South Africa car rentals

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Useful Info
Recommended by KAYAK

Cheap car rentals in South Africa

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Class Economy Car car
Class Economy Car
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$11/day
Hyundai i10 car
Hyundai i10
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$11/day
Toyota Corolla Quest car
Toyota Corolla Quest
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$14/day
Class Full-size Crossover car
Class Full-size Crossover
or similar Large
5
2
2/4
$53/day
Class Economy SUV car
Class Economy SUV
or similar SUV
2
2
4-5
$20/day
Toyota Rumion car
Toyota Rumion
or similar Van
5
3
4-5
$22/day
Class Full-size SUV car
Class Full-size SUV
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
$27/day
Suzuki Swift car
Suzuki Swift
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$10/day
Mercedes-Benz C-Class car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
or similar Large
5
5
4-5
$33/day
Class Compact Van car
Class Compact Van
or similar Van
5
2
4-5
$34/day
Mercedes-Benz C-Class car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
or similar Luxury
5
5
4-5
$61/day
Toyota Hilux car
Toyota Hilux
or similar Pickup truck
5
2
2/4
$30/day
Nissan X-Trail car
Nissan X-Trail
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$33/day
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
$13/day
Toyota Urban Cruiser car
Toyota Urban Cruiser
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$19/day
Hyundai Venue car
Hyundai Venue
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
$20/day
Volkswagen T-Cross car
Volkswagen T-Cross
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$22/day
Class Special Van car
Class Special Van
or similar Van
5
5
4-5
$256/day
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular agency

Alamo

Most popular car type

Mini

Average price

$26/day

Good deal

$19/day

KAYAK’s insights & trends for South Africa car rentals

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent 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 Hertz ($8.22/day), Firefly ($10.05/day) and Avis ($12.33/day).

What is the most popular rental car in South Africa?

SUV rentals (BMW X3 or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in South Africa. SUV rentals in South Africa cost $69/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as $54/day.

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

The cheapest month to rent a car in South Africa is February at an average cost of $31/day. October is the most expensive month to rent a car in South Africa when prices are $53/day on average, which tends to be 33% above the yearly average rental price for South Africa.

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

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

Top tips for renting 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 rental company 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 rental company, 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 $19 or less
  • Economy rental cars in South Africa are around 34% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in South Africa

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

    On average a rental car in South Africa costs $26 per day.

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

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

  • Where should I rent a car in South Africa?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in South Africa are Cape Town (43% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in South Africa), Johannesburg (36%) and Durban (5%).

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

    On average a rental car in South Africa costs $180 per week ($26 per day).

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

    On average a rental car in South Africa costs $770 per month ($26 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 rent 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 are gas prices in South Africa?

    You will find that the average price of gas 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 gas stations. You will find that gas 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 rental locations in South Africa

    139 Locations

  • bluu

    Bluu car rental locations in South Africa

    114 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car rental locations in South Africa

    105 Locations

  • bidvest

    Bidvest car rental locations in South Africa

    104 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car rental locations in South Africa

    98 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car rental locations in South Africa

    87 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car rental locations in South Africa

    83 Locations

  • 1firstcarrental

    1First Car Rental car rental locations in South Africa

    76 Locations

  • firefly

    Firefly car rental locations in South Africa

    65 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car rental locations in South Africa

    58 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car rental locations in South Africa

    50 Locations

  • tempest

    Tempest Car Hire car rental locations in South Africa

    46 Locations

Car rental locations in South Africa

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

The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for car rentals 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 rentals listed or dates of travel. Some car rental providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the car rental providers' sites.

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

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