Car ownership and driving in Mauritius: what you need to know

There’s so much to see and things to do in Mauritius. And having a car would definitely be the most convenient way to move around the island. That said, a car purchase is a logicalinvestment for those buying a home and relocating to the country.

The factor of car ownership is likewise a given in high-end real estate developments in Mauritius. The amenities in the luxury properties of 2Futures, for instance, include secure parking areas, garages, and additional storage areas.

Significantly, the Mauritian government has also put the importance of car ownership when moving to the island. In the Mauritian Diaspora Scheme,  car import tax exemption is granted to Mauritians living overseas and resettling back to the country.

View properties for sale 

Easy island driving

In about three hours, you can drive across the entire island, thus making any local attraction an easy day trip no matter where you live. Mauritius has just three main motorways—M1, M2, and M3. There are no toll fees in these easy-to-follow, well-constructed freeways. The secondary roads are likewise well-paved and easy to navigate, especially that GPS works just fine on the island.

In recent years, the surge in ventures has echoed in road improvements and expansion on the island. For the country’s 2020-2021 budget alone, the government has allocated MUR5.2 billion for building new roads and bridges. All told, the island’s road network now extends to 2,100 kilometres.

The road infrastructures built recently in Mauritius included roundabouts to help ease vehicular traffic. Still, you can expect traffic build-up during rush hours in the early morning and late afternoon. The traffic is especially heavy at these times mainly in the Port Louis area and at the entry/exit points of the island’s main villages.

As in other countries, Mauritius prohibits driving while under the influence of liquor.  It’s illegal to have more than 50mg of alcohol in the bloodstream while driving in the country. The use of a mobile phone while driving is likewise a traffic offence. The government also requires all passengers to wear seatbelts.

Auto lovers’ delights

Car lovers moving on in a Mauritius property investment will be delighted with the various motoring events on the island. These special events include automotive shows, car rally car drifting, race competition, and tuning show.

The Classic Tour de Maurice, an annual affair of the country’s Vintage and Classic Car Owners Association, is a standout amongst these events. To a certain extent, this show also affords glimpses of the history of Mauritius in the vintage French and British cars it displays.

These quaint facets of the world of autos on the island are but a slice of what could drive Mauritius property investment decisions. Contact 2Futures for a more in-depth look at the local real estate market.

Continue Reading :

Transport infrastructure boosts Mauritius property investment