Best Car Rental in South Africa
Discover the picture-perfect locations in South Africa with a budget-friendly car rental. Affordable car hire deals for South Africa are now within your reach with us! Renting a car in South Africa gives you the utmost comfort of planning your trip on your own terms & schedule. Be it an excursion trip, some famous game reserve, or a day trip to a bustling metropolitan or beach area, using a rental car stands heads and shoulders above other alternate commuting options.
From long-term and weekly to one-day, monthly, and last-minute rentals, through VIP Cars, you get access to a big list of rental deal types that gives you the freedom to book a deal as per your travel dates (whether it is a day or months!).
Useful Information
- Suppliers provide multiple pick-up and drop-off options in South Africa, comprising an array of top locations like Cape Town Airport, Durban Airport, Port Elizabeth Airport, O.R. Tambo Airport, and more. So make a pick based on your preference and convenience.
- While booking a deal, you also get a choice to add Extras like a child seat, GPS, infant seat, toddler seat, additional driver, etc. as add-on services at nominal rates. However, you will be charged for them at the desk during the rental pick-up.
- Based on your personal needs and for more ease, look for a car that will offer a comfortable driving experience. For instance, renting an air-conditioned car is highly advised during summers in SA. Similarly, you can hire automatic, electric, diesel, and petrol cars as per your preference.
Top Car Rental Companies in South Africa
In association with well-established car rental brands in South Africa, we offer the best deals at the cheapest prices. In SA, we work with:
- Europcar
- Firefly
- First Car Rental
- Hertz
- Keddy by Europcar
- Sixt
- Thrifty
Best Car Rental Categories Available in South Africa
On our platform, you can expect to find a variety of rental types for every budget and need. While 4x4 SUVs are perfect for renters looking for a reliable ride, luxury and convertible car rentals are more appropriate for those who want to travel in style and enjoy exotic driving along the coastline. We also have a segment for solo and budget travelers as well as small groups, comprising cars in mini, compact, and economy ranges. As for bigger groups, we offer pocket-friendly 7, 9, 12, and 15-seater vans/minivans.
No matter which vehicle you opt to rent, you will find our deals easy on the pocket. Besides low prices, you can also enjoy several inclusions such as Unlimited Mileage, Collision Damage Waiver, Free Breakdown Assistance, Theft Waiver, etc. on our rental deals.
- Mini
- Economy
- Compact
- Standard/Intermediate
- Van/Minivan
- SUV
- Luxury/Premium
Car Rental Requirements in South Africa
- The minimum age to rent a car in South Africa is 18-21. Additionally, suppliers impose a Young Driver Surcharge for drivers under the age of 25.
- A full & original driver’s license, ID card or passport, and Rental Confirmation Voucher are some of the items required at the desk during car rental pick-up. In case your domestic driver’s license is in the non-Latin alphabet, you must accompany it with an International Driving Permit. (IDP).
- A credit card in the main driver’s name is a must to carry to make a security deposit during the pick-up. The supplier may refuse to accept cash or debit cards and hence make sure to carry the right credit card.
Popular Car Rental Locations in South Africa
We, in association with the top car rental brands in SA, offer services at multiple locations throughout the country. Listed below are some of the most popular car rental pick-up and drop-off locations in South Africa.
- Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport
- Durban King Shaka Airport
- Port Elizabeth Airport
- George Airport
- Capetown Airport
- East London Airport
Popular Car Rental Deal Types in South Africa
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Short-term Car Rental
Short-term deals cover daily, weekend, and weekly car rentals that can be booked for any occasion or purpose. So whether you are in need of a rental car for a day, week, or more, you can easily book one with us at a budget-friendly price.
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Long-term/Monthly Car Rental
Need to reserve a car hire for a longer period? A long-term car rental is your best bet. Many suppliers offer the freedom to hire a car for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and more at competitive prices, so make your booking today!
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Last-minute Car Rental
For all your spontaneous vacation or road trip plans, we have got a last-minute car rental deal. Car hire companies associated with us allow renters to book a car on short notice, so when in need, you can count on us.
One-way & Cross-border Car Rental
Your rental return location does not have to be the same as the pick-up spot, you can easily change it to a different location based on your preference and convenience. Such deals are termed one-way rentals and to get access to them, you just have to make use of the 'Different Drop-off Location?’ option given on our booking form, and the system will generate a list of all the locations in SA where you can drop the car. Note that a small one-way fee will be added to the charges.
Besides the locations in SA, you can also return the car to a select few countries, including Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, and Mozambique. However, you will need to seek approval from the supplier to take the rental across the country’s border. Also, you will be charged additionally for both one-way & cross-border services.
Listed below are some of the most popular one-way/cross-border car rental trips from South Africa.
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Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport to Sir Seretse Khama Airport
Approximate Distance: 430 km Shortest Route: N4 -
Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport to Moshoeshoe I Airport
Approximate Distance: 466 km Shortest Route: N1 -
Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport to Hosea Kutako Airport
Approximate Distance: 1,384 km Shortest Route: A2 -
Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport to King Mswati III Airport
Approximate Distance: 431km Shortest Route: N12
Besides the Johannesburg Airport, one-way deals can also be booked from other major international airports in South Africa, such as King Shaka Airport, George Airport, and Cape Town Airport. Based on your convenience, you can select any of the airports as a pick-up spot.
Explore South Africa in a Rental Car
Spread across a massive landmass covering southernmost Africa, the Republic of South Africa is famous for its splendid coastline. Besides a diverse geography, the country is known for its remarkable Big Five: Rhino, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Lion.
Explore the world-famous game reserves or biological preserves, including the Kruger National Park, or drive to any of the famous tourism hotspots like Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban, and Johannesburg. Other worth mentioning tourist places include –
- Pietermaritzburg
- Mpumalanga
- Upington
- Ballito Bay
- George
- Kimberley
- Pinetown
- Krugersdorp
Frequently asked questions
To rent a car in South Africa, you, as a main driver, need a driver’s license, a credit card in your name, and identity proof, such as a passport. Additionally, if you are renting as a foreigner, you are advised to bring an International Driving Permit along with your National Driver’s License.
All the documents needed at the time of car hire pickup are listed by the supplier on the rental voucher.
To rent a car in South Africa, you must be at least 21 years of age, however, the minimum car hire age varies from supplier to supplier as per the car type you are booking. You can read through the supplier Rental Terms of the preferred car hire company to check their age requirements.
The cost of the rental car deal depends on various factors like the car type you are renting and the location where you are going to pick up the vehicle. For cheaper rates and wider variety, book early, and concentrate on deals that come with unlimited miles and a full-to-full fuel policy.
In addition to getting access to all of this, you can also view the per-day rental prices, added inclusions, and a lot more on our platform.
VIPCars.com lets you quickly make a comparison among the top deals available at your preferred location in South Africa. Fill in your trip details in our booking form and run a query to allow our system to generate the best deals offered by the top suppliers in the market. Once you have access to them, you can compare them and even filter them based on your preference.
Some companies allow renters to drive their South Africa car rentals across the border to a few select countries, including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini. We suggest checking with your choice of supplier once to see if they offer cross-border car rentals. You can also run a query using our search engine to explore cross-border rental deals from South Africa.
While foreigners are allowed to rent a car in South Africa, they would require an International Driver’s License (IDL) to become eligible for a car rental. An IDL is essentially an official translation of the renter’s home country’s driver’s license. Most suppliers ask the driver to produce it in case the domestic driver’s license is not in the Latin alphabet.
The cost to rent a car for a month in SA can vary for each supplier. Aside from the brands associated with rental cars, the deal rates are also influenced by other factors such as the rental location, car type, season, etc. To get the best estimate regarding the monthly deals, you can run a query using our booking engine.
Most car rental suppliers only accept a credit card in the main driver’s name to collect a refundable security deposit when picking up the vehicle. Cash and debit cards are not widely accepted and therefore, it is advised to carry a credit card that belongs to the same person in whose name the booking has been made.
The security deposit amount collected by suppliers is mentioned in the Rental Terms. You can check out their conditions before placing a booking.
Hertz, Bidvest, Avis, Sixt, Thrifty, and First Car Rental are among the most popular and reliable car hire brands available in South Africa. They have their offices at every major location in SA, including airports, downtowns, train stations, etc. You can explore their top deals at discounted prices on our platform.
Yes, you can reserve a car hire with Unlimited Mileage in SA. We, in collaboration with the most popular rental brands in the country, offer an extensive range of deals that are inclusive of Unlimited Miles/Kilometers. You can book one with us at a pocket-friendly price, eliminating the worry about running out of miles when cruising the roads of South Africa.