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South Africa car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65
Tue 26/3
Tue 2/4

Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in South Africa

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Cheap car hire in South Africa

EconomyAED 96/day
CompactAED 130/day
StandardAED 90/day
SUVAED 304/day
Full-size SUVAED 556/day
MiniAED 95/day
Passenger vanAED 277/day
Intermediate SUVAED 183/day
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

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 AED 188 or less
  • Book your rental car in South Africa at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Mini rental cars in South Africa are around 49% 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 AED 187 per day.

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

    Mini (Class Mini Car or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in South Africa.

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

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at GREEN MOTION (AED 90/day), 1First Car Rental (AED 95/day) and Firefly (AED 96/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 George (41% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in South Africa), Port Elizabeth (36%) and Nelspruit (8%).

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

    On average a car hire in South Africa costs AED 1,466 per week (AED 209 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 AED 6,282 per month (AED 209 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

    134 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in South Africa

    106 Locations

  • bluu

    Bluu car hire locations in South Africa

    101 Locations

  • bidvest

    Bidvest car hire locations in South Africa

    100 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car hire locations in South Africa

    94 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car hire locations in South Africa

    74 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car hire locations in South Africa

    74 Locations

  • 1firstcarrental

    1First Car Rental car hire locations in South Africa

    73 Locations

  • firefly

    Firefly car hire locations in South Africa

    60 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car hire locations in South Africa

    50 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car hire locations in South Africa

    46 Locations

  • tempest

    Tempest Car Hire car hire locations in South Africa

    43 Locations

Good to know

Most popular agency

Hertz

Most popular car type

Mini

Average price

AED 209/day

Good deal

AED 188/day

When to book a rental car in South Africa

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

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.