questions and answers about the reservations and bookings
Any national driving license which is in English will be accepted. International driving licenses and European Community driving licenses are also accepted for the car rental. If your license is not in English, you can accompany it with an officially certified translation. However please be aware that an international drivers license is required by law and that you might be asked for it at road blocks or during police controls.
Asco Car Hire offers a free airport shuttle to all our clients. On your arrival at Windhoek International Airport, our driver will be waiting for you, provided that you have informed us of your travel dates and times.
The shuttle can bring you directly to our depot in Windhoek, or take you to you accommodation, if you wish to pick up your car at a later stage. The shuttle will drive any day of the week between 7h00 and 17h00. When dropping off your car, please make sure to be at our depot latest by 15h00 that day to catch the last shuttle to the airport.
We accept Visa and MasterCard (we do not accept American Express at our offices), Paypal, Bank transfer and cash (no 200 & 500 Euro notes). Please note that we require a deposit payment of 25% to confirm your booking with us.
Yes, and not only can you visit other countries with our cars, you can also arrange to pick up or drop off your car in several southern African countries. However, this all needs to be arranged with our office prior to your travel so that we can make sure to have all the necessary paperwork for the vehicle in order. There is also an additional charge for the cross-border permit, as well as a one-way fee if you are picking up or dropping off the car anywhere outside Windhoek. For more details, have a look at our Services page.
Asco Car Hire reserves the right to impose an age limit for the drivers at a minimum of 23 years for all vehicles with a 2.4l engine in Budget groups, 25 years for all vehicles with a 2.4l engine in Asco groups, and 30 years for all larger engine size cars.
A younger persons may be given a right to drive one of our vehicles by special consideration from management, in which case a young driver surcharge will be added to the booking. Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more information. If you have any questions or concerns about this rule, please get in touch with us personally so that we may assist you.
Questions and answers regarding the Vehicles and Extras
Camping equipped vehicle groups include roof tents with bedding, a camping kitchen box, chairs, table, and a fridge.
Asco Car Hire has loads of extra equipment to offer. You can look at the offering on our Extras page and anything you need to your booking. Please note that extras need to be booked up front to ensure availability.
Namibia's cellular network is exceptionally good, covering all tarred roads and parts of the gravel road network. Car-fi is a mobile hotspot made specifically for cars. The Wi-fi connection will provide speeds of up to 100 Mb/s in major cities with 4G network, and up to 10 Mb/s in smaller towns on 3G network. On the road, the connection will provide speeds of anything from 0,5 Mb/s depending on network quality. The hotspot can connect to up to 10 devices at the same time. Works only in Namibia, no other countries.
Asco cars are all new or as good as new models of vehicles. Asco Budget cars are slightly older car models, which have quite some thousands of kilometers under the belt, and are thus priced at a more affordable rate. The cars are in as pristine condition as they can be for 3–5 year old models, but they do show some signs of usual wear.
However, the cars have always gone through, and still do, our renowned in-house service and quality control process between every single trip, to make sure they are in as good a condition as they can be. When driving a budget car, you would not believe it might have more than 200,000 kilometers on the clock.
Questions and answers concerning your trip, the roads and driving with Asco Cars
Namibia, like other left-hand traffic (LHT) nations, drives on the left side of the road, and so does South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. These countries use right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles with steering wheels on the right. That could be confusing for North Americans and Europeans. Drivers sit on the right side of the car. Due to the right-hand drive (RHD) configuration, be extra vigilant with your left-side blind spots. Regularly check side mirrors and utilize them effectively, as traffic dynamics may differ from what you're accustomed to in right-hand drive countries. Roundabouts operate in a clockwise direction. Approach them with caution, yield to vehicles already in the roundabout, and signal clearly when exiting.
While Namibia offers stunning landscapes and diverse attractions, driving in the dark poses unique challenges that travelers should be aware of. Driving in the dark increases the risk of collisions with animals crossing the road, as they may be difficult to spot until it's too late. Namibia's road infrastructure may not be as well-lit or maintained, making it harder to navigate safely after dark. Namibia is known for its vast and sparsely populated landscapes. In many areas, services such as fuel stations, accommodations, and emergency assistance may be few and far between, making it crucial to plan daytime travel to ensure access to essential resources. While Namibia offers a unique and captivating driving experience, it's advisable to avoid traveling in the dark to ensure the safety of both you and the local wildlife. Plan your journeys to take advantage of daylight hours, allowing you to appreciate the scenic beauty of Namibia while minimizing the inherent risks associated with nighttime driving.
The region's diverse ecosystems mean that wildlife may cross roads unexpectedly, presenting both a thrilling and potential safety challenge for drivers. Namibia and southern Africa are renowned for their rich biodiversity. Be prepared for spontaneous encounters with wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, and antelopes crossing the roads. Stay alert, especially during dawn and dusk when animals are more active. Animals can be unpredictable. If you encounter wildlife on the road, maintain a safe distance and avoid honking, as loud noises can stress them. Wait patiently for them to clear the road, ensuring both your safety and the well-being of the animals.
The speed limits in Namibia are 120km/h on tarred roads, 100km/h and 60km/h in cities and national parks.
However, for safety reasons Asco Car Hire imposes a speed limit of 80km/h for our vehicles on Gravelroads. The cars are equipped with a black box which tracks the speed and location of the cars, and will notify the driver with a loud beep when the speed limit is being broken. Note that if you do exceed the speed limit, your insurance and excess will lapse and become invalid. Please have a look at our insurances page for more information.
Firstly, rest easy as we've got you covered. Asco Car Hire offers a 24h breakdown service to make sure your trip can continue uninterrupted as soon as possible.
In case something is wrong with the car, you can contact our staff via one of the emergency phone numbers, we are on call 24/7. Next, our staff will assess the situation with you over the phone, and provide troubleshooting assistance if the issue can be solved remotely. Finally, if necessary we will send out our breakdown service of qualified mechanic to assist you on the road.
Please note however, that there are areas in Namibia to which we cannot guarantee a 24h service due to the difficult terrain and remote connections. Other southern African countries also require a bit more time as the roadside assistance will be conducted by third party partners. For more information about the areas, please have a look at our service page, or get in touch via email.
Questions and answers concerning the insurance
All Asco Car Hire vehicles are insured with a third party insurance. In addition to that, you can choose from our four different insurance options, which provide cover to varying degrees. The reduced excess options determine the amount in damages up to which you are liable in case of an accident. You can have look at our insurance options in detail on the insurance page and we recommend you take the time to read through the details. If you have any further questions after reading through this information, feel free to contact us.
Yes you do. Even if you choose Reduced Excess 3 where your excess liability is N$ 0, we will still need to pre authorize a credit card in the main drivers name.
In case of an accident where it is determined that the cause of the accident was due to negligence on the drivers behalf, as detailed in our insurance terms, the driver will be fully liable for damages and Asco Car Hire has the right to charge this amount on the clients credit card.
In other words, we always require a valid credit card which is in the main drivers name.
When you rent a car with us and have chosen your insurance type, we will block off the amount of your excess, or your damage liability, on your credit card. This means that the amount of your chosen excess will be “frozen” on your card and pre authorized for Asco Car Hire to use if needed. The blocked amount is not charged to your card, it simply means that the blocked amount is kept in reserve.
In case off damages Asco Car Hire is then authorized to charge your card for the amount of the damages, within your excess limit. If all goes well and the car is returned in a good condition, the authorization and is automatically removed. For any more questions about this, please have a look at our insurance page or feel free to mail us for more information.
General questions and answers
Yes, it is possible to have a self-drive safari tour arranged by Asco Car Hire. Asco knows the best places to visit while in Namibia or southern Africa. Whether you want to stay at campsites, lodges or a mix of both, Asco Travel will pick the nicest and most suitable ones for you. We design your trip based on your wishes and the duration of your stay. Do you already have a travel wish-list of places you want to visit? You are welcome to share it with us. Together we fully customize your self-drive tour to your personal preferences, wishes and budget. Our friendly, knowledgeable team of travel experts are always happy to share advice.