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South Africa car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65
Tue 26/3
Tue 2/4

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Cheap car rentals in South Africa

EconomyC$ 37/day
CompactC$ 49/day
IntermediateC$ 43/day
StandardC$ 35/day
MinivanC$ 62/day
Full-size SUVC$ 126/day
MiniC$ 35/day
PremiumC$ 109/day
Passenger VanC$ 162/day
Compact SUVC$ 55/day
Intermediate SUVC$ 75/day
Standard SUVC$ 82/day
Supplier choice vanC$ 164/day
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

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 C$ 37 or less
  • Book your rental car in South Africa at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Off-airport rental car locations in South Africa are around 10% cheaper than airport locations on average
  • Luxury rental cars in South Africa are around -125% 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 C$ 67 per day.

  • What is the most popular rental car in South Africa?

    Luxury (Class Luxury SUV or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in South Africa.

  • What is the cheapest car rental company in South Africa?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at GREEN MOTION (C$ 35/day), FlexWays (C$ 35/day) and Budget (C$ 37/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 Port Elizabeth (37% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in South Africa), George (22%) and Nelspruit (11%).

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

    On average a rental car in South Africa costs C$ 320 per week (C$ 46 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 C$ 1,372 per month (C$ 46 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

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    100 Locations

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    Budget car rental locations in South Africa

    94 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car rental locations in South Africa

    74 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car rental locations in South Africa

    74 Locations

  • 1firstcarrental

    1First Car Rental car rental locations in South Africa

    73 Locations

  • firefly

    Firefly car rental locations in South Africa

    60 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car rental locations in South Africa

    50 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car rental locations in South Africa

    46 Locations

  • tempest

    Tempest Car Hire car rental locations in South Africa

    43 Locations

Good to know

Most popular agency

1First Car Rental

Most popular car type

Luxury

Average price

C$ 46/day

Good deal

C$ 37/day

When to book a rental car in South Africa

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

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.