Car News, Reviews and Advice in Mauritius

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    Petrol Prices Climb Again: The 14 August 2026 Increase at a Glance
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    Petrol Prices Climb Again: The 14 August 2026 Increase at a Glance

    If your last fill-up felt pricier, you were not imagining it. From 14 August 2026, petrol has gone up again. Here are the key takeaways for Mauritian motorists.What Has ChangedPetrol (Mogas) has risen from Rs 64.25 to Rs 70.65 per litre, an increase of Rs 6.40, or just under 10 per cent. Diesel has been held steady at Rs 71.25, sparing buses, hauliers and bakeries a second blow. In real terms, a full tank now costs roughly Rs 256 to Rs 416 more depending on its size, and

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    A Market Under Pressure: Why Fewer Mauritians Are Buying Cars in 2026
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    A Market Under Pressure: Why Fewer Mauritians Are Buying Cars in 2026

    The new car market continues to lose momentum, and the figures for the first seven months of 2026 suggest the slowdown is now settling in. What the numbers also make clear is that this is not a new-car story alone. The imported vehicle segment is under even greater strain.A quick note on terms. Mauritius's car market runs across three broad segments: brand new vehicles, imported vehicles brought in largely as reconditioned units by specialist dealers, and locally pre-owned cars that

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    Strong Demand, Deeper Choice: Mauritius's Automotive Market Mid-2026
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    Strong Demand, Deeper Choice: Mauritius's Automotive Market Mid-2026

    Mauritius keeps adding vehicles to its roads, and the latest numbers show no sign of a slowdown. At the end of June 2026, the island counted 761,531 registered vehicles, up from 746,961 at the close of 2025. That is 14,570 extra vehicles in just six months, a rise of 2%.It sounds like a small percentage, but the pace matters. Registrations reached 756,673 by April 2026, so most of that growth landed in the first half of the year. Add up six months at this rate and the

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    Why Mauritius Is Holding Firm on Excise Duties for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
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    Why Mauritius Is Holding Firm on Excise Duties for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

    When the 2025-2026 budget reintroduced excise duties on hybrid and electric vehicles, some motorists hoped the measure might be softened over time. The government has now signalled that the duties are here to stay.During the post-budget debriefing on Saturday 4 July, Junior Minister of Finance Dhaneshwar Damry set out the reasons for maintaining these duties. His explanation focused less on revenue and more on how Mauritius generates the electricity that powers its vehicles.The emissions argumentDamry noted that the transport

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    Fair Competition or Unfair Advantage? The Uber Question in Mauritius
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    Fair Competition or Unfair Advantage? The Uber Question in Mauritius

    Alalila 2.0 powered by Uber launched on 25 March 2026 without formal NLTA approval. The government has flagged this as a concern and is now developing a regulatory framework. But whilst the service rolls out, two very different perspectives on its impact have emerged.The Commuters ViewFor everyday commuters, Uber addresses a real problem. You can now book a ride with transparent, upfront pricing through an app instead of negotiating fares at the roadside. The service uses licensed PSVL drivers, so you're not

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    Mauritius Budget 2026: What Changed for Vehicle Owners
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    Mauritius Budget 2026: What Changed for Vehicle Owners

    The 2026 budget speech has brought some changes to how Mauritians own, register and operate vehicles. If you're a car enthusiast, a business owner, or simply someone who relies on your vehicle daily, these measures will affect you in ways both practical and financial. Let's unpack what's happened and what it means.The Cost of Keeping That Special Number PlateOne of the most immediate changes is the new annual fee on old and personalised registration marks. If your vehicle sports a

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    Mauritius Raises the Bar on Distracted Driving: Tougher Penalties Take Effect Today
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    Mauritius Raises the Bar on Distracted Driving: Tougher Penalties Take Effect Today

    Driving requires your full attention. It sounds obvious, yet the temptation to glance at a notification or fire off a quick message whilst behind the wheel remains a daily reality for many. As of today, 10 June 2026, Mauritius has made that habit considerably more costly.What Has Changed?The number of penalty points for using a handheld phone or microphone whilst driving has increased from a range of 3 to 6 points, to a new range of 5 to 10 points, effective from 10 June 2026. This

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    A Wake-Up Call for Mauritius: Road Fatalities in 2026 Are at a Record High
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    A Wake-Up Call for Mauritius: Road Fatalities in 2026 Are at a Record High

    It has become almost impossible to open Facebook these days without being confronted by yet another devastating road accident here in Mauritius. A familiar name, a shared post, a community in shock. What once felt like tragic but isolated incidents now feels like a relentless, weekly drumbeat of loss that our island simply cannot keep ignoring.By 28 May 2026, Mauritius had already recorded 57 road deaths from 54 fatal accidents. With seven months of the year still to go, 2026 is on track to

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    Speed Camera Installed on Flic-en-Flac Bypass Hill
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    Speed Camera Installed on Flic-en-Flac Bypass Hill

    The Flic-en-Flac Bypass has been a long time coming and a genuine improvement for commuters travelling to and from the west of Mauritius. The road was designed to ease long-standing congestion around Cascavelle and Flic-en-Flac, improving overall connectivity across the region. For most drivers, it has done exactly that.The hill section, however, quickly earned the nickname "the Cascavelle Racetrack" among locals. The name took on a grimmer dimension in late December 2025 when a video circulating on social media showed

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    Lots Full, Buyers Gone: Why New Cars Are Gathering Dust
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    Lots Full, Buyers Gone: Why New Cars Are Gathering Dust

    There is something quietly alarming about a brand-new car sitting in a dealer's lot for months on end. It has never been driven, never been loved, and yet it is already costing money. This is the reality facing the automotive market right now, and it is a problem that touches everyone from the importer to the everyday buyer.How Did We Get Here?The short answer is taxation. Following a revision of excise duties that came into effect in June 2025,

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    USA's Car Tariffs Could Actually Be Good News for Mauritius
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    USA's Car Tariffs Could Actually Be Good News for Mauritius

    When the United States slapped a 25% tariff on all imported cars on 3 April 2026, most headlines focused on the pain: higher prices for American consumers, supply chain disruption, and tension with trading partners. But for a small island economy like Mauritius, there is a genuinely interesting upside hiding in all that noise. Let us explain.What Just Happened in the US?The Trump administration's tariff, which officially came into force on 3 April, applies to all foreign-made vehicles entering the American market,

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    Diesel Prices Rise in Mauritius: What You Need to Know
    News

    Diesel Prices Rise in Mauritius: What You Need to Know

    If you filled up your diesel tank before Wednesday this week, consider yourself fortunate. The Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) confirmed on the evening of Tuesday, 24 March 2026 that the price of diesel in Mauritius will increase by 10%, moving from Rs 58.95 to Rs 64.80 per litre. Petrol prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs 58.45 per litre. It is not a small bump, and for anyone who relies on a diesel vehicle for their daily commute, their business, or their livelihood, it is news that

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    Mauritius Car Market Stalls at the Start of 2026: What the Numbers Are Telling Us
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    Mauritius Car Market Stalls at the Start of 2026: What the Numbers Are Telling Us

    The first two months of 2026 have delivered a sobering message to the Mauritian automotive industry. With just 5,175 vehicles registered between January and February, the market has retreated by 20% compared to the same period in 2025, when 6,480 vehicles were on the books. Against a backdrop of sweeping fiscal reforms introduced in the 2025/2026 national budget, this sharp contraction is not entirely surprising. But understanding what lies behind it, and where the market goes from here, matters for everyone from dealers and importers to

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    The Strait of Hormuz Crisis and Your Fuel Bill What Mauritian motorists need to know right now
    News

    The Strait of Hormuz Crisis and Your Fuel Bill What Mauritian motorists need to know right now

    If you've recently driven past a filling station and enjoyed the fact that prices haven't moved much yet, don't get too comfortable. The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran that escalated in early 2026 isn't just a faraway geopolitical story. For Mauritian motorists, it may not have reached the pump just yet, but the signs are there that it's only a matter of time.Here's why, and what it means for you.It all comes down to one stretch of

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    A tougher stance on drink and drug driving in Mauritius, but will it actually help?
    News

    A tougher stance on drink and drug driving in Mauritius, but will it actually help?

    Mauritius has started 2026 with a worrying spike in drink and drug driving cases, and Government is moving towards a firmer response. Cabinet has approved drafting instructions for legal amendments that could bring two major changes.One is systematic vehicle seizure when a driver tests positive for alcohol and or drugs. The other is a process where the Commissioner of Police could seek immediate suspension of a driver’s licence through an ex parte application before a judge in chambers, rather

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