Rental car from Namibia to Botswana: the letter you need

Short answer: yes, ask your rental company for a signed letter of authority (the cross-border permit) when you book, and tell them Botswana is on your route. The rental companies we checked say you must request it, that they need advance notice, and that they charge their own cross-border fee. Without the letter you can be turned back at the border. Rules and fees differ by company, so get the details in writing before you pay.

What you need before the border

For a hired car, the paperwork starts at the rental desk, not at Ngoma. Before you pay for the car:

• Tell the company Botswana is on your route. Avis Botswana's terms say customers must say at reservation which other country they will enter.
• Ask whether the car is allowed into Botswana at all. Europcar's Namibian operation, as set out by its partner Terra Nova in February 2026, generally allows Botswana but may restrict vehicle categories, and says a 4x4 is usually required for the Chobe and Moremi areas. Policies differ between companies.
• Ask for the letter of authority and the fee for it, in writing.
• Give notice. See the next section.

The rental company letter, and what to ask for

The document has different names: letter of authority, cross-border permit, cross-border authorisation. It is a signed letter from the rental company giving you permission to take that vehicle into the named country. Here is what the companies we checked say:

• Europcar Namibia (via Terra Nova): the company must provide a signed letter of authorisation and a certified copy of the vehicle's registration papers. It asks for at least 48 hours' notice, and charges an administration fee for the permit.
• Avis Botswana: the letter must be requested by the customer at the time of rental. If you do not get it, Avis says it cannot be held responsible if you are refused entry at the border.
• Hertz South Africa: you apply by email with your reservation number, the borders you will cross and the date of the first crossing, plus ID or passport, your driving licence and proof of residence. It needs at least two business days' notice and charges a fee for each authorisation. It lists Botswana and Namibia as permitted, and Zambia and Zimbabwe as not permitted.

Ask about every country on your route. If you plan to go on to Victoria Falls or Livingstone, check that the letter covers Zimbabwe or Zambia too. Some companies refuse them, as the Hertz and Avis pages show. Our Chobe to Victoria Falls guide covers that crossing.

Fees. The rental company's fee is its own charge for the paperwork and the cross-border cover, and it varies widely from company to company. It does not include what the border charges. Europcar says government levies are paid at the border post and are not part of the rental rate. Get the fee quoted before you book, and ask whether it is charged per rental or per border crossing.

Insurance and breakdowns. Ask what the damage waivers cover outside Namibia and who pays for a tow back to the border. Terra Nova's summary of Europcar's terms says guests are often liable for towing or repatriation costs after a breakdown abroad, depending on the waivers they bought. Hertz says damage on untarred roads, or roads unsuitable for the vehicle type, is not covered by its waivers, so read that clause if you plan to drive to Savuti. Our Kasane to Savuti guide describes the road.

Vehicle not in your name, or still financed

This applies to a borrowed car, a company car or a vehicle someone is still paying off. It does not usually apply to a hire car, where the letter above does the job. Be careful with this section: the sources we found do not agree, and we could not confirm a single official rule.

• The Botswana Police page on vehicle import and export clearance lists an authorisation letter to cross the border, which must come from the vehicle owner. It says the owner, or someone the owner has authorised in writing, can apply, and that the vehicle is inspected before authorisation. That page does not mention rental cars.
• South African motoring guidance (Drive South Africa's Botswana guide, repeating AA advice) says to carry an affidavit from the police giving permission from the owner, rental company or lender, and to have the letter and registration papers signed by a Commissioner of Oaths. For a financed vehicle, it says the lender's letter should state the dates of the trip.

These are not the same instruction, and the motoring guides are advice, not law. Our suggestion is to carry the owner's or lender's signed letter with dates, a certified copy of the registration, and your ID, and then ask the Botswana Police clearance office or the Ngoma border post what else they want. The police page gives the Serious Crime Squad in Gaborone as the contact for questions about rules. Do this before you leave home, because the border is a poor place to find out.

What to carry at the border

• Your passport, and your driving licence.
• The rental agreement.
• The signed letter of authority from the rental company, and the certified copy of the registration papers if they supplied it.
• Your booking confirmation for the first night, in case you are asked where you are staying.
• Cash and a card for the border charges and fuel. Our Ngoma border page covers payment.

The full border checklist is on the Ngoma border post page, and Namibia to Botswana border posts explains the other crossings. If you are taking food over, read taking meat and food from Namibia into Botswana first. Keep a photo of every document on your phone as a backup, not instead of the paper.

Hours matter too. Check the opening times on the Ngoma page and aim to cross in daylight, since both sides have to be open for you to get through.

First night after crossing

Most travellers want a simple first night after the formalities: somewhere close to the border, with space to park a hire car and no need to drive after dark. Lorato is in Muchenje, about 15 minutes from the Ngoma crossing, with check-in at any time, so you can clear the border late and still get settled. Pitches are $20 per person per night booked direct, children aged 0 to 12 pay half, and one pitch takes at most 6 people and 3 vehicles. Check-out is by 11:00. Read more on the campsite near the Ngoma border, or message us your arrival time on WhatsApp.

No camping gear? Hire a tent

Many renters fly in and do not carry a tent. Lorato has 7 hire tents at $55 a night, including the camping fee, each sleeping 2. See tent hire near Chobe. If your hire car came with its own camping kit, check with the rental company that the kit and the vehicle are both covered for Botswana.

Plan the rest of your trip

Start with the Botswana camping guide. When you are ready, book through the self-drive camping page, use the booking form on the home page, or WhatsApp +267 7430 4407.

Frequently asked questions

More guides for your route

• Ngoma border post: hours, fees and what to expect
• Namibia to Botswana border posts: which one to use
• Kazungula vs Ngoma border: which one do you need?
• Tent hire near Chobe
• Campsite near the Ngoma border
• Katima Mulilo to Kasane via the Ngoma border
• Taking meat and food from Namibia into Botswana
• Camping in Botswana: a practical guide

Sources

Checked 23 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.

• Terra Nova: Cross-border vehicle requirements for Southern Africa, Europcar Namibia section (February 2026)
• Avis Botswana: terms and conditions, cross-border rentals and letter of authority
• Hertz South Africa: cross-border policy
• Botswana Government: vehicle import and export clearance (Botswana Police Service)
• Drive South Africa: Botswana border posts crossing guide (affidavit advice, not official)