Call for Official Classification of Car Rental Sector
Zakraya Naât, a member of the National Chamber of Car Rental, has urged the Ministry of Transport to proceed with an official classification of the sector, emphasizing that this is a crucial step to ensure its sustainability. The official noted that this activity represents a full-fledged economic pillar, generating between 10,000 and 11,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Invited on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, to the "Yom Saïd" program on National Radio, Zakraya Naât explained that such classification would allow professionals to benefit from tax advantages, from which they are currently totally excluded. He stressed the need to establish a unified rental contract, applicable to all actors, in order to guarantee better protection of the rights of both the lessor and the customer. This contract should include standardized clauses and conditions for all companies in the sector.
Key Demands
- Naât also advocated for the validity period of vehicle rental operation cards to be extended to five years, as is already the case for cars with 6 horsepower. He specified that this measure should also apply to vehicles with 4 and 5 horsepower.
- He described an extremely difficult economic situation, with the sector being heavily affected by the rise in vehicle and spare parts prices, combined with the increase in interest rates and bank fees. According to him, since September 10, the activity has been going through a crisis phase, exacerbated by the early return of Tunisians living abroad, who are usually the driving force behind the summer recovery.
- Zakraya Naât firmly denounced the growth of parallel trade in car rental. He urged the Ministry of Transport to strengthen controls on offices and companies operating without authorization.
- He recalled that opening a car rental company requires a minimum fleet of 20 vehicles and that the manager must have at least five years of experience in a company in the sector or hold a university degree.
Clarification on Deposit Guarantee
- Regarding the deposit guarantee, Naât specified that it is not a financial guarantee but an advance on insurance, the amount of which varies according to the value of the vehicle.
The official classification of the car rental sector is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring its sustainability and competitiveness in the market. By establishing a unified rental contract and extending the validity period of vehicle rental operation cards, the sector can better protect the rights of both the lessor and the customer, and provide a more stable and secure environment for businesses to operate.
