on Viti Levu have a formal process of a full car inspection and requesting a bond or a pre-authorisation lock of funds on your credit card, for example.

Car rental companies on Viti Levu also have various price structures, usually reducing daily rates the longer you hire, as well as having options to pay to reduce the excess on your already included insurance. In Nadi, rental vehicles can usually be delivered to the airport or your nearby accommodation for free. However, there is usually a fee for extra drivers and baby seats (if available).

In terms of driving on Viti Levu, while the roads in the centre of Viti Levu’s main towns, as well as the Queens and Kings Roads, are sealed and are in good condition, the roads elsewhere are either gravel roads, dirt roads or unmaintained sealed roads. For travelling the inland roads, it’s recommended to hire a high-clearance SUV or a 4WD vehicle.

For a full comparison of all of the car rental companies on Viti Levu, head to:

• 15 Best Car Rentals in Nadi
• 5 Best Car Rentals in Suva
• 5 Best Car Rentals in Sigatoka & the Coral Coast

You can also check out scooters at Scooter Hire in Fiji: Where to Rent, Cost & More.

Car Hire on Vanua Levu

On Fiji’s second-largest island, Vanua Levu, there are just under 10 car rental companies. Most are found in Labasa and Savusavu, while a few are based at the Labasa Airport. Car rentals are a bit more laidback on Vanua Levu, with standard daily rates, free local airport or accommodation delivery, and limited additions. For instance, you’re less likely to find excess insurance reducers or baby seats. You are, however, required to leave a bond or have a credit card pre-authorisation if you damage the vehicle.

Roads in Labasa and Savusavu, between the two towns, and part of the Hibiscus Highway are sealed. However, Savusavu’s roads were riddled with potholes the last time we visited. Elsewhere, the roads are gravelled or dirt. The most important thing to note about roads in Savusavu is the steep gravel driveways to some of the accommodations. These are near impossible to access with a low-clearance vehicle, so we recommend inquiring about the state of your accommodation’s driveway before choosing your vehicle.

For a full comparison of all of the car rental companies in Savusavu and Labasa, see The Best Car Rentals on Vanua Levu.

Car Hire on Taveuni

There are only three car hire companies on the island of Taveuni, just off the southeast coast of Vanua Levu. These are all local companies and provide a much less stringent process of renting a car compared to mainland car rentals. Two of the car rental companies will deliver your vehicle to the airport, of whom you can learn more about them in the 20 Best Car Rentals in Fiji. You won’t get much choice when it comes to vehicles.

One main road goes almost around the island, stopping at Lavena Village on the central west coast and Navakawau Village on the south coast. This main road is sealed up until you pass Taveuni Dive Resort, which then turns to gravel/dirt roads. Needless to say, you’ll need to take it easy when driving this section that spans the southwest coast of Taveuni, but if it’s any reassurance, the local bus manages it. Another quirk of driving on Taveuni is that most GPS apps don’t work (or can’t find a route) due to the International Date Line cutting right through the middle of the island.

See The Driving Times & Distances in Fiji to see how long it takes to drive around Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

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The Vehicles You Can Hire in Fiji

A wide range of vehicle types is available to hire in Viti Levu, more so in Viti Levu than in Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Car rentals in Fiji are a mix of secondhand Japanese imports, usually of the brand Toyota or Hyundai, while some car rental companies have the latest models of Toyota, Hyundai and Volkswagon. While some rental cars are relatively recent, at around zero to five years old, many cars are up to 20 years old.

Vehicles available to hire in Fiji include:

• Small cars, such as a Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Getz or something similar
• Medium cars, such as a Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Accent or something similar
• Premium cars, such as Toyota Camry, Volkswagon Vento or something similar
• SUVs, such as a Toyota Rav4, Hyundai Santa Fe or something similar
• 4WDs, such as a Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or something similar
• People-movers, such as a Toyota Voxy, Toyota Noah or something similar
• Minivans, such as a Toyota Hiace or something similar
• Scooters, such as Yamaha Crypton, Wave or something similar.

Learn more about hiring motorbikes and scooters in Where to Rent a Scooter in Fiji. We list all of the vehicle models in our car rental comparisons, starting with the 20 Best Car Rentals in Fiji: The Top Cook Islands Car Hires.

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The Cost of Car Rentals in Fiji

Car rental is by no means cheap in Fiji, so it’s good to get an idea of the daily rates and other associated costs of car hire so that you can plan your budget accordingly. Each rental vehicle has a day rate, while cars on Viti Levu may have other associated costs like baby seat hire, insurance excess reducers, an out-of-hours fee, etc. Additional mandatory costs include fuel, as well as fees if you don’t return the vehicle with a full fuel tank, return the vehicle late, excessively dirty or any other breaches of the rental agreement.

Day Rates for Car Rentals in Fiji

Note that day rates are at their cheapest when hiring for 5, 7 or 14+ days on Viti Levu. Outer islands tend to have a set day rate no matter how long you rent.

• Small car/day – FJ$80-$130
• Medium car/day – FJ$130-$180
• Premium car/day – FJ$150-$250
• SUV/4WD/day – FJ$150-$300
• People-mover/day – FJ$100-$220
• Minivan/day – FJ$180-$250

Additional Costs for Renting a Car in Fiji

• Petrol/litre – FJ$3-$3.20
• Diesel/litre – FJ$2.50-$2.70
• Local accommodation delivery – FREE
• Airport delivery – FREE
• Non-local accommodation delivery – FJ$50-$200
• Additional driver/day – FJ$0-$10
• Insurance/day – FJ$0-$30
• Baby seat/day – FJ$0-$25
• Unlimited kilometres – FREE (except Thrifty Car Rental incurs a surcharge once hires have exceeded 300 km (186 mi))
• Roadside assistance – FREE (if available)
• Bond (refundable) – FJ$500.

Learn more about the typical price of car rentals in How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Fiji?

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Hitting the Road

Your car rental only really gets started when you put your keys in the ignition and hit the road! However, Fiji’s roads might have rules that are different from those you are used to. Certain rules, like driving on the left side of the road and the unusual road hazards, might throw you off, so make sure you’re aware of the traffic laws.

Some important road rules to remember include:

• Drive on the left side of the road.
• At roundabouts, give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
• Many villages have speed humps to reduce vehicle speeds – these are sometimes more “dramatic” than what you might be used to, so we recommend slowing right down for Fiji’s speed humps.
• The speed limit in urban areas/villages is 50 kph (30 mph).
• The speed limit outside of urban areas is 80 kph (50 mph).
• The legal alcohol blood content is up to 80 mg.
• Using a phone while driving is illegal in Fiji unless using a hands-free device.
• The front driver, passenger, and passengers in the back must wear a seatbelt by law in Fiji. Children over eight years old must wear seatbelts, while younger children should be secured in child restraints if available (check with your vehicle rental company, as baby seats are not always available).
• Observe road signage – see this Land Transport Agency Fiji page to get familiar with the Fiji road signs.
• Be aware of road hazards, such as people and animals wandering on the roads, potholes, and limited lighting outside of cities.

Learn more about driving in Fiji, see How to Drive in Fiji and the 10 Safety Tips for Driving in Fiji.