Africa > 🇨🇫 The Central African Republic
The city by city Car or no Car advice for The Central African Republic can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in The Central African Republic; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in The Central African Republic?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in The Central African Republic?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in The Central African Republic
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bangui | BGF |
The Central African Republic is a vast, landlocked nation filled with rainforest, savannah, rivers, and remote villages. Yet despite its natural beauty, the country remains extremely challenging for travellers. With this in mind, you may wonder: should you rent a car in the Central African Republic? 🚗🤔
The honest answer is almost always no — at least not in the conventional sense. CAR has limited infrastructure, significant security risks, very few paved roads, almost no formal tourism services, and a rental-car market that barely exists. Instead, most visitors rely on NGO vehicles, organised tours with drivers, or humanitarian transport networks. Independent travel is possible but extremely difficult.
🏙️ Getting Around Bangui
Bangui, the capital, is the only place where you’ll find anything resembling urban transport:
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Taxis operate throughout the day
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Motorbike taxis are common but not always safe
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Walking is possible in central districts
Even so, movement is often restricted by security advice. Because conditions change frequently, travellers usually rely on trusted drivers arranged through hotels, embassies, or NGOs.
🚫 Why Renting a Car Is Not Recommended
🔧 1. No Real Rental-Car Market
Formal rental agencies are extremely limited. Most “rentals” are actually private drivers with 4x4s, hired through hotels or contacts. Renting a vehicle without a driver is almost unheard of.
🛣️ 2. Poor Road Conditions
Beyond the capital, roads deteriorate quickly. Many are unpaved, deeply rutted, or impassable in the rainy season. Bridges may be damaged, and routes can be cut off entirely.
🛡️ 3. Security Concerns
Large parts of CAR remain under the influence of armed groups. Travelling outside Bangui requires:
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local knowledge
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advance permissions
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reliable communications
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sometimes military or gendarmerie escorts
This situation makes independent road trips impractical.
🛞 4. Long Distances & Limited Fuel
Fuel shortages happen regularly. Distances between towns are long, and breakdown assistance is essentially nonexistent.
🌍 What Is Possible for Travellers?
Although renting a car is not realistic, you can still experience parts of the country — with the right support.
✨ Dzanga-Sangha National Park
Located in the southwest, this is CAR’s flagship wildlife area, famous for:
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lowland gorillas
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forest elephants
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the spectacular Dzanga Bai clearing
However, reaching it requires organised tours, usually starting in Cameroon.
🛥️ Sangha River Travel
River journeys are sometimes possible in the southwest, but they must be arranged locally and safely.
💼 NGO or UN Travel
Some visitors (journalists, researchers, aid workers) travel using organisational vehicles, strict protocols, and security escorts.
🛫 Air Travel Inside CAR
Domestic flights operate irregularly and mainly serve humanitarian or governmental needs. There is no reliable commercial domestic flight network for tourists. Plans change frequently due to weather or security.
🧭 Summary — Should You Rent a Car in the Central African Republic?
❌ No — self-drive car rental is neither realistic nor safe.
✔️ Instead, rely on organised drivers, trusted contacts, or structured tours.
CAR rewards the truly adventurous with extraordinary rainforest, wildlife, and culture — but due to fragile infrastructure and security conditions, independent driving simply isn’t an option. If you visit, do so through carefully arranged, reputable channels. 🌍✨