Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters. At Kigali Car Rental (kigalicarhires.com, referred to as "we", "us", or "our"), we respect your personal data and are committed to protecting it. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you visit our website, make a reservation, or contact us for car rental services in Rwanda.

1. Information we collect

To provide you with reliable car rental services — including self-drive, chauffeur-driven, airport delivery, and vehicle booking — we may collect the following information:

• Personal identifiers: Full name, phone number (including WhatsApp), email address, and driving licence details.
• Booking & trip details: Rental dates, pick-up/drop-off locations (Kigali, KGL Airport, Musanze, etc.), vehicle preferences (RAV4, Land Cruiser V8, economy sedan).
• Payment & deposit info: Rental deposit records and transaction confirmation. We accept Visa and Mastercard from anywhere in the world via our secure payment gateway, as well as mobile money and bank transfer — we do not store full card details on our own servers; card payments are processed directly by our PCI-compliant payment provider.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, and cookies that improve site navigation and analytics.

2. How we use your information

We use collected data strictly for operational and legal purposes:

• Process reservations, confirm availability, and manage vehicle delivery (especially at Kigali International Airport).
• Communicate with you via WhatsApp, SMS, or email regarding booking status, rental modifications, and local driving tips.
• Improve our fleet management and customer support for trips like gorilla trekking, Akagera safari, or Lake Kivu getaways.
• Comply with local Rwandan regulations and vehicle rental legal requirements.
• Detect fraud, secure payments, and handle deposit refunds after vehicle inspection.

3. Cookies & similar technologies

Our website uses essential cookies (for functionality, security, and consent preferences) and optional analytical cookies (to understand traffic). You can manage cookie settings anytime. We do not sell personal data to third parties or use deceptive cookie practices.

4. How we share your data

We never rent or sell your personal information. However, limited sharing occurs only for legitimate business operations:

• Payment processors: Our card payment gateway processes Visa and Mastercard transactions from anywhere in the world on our behalf, under its own security and compliance standards.
• Service providers: CRM tools and booking management software.
• Legal obligations: If required by Rwandan authorities, courts, or for the prevention of crime.
• Business transfers: In case of merger or acquisition (you'll be notified beforehand).

5. Data security & retention

We implement industry-standard security measures (SSL encryption, access controls, secure hosting). Your rental data is retained for 3 years after the last interaction, as required for accounting and insurance purposes. You may request deletion of your non-essential data by contacting our support WhatsApp. However, we must retain certain transactional records for legal liability reasons.

6. Your rights (access, correction & deletion)

If you are a client booking cars in Kigali, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of incorrect information (e.g., phone number or driving licence number).
• Ask for deletion of data that is no longer necessary for rental purposes.
• Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time.

To exercise any right, contact us via WhatsApp: +250 787 619 387 or email [email protected]. We'll respond within 15 business days.

7. Third-party links and external platforms

Our website may contain links to travel blogs, accommodation partners, or payment gateways. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external services. We encourage you to review their policies before sharing data.

8. Children's privacy

Our services are for car rental customers aged 18+ only. We do not knowingly collect data from individuals under 18. If we become aware, we will promptly delete that information.

9. Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this page occasionally (e.g., due to new regulations or services). The "Last updated" date at the top indicates the latest version. Significant changes will be notified via a banner on our website or WhatsApp.