By Massimo Boavista2000, Boavista2000: on Boa Vista since 1998, more than 250 apartments built and sold with Daniele Rampini.
Published on 24 October 2026
In shortOn Boa Vista a car is worth it if you want to explore the island on your own: there are few good roads, the rest are dirt and sand tracks, so for the north, the east and the remote beaches you need a 4×4 pick-up. A UK photocard driving licence is valid for up to 6 months (an International Driving Permit is also recommended). Cars are hired in Sal Rei, with delivery to the airport too: the easiest way is to ask our partners on the island.
Do you really need one?
The roads of Boa Vista, in a few lines
Boa Vista is large and thinly populated. Sal Rei is linked to the airport, the big resorts and some villages by tarmac or cobbled roads; as soon as you head further out you find dirt tracks, stones and stretches covered in sand, with no signposts.
- Sal Rei, airport, resortsordinary carOn tarmac or cobbled roads a small car is fine.
- North, east, dunes and remote beaches4×4 pick-upSanta Monica, the Viana desert, the shipwreck coast: these are tracks, and an ordinary car gets stuck in the sand.
- If you stay in Sal Rei or a resortnot neededTo get around, walking, taxis and a few organised excursions are enough.
Always ask the hire company which tracks are suitable for the vehicle it gives you, and download offline maps of the island: outside Sal Rei there may be no phone signal. To find your way, see the map of Boa Vista.
Documents and conditions
What you need to hire a car
Conditions vary from one hire company to another: these are the most common ones, to be confirmed when you book.
- Driving licence6 monthsThe UK government says a valid UK photocard licence can be used for up to 6 months; with an old paper licence, carry the 1968 International Driving Permit too. With a licence from another European country, check your own government’s travel advice: an International Driving Permit is recommended, and hire companies may require one.
- PassportalwaysThe same document you used to enter Cape Verde.
- Minimum ageusually 21–25It depends on the hire company and the type of car: ask beforehand.
- Depositalways requiredBy credit card or in cash, depending on the company. Get the amount in writing before you set off.
- Insuranceread what it coversAsk how much you pay in case of damage (the excess) and whether the underbody, tyres and damage on tracks are covered.
Other things to clarify straight away: how many kilometres a day are included, whether a hire day lasts 24 hours from delivery, how much fuel the car comes with and how it must be returned, how much airport delivery costs and what happens if you cancel.
Where to hire
In Sal Rei or straight on arrival
On Boa Vista you won’t find the big chains on every corner: hire companies are mostly small local agencies in Sal Rei, with few vehicles. In high season the pick-ups go quickly, so it is best to book before you travel.
You tell us your dates, how many people and where you are staying; the partner confirms availability and price and has the car ready for you, at the airport too. No payment on the website: you pay the partner directly. Request a car.
The agencies are in the centre, near the main square. You can ask on the spot, but in high season you risk not finding a 4×4 for the dates you want.
Delivery and collection at the airport are available on request, usually for a small extra charge: arrange it in advance.
How much it costs
Prices: ask for a quote
We don’t publish price lists: prices change with the season, the type of vehicle and the length of hire, and those found online are often years out of date. Ask for a quote with your dates: usually, the more days you take, the less each day costs.
- Fuelprice set by the StateIn Cape Verde the maximum price of petrol and diesel is set every month by the regulatory authority (ARME), and it is the same throughout the country.
- Where to fill upin Sal ReiThe petrol stations are in Sal Rei; don’t count on finding one elsewhere on the island. Set off with a full tank for long trips.
Without a car
Alternatives to hiring a car
You will find them in Sal Rei, at the hotels and at the airport. Meters are rare: agree the price before you get in.
Shared pick-ups and minibuses leaving Sal Rei for the villages: no timetable, they leave when they are full, and you pay the driver in escudos. Cheap, but slow and daytime only.
The most fun way to see the dunes, especially with a guide: see the quad and pick-up excursions.
Few, and only in Sal Rei: fine for town, but with the wind, sand and tracks they are no use for touring the island.
Step by step
How to hire a car with no surprises
- Decide where you want to goOnly Sal Rei and nearby beaches: an ordinary car is enough. North, east and dunes: a 4×4 pick-up.
- Book before you leaveEspecially from December to April and in August. Give your dates, number of people and where you are staying.
- Get the conditions in writingTotal price, deposit, kilometres included, insurance and excess, fuel.
- Photograph the car on deliveryTake photos and a video of the bodywork, the tyres (the spare too) and the fuel level, together with the person handing it over.
- Return it as you found itSame fuel level and at the agreed time: that way you get your full deposit back.
Driving tips
- In Cape Verde you drive on the right, as in continental Europe: if you are used to driving on the left in the UK or Ireland, take it slowly at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.
- Avoid driving at night outside Sal Rei: there is no lighting and there are often goats and donkeys on the road.
- Do not drive onto the beach sand: it is easy to get stuck and in summer you risk crushing turtle nests.
- Go slowly on the tracks: stones and potholes damage tyres and underbodies, which are often excluded from the insurance.
What to take in the car
- Plenty of water and something to eat: outside the villages there are no shops.
- A charged phone and offline maps: read how to stay connected in Cape Verde.
- The hire company’s phone number, for any problem.
- Some escudos in cash for fuel and small purchases.
Book before you go
Cars, pick-ups and airport transfers
We put you in touch with partners we have known for years: they confirm availability and price, and everything is ready when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions about car hire on Boa Vista
Can I drive in Cape Verde with a UK licence?
Yes: according to the UK government, a valid UK photocard licence can be used for up to 6 months. With a paper licence, also carry the 1968 International Driving Permit. Hire companies may have stricter rules and ask for an International Driving Permit anyway.
Do I need a 4×4 on Boa Vista?
Only if you want to leave the main roads. For Sal Rei, the airport and the resorts an ordinary car is enough; for the north, the east, the dunes and remote beaches such as Santa Monica you need a 4×4 pick-up.
Where can I get petrol on Boa Vista?
In Sal Rei. Elsewhere on the island petrol stations are not a certainty, so fill up in town before a long trip. The maximum fuel price is set every month at national level.
How much does it cost to hire a car on Boa Vista?
It depends on the season, the type of vehicle and the length of hire, and online price lists are often out of date. Ask for a quote with your dates: through the page Transfers, cars and excursions you will get a reply with availability and price.
Is there Uber or a bus service on Boa Vista?
No, there is no Uber or similar, and there are no scheduled bus services like those back home. There are taxis (agree the price first) and aluguer, shared pick-ups leaving Sal Rei for the villages.
Information updated October 2026. Sources: UK government foreign travel advice for Cape Verde (gov.uk), for driving licences; Italian Foreign Ministry travel advice (Viaggiare Sicuri), for roads; ARME, Cape Verde’s regulatory authority, for fuel prices; travel guides to Boa Vista and our own experience on the island since 1998. Hire conditions and prices change: always confirm them when you book.