Frequently asked questions

ZimTravelBook connects local car owners with travellers across Zimbabwe. Browse cars by city and vehicle type, submit a booking request, pay securely through the platform, and pick up from a verified local owner. A digital condition checklist with photos is completed at pickup and return — protecting both renter and owner. Read the full guide →

You will need:

• A valid driver's licence — Zimbabwean or home-country licence
• A form of ID — national ID or passport
• For diaspora visitors — your passport and an International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended

You must be at least 23 years old and have held your licence for a minimum of 2 years.

Prices on ZimTravelBook are set by individual owners. As a guide:

• Fuel savers (Honda Fit, Toyota Corolla) — from $35/day
• Compacts — from $45/day
• SUVs — from $75/day
• Double cabs — from $95/day

A 10% platform fee is added at checkout. The total is shown clearly before you confirm your booking. No hidden charges.

Yes — and we recommend it. You can browse, select a car, and submit a booking request from anywhere in the world. Payment can be made from abroad via Remitly or international Visa/Mastercard through Paynow. Your car will be confirmed and ready when you land. Many owners offer airport delivery so the car is waiting at arrivals.

Yes. Many owners offer airport delivery for an additional fee set by the owner. You'll see an airport delivery badge on listings that offer this. When booking, select your airport, terminal, and flight arrival time. The owner will arrange to have the car ready when you land. Airport delivery is available at Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls airports.

ZimTravelBook operates a full-to-full fuel policy on all bookings. You receive the car with a full tank and return it full. The fuel level is photographed on the fuel gauge at both pickup and return as part of the condition checklist. If the car is returned with less than a full tank, the fuel shortfall is deducted from your security deposit at the prevailing pump price.

We have four vehicle categories across all five cities:

• Fuel Savers — Honda Fit, Toyota Corolla, Mazda Demio. Ideal for city driving and everyday use.
• Compacts — VW Polo, Hyundai i20, Nissan Note. Comfortable mid-size vehicles.
• SUVs — Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Pajero. Great for families and longer trips.
• Double Cabs — Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max. For heavy-duty travel and rural areas.

We currently have cars available in five cities across Zimbabwe: Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Mutare, and Gweru. We are expanding to more cities — if you're a car owner in a city not listed, get in touch.

Some owners on ZimTravelBook offer a driver or chauffeur service for an additional daily fee. This is shown on the listing if available. The driver fee is set by the owner and is charged per day on top of the daily rate. All driver bookings go through the platform — no direct arrangements outside ZimTravelBook.

Once your booking is accepted you receive a confirmation email with ZimTravelBook's account details and a unique booking reference. Send your payment using your preferred method and include the reference number so we can match it instantly. We support:

• Remitly — bank transfer to First Capital Bank FCA (from UK, US, Canada)
• Paynow — Visa/Mastercard — international card payments in USD from anywhere in the world
• EcoCash USD — direct to ZimTravelBook's EcoCash FCA wallet (Zimbabwe)
• Paynow — local — EcoCash, ZimSwitch, Visa, Mastercard (Zimbabwe)

Yes. Diaspora renters have two main options: Remitly (bank transfer to First Capital Bank FCA — available from UK, US, Canada) or Paynow (international Visa or Mastercard charged in USD — works from anywhere in the world including Australia). Both arrive quickly and are confirmed by email.

• Paynow (card or EcoCash) — instant
• EcoCash USD direct — instant
• Remitly bank transfer — typically within minutes, confirmed same day

Once we confirm receipt of your payment, your booking confirmation and receipt are sent immediately by email.

Your unique booking reference is generated when your booking is accepted. When you send your payment you must include this reference in the payment description or reference field. This is how we match your payment to your booking instantly — especially for bank transfers where the sender name may not be clear. Without the reference, matching your payment can be delayed.

A 10% platform fee is added to every booking. This covers payment processing, platform maintenance, support services, and insurance verification. The fee is shown as a separate line item at checkout — you see the exact total before you confirm. There are no additional charges beyond what is shown at checkout.

Some owners set optional fees on their listings which are always shown clearly before you book:

• Airport delivery fee — if you request airport delivery
• Driver/chauffeur fee — if the owner offers a driver service
• Excess kilometre fee — per km charge for distance beyond the included daily allowance (rate shown on listing)
• Cleaning fee — only charged at return if the car is returned excessively dirty (disclosed upfront on listing)
• Security deposit — refundable, shown separately at checkout

No fee can be added after a booking is confirmed. What you see at checkout is what you pay.

Yes. A refundable security deposit is required on all bookings. The amount varies by vehicle and is shown clearly on the listing and at checkout. The deposit is held by ZimTravelBook — not paid directly to the owner. It is returned to you within 3–5 business days after a successful return, provided the car is returned in the same condition with a full tank of fuel.

Yes. Extension requests must go through the ZimTravelBook platform — not arranged directly with the owner. Message the owner through the platform inbox to request extra days. Once the owner agrees and sets the extension rate, you pay through the same payment methods. The extension must be paid before your original return date for insurance coverage to continue uninterrupted. The same 10% platform fee applies to extensions.

Yes. Every vehicle listed on ZimTravelBook must carry comprehensive insurance provided by the owner. This covers the vehicle against accident, theft, and third-party property damage. Owners must confirm their insurance covers third-party use before their listing goes live.

The vehicle's comprehensive insurance covers the car — not you personally. Personal accident cover and personal liability are your own responsibility as the renter. If you are travelling from the UK, US, Australia or Canada, check whether your travel insurance policy includes personal liability cover for driving a hired vehicle abroad. If you are a Zimbabwe resident, check your own motor or personal liability policy.

In the event of an accident:

• Ensure everyone is safe first. Call emergency services if needed (Zimbabwe emergency: 999 or 112)
• Do not move the vehicles if there are injuries
• Contact the owner immediately through the ZimTravelBook platform
• Take photos of all vehicles, damage, and the scene
• Get a police report — this is required for any insurance claim
• Contact ZimTravelBook through the platform so we can assist with the claim process

Do not make any verbal admissions of fault at the scene.

The digital condition checklist with photos — completed at both pickup and return — is your protection against false damage claims. At pickup, all existing damage is photographed and recorded. At return, a comparison is done. If any damage appears at return that was not documented at pickup, the checklist is the evidence. If existing damage was recorded at pickup, you cannot be held responsible for it. Always complete the checklist carefully and keep your copy.

Contact the owner immediately through the ZimTravelBook platform inbox. Owners are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy before a booking. If the breakdown is due to a mechanical fault that existed before the trip, ZimTravelBook will work with both parties to resolve the situation — this may include a refund for days lost or a replacement arrangement. Keep a record of all communication through the platform.

Listings marked with an Instant Book badge confirm your booking automatically without waiting for owner approval. Your payment instructions are sent immediately. For all other listings, the owner reviews your request and responds within a few hours. Owners who respond quickly appear higher in search results.

• More than 48 hours before pickup — full refund of all payments including the platform fee
• Within 48 hours of pickup — the platform fee is non-refundable. The rental amount refund depends on the owner's cancellation policy shown on their listing.
• No-show — no refund. Security deposit returned within 3–5 days.

To cancel, go to your booking in the platform and select Cancel. Do not arrange cancellations directly with the owner outside the platform.

If an owner cancels a confirmed booking, you receive a full refund of all payments within 3–5 business days. ZimTravelBook will also help you find an alternative car for your dates. Owners who cancel confirmed bookings are penalised on the platform — repeated cancellations result in listing suspension.

All communication between renters and owners must go through ZimTravelBook's platform inbox. Personal contact details — phone numbers, WhatsApp, email — are never shared. This is not just a rule; it protects you. All messages are recorded, timestamped, and available if any dispute arises. Off-platform arrangements have no protection from ZimTravelBook.

The digital condition checklist is completed by both renter and owner together at pickup and again at return. It includes 6 required photos (front, rear, left side, right side, dashboard/odometer, fuel gauge), a car diagram where existing damage is marked, and digital signatures from both parties. The checklist is timestamped and saved automatically. It protects both parties — the renter from false damage claims, the owner from unreported damage.

Yes. Message the owner through the platform before your original return date to request an extension. Once agreed, an extension booking is created and you pay through the same payment methods. The extension must be paid before your original return date for your booking and insurance to remain valid. There is a 2-hour grace period for returns — no charge applies for returns up to 2 hours late. Beyond that, an overdue rate applies.

Cross-border travel requires the owner's prior approval, arranged through the platform. The owner must confirm that their insurance policy covers cross-border use and that they are comfortable with the trip. Additional fees may apply. Never cross a border without confirmed approval — it voids insurance coverage and breaches the rental agreement.

After your trip is completed and the return is confirmed, you will receive an email inviting you to leave a review. Reviews are visible on the owner's listing and help future renters make informed decisions. Owners can also leave a review of the renter — this builds mutual trust across the platform. Reviews cannot be edited or removed once submitted.

Listing is free. Create an owner account, complete our multi-step listing form (car details, photos, pricing and availability), and submit for approval. Most listings are reviewed and approved within 24 hours. Your car goes live once approved and you start receiving booking requests. Start listing your car →

Earnings depend on your vehicle type, daily rate, and how many days per month you make it available. As a guide:

• Honda Fit at $35/day × 15 days = $525 gross → $446 payout
• Toyota RAV4 at $75/day × 12 days = $900 gross → $765 payout
• Toyota Hilux at $95/day × 10 days = $950 gross → $807 payout

You keep 85% of every booking. Use the earnings calculator on the homepage to estimate your monthly income.

No. You review every booking request and choose to accept or decline. You can view the renter's name, licence details, and trip dates before deciding. You can also block specific dates on your availability calendar at any time. ZimTravelBook does encourage timely responses — consistently slow response times affect your listing's visibility in search results.

Payouts are released within 1–2 business days after you confirm the successful return of the vehicle. You receive 85% of the booking subtotal, paid in USD to your chosen account:

• First Capital Bank FCA account
• CBZ Nostro FCA account
• EcoCash FCA wallet

You set your preferred payout method in your owner dashboard.

Yes. Comprehensive insurance is mandatory for every car listed on ZimTravelBook. Before your listing is approved, you will be asked to confirm your insurance covers the vehicle for third-party use. If you are unsure, contact your insurer. ZimTravelBook does not provide vehicle insurance — it is always the owner's responsibility.

As an owner you can set optional fees on your listing that renters see and agree to before booking:

• Airport delivery fee — for delivering the car to an airport
• Driver/chauffeur fee — if you offer a driver service
• Excess kilometre fee — per km rate beyond the included daily allowance
• Cleaning fee — only if the car is returned excessively dirty
• Security deposit — refundable, held by ZimTravelBook

All fees must be disclosed on your listing before booking. You cannot charge fees that were not disclosed upfront.

The vehicle condition checklist completed at pickup and return is your protection. New damage appearing at return — not documented at pickup — is recorded in the return checklist and the renter's security deposit can be used to cover it. For major damage, ZimTravelBook assists with the insurance claim process using the checklist photos and platform message history as evidence. Always complete the checklist thoroughly at pickup — it is your first line of protection.

Yes. You set your own daily rate, included km allowance, and availability. As a guide, competitive rates on ZimTravelBook are: fuel savers $35–45/day, compacts $40–55/day, SUVs $65–90/day, double cabs $85–110/day. You can adjust your rate at any time from your owner dashboard. Listings priced competitively with good photos and quick response times receive the most bookings.

Yes. ZimTravelBook is designed with safety at its core:

• All owners are identity-verified before listing
• All vehicles must carry comprehensive insurance
• Payments go through the platform — never exchanged directly between renter and owner
• All communication is through the platform inbox — personal contact details never shared
• Digital condition checklists with photos protect both parties
• Dispute resolution is available for every booking

All renter-owner communication goes through ZimTravelBook's platform inbox. This is not just a rule — it protects both parties. Every message is timestamped and recorded, creating a complete history that ZimTravelBook can refer to if any dispute arises. Off-platform arrangements have no protection and no record. Additionally, keeping communication on the platform ensures the booking is covered by ZimTravelBook's policies and the owner is paid correctly through the platform.

If a dispute arises — over damage, deposit deductions, or a booking issue — contact ZimTravelBook through the platform as soon as possible. We review the condition checklist photos (pickup vs return), the platform message history, and any other available evidence. Our team makes a fair decision based on the evidence. For this reason it is essential to always use the platform for communication and always complete the checklist carefully.

Yes. ZimTravelBook takes data protection seriously. Your personal information — name, licence details, payment information — is stored securely and never shared with third parties without your consent. Your contact details are never shown to other users on the platform. We do not sell your data. For full details see our Privacy Policy.