Payment Methods for Car Hire in Nairobi: Cash, M-Pesa, and Card

Barguts Tours accepts cash, M-Pesa, and bank transfer, with no credit card required. This puts Nairobi car hire payment on different footing from many international rental chains, which commonly require a credit card to hold a booking. For a Kenyan resident or a visitor comfortable using local payment rails, M-Pesa in particular makes the transaction fast and familiar, and the same methods apply whether you are settling the standard hire cost or an excess from an accident or breakdown.

Which Payment Methods Does Barguts Tours Accept?

Barguts Tours accepts cash, M-Pesa, and bank transfer as its three standard payment methods, chosen to match how payments are actually made in Kenya rather than defaulting to a card-only model built for a different market.

These three methods cover the overwhelming majority of bookings, from a walk-in self-drive hire to a pre-arranged corporate contract.

Why Is M-Pesa the Most Commonly Used Method?

M-Pesa is the most commonly used method because it is Kenya’s dominant mobile money platform, used daily by the large majority of the population for transactions far smaller and far larger than a car hire payment. A payment confirmation arrives within seconds, which gives both sides immediate certainty that funds have moved, unlike a bank transfer that can take hours to clear. Payment is typically sent to a confirmed till or paybill number provided at booking, the standard way Kenyan businesses receive M-Pesa payments.

Is Cash Still a Practical Option?

Yes, cash is still a practical option, particularly for visitors who have not set up a Kenyan mobile money account and prefer a payment method they already understand. Confirm the total amount in Kenyan shillings before you arrive so you are not searching for an ATM or exchange point on the day of pickup.

When Is Payment Due for Car Hire?

Payment is due on the day of service, before departure, for most hires. This applies whether the hire begins with a self-drive handover or a chauffeur-driven pickup: the vehicle is not released until payment is confirmed.

Do Multi-Day Hires Require Payment Upfront in Full?

Yes, a multi-day hire is typically paid upfront in full, as a single line item covering the whole period, rather than collected in daily instalments. This matches how the vehicle rate itself is quoted: one total figure for the agreed number of days.

Can You Pay a Deposit to Hold a Booking in Advance?

An advance deposit is not Barguts Tours’ standard practice for most hires, since there is no vehicle-hire deposit on self-drive or chauffeur-driven bookings in the first place. The one exception is game-drive hire, which does carry a refundable deposit. See car hire Nairobi with no deposit for the full policy.

Is a Receipt Provided After Payment?

Yes, a receipt or payment confirmation should be provided after any payment, whether made in cash, by M-Pesa, or by bank transfer. Keep this alongside your hire agreement for the duration of the trip, in case any payment question comes up before the vehicle is returned.

Can You Pay for Car Hire Without a Credit Card?

Yes, you can pay without a credit card using M-Pesa or cash. This is a meaningful point of difference from many international rental chains, which typically require a credit card, per general industry practice, both for payment and as a security hold against the vehicle.

Why Doesn’t Barguts Tours Require a Credit Card?

Barguts Tours does not require a credit card because its payment methods are built around how its actual customer base pays, predominantly Kenyan residents and visitors using M-Pesa, alongside cash and bank transfer for larger or corporate bookings. A credit card requirement would exclude a significant share of genuine, reliable customers who simply do not use one as their primary payment method.

Does Paying Without a Credit Card Affect the No-Deposit Policy?

No, paying without a credit card does not affect the no-deposit policy. The two are separate: payment method is about how you settle the hire cost, while the deposit policy is about what security, if any, is held against the vehicle itself.

What Happens If a Payment Fails or Is Delayed?

If a payment fails or is delayed, such as an M-Pesa transaction that does not go through or a bank transfer still clearing, contact Barguts Tours immediately rather than assuming the booking is confirmed. Keep any transaction reference or confirmation message, since it speeds up resolving the issue on both sides.

How Does Payment Work When a Driver Is Booked Separately From the Vehicle?

The driver rate is billed as its own line, separate from the vehicle hire rate, and paid the same way as the rest of the booking: cash, M-Pesa, or bank transfer. Barguts Tours charges a flat KES 3,000 for up to 12 hours or KES 4,000 for a full day, regardless of which vehicle class you hire, so the driver cost does not change the payment method you use for the vehicle itself.

Is the Driver Paid Separately on the Day?

No, the driver fee is typically settled as part of the same total payment as the vehicle hire, not handed to the driver separately in person. Confirm this at booking if your arrangement differs, particularly for a multi-day hire with a driver where the two costs are usually combined into one upfront figure.

How Does Payment Work for Game-Drive Hire With a Deposit?

Game-drive hire is the one exception to Barguts Tours’ no-deposit policy, carrying a refundable deposit of 50% of the total hire cost, paid using the same methods as the rest of the booking. This deposit is calculated on the full hire total from the current vehicle rates, not a flat figure, so it scales with the length and vehicle class of your safari trip.

When Is the Game-Drive Deposit Refunded?

The game-drive deposit is refunded after the vehicle is returned and inspected, provided there is no damage to settle against it. Confirm the expected refund timeframe at booking, since it typically follows the same payment method used for the original deposit. An M-Pesa deposit is refunded by M-Pesa, for example, rather than switched to cash.

Does Corporate Car Hire Follow the Same Payment Process?

Corporate bookings commonly use bank transfer rather than cash or M-Pesa, matching how a business typically settles an invoice. Confirm invoicing details, including company name, reference, and payment terms, when you set up a corporate account, since this differs from the single-trip payment flow used by most individual bookings.

Is the Quoted Price Always in Kenyan Shillings?

Yes, the quoted price is given in Kenyan shillings, the standard currency for Barguts Tours’ rates regardless of whether you pay in cash, M-Pesa, or bank transfer. A visitor budgeting in a different home currency should convert the KES total rather than ask for a quote in another currency, since the hire agreement and any resulting insurance claim are both denominated in shillings.

Does the Exchange Rate Affect Your Final Cost?

If you are converting from a foreign currency to pay, the exchange rate at the time of payment determines your actual cost in your home currency, not the rate at the time you first received the quote. This is worth factoring in in advance for a larger, multi-day booking where the total is more significant.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Hire Payment in Nairobi

Does Barguts Tours Accept M-Pesa for Car Hire Payment?

Yes, M-Pesa is accepted and is the most commonly used method. Payment confirmation is typically immediate, which keeps the pickup process moving without delay.

Is a Credit Card Required to Book a Car Hire?

No, a credit card is not required to book with Barguts Tours. Cash, M-Pesa, and bank transfer all work as standalone payment methods without a card on file.

Can International Visitors Pay by Bank Transfer Before Arriving in Kenya?

Yes, international visitors can arrange a bank transfer in advance of arrival, which suits a pre-booked corporate trip or a longer hire arranged well ahead of the travel date.

Does Barguts Tours Accept Foreign Currency in Cash?

Confirm directly with the team whether foreign currency cash is accepted for a specific booking, since Kenyan shillings is the standard currency for payment and foreign-currency acceptance can vary.

Can You Split a Payment Across Two Different Methods?

Confirm with Barguts Tours directly if you want to split a payment between, for example, part cash and part M-Pesa. This is not the standard booking flow, but it can usually be accommodated if arranged in advance rather than requested at the point of payment.

Sources

• Barguts Tours payment terms, confirmed September 2026.
• Live gl=ke SERP research, October 2026: urbanescapeluxurycars.com’s diaspora payment guide and hireddrive.com’s rental FAQ reviewed as comparable competitors.

Contact Barguts Tours on WhatsApp to confirm the payment method and total cost for your booking.