South Africa car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

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Useful Info
Recommended by KAYAK

Cheap car hire in South Africa

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Volkswagen Polo car
Volkswagen Polo
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
M
S$ 17/day
Class Compact Car car
Class Compact Car
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
M
S$ 17/day
Toyota Corolla Quest car
Toyota Corolla Quest
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
M
S$ 19/day
Suzuki Ertiga car
Suzuki Ertiga
or similar Van
5
3
4-5
M
S$ 32/day
Class Full-size SUV car
Class Full-size SUV
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
M
S$ 48/day
Suzuki Swift car
Suzuki Swift
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
M
S$ 14/day
Mercedes-Benz C-Class car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
or similar Large
5
5
4-5
M
S$ 50/day
Hyundai Staria car
Hyundai Staria
or similar Van
5
2
4-5
M
S$ 66/day
Mercedes-Benz C-Class car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
or similar Luxury
5
5
4-5
M
S$ 88/day
Toyota Hilux car
Toyota Hilux
or similar Pickup truck
5
2
2/4
M
S$ 80/day
Nissan X-Trail car
Nissan X-Trail
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
M
S$ 53/day
Hyundai Venue car
Hyundai Venue
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
M
S$ 27/day
Class Standard SUV car
Class Standard SUV
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
S$ 32/day
Kia Sportage car
Kia Sportage
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
S$ 33/day
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
M
S$ 33/day
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular agency

CarWiz

Most popular car type

Compact

Average price

S$ 50/day

Good deal

S$ 31/day

KAYAK’s insights & trends for South Africa car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in South Africa with confidence.

How far in advance should you book a rental car in South Africa?

You should book your rental car in South Africa around 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest car rental company in South Africa?

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Firefly (S$ 13.71/day), Hertz (S$ 15.87/day) and U-Save (S$ 17.71/day).

What is the most popular rental car in South Africa?

Passenger van rentals (Toyota Rumion or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in South Africa. Passenger van cars in South Africa cost S$ 60/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as S$ 59/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in South Africa?

The cheapest month to hire a car in South Africa is February at an average cost of S$ 39/day. October is the most expensive month to hire a car in South Africa when prices are S$ 57/day on average, which tends to be 60% above the yearly average hire price for South Africa.

What car hire company in South Africa has the most locations?

keddy by Europcar operates 139 locations in South Africa, more than any other car hire company.

Top tips for hiring a car in South Africa

  • Navigating the wide South African road network means that you need to understand the different types of roads. The N-routes are national roads that connect large cities and often have tolls. If you take the N1 all the way from Johannesburg to Cape Town, you will drive 1,400 km (more than 850 miles). The R-routes are divided highways, while D-routes are local roads that vary in quality and may require a four-wheel drive to handle them.
  • If you are bringing your children to South Africa, you need to be aware that any child under the age of three or under 21 kg (about 45 lbs.) must be traveling in a car seat. Children over the age of three are required to wear a seatbelt. Before you leave the airport, you will need to restrain your child in the appropriate child seat, so it is recommended that you bring your own car seat or rent one from your car hire agency for around 192 ZAR (13 USD) per day.
  • If you are keen to cross the border in your rental car in South Africa, you must obtain permission from your car hire agency, and you will owe an additional fee. You may be allowed to cross over to Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
  • If you need to park your rental car in South Africa, you will find a good choice of spaces in towns and cities, mainly multi-story car lots, along with others at shopping centers. There are also roadside parking spaces, which are metered and which often have attendants.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in South Africa for S$ 31 or less
  • Full-size rental cars in South Africa are around 77% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in South Africa

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in South Africa?

    On average a car hire in South Africa costs S$ 50 per day.

  • How can I find car hires near me in South Africa?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • Where should I hire a car in South Africa?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in South Africa are Cape Town (46% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in South Africa), Port Elizabeth (24%) and Johannesburg (19%).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in South Africa?

    On average a car hire in South Africa costs S$ 347 per week (S$ 50 per day).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in South Africa?

    On average a car hire in South Africa costs S$ 1,487 per month (S$ 50 per day).

  • What is driving like in South Africa?

    When you rent a car in South Africa, you need to remember to drive on the left-hand side of the road. On traffic circles, you will need to give way to the right; however, at four-way stops the driver has priority. All road signs are in English, and there are toll roads connecting national routes to major cities with fees that start from 4.50 ZAR (0.30 USD). It is mandatory to wear a seatbelt when you are driving, and you are not permitted to use a mobile phone unless you have a hands-free kit.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in South Africa?

    The age restriction for renting a car in South Africa is 23 years old, and you must have held your license for at least two years. If you are under 25 years old, you may incur a surcharge. You will need to show your valid driver’s license along with your passport to rent a car.

  • How much does petrol cost in South Africa?

    You will find that the average price of petrol is 16.44 ZAR (1.11 USD) per liter or 4.20 USD per gallon, when you rent a car in South Africa. Because the price of fuel is fixed by the government, you do not need to search for the lowest rate at petrol stations. You will find that petrol stations are full-service and open seven days a week from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, with some open 24h.

  • What are the speed limits in South Africa?

    Before you drive on South African roads, you need to know the national speed limits. On national roads and other major routes, the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h (74 mph), while on rural roads, you may travel up to 100 km/h (62 mph). Through towns and cities, the maximum speed limit is 60 km/h (37 mph).

Car rental directory

  • keddy

    keddy by Europcar car hire locations in South Africa

    139 Locations

  • bluu

    Bluu car hire locations in South Africa

    114 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in South Africa

    105 Locations

  • bidvest

    Bidvest car hire locations in South Africa

    104 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car hire locations in South Africa

    98 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car hire locations in South Africa

    87 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car hire locations in South Africa

    83 Locations

  • 1firstcarrental

    1First Car Rental car hire locations in South Africa

    76 Locations

  • firefly

    Firefly car hire locations in South Africa

    65 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car hire locations in South Africa

    58 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car hire locations in South Africa

    50 Locations

  • tempest

    Tempest Car Hire car hire locations in South Africa

    46 Locations

Car hire locations in South Africa

Everything you need to know for your car rental in South Africa

Complete your trip to South Africa

The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for hire cars for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 48 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car hires listed or dates of travel. Some hire car providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the website of the respective hire car provider.

Search for cheap car hire in South Africa with KAYAK and hire a car that suits you best. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best car hire deal at car hire locations across South Africa.

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