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 car hire in South Africa?
You should book your car hire in South Africa around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car hire company in South Africa?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest hire cars were found at GREEN MOTION (11,12 €/day), Woodford (11,54 €/day), and CarWiz (12,03 €/day).
What is the most popular rental car in South Africa?
Hires in the Small category (Toyota Yaris or similar) are the most popular option in South Africa, costing 24 €/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as 12 €/day.
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in South Africa?
The cheapest month to hire a car in South Africa is June at an average cost of 23 €/day. August is the most expensive month to hire a car in South Africa when prices are 34 €/day on average, which tends to be 0% above the yearly average hire price for South Africa.
Which car hire company in South Africa has the most locations?
Avis operates 107 locations in South Africa, more than any other car hire company.
South Africa car rental price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right rental car in South Africa by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
15 € - 17 €
All Car Types
51 € - 73 €
How much does it cost to hire a small car in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire a medium car in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire a large car in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire an SUV in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire a van in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire a pickup truck in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in South Africa?
How much does it cost to hire a convertible in South Africa?
Small car hire in South Africa typically costs around 16 € per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average 15 € per day, which is about 7% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 75% cheaper than the average car hire in South Africa, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car hire in South Africa typically costs around 41 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 37 € per day, which is about 10% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 34% cheaper than the average car hire in South Africa, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car hire in South Africa typically cost around 55 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 49 € per day, which is about 11% less than the yearly average. Large cars can be 12% cheaper than the average car hire in South Africa, offering more comfort for longer trips at a reasonable price.
SUV hire in South Africa typically costs around 59 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 36 € per day, which is about 39% less than the yearly average. SUVs can be 5% cheaper than the average car hire in South Africa, providing extra space and capability for groups or road trips at a reasonable price.
Van hire in South Africa typically costs around 52 € per day. The best time to book is July, when prices average 43 € per day, which is about 18% less than the yearly average. Vans can be 17% cheaper than the average car hire in South Africa, yet they are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck hire in South Africa typically costs around 39 € per day. The best time to book is August, when prices average 32 € per day, which is about 18% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are 38% cheaper than the average car hire in South Africa, making them a practical choice for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car hire in South Africa typically costs around 79 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 51 € per day, which is about 36% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 22% more expensive than the average car hire in South Africa but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible hire in South Africa typically costs around 399 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 352 € per day, which is about 12% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are typically 85% more expensive than the average car hire in South Africa but are perfect for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular agency
Most popular car type
Average price
Good deal
1First Car Rental
Medium
31 €/day
23 €/day
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 a car hire in South Africa for 23 € or less
Small rental cars in South Africa are around 61% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring 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 31 € per day.
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in South Africa are Cape Town (62% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in South Africa), Johannesburg (27%) and Port Elizabeth (3%).
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in South Africa?
On average a rental car in South Africa costs 216 € per week (31 € 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 926 € per month (31 € 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 by Europcar car hire locations in South Africa
142 Locations
Bluu car hire locations in South Africa
127 Locations
Avis car hire locations in South Africa
107 Locations
Sunnycars car hire locations in South Africa
107 Locations
Bidvest car hire locations in South Africa
105 Locations
Budget car hire locations in South Africa
98 Locations
Europcar car hire locations in South Africa
90 Locations
1First Car Rental car hire locations in South Africa
80 Locations
Firefly car hire locations in South Africa
69 Locations
Sixt car hire locations in South Africa
64 Locations
Tempest Car Hire car hire locations in South Africa
56 Locations
Hertz car hire locations in South Africa
52 Locations
Car hire 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 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.
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