Safety & insurance

Every vehicle listed on ZimTravelBook must carry comprehensive motor insurance provided by the owner. This is a condition of listing — no car goes live without confirmed insurance cover. The policy covers the vehicle itself for the duration of the rental period.

Understanding exactly what is and isn't covered is important. Read this carefully before you book.

The digital condition checklist is one of ZimTravelBook's most important features. It is completed by both renter and owner together at pickup and again at return. It is your protection against false damage claims — and the owner's protection against unreported damage.

The checklist includes 6 required photos, a tappable car diagram for marking existing damage, an odometer reading, a fuel gauge photo, and digital signatures from both parties. Everything is timestamped and geotagged automatically. Neither party can edit it after both have signed.

Nobody wants to think about accidents, but knowing exactly what to do in advance means you'll handle it correctly if it happens. Follow these steps in order.

All owners on ZimTravelBook are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy before a booking. A vehicle that breaks down due to a pre-existing mechanical fault is the owner's responsibility.

If the car breaks down during your trip:

Move the vehicle to a safe location off the road if possible. Switch on hazard lights. Contact the owner immediately through the ZimTravelBook platform inbox — describe what happened and your location. Do not attempt repairs yourself or take the vehicle to a mechanic without the owner's prior agreement through the platform.

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 partial refund for days lost, or arrangements for a replacement vehicle where possible.

Note: Tyre punctures from road hazards are generally not covered by comprehensive insurance and are treated as a routine road expense. Check the spare tyre condition with the owner at pickup as part of the checklist.

These rules apply to every booking on ZimTravelBook. Breaching them may result in loss of insurance cover, deposit forfeiture, and suspension from the platform.

Beyond vehicle insurance, ZimTravelBook has built multiple layers of protection into the platform itself.

If you are travelling to Zimbabwe from the UK, US, Australia or Canada, your travel insurance policy may already cover some of what you need — but you must check before you arrive.

Zimbabwe shares borders with Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. If you are planning to drive across any of these borders in a ZimTravelBook vehicle, you must follow these rules without exception.

Cross-border travel requires:

Written approval from the owner, confirmed through the ZimTravelBook platform before your trip begins. The owner must confirm that their insurance policy covers cross-border use into the specific country you are entering — not all Zimbabwean comprehensive policies include cross-border cover. Additional fees set by the owner will apply.

You will also need a border crossing letter (letter of authority) from the owner confirming you have permission to take the vehicle across the border. This is a standard requirement at Zimbabwean border posts for rental vehicles.

Never cross a border without confirmed written approval on the platform. Crossing without approval voids the vehicle insurance, breaches the rental agreement, and may result in the vehicle being impounded at the border.