Adding an additional driver to your East Africa hire car — the process, cost, and documentation requirements for including a second driver on the hire vehicle contract so that both drivers are covered by the vehicle’s CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) insurance — is essential for any East Africa self-drive couple or group trip where more than one person will be driving. An unauthorised driver (someone not named on the hire contract) driving the vehicle is one of the most common ways CDW coverage is voided in East Africa — if an unnamed driver is driving at the time of an accident, the hire company can hold the named renter personally liable for 100% of the vehicle repair or replacement cost. This guide covers the additional driver East Africa hire car requirements and cost for 2027/2028.
Additional Driver Fee and Process
- Fee: USD 5 to 15 per additional driver per day, depending on the hire company. Some companies include 1 additional driver at no extra charge on their base rate. Confirm at booking — on a 10-day hire, a USD 10/day additional driver fee adds USD 100 to the total cost.
- Documentation required: The additional driver must present their driving licence (and IDP if applicable for the countries being visited) at the depot before vehicle collection. The hire company records the licence details on the contract. The additional driver cannot be added later by phone or email — they must be present at pickup.
- Age requirement: The additional driver must meet the same minimum age requirement as the primary driver. If the hire company’s minimum age is 25, an additional driver aged 22 will not be added to the contract.
- CDW coverage: Once correctly added to the contract, the additional driver is covered by the CDW on the same terms as the primary driver. There is no reduced CDW coverage for additional named drivers at most East Africa companies.
Practical Joint Driving Advice for East Africa
- Divide the driving by road type: the primary (more experienced) driver handles city sections (Nairobi, Kampala), while the secondary driver takes tarmac highway sections between parks in daylight
- Brief the additional driver on specific East Africa road rules before they take the wheel: left-hand traffic, Kenyan roundabout entry priority, police checkpoint protocol
- Both drivers should familiarise themselves with the vehicle’s 4×4 controls (4H, 4L, diff lock) before entering park tracks, regardless of who is the primary driver
