South Africa car rentals
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Cheap car hire in South Africa
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.
- Book your rental car in South Africa at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Intermediate rental cars in South Africa are around 84% more expensive 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 RM 110 per day.
What is the most popular car hire in South Africa?
Intermediate (Volkswagen T-Cross 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 1First Car Rental (RM 79/day), Sixt (RM 109/day) and GREEN MOTION (RM 124/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.
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
138 Locations
Bluu car hire locations in South Africa
114 Locations
Avis car hire locations in South Africa
108 Locations
Bidvest car hire locations in South Africa
104 Locations
Budget car hire locations in South Africa
99 Locations
Europcar car hire locations in South Africa
80 Locations
Sunnycars car hire locations in South Africa
76 Locations
1First Car Rental car hire locations in South Africa
74 Locations
Firefly car hire locations in South Africa
65 Locations
Sixt car hire locations in South Africa
58 Locations
Hertz car hire locations in South Africa
50 Locations
Tempest Car Hire car hire locations in South Africa
46 Locations
Good to know
Most popular car type | Intermediate |
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