Frequently Asked Questions

No, Elos does not rent cars directly. We are the platform that connects the best local rental companies in Cabo Verde in one place — you compare prices, policies and availability in real time, book online through a single interface, and pick up the car from the partner you chose. We facilitate the experience and mediate the relationship; the car, the insurance and the on-the-ground service are provided by the local partner.

The rental contract is always between you and the local partner you chose — they hand over the car, provide the insurance and deliver the service on the ground. Elos is responsible for the booking on the platform, the online payment and mediation in the event of a dispute. You can reach out to either of us whenever you need support.

Search by island and dates, pick a model, fill in your driver details and complete payment. You'll get an email confirmation within seconds, with all pickup details.

Yes, as soon as your online payment is accepted: the booking is confirmed and you get the email with the confirmation and the receipt. While you pay, the car is held for you.

Dates and times, yes. In your account, under “My Bookings”, choose “Change dates” — within the company’s free-cancellation window and subject to availability. To switch vehicle or pickup location, cancel and book again, or talk to our team.

Each day is a 24-hour period counted from your pickup time. If you pick up at 2:00pm on the 5th and return at 2:00pm on the 7th, that's exactly 2 days.

Yes. Within the company's free cancellation window you cancel at no cost — the window is set by each company and shown on the car page, at checkout and in the booking email. Inside that window, the company keeps the cancellation fee it has set, a percentage of the total that we show you before you confirm the cancellation; the rest goes back to you the same way you paid, or as Elos credit if you prefer. Once you have picked up the car, it can no longer be cancelled.

Online you pay by card — vinti4, Visa, Mastercard or American Express — the part the company asks for: part of the booking or the full amount. You pay the rest at the counter, by the methods the company accepts. Checkout shows how much you pay now and how much is left for the counter.

You pay online with a debit or credit card (vinti4, Visa, Mastercard or American Express). The deposit belongs to the company: whether there is one, how much it is and how it is paid is on the car page.

It depends on the company: some ask for part of the booking online and the rest at the counter, others the full amount online. The amount to pay now is shown at checkout before you pay; the free cancellation window is on the car page.

When a company requires a security deposit, you pay it at pickup — in cash or by card, whichever the company accepts — and it's returned at the end of the rental if there's no damage. The amount and method are always shown on the car page. Use the "No deposit" filter to see cars that don't require one.

Yes. Every booking is tied to a specific model, with clear photo and identification. In rare cases of breakdown or unexpected issues, the company will offer an equivalent or higher category car.

It depends on the company. When a company declares unlimited mileage, it is shown on the car page. If it is not shown, the limit is not published on the platform — check with the company before booking, or through the contact in your confirmation email.

It depends on the company: full-to-full (you get a full tank and return it full) or same-to-same (return it at the level you got it). When the company declares its policy, it is shown on the car page and in the return reminder. If it is not shown, confirm at pickup.

Yes. You can add a baby seat, child seat or booster as optional extras during checkout, subject to availability with the rental company.

Many partners offer roadside assistance — its scope and hours are the partner's own and are set out in the rental contract. In an emergency, contact the support number the partner gave you straight away. The Elos team mediates every day, 08:00 to 20:00. In case of an accident, you should also contact the police.

At the airports of the islands that have cars, at the companies' offices and at other places each company declares. You see each company's locations on the car page and choose yours at checkout.

When the company offers it. It depends on the company covering more than one point on the island and having the different-return-location service enabled — not all do. Where it exists, the one-way fee appears in your quote before you confirm.

No. Pick-up and return happen within the company's counter hours. If you choose a time outside them, the booking is not accepted and we tell you when the counter is open that day.

Enter your flight number at checkout. If your flight is delayed, let the company know through your booking link, under «My flight is delayed»: it will know when you arrive. If you need help, talk to us on WhatsApp.

No. The car stays on the island where you collected it: it doesn't board the ferry or the plane. If you're going to another island, book another car there; the multi-island planner puts the bookings together in one trip.

A driving licence valid for the whole rental and an identity document (passport or ID card). If your licence is not in the Latin alphabet, also bring an International Driving Permit. If the company asks for anything else, it is on the car page.

21, unless the company sets a different minimum age. The age that applies to each car is shown on its page, before you book.

Yes. An additional driver is an optional extra at checkout — some companies include it at no cost, others charge a fixed fee, always shown before you confirm. Just bring that person's licence to the pickup.

Third-party liability insurance, which is required by law in Cabo Verde. It belongs to the rental company and covers damage caused to third parties. Rental companies in Cabo Verde don’t usually sell extra insurance: for damage to the car itself, what counts is the security deposit, shown on each car’s page. If a company does sell extra protection, it appears at checkout, with its price.

New damage is the renter’s responsibility: the company charges it from the deposit or separately, as its rental contract says. Take photos of the car at pickup and at return; when the company does the inspection through Elos, you receive the report with the photos by email. If you disagree with the amount, contact us: Elos mediates.