Car News, Reviews and Advice in Mauritius

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

News
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
July 01, 2026
News
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
June 22, 2026
Reviews
Why Modern Cars Forgot How to Be Interesting. And Whether We Can Go Back.
The BMW 2002 is one of those rare cars that didn't just transport people. It transported an entire company.Back in the late 1960s, BMW was still finding its identity. Then along came a compact, lightweight, slightly mischievous machine that could embarrass much bigger and more expensive cars on a twisty road. The 2002 Turbo even arrived with "turbo" written backwards across its front spoiler, so drivers ahead could read it in their mirrors. If ever there was a car with a
June 17, 2026
Guides
Demerit Points, Bluetooth and Your Phone: What the New Rules Actually Say
Since stricter penalties for distracted driving came into force, social media has been flooded with confusion. Can you still use Bluetooth? Will Google Maps get you fined? How many points before you lose your licence? Much of what is circulating online is simply wrong.Thankfully, some clarity has arrived. SL News recently sat down with road safety expert M. Barlen Munusami, who addressed the questions Mauritians have been asking and cleared up several grey areas around the new National Demerit
June 12, 2026
News
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
June 10, 2026
News
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
June 01, 2026
Reviews
The Ultimate One Day Road Trip Around Mauritius - Foodie Edition
Mauritius is best known for its lagoons and landscapes, but anyone who has spent real time here knows the food deserves equal billing. Centuries of Indian, Chinese, French, African and Creole influences have produced something entirely its own. This route runs south down the west coast, cuts through the interior, skirts the south, and finishes up the east coast, a proper loop that happens to pass through some of the best eating on the island.Start Early: Port Louis Central
May 27, 2026
News
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
May 17, 2026
Car ownership
Slow Down, Save Money: Fuel-Saving Tips for a World Paying More at the Pump
Fuel prices are climbing again, and this time the reasons stretch well beyond our shores. Ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes, have squeezed global crude supply and pushed prices upward. That pressure, as it always does, trickles down to us, the ordinary driver filling up on a Tuesday morning.The good news is that driving more economically is entirely within our control, and it happens to make the roads safer
May 06, 2026
News
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,
April 23, 2026
Guides
Understanding Car Depreciation in Mauritius Before You Buy
If you are looking to buy a new or used car in Mauritius, it is important to consider the effects of depreciation before you commit. This article offers some practical insight into car depreciation and highlights the key factors you should think about before buying your next vehicle.What is car depreciation?Car depreciation is the rate at which a car loses its value over time. From the moment you drive a new car off the forecourt, it begins to
April 10, 2026
News
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,
April 09, 2026
Reviews
The 5 Most Reliable Cars of 2025
Whether you're buying new or used, reliability should sit near the top of your checklist. This year's data, drawn from warranty claims and owner satisfaction surveys, throws up some familiar names and at least one pleasant surprise.5th: Toyota CorollaNo prizes for guessing a Toyota would make the list. The brand consistently records one of the lowest warranty claim rates of any manufacturer, and the Corolla sits at the top of that already impressive lineup according to owner surveys. If
April 02, 2026
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
March 25, 2026
News
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
March 16, 2026