Car Rental in Cape Town

Why rent a car in Cape Town?

Cape Town is a great city for renting a car. Mixing European and African influences when it comes to architecture, cuisine, and lifestyle, it really is a place like no other. It has often been named as the number one travel destination in the world for a reason. Having your own ride will let you see this vast and diverse city in its fullness, as well as to travel to nearby beaches and nature reserves. 

Top ways to enter Cape Town

• Cape Town Airport. Among the five busiest airports in Africa, Cape Town Airport serves more than 10 million passengers every year. The airport hosts many domestic flights, as well as flights to other African countries, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airport is located about 20 km (12 mi) east of the city center. Cape Town has frequently been named the best airport in Africa.
• George Airport. A small and cozy airport that only has domestic flights, George Airport is located in a beautiful holiday spot on the Indian Ocean and is about a five hours drive east of Cape Town.
• Port Elizabeth Airport. Although it is an eight-hour drive between the two cities, Port Elizabeth Airport is one of the closest international airports to Cape Town. It serves about 1.6 million travelers every year.
• By public transportation. If you’re arriving in Cape Town by public transportation, you can also conveniently pick up a rental car at car rental centers in Cape Town’s city center or in neighborhoods like Parow and Rondebosch.

City facts

Located at the very southwestern edge of Africa, Cape Town enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate. The winters are mild and humid while summers are warm and wet (as South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, the summers here last from December to March).

Cape Town is a city of great linguistic diversity. Afrikaans, a language similar to Dutch, Xhosa, a local, tonal Bantu language, and English are all spoken widely, and a number of other African languages can also be heard in the city.

Top sights and activities

• Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter). Famous for its colorful houses, Bo-Kaap is an area where Malay Muslims lived in Cape Town. Traces of those times can still be found throughout the neighborhood in things like the Nurul Islam Mosque and the unique food sold on street corners. Many places in Bo-Kaap also offer stunning views of the rest of Cape Town.
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Home to many unique flowers and plants from such varied biotypes as savanna, jungle, and desert, this green area is often named among the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. In addition to the flora, the botanical garden also hosts frequent outdoor exhibitions, many of them dedicated to the native African cultures of South Africa and its neighboring countries.
• Surfing. Cape Town has some of the best surfing waves on the planet. There are opportunities for surfers of every level - starters will appreciate the more relaxed Muizenberg beach where it is also easy to find an instructor while pros will be glad to challenge themselves at Kalk Bay. There are also great options for kitesurfing, snorkeling, and many other water sports in and around Cape Town.
• Science Center. The museum-like center was created to promote scientific literacy and is one of the most interesting places to visit in Cape Town. Very interactive, it has a large number of exhibitions, scientific riddles, and fun technology to play with, making it an especially great place to visit for children and young adults. The center is in the Observatory neighborhood, named after the South African Astronomical Observatory which can also be visited.
• V&A Waterfront. Located in South Africa’s oldest working harbor, the 300-acre Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a hip, entertainment complex with over 450 fashion, homeware and grocery stores, restaurants, and a 13-screen cinema.
• District Six Museum. One of the most interesting in the country, this museum is named after the inner city area whose inhabitants of various races resisted the official apartheid policy for many years. Finally, they were forcibly separated in the 1970s, with most of the neighborhood being razed, but the memories of the area survived and the museum was opened in 1994 to document both the aforementioned struggle and the everyday life of the district’s former inhabitants. Centrally located, the museum is very near the Castle of Good Hope to the northeast and the South African National Gallery to the southwest..
• Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. Originally built in the 1920s as a grain silo and heavily refurbished with concrete-cutting technologies in the 2000s to give it its unique look, the Zeitz Museum building is one of the most interesting in all of Cape Town. Inside, you’ll find both permanent and rotating exhibitions of artworks by modern-day African creators (take a look at the museum’s interactive website to learn more). The Zeitz can be found in the aforementioned V&A Waterfront area.

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 120 km/h (74.5 mph) on freeways, 100 km/h (62 mph) on any public road outside of an urban area that is not a freeway, and 60 km/h (37 mph) on any public road within an urban or built-up area.
• When putting fuel in a car in Cape Town, the driver is required to remain in the car. Just park in the right area and the employee of the fuel station will soon come to you to find out which type of fuel and how much of it would you like to have.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% per 100ml of blood and 0.24% per 1000 ml of breath for experienced drivers and is 0.00% for novice drivers. Exceeding the allowed limit can lead to large fines, deportation, or imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s registration needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.

Toll roads

There are many toll roads in South Africa. However, unlike in most of the world, no payments are made on the highway, neither in cash nor by credit card. Instead, a vehicle is identified either by an electronic tag that is on the vehicle or by the vehicle’s licence plate number. 

Many rental cars are equipped with an e-tag that will be used for making toll payments. Some rental car providers will charge an additional fee for this service. Ask your car rental provider about it beforehand. 

The exact fee for using the toll roads depends on the type of road. See more information about the latest toll road fees on here.

If your rental car is not equipped with an e-tag, the bill for using the toll roads will be sent to your car rental provider. Due to delays in the South African toll road system, you could be billed and charged after the end of your rental period.

Ideas for day trips

• Table Mountain. Once an important reference point for early seafarers, and offering the best views of Cape Town, Table Mountain is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It’s possible to go up the mountain with a cable car, but if you’re up for a challenge, climbing is also possible. The mountain is home to a really unique animal, the rock rabbit (also known as hyrax, or, as the locals call it, “Dassie”). It looks similar to a rodent, but its closest relatives are actually elephants and manatees.
• Boulders. A small, but popular beach sheltered by huge boulders, Boulders is famous for its permanent inhabitants, the African penguins that have a colony there. Boulders Beach is part of Table Mountain National Park that also has conversation programs for other animals like caracals, ostriches, and the klipspringer antelopes. Boulders Beach is about 45 km (27 mi) south of Cape Town.
• De Hoop Nature Reserve. Only accessible by car, De Hoop is a remote and pristine natural area about three hours drive east of Cape Town. Animals that live here include baboons, elands, leopards, and many others, but the reserve’s number one attraction is the Southern Right Whales who pass its beaches every year. Combine a visit here to the nearby, and equally interesting, Bontebok National Park.
• Robben Island. Located just off the coast of Cape Town, Robben Island is well-known as a former colony of political prisoners during South Africa’s Apartheid era. Nelson Mandela, the future president of South Africa and symbol of the peace movement around the world, was held on it for 18 years. Nowadays, the island has been turned into a museum and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can only reach the island by ferry and it’s not possible to bring a car, but you can park it at the port and pick it up upon returning. The number of visitors permitted to visit the island daily is limited, so it’s a good idea to book tickets in advance.
• Chapman’s Peak. Squeezed between the eponymous coastal peak and the ocean, Chapman's Peak Drive has frequently been mentioned among the most scenic drives on the planet. The drive is the approximately 10 km (6 miles) long portion of the Motorway M6, connecting Hout Bay in the north to Noordhoek in the south (there is also a lookout point on the way that’s facing the Atlantic). Located just a short drive from the center of Cape Town, Chapman’s Peak is also a very popular hiking area.
• Camps Bay. Located just a quick 20 minute drive from the city center, Camps Bay is a southern suburb of Cape Town, and also a popular day trip destination for tourists. The area is known for its high quality of living and boasts lovely beaches, quality restaurants, hiking trails, and views of the Table Mountain. Adrenaline junkies will also love to learn that Camps Bay is one of the South African hubs of paragliding.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Cape Town is the Kia Picanto, although travelers also tend to choose the Ford Fiesta and the Toyota Corolla a lot. The most popular rental car types in Cape Town are the mini, economy, and compact classes.

Further destinations

For more about traveling around South Africa with a rental car, check out our complete guide.

• Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area. Named after a mountain range, Groot Winterhoek is a protected nature area about a two-hour drive northeast of Cape Town. The reserve is made up of stunning peaks, wide waterfalls, and rock formations, and has many opportunities for trekking and hiking. There is interesting rock art dating back millennia to be found, as well as a conservation project with animals like klipspringers, leopards, and jackal buzzards. Accommodation can be found, including at forest stations inside the park (although it’s a good idea to book in advance). Visit Groot Winterhoek’s official website to learn more.
• Port Elizabeth. A picturesque city known for its museums, beaches, and large natural areas, Cape Town is one of the nicest and most relaxing places in the country. It takes about eight hours to reach it by car, with 700 km (430 mi) to cover. The long distance is well worth it, though. 
• Namibia. A northern neighbor that only got its independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibia impresses with its long, sparsely populated beaches, and more than anything, the moon-like landscapes of the Namib and Kalahari Deserts. Like South Africa, Namibia is one of the most accessible countries of Africa. Luderitz, its nearest coastal city, is about an eleven-hour drive north of Cape Town. Do keep in mind that you’ll be crossing a national border, so first, ask your rental car provider if it is permitted. Alternatively, you can drop off your rental car in South Africa and pick up another in Namibia. Also, check to see if you require a visa to enter Namibia and the process for obtaining one if so. 
• Botswana. With both the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari Desert, and many national parks Botswana is one of the most diverse countries in South Africa. The country is especially fascinating to experience if you have your own ride. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a nature reserve located in both South Africa and Botswana, is about 11 hours away from Cape Town. Do keep in mind that you’ll be crossing a national border, so first ask your rental car provider permits it. Alternatively, you can drop off one rental car in South Africa and pick up another in Botswana. Also, check to see if you require a visa to enter Botswana and the process for obtaining one if so. 

Car rental prices in Cape Town

• Small cars - from $11 per day
• Medium cars - from $16 per day
• Large cars - from $20 per day
• SUVs - from $21 per day
• Premium cars - from $51 per day
• Vans - from $20 per day
• Convertibles - from $413 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Try these tricks to get a great car rental deal in Cape Town:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit Cape Town when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Frankfurt is the cheapest in May when renting a car is about 40% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 70% cheaper than renting a car in November.