Blog

Renting out your car on Zidi Host

Published 28 October 2026

With Zidi Host, you rent out your own car to people near you. You set the price and the rules, and approve each request.

What you need

• A car you may rent out, kept roadworthy, licensed and inspected.
• Comprehensive insurance that allows self-drive hire. Many private policies exclude hire, so check that yours covers it.
• A GPS tracker in the car.
• The logbook, the insurance and GPS tracker documents, and at least 4 clear photos: front, back, both sides and the inside.

Listing your car

In Zidi Host, add the car's details and daily price, its type and pick-up place, the photos, the documents and your rules for renters. Then send it to Zidi. Zidi checks the documents and inspects the car before renters can see it.

What you earn

You get 91% of the rental: Zidi keeps 9%. The renter pays Zidi's fee of KES 50 a day on top, so it doesn't come off your earnings.

For example, a car at KES 4,000 per 24 hours, rented for 3 days: the rental is KES 12,000, and you earn KES 10,920.

Requests and hand-overs

• You have 10 minutes to approve or decline a request. You see the renter's name, whether Zidi has checked their ID, their rating from other hosts and where they plan to drive.
• From 2 hours before pick-up, the booking shows the renter's ID details. Check their original ID and driving licence against them.
• Then ask for their 4-digit pick-up code, type it in and tap Keys ready. You can't hand over without the code.
• The renter has 30 minutes to look the car over. If it isn't as listed, they can reject it with photos: they get a full refund, and you aren't paid for that booking.

Getting paid

When the renter accepts the car, or doesn't answer within 30 minutes of Keys ready, your earnings move to your wallet. Withdraw them whenever you like, from KES 10 up to KES 150,000 at a time, to an M-Pesa number in your own name, once Zidi has checked your ID. M-Pesa's fee comes off the amount.

If a renter cancels after the free cancellation time, one day's rental, less Zidi's 9%, goes to your wallet.

Tips for more bookings

1. Make the first photo count. It's the cover renters see first. A side view of the whole car, in daylight, works best.
2. Answer quickly. A request lapses after 10 minutes without an answer.
3. Keep the calendar honest. Renters only see cars that are free on their dates. Set your shortest and longest trip and the notice you need before pick-up, and pause the listing whenever the car isn't available.
4. Write clear rules. Fuel, smoking, where the car may go: renters accept your terms with every request.
5. Price it fairly. See what similar cars cost at zidimobility.co.ke/cars.
6. Describe the car as it is. A car that isn't as listed can be rejected at pick-up, and after 3 rejections Zidi pauses the car for a review.
7. Hand over on time. Renters can rate the car after each trip, and good ratings show on its page.

Questions? See Support, or the help in Zidi Host under Account, Help.