Car Hire in South Africa
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Cheapest Car Hire Rates
Tambo International Airport
Mini Elite
Hyundai Grand i10
or comparable
£11.76
per day
King Shaka International Airport
Mini
Toyota Agya
or comparable
£12.03
per day
Port Elizabeth Airport
Economy
Opel Corsa
or comparable
£13.35
per day
Upington Airport
Economy Elite
Volkswagen Polo
or comparable
£15.33
per day
Most Popular Car Hire Deals
Cape Town Parow
Compact
Toyota Corolla
or comparable
£15.80
per day
Pretoria Hatfield
Intermediate
Toyota Corolla
or comparable
£19.98
per day
Cape Town Airport
Standard
Toyota Quest
or comparable
£26.49
per day
City Centre
Full-size Regular Cab Pickup
Toyota Hilux
or comparable
£30.02
per day
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 08:15 on 2024-07-13.
Travel Information
Languages
IsiZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English
Currency
ZAR
Drive on
Left-hand side
Dialing code
+27
Average car hire price
£18 per day
Average car hire length
10 days
Speed limit within city centre
60 km/h or 37 mph
Speed limit out of city centre
100 - 120 km/h or 62 - 75 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Average petrol price
£0.98 per litre or £3.72 per gallon
Lowest petrol price
£0.90 per litre or £3.41 per gallon
Highest petrol price
£1.08 per litre or £4.07 per gallon
Why hire a car in South Africa?
From famous cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg to nature areas and an extensive coastline, South Africa really seems to have everything. The large distances can sometimes feel overwhelming, but the road network is generally in good shape and even if you choose to stick to just one region of the country, you’ll most likely end up being surprised by the incredible diversity that you’ll find.
If you want to know more about hiring a car in South Africa, don't miss our complete guide.
One-way Car Hire in South Africa
Here are the most popular one-way car hire options for pickup in South Africa and drop off in another country:
- From South Africa to Namibia - 92 offers from £32.08 per day
- From South Africa to Lesotho - 10 offers from £19.25 per day
- From South Africa to Botswana - 35 offers from £22.38 per day
- From South Africa to Swaziland - 10 offers from £19.25 per day
Top ways to enter South Africa
- Cape Town Airport: The fifth-busiest in Africa, this airport serves not only Cape Town, but also the wider Western Cape Region.
- Johannesburg Tambo Airport: South Africa’s busiest airport serves nearly 30 million passengers annually.
- Durban King Shaka Airport: Named after a leader of the Zulu nation, Durban serves not only domestic routes, but also flights to and from many other African countries like Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, and Ghana, as well as destinations in Europe and the Middle East.
- By land: If your car hire company permits it and if you have the right visa and other documentation, it’s possible to rent a car in a neighboring country and then drive to South Africa. Some large international airports near South Africa are Gaborone Airport in Botswana and Maputo Airport in Mozambique.
Top cities and places to visit
- Cape Town: One of the most popular city destinations in Africa, Cape Town is home to the Cape of Good Home, Table Mountain, a large wine region, and an extensive sea coast.
- Johannesburg: Huge and hugely impressive, Johannesburg is home to interesting museums and great cuisine from all over Africa. Many great national parks are also nearby.
- Durban: The city on the Indian Ocean has many natural landmarks, opportunities for water sports, and the famous Crocodile Creek.
- Eastern Cape: This regions is best known for having one half of the beautiful Garden Route (that starts in Western Cape), as well as its surfing towns and villages, but the Addo Elephant National Park and the Tsitsikamma National Park shouldn’t be overlooked, either.
- Limpopo: Something of an unknown quantity up to this day, the South African region bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe is best known for the beautiful Kruger National Park.
Most popular hire car
The most hired car in South Africa are the VW Polo. The Toyota Corolla and the Chevrolet Spark are also popular choices.
Most popular types of hire car
The most popular car types in South Africa are economy, mini, and compact.
Top driving routes
- Cape Town - Port Elizabeth (282 km / 175 mi) It’s a long road between the capitals of Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, but many travelers still choose to do it because of the many nature reserves, coastal areas, and the beautiful Garden Route that are on the way.
- Johannesburg - Durban (568 km / 353 mi) The two great cities of Eastern South Africa are about six hours apart. Many travelers also choose to visit Lesotho that is on the way, but if you’d like to do the same, first make sure that your rental car provider permits it as you’d be entering another country.
- Johannesburg - Nelspruit (341 km / 212 mi) Cozy Mbombela, still often referred to by its former name, Nelspruit, is about four hours drive east of Johannesburg.
Car hire prices
- Station wagons - starting at £43 per day
- Large cars - starting at £19 per day
- Medium cars - starting at £15 per day
- People Carriers - starting at £21 per day
- Premium cars - starting at £47 per day
- Small cars - starting at £12 per day
- SUVs - starting at £20 per day
How can I save money on my hire car?
You can do a number of things to get a good car hire deal in South Africa:
- Compare rates of different car hire companies
- Book your car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting South Africa is the cheapest in May when hiring a car is about 29% cheaper than the yearly average and about 56% cheaper than hiring a car in November.
The 9 most popular cities in South Africa
Top 10 Most Popular Locations in South Africa
Map of Car Hire Destinations
In which month is car hire in South Africa the most affordable?
Prices for hiring a car in South Africa fluctuate depending on the time of year. This table and graph can help you find the best bargain.
Average price for hiring a car per day in South Africa
The best month to hire a car in South Africa is January — when the average price for a hire is £25.15 per day. This is 14% less than the yearly average and 27% less than hiring a car in August (when the average price is £34.37 per day).
This information can help you determine the low season. But note that these prices are only averages. The cost of your hire is determined by the type of car you select, the length of time you hire it for and how much in advance you book. Simply type in your dates in the form at the top of the page in order to find out the exact prices.
This information can help you determine the low season. But note that these prices are only averages. The cost of your hire is determined by the type of car you select, the length of time you hire it for and how much in advance you book. Simply type in your dates in the form at the top of the page in order to find out the exact prices.
How many days do people keep their hire cars, on average, in South Africa?
How long renters typically keep their vehicle sometimes varies depending on the time of year. Travelers tend to keep their rental cars longer in January — an average of 12 days. They tend to keep them for a shorter time in March — an average of 8 days.
Average number of hire days in South Africa
Which month is most favoured for hiring a car in South Africa?
Given the number of customers searching for a car in South Africa, December is the most popular, while June is the month that sees the lowest demand.
Monthly Car Hire Searches in South Africa Compared to the Yearly Average
Car hire information
| Car hire locations | 124 |
| Airport locations | 22 |
| Popular suppliers | First Car Rental, Hertz, Firefly, GreenMotion, Keddy |
| Popular car categories | Small cars, SUVs, Medium cars, People Carriers |
| Lowest price | £12 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | GreenMotion |
Most popular car models of suppliers
| Hire Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Car Rental | Suzuki Celerio | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| First Car Rental | Proton X50 | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| Firefly | Toyota Agya | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Hertz | Suzuki Swift | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Hertz | Volkswagen Polo | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| First Car Rental | Nissan Almera | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Keddy | Kia Picanto | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Firefly | Toyota Corolla Quest | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| First Car Rental | Honda Amaze | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| First Car Rental | Proton X50 | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
Our customers' reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.
JE
United Kingdom
Toyota Hilux
28 May 2024
Great nature viewing from Ford Ranger. Would definitely hire again
NR
United Kingdom
Volkswagen Polo
16 March 2024
Family holiday. Family wedding Blessing.
TH
United Kingdom
Toyota Quest
8 February 2024
We had a fun program of things to do and all was done without any problems. We did have a problem with the sat nav we ordered. It was hard to enter some of the letters one the right hand side of unit which made it take a long time to set destinations. However once done it worked OK. We did report this when we handed back the car.
AM
United Kingdom
Toyota Fortuner
3 February 2024
Visiting family.
AP
Greece
Suzuki Celerio
4 January 2024
Hluhluwe nature reserve is definitely worth a visit.
VF
United Kingdom
Proton X50
27 May 2023
We had the car for 9 days to travel to pumba game reserve then along the garden route stopping at Jeffries bay Knysna Hermanus and finally Cape Town. We visited plettenburg and mossel bay and the bloukrans bridge bungee jump ! Too many fabulous things to do and see. Food amazing and drinks, everyone was soooo friendly and happy , even the homeless.
DS
United Kingdom
Nissan Almera
12 May 2023
all went well
LM
United Kingdom
Toyota Agya
24 February 2023
I used the car mainly to get around to see friends and family while I was down and to go on solo sushi missions whilst watching the sunset.
CB
United Kingdom
VW Polo
11 February 2023
Western cape of South Africa
BS
United Kingdom
Ford Ecosport
26 January 2023
Fantastic game parks as usual
Friendly reception from all staff
Bad pot holes on some main roads which need sorting out asap
RG
United Kingdom
Toyota Fortuner
13 January 2023
2nd time to South Africa, Had an amazing time, great restaurants, scenery and activities
JS
United Kingdom
Nissan Almera
11 January 2023
The beaches in and around Balito, uShaka World,
DR
United Kingdom
Volkswagen Polo
2 January 2023
I travelled long distances and the car performed well, was comfortable and had brilliant fuel economy.
JM
United Kingdom
VW Polo
28 December 2022
Penguins at Boulders Beach are amazing!! Worth a trip to see them.
NN
United Kingdom
Nissan Almera
29 October 2022
Driving along garden route
SB
United Kingdom
Hyundai Venue
29 September 2022
Great restaurants, views, weather in the Cape. Stayed at a fantastic AirBnB just off Bottelary road. Loved it.
MK
United Kingdom
Nissan Almera
20 September 2022
It was not a holiday for me unfortunately, unplanned trip. Family bereavement
JD
United Kingdom
Toyota Avanza
3 September 2022
They were absolutely incredible. Fantastic customer service. Wonderful to deal with. No Ques or fuss on collection and drop off - so efficient. Great price, great car. definitely a returning customer. Best car rental company I have ever dealt with.
ST
United Kingdom
Suzuki Celerio
17 August 2022
The scenic coastal road from Gordon's Bay to Betty's Bay is beautiful, with a visit to the small coastal town of Hermanus is highly recommended. Hermanus is about an hours drive from Cape Town. Though with stopping for photos and a coffee (recommended) it will obviously take longer.
LM
United Kingdom
VW Kombi
15 August 2022
Visited key tourist attractions in the western cape
GW
United Kingdom
Toyota Rav4
2 June 2022
Visited umflozi Howick and Durban
SM
United Kingdom
Audi A4
29 April 2022
Went to Mpumalanga, Durban, Richardsbay and back to Johannesburg. Each town has its own local attractions. Safaris, casinos, beaches etc. SA is beautiful
BK
United Kingdom
Toyota Yaris
14 April 2022
Their vehicles are all in good and clean condition. I did not experience a single hiccup and the service was efficient and warm, especially after a long flight.
DJ
United Kingdom
Toyota Yaris
4 April 2022
We had a very pleasant holiday
SW
United Kingdom
Toyota Agya
4 April 2022
Great website & service, would definitely use them again
AR
United Kingdom
Toyota Quantum
9 March 2022
Not now
MT
United Kingdom
BMW 3 series Aut.
8 March 2022
A great experience and improved price. Well done.
YN
United Kingdom
Hyundai i10 Grand
21 January 2022
Cape Town I a beautiful place with lots of places to see and lots of things to do. If you love fish, check out the Strandloper in Langerbaan. Bit of a drive from central town but worth the drive- go in summer
TV
United Kingdom
Toyota Quest
16 January 2022
The car was in good condition and comfortable.
KR
United Kingdom
Hyundai i20
6 March 2021
My car hire was in South Africa, Capetown, for me this is thee most wonderful place, there is so much to do, see and experience in this beautiful country. Hiking, sampling the most exquisite vineyards, gourmet meals alongside the everyday meal, both are to an exceptionally high standard, water adventures along with all of the other sights that the Cape has to offer. I could wax lyrical however that would be too boring for the reader, I’d strongly suggest just come to this country and experience it for yourself.
CA
United Kingdom
Toyota Starlet
21 February 2021
But not for you!
NZ
United Kingdom
Hyundai i20
20 January 2021
I visited Sun City in North West and Sudwala caves in Mpumalanga provinces,Mount Amanzi and many other little resorts around Jo,burg
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay knowing my car would take me anywhere without hassles
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Car Hire Statistics
Highest-rated company
Hertz
8.6 / 10
Lowest-rated company
Alamo
7 / 10
Total number of reviews
130
Total rental companies
17
Average daily price
£18.10
Lowest daily price
£11.76
Total cars available
6351
Top 17 suppliers in South Africa in 2024
First Car Rental
35 locations
£13 - £108
Hertz
31 locations
£12 - £91
BLUU
35 locations
£12 - £74
Budget
67 locations
£12 - £128
Enterprise
16 locations
£14 - £848
Firefly
26 locations
£12 - £89
Europcar
41 locations
£13 - £107
SIXT
32 locations
£29 - £186
Thrifty
33 locations
£14 - £158
Keddy
34 locations
£15 - £88
GreenMotion
14 locations
£12 - £101
Bidvest
34 locations
£85 - £333
Avis
70 locations
£19 - £130
Dollar
31 locations
£14 - £158
National
3 locations
£16 - £97
Carwiz
10 locations
£12 - £103
Alamo
3 locations
£13 - £77
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader (see SimilarWeb), we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (4 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 150k+ total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.
Awards
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2023
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking App 2023
Magellan Awards Gold Winner 2023
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 300 Companies 2021
FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2020
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2022
Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies 2019
Our clients highly recommend us
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