Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past hours.
Cape Town car rental reviews and directory
From $50/dayRated #1
Avis
Best rated
7.9 Good (51 reviews)
4 locations in Cape Town
Avis
Locations in Cape Town
15 Tower Road+27 21 927 3001
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
367 Main Road+27 21 797 4581
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
46 Strand Street+27 21 424 1177
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
Cape Town International Apt+27 21 927 8800
Monday
00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday
00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday
00:00 - 23:59
Thursday
00:00 - 23:59
Friday
00:00 - 23:59
Saturday
00:00 - 23:59
Sunday
00:00 - 23:59
8.2
8
7.8
7.6
8
Recent reviews
6.0 GoodMar 21 2019
Picking up the vehicle was easy and we were treated well. The staff at the pick up area was helpful and friendly.Returning the car was not as smooth as the pick up. The staff members tried to make us sign a paper assuming responsibilities for damage to the front left wheel. We refused to sign because the "damage" they claimed the wheel suffered was barely visible. We felt targeted.
8.0 ExcellentMar 21 2019
Bad initial experience. The car was supposed to carry 5 people and carry 2 suitcases. It was 1.1 litre inderpowered (hyundai?) and barely suitable. The car battery was dead and car hsd benn previously jump started. Needed replacement vehicle. Lost 2days of holiday as a result but new car excllentAvis Strand office at Somersetwest responded excellently in providing replacement car but CT airport should never have allowed the first substandard car to have been issued.
7.6 GoodMay 28 2018
Staff at avis was really friendly. Car they gave me has less milage on it.When car was handed over to me was not clean and had no floor mats inside.
6.0 GoodApr 2 2018
Everything was great except that I cant figure out how to access my final receipt.Everything was great except that I cant figure out how to access my final receipt.
10.0 ExcellentMar 6 2018
Smooth sailingI liked walking into a busy office with a long line and walking right up to the preferred customer desk. It was an amazing feeling. Checkin was quick and easy, our car ran smoothly on a long road trip. When we returned it we didn't have to even go inside. We were met outside right away. Great experience.Our car had an awkward luggage cover up that we were constantly battling. A quirk of the Toyota Avanza I suppose.
10.0 ExcellentJan 28 2018
Excellent rental experienceProfessional and helpful staff. Easy pickup and drop off.Nothing
2.0 MediocreJan 21 2018
very poor experience - rude employees, old and dirty carlocation - close to my hotel in cape townprice was different than advertised employees were rude car was old, manual gear (automatic is extra charge), and dirty - and I didn't choose the lowest class of cars..
10.0 ExcellentDec 13 2017
Car was reasonable and the same as the price quoted when we reserved.. We were allowed to use our credit card insurance and service was quick when picking up even though the office was very crowded that evening..
10.0 ExcellentDec 11 2017
The service was excellentMake it clear that you need to pay a deposit for the car
I told them I didn’t want the additional insurance and they charged me for it anyways. Also please note they are closed at 1 on public holidays. Otherwise the experience was good.
8.0 ExcellentOct 21 2021
2 things were not good. I booked to collect a car at 2pm on Sunday and was then told 2 hours before collection that the branch closed at 1. I was unable to change my plans to get there by one so I had to collect the next day only Dropping at the airport was very difficult to see where to drop as the signage is distant and faint.
4.0 OkayJan 3 2020
The staff had to make efforts to explain the extra money they charge...and its very uncofortable to accept the explanation, and unacceptable, once I'd payed for the rental and insurance previously! It was a bad holiday begining... After this experience, I'm checking my VISA account all the time, to verify the expected refund. The drop off was ok.You must change the way of doing business. More clear, transparent and balanced value for money. Ca'nt recomend Hertz! Hope Kayak as some usefull feedback to our total insatisfaction!
6.0 GoodJan 3 2020
We waited for an hour and 45 minutes for our car. This has been our experience the last few times we’ve used Hertz. No apologies or discounts.
5.6 OkayOct 25 2019
Well, the car had too many smart features, which were annoying.
10.0 ExcellentSep 23 2019
Gentleman behind the counter was very knowledgeable, helpful and professional.Drop off location signs were a little confusing.
2.0 MediocreAug 23 2019
Nothing, I never picked up the car.Nothing. I never picked up the car.
10.0 ExcellentJul 30 2019
Pick up at night. Lot not as well lit as I would have preferred going into unfamiliar country.
8.0 ExcellentJun 9 2019
It was a quick process and the car was great!When I'd call for help over the phone, I was constantly being transferred to different people and having to reexplain what I needed.
There is no dollar rental car in Cape Town, they were sold to Thrifty. Thrifty will not honor your reservation and will try to up-sale you a rental, charging you double. It took me two days and many hours of frustrating phone calls, I finally booked a car with Europcar. I repeat do not use Dollar rental car in Cape Town as they do not exist.
2.0 MediocreJun 28 2021
The staff sad rude and condescending! Would NEVER go back to this company.Teach the staff some customer service!
3.6 MediocreFeb 16 2020
Very slow to get the carThe aircon was not working. It was extremely hot. I needed to drive far and it was terrible. Tried getting a replacement sent out. Didn’t hear back from call Centre
5.2 OkayJan 28 2020
They charged us twice and didnt return all the amount.
2.0 MediocreJan 9 2018
Never got there - see Port Elizabeth review
10.0 ExcellentNov 14 2017
The price!The reservation took a while to show up in the system but finally showed up just before I had to pay more to rent.
3.6 MediocreOct 16 2017
Over ChargedWhen I booked the car on line, the total cost was 212 ZAR. When I picked the car up, I had to pay 301 ZAR, which included 52.63 ZAR contract fee and they threw in a VAT of 37.05 ZAR. Very disappointed!
8.4 ExcellentApr 15 2017
Easy nearby collectionEasy pick up drop offCar really small for bags but comfortable to drive
6.8 GoodMar 7 2017
I have ordered a mid sized car but none was available so they gave me a large 8 sitter which was hard to drive and hard to park.
6.0 GoodFeb 27 2017
Once I got the correct car, was very niceMy car wasn't read at time of rental, there was an issue booking through Kayak as a third party booking service. As a result, instead of having an SUV, I was given a base model pick-up. Dollar was very good about changing it out the next day, but only after I had to make several phone calls and be available for an exchange, which impacted the plans for my vacation. Lastly, I have a charge on my credit card that occurred several days after my issue free return, for which I have been unable to get an answer for. Tank was full, no tickets, and no other issues upon return, so I an still waiting to learn why I have an extra charge.
They could not find my reservation in their system and denied having reserved a car for me. Consequently I had to pay R700 more for the exact same car that I had reserved in your system. It was incredibly inconvenient and I had no other choice and I’m quite upset with the experience. I will not be doing business through this app/website again for that reason.
2.0 MediocreMar 5 2022
There is no Thrifty in Cape Town. After standing in line for 2,5h we finally reached the counter and were told that the vender with the name Thrifty does not actually work with Thrifty. They said: you booked with "dollar thrifty" which is no longer a partner. There was no other vender at the airport remotely connected to thrifty.
2.0 MediocreFeb 7 2022
Thrifty said "they could not find my reservation" even though it was confirmed by them the day before. They were happy to give me a new booking at almost 3x my original booking.
2.0 MediocreNov 30 2021
Because I had booked through kayak, they canceled my reservation and I was not alerted.
1.9 HorribleSep 19 2021
When I arrived they claimed they couldn't access my reservation because their "system had changed." They then quoted me a price that was double what I had gotten when I made my reservation. I went to another company instead because Thrifty refused to honor my reservation.
6.4 GoodMar 13 2020
They presented us a higher total price at first. I had to produce a copy of my booking to get the lower price I had booked the car for. The car had really poor performance. Anything over 50kmph was a lot of effort. It felt like the car was going to break down.
2.0 MediocreJan 4 2018
Left in trouble by ThriftynothingDespite turning up on time on the day with a printed copy of the booking confirmation with Thrifty i was told my booking was cancelled and they could not help me. No apology, just matter of fact, we don't care about your booking confirmation we have no cars your booking is cancelled please go away! On one of the busiest days of the year, in a holiday city, i was left looking for an alternative. I eventually found another company in the city, where i had to pay double the price of the Thrifty booking. This company told me that they had been receiving people like me all week as Thrifty had over booked their capacity!
4.0 OkayJul 3 2017
Impossible to contactAnother driver hit our rental car while in Madrid. Thrifty kept over 500 Euros for the damage until the other driver's insurance. I have been calling and emailing Thrifty Madrid for 2 months and have not yet spoken to a human being, even though the insurance claim was already paid.
6.0 GoodMay 1 2017
The canopy was not able to lock and I was not provided with a padlock as an alternative option.
6.0 GoodMar 20 2017
Car was not quite what it was supposed to be.It was an adequate substitute.It was old, scratched, dented and not very clean. The back lock was broken.
Easy to pickup, friendly sales staff, and the car was clean and reliable.
7.6 GoodMar 19 2018
Caught dishonesty on the return. The damage was only marked on one copy. There it appeared as though we had damaged the car.
8.4 ExcellentFeb 1 2017
Great service!Great service on collection Automatic car available Peppermints in the carCar a little worn and in need of some attention No corporate loyalty rewards
10.0 ExcellentNov 5 2016
I love my hire car I was given a 5 door Ford ECO sport far better than expected. Lots of room for our cases and golf clubs.Everything was gtear.
From $50/dayRated #6
Budget
8.3 Excellent (19 reviews)
5 locations in Cape Town
Budget
Locations in Cape Town
15 Tower Road+27 21 927 3001
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
367 Main Road+27 21 797 4581
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
46 Strand Street+27 21 424 1177
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
Cape Town International Apt+27 21 927 8800
Monday
00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday
00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday
00:00 - 23:59
Thursday
00:00 - 23:59
Friday
00:00 - 23:59
Saturday
00:00 - 23:59
Sunday
00:00 - 23:59
Milnerton Service Station+27 215 526 636
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
8.9
8.6
8.1
7.7
8.1
Recent reviews
6.0 GoodJan 25 2022
Queuing time for car pick up in Capetown was terrible - 90 mins (60 mins standing outside in the hot sun) - only two desks open when there should have been 5 or 6 desks open to cope with the volume
10.0 ExcellentDec 22 2019
Staff was very helpful especially in Cape TownTo be contacted as I have left my USB inside the car but I didn't report it
7.6 GoodJul 15 2019
Nice car, though not a large model it was fine for five of us and luggageThey're really sticklers about examining the cars here. They will find damage.
6.8 GoodFeb 25 2019
Good clear carPickup was fast. When I dropped the car off, I was badgered about a dent in the door. The dent was noted when I picked up the car but they wanted me to produce the check list. I didnt have it on me, and they were not satisfied when I pointed out that they had a copy of the checklist themselves.
3.6 MediocreAug 27 2018
DisappointedThe car wasn’t the right car I chose in Kayak website. They but me in difficult position when I arrived. Car was small size and not enough to my needs. However they blames Kayak and they haven’t any solutionsI would prefer to use other applications to hair my next vacation and with different providers as I have support from kayak or Budget with my respect to there names
10.0 ExcellentJul 17 2018
Easy to find, customer service was friendly and helpful, and the car was clean and new.No complaints!
10.0 ExcellentApr 5 2018
Great serviceEasy pick- up and drop off. Nice clean car.Nothing
9.6 ExcellentMar 2 2018
Buy the protection from Kayak upfront!The car worked well, and the checkout process was well done. THe people at the counter were extremely patient as I needed to check on Collisions Damage Waiver, etc. with another company. The coverage offered by Kayak at the bottom of the confirmation email was much less expensive, so I definitely recommend taking this if you want coverage.Optional coverage was outrageous. Signage to return the car was poor. It's marked something like Rental Car Shade or something strange like that.
Public transportation around Cape Town is quite limited. For this reason it will be more convenient for you to rent a car during your stay. Having a rental car will enable you to visit exciting places such as De Hoop Nature Reserve, Groote Post Country Market, and Table Mountain, where you can hike and enjoy a variety of other outdoor activities.
You’ll also enjoy a number of modern conveniences when flying into the Cape Town Airport. This includes access to several rental car companies. Located in the center of the airport, there are rental desks for Hertz, Avis, Dollar, and a number of local agencies. Rent an economical car or a luxurious vehicle during your stay in Cape Town -- it’s all up to you.
Driving in Cape Town will require an adjustment for you since drivers there must drive on the left side of the road. You’ll also need to become familiar with the metric system as gas levels, speed limits, and road signs will be in liters and kilometers as opposed to gallons and miles.
Traffic can be a little busy during rush hour on weekdays. To avoid getting caught in traffic jams, you’ll want to drive during non-peak hours. Morning rush hour in Cape Town runs from around 6:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (especially 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.). The evening commute also begins at around 4 p.m. but is most congested between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
25% of our users found rental cars in Cape Town for $27 or less
Book your rental car in Cape Town at least 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Off-airport rental car locations in Cape Town are around 32% cheaper than airport locations on average
Economy rental cars in Cape Town are around 38% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Cape Town
Some car rental companies in Cape Town which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Hertz, Europcar and Dollar
On average a rental car in Cape Town costs $34 per day.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at 1First Car Rental ($23/day), Woodford ($24/day) and GREEN MOTION ($24/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at 1First Car Rental Car Rental Parking International Airport, Matroosfontein, Cape Town 7490 (9 miles from city center).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Cape Town are Avis (7.9, 92 reviews), Hertz (6.7, 102 reviews), and Dollar (6.4, 75 reviews).
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Cape Town. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Cape Town is $4.95 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $59 and $79, depending on the car size.
Economy (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Cape Town.
A Economy car rental in Cape Town costs $24 per day, on average.
A Intermediate car rental in Cape Town costs $25 per day, on average.
A Mini car rental in Cape Town costs $18 per day, on average.
In Cape Town, cars are most frequently rented at Tempest Car Hire Cape Town Airport (10 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Cape Town costs $239 per week ($34 per day).
On average a rental car in Cape Town costs $1,026 per month ($34 per day).
A standard car will suffice while driving around the city of Cape Town. However, if you plan on driving through one of the national parks, a 4x4 might be best for tackling the rough terrain. Consider renting a Jeep or a mid-size SUV. Be sure to make reservations for your car in advance so you can ensure that you get the car you want.
When driving on the freeway, you’ll be able to drive at a maximum speed of 75 mph (or 100 km). While you are driving in residential areas of Cape Town, be careful to stay under 35 mph (or 60 km). Keep an eye out for signs as speed limits drop when you are around churches or schools.
There are many eclectic shops, boutiques, and chic restaurants to dine in around downtown Cape Cod. While in the city center however, you will have to find a place to park. There is paid street parking in the central business district. Additionally, there are several parking garages close to the waterfront.
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).