Five rental companies are based in the AIBD terminal, open 24/7. What remains is knowing the exact procedure to collect your vehicle without wasting time or getting an unpleasant surprise over the deposit. Here is the full sequence, step by step.
Where the rental desks are
The rental companies present at AIBD (Mass Location, Satguru, Hertz, Sixt, Senecartours, Avis depending on the brand) have a desk in the Arrivals area of the main terminal, with no shuttle to take to reach the vehicle: a real time saver compared with some airports where the rental car park is several minutes' walk or bus ride away.
The collection sequence
- Show your bookingBooking reference or email confirmation in hand, head to the desk of your chosen company as soon as you leave passport control.
- Check the documents requiredDriving licence (national or international depending on the company and your nationality), passport, bank card in the name of the main driver.
- Go through the contractVehicle category, mileage included or unlimited, insurance excess, options taken out (GPS, child seat): have every line confirmed before signing.
- Block the depositUsually by a card pre-authorisation (no immediate charge unless there is an incident), between 300,000 and 1,000,000 FCFA without a driver depending on the vehicle.
- Carry out the vehicle inspectionPhotograph every existing scratch or dent, check the fuel level shown, before leaving the car park.
Documents to prepare before you leave
- ▸Valid driving licence, together with an international permit depending on your nationality and the company
- ▸Passport that is still valid
- ▸Bank card in the name of the main driver, with a limit high enough for the deposit
- ▸Booking confirmation printed or accessible offline
- ▸Minimum age required (generally 21 to 25 depending on the vehicle category)
Deposit, insurance and points to watch
The deposit is generally between 300,000 and 1,000,000 FCFA without a driver, an amount that can come as a surprise if you have not planned for it on your bank card limit. Good news: it is often removed or greatly reduced with the with-driver options, since the vehicle remains the rental company's responsibility.
- ▸The excess in the event of a claim: the amount still payable by you even with the insurance included.
- ▸The mileage: unlimited or capped, an important point for a road trip beyond Dakar-Saly.
- ▸The airport pick-up surcharge, often billed on top of the advertised daily rate (around 5,000 FCFA with some companies).
- ▸Leaving the country: most standard contracts exclude Mauritania, the Gambia or Mali by default; prior written agreement is essential if your itinerary depends on it.
Self-drive or with a driver: what to choose straight from the airport
Collecting a self-drive vehicle gives you full independence as soon as you leave the terminal, provided you are comfortable with Senegalese traffic and with right-hand priority driving. For a first stay, a with-driver option makes this step much simpler: no deposit to block, no inspection to negotiate on your own, a professional who already knows the roads and the extras (tolls, road checks, parking).
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your nationality and the company: some require it in addition to the national licence, others do not. Check this point with your chosen company before you leave.
Allow 15 to 30 minutes outside peak times, more if several flights land at the same time and the desks are besieged.
No, it is generally a blocked card pre-authorisation, not an actual charge, unless an incident is noted when the vehicle is returned.
The room for negotiation on the spot is limited compared with booking online in advance, which is often more favourable and guarantees vehicle availability.
In summary
Documents in hand, contract read line by line, inspection photographed: the collection procedure at AIBD takes about thirty minutes when well prepared. Enough to start your Senegalese road trip with no unpleasant surprise over the deposit.
Want to skip the paperwork straight out of the airport?
Go for a with-driver option: no deposit to block, no inspection to handle on your own.
Book my driver at AIBD →