Car Hire in South Africa
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Cheapest Car Hire Rates
Most Popular Car Hire Offers
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 09:26 on 2021-09-17.
Travel Information
Language
IsiZulu,
IsiXhosa,
Afrikaans
IsiXhosa,
Afrikaans
Currency
ZAR
Dialing code
27
Traffic direction
Left-hand
Speed limit out of city centre
100 km/h
62 mi/h
Speed limit within city centre
40 km/h
25 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
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 £ 32.46 per day
- From South Africa to Lesotho - 10 offers from £ 19.47 per day
- From South Africa to Botswana - 35 offers from £ 22.65 per day
- From South Africa to Swaziland - 10 offers from £ 19.47 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 £ 37 per day
- Large cars - starting at £ 32 per day
- Medium cars - starting at £ 18 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - starting at £ 53 per day
- Premium cars - starting at £ 48 per day
- Small cars - starting at £ 15 per day
- SUVs - starting at £ 44 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.
Top 16 Most Popular Cities in South Africa
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Car Hire in Nelspruit starting at £ 15.11 per day
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Car Hire in Pretoria starting at £ 13.04 per day
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Car Hire in East London starting at £ 10.29 per day
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Car Hire in Bloemfontein starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire in Upington starting at £ 10.29 per day
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Car Hire in Stellenbosch starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire in Kimberley starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire in Paarl starting at £ 13.27 per day
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Car Hire in Sishen starting at £ 6.82 per day
Top 17 Most Popular Destinations in South Africa
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Car Hire at Cape Town Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
-
Car Hire at O.R. Tambo International Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire at King Shaka International Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire at Port Elizabeth Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire at Wonderboom Airport starting at £ 9.59 per day
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Car Hire at George Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire at East London Airport starting at £ 10.29 per day
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Car Hire at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire at Nelspruit Airport starting at £ 14.41 per day
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Car Hire at Pietermaritzburg Airport starting at £ 10.29 per day
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Car Hire at Polokwane Airport starting at £ 7.56 per day
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Car Hire in Cape Town Milnerton starting at £ 20.83 per day
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Car Hire in Cape Town Century City starting at £ 13.27 per day
Map of Car Hire Destinations
During which month is it most affordable to hire a car in South Africa?
Our data show how prices for hiring a car in South Africa fluctuate depending on the time of the year. This graph can assist you in finding the best bargain.
Average Price for Hiring a Car in South Africa
The cheapest month to hire a car in South Africa is May with prices starting at £ 21.45 for an Economy class cars. The most expensive month in which to hire a car is November with prices for for a Compact class) starting at £ 52.52. The average cost over the course of the entire year is £ 32. You can use this to plan your trip at the time of year when it would be most economical to hire a car. Note that these prices are only averages. The amount of time you hire a car for and the time at which you book will influence the prices.
How many days do people keep their hire cars, on average, in South Africa?
Hirers picking up a car in South Africa keep them for an average of 13 days during in January, while those picking up their cars in June keep them for an average of 7.
Average Hire Length in South Africa
What month is the most favoured for hiring a car in South Africa?
Though South Africa is popular for travellers all year long, the month for which the highest number of people search for a hire car is in October. in June is the month that sees the lowest demand for hire cars.
Monthly Car Hire Searches in South Africa Compared to the Yearly Average
Most Popular Car Hire Models
| Hire Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefly | Toyota Agya | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Bidvest | Kia Picanto | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Firefly | Toyota Starlet | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Firefly | Toyota Corolla Quest | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Firefly | VW Polo | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Bidvest | Hyundai i10 | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Budget | VW Polo | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Hertz | Toyota Agya | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Bidvest | Hyundai i20 | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Hertz | Toyota Starlet | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
Top 9 Hire Companies in South Africa in 2021
Hertz
+270437362116
66 Settlers Way, East London Airport, East London, 5200
Working hours
Mon:05:00-22:00
Tue:05:00-22:00
Wed:05:00-22:00
Thu:05:00-22:00
Fri:05:00-22:00
Sat:05:00-22:00
Sun:05:00-22:00
SIXT
+27112309999
66 Settlers Way, Greenfields
Keddy
+27437362230
East London Airport
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
Europcar
+27437362230
Settlers Way, East London Airport, East London, 5200, South Africa
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
Bidvest
+27437075310
66 Settlers Way, Greenfields, East London, 5201
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:00
Tue:08:00-17:00
Wed:08:00-17:00
Thu:08:00-17:00
Fri:08:00-17:00
Sat:08:00-12:00
Sun:08:00-12:00
Avis
+27437098200
East London, 5200, South Africa
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:30
Tue:08:00-17:30
Wed:08:00-17:30
Thu:08:00-17:30
Fri:08:00-17:30
Sat:09:00-17:30
Sun:09:00-18:00
Budget
+27437098200
East London Airport
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:30
Tue:08:00-17:30
Wed:08:00-17:30
Thu:08:00-17:30
Fri:08:00-17:30
Sat:09:00-17:30
Sun:09:00-18:00
Thrifty ZA
+270437362222 / +270662840501
East London Airport, Unit 6 Car Rental Section, East London, 5200
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:00
Tue:08:00-17:00
Wed:08:00-17:00
Thu:08:00-17:00
Fri:08:00-17:00
Sat:08:00-13:00
Sun:08:00-13:00
GreenMotion
+27313503383 / +27828852750
33/34 Huguenot Rd, Franschhoek, Cape Town, 7690
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59