Prices from large companies as well as small ones in South Africa

Compare car rental companies South Africa

Car Rental & Rent a Car Deals in South Africa

Search for and compare prices on car rental in the whole of South Africa. Good rental prices on family, luxury and economy cars. When you rent a car with autoprio.com no surprises awaits when you pick up the car on your arrival. The prices include any airport fees, free mileage and obligatory insurances, taxes and fees. Our aim is to help you find cheap rental cars in South Africa online. Do you prefer some companies before others? You can choose that when you do your search.

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Advice and tips about renting a car in South Africa

Here we have put together some tips on what to consider when looking for a rental car in South Africa and regions/states such as KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Western Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, Orange Free State and Northern Cape.

Review the contract & terms carefully

Review and read the rental conditions before booking the rental car. Autoprio.com offers rental cars from several different rental car companies and the conditions differ between the different companies. Smaller companies may have administrative fees to be paid on site that relate to refueling after return. Any fees are stated during the booking. Review and read the contract when you pick up your rental car. Autoprio.com offers cheap rental cars from several different rental car companies in South Africa and the contract differs between the different companies. If there is something you do not understand in the contract, ask someone from the company on site or contact us directly.

Do a quick inspection upon pickup

Inspect and examine the rental car when you pick it up. Check that all damages, scratches and dents are included in the condition report. Check how big the deductible is! What often differentiates between smaller, cheaper companies in South Africa and larger global companies is the amount of the deductible. Also read the conditions carefully when it comes to how the car is to be returned. Smaller local companies may have an administrative fee if the car is to be returned with an empty tank. Any fee is stated in our terms and conditions when you apply.

Refuel the car before returning it

Different companies have different fuel conditions. If the car is to be refueled before return, do so to avoid extra fees from the rental car company. Some smaller companies have an administrative fee for refueling the car if it is to be left empty, which is stated in the conditions but not always in the total price. Look extra carefully at the refueling regulations! If the company has 'Pick up full, drop off empty' then there may be an administrative fee for refueling. Any fee is stated during the booking. It is often the cheaper companies that have 'Pick up full, drop off empty'.

Book as early as possible

Book as early as possible, it will usually be more expensive if you wait. In large cities such as Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Benoni, Tembisa and East London, prices often rise the later you book. It can also be difficult to find cars at major airports such as Cape Town Airport, Durban-King Shaka Airport, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Wonderboom Airport, Port Elizabeth Airport, Pieter Maritzburg Airport, Virginia Airport, East London Airport, Bram Fischer-Bloemfontein Airport and Newcastle Airport, if you wait too long.

Is free mileage / free miles included?

Check that free mileage is included in the rent. If free mileage is not included, check that the number of kilometers in the contract is sufficient. All major companies have unlimited mileage, but less expensive companies may have a maximum mileage per day.

Are there several of you who will drive the car? Where are you going?

Extra driver? If more than one person is driving the car, this must be stated at the time of booking or at the company upon arrival. Remember that there may be restrictions on driving the car to other countries and taking the car from or to islands such as Robben Island, .

Compare prices from several companies and book the rental car on the Internet

Rent a car cheap in South AfricaSearching and booking car rental on the Internet becomes cheaper and it is easier and takes less time. Compare many companies and sites to find the best price. Autoprio.com compares several companies at the same time in a single search via Cartrawler. We do not own any cars but only compare prices from different companies such as e.g. Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Thrifty, Alamo, Dollar, Keddy By Europcar and Firefly, etc.

Frequently asked questions about car rental & renting a car in South Africa

Which costs are included in the rental price in South Africa?

In the majority of cases the rental price includes collision damage waiver, unlimited mileage, airport fee, tax, third party liability protection and breakdown assistance. Please note that the costs included may vary depending on the car rental company and destination. The car hire company may also choose to ask you for a deposit or excess at the rental desk in South Africa. Make sure to check the rental conditions at the time of booking at Autoprio.com.

Are there extra charges for drop-off at a different location in South Africa?

Yes, in most cases the car rental agents like Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Avis and Europcar will charge an extra fee if you wish to return the vehicle at a different location in South Africa. We will clearly state whether the one-way fee is included in the rental price or what additional cost may arise at the time of booking at Autoprio.com.

How old do you have to be to rent a car in South Africa?

Most car hire companies have a minimum age limit of 21 years for rentals. However, requirements may vary depending on the car rental company and destination country. Please note that there may be additional charges if the main driver is under 25 or over 75 years old to cover the extra insurance cost. Any additional fee will be mentioned at the time of booking under summary of charges before you confirm the reservation at Autoprio.com.

What are the most popular car rental locations in South Africa?

Based on searches on autoprio.com, the most popular cities to rent a car in South Africa are Tembisa, East London, Vereeniging, Soweto, Benoni, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Newcastle, Welkom, Boksburg, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg. The most popular airports are Port Elizabeth Airport, Durban-King Shaka Airport, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Cape Town Airport, Wonderboom Airport and Pieter Maritzburg Airport.

Can I book without a credit card in South Africa?

Yes. You can make a booking without a credit card with Autoprio.com in South Africa. Note that, even if you choose to pay by debit card, you will have to provide a valid credit card in the driver’s name at the time of pick-up since the rental agent requires a credit card from which to take the rental deposit. Credit cards accepted for pick-up are MasterCard, Visa, and in some cases American Express.

What is the cheapest car rental company in South Africa?

In the past 14 days, the cheapest rental cars were found on Autoprio.com at First Car Rental, Tempest, Firefly, Woodford Exclusive Rentals, Keddy By Europcar, Comet Car, Bidvest and Cabs Car Hire in cities like Port Elizabeth, Soweto, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, East London, Durban, Johannesburg, Tembisa, Pretoria and Benoni, etc and at airports like Port Elizabeth Airport, Durban-King Shaka Airport, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Cape Town Airport, Wonderboom Airport and Pieter Maritzburg Airport, etc.

How much do you charge for excess in South Africa?

The excess amount depends on the car hire company and the rented vehicle and it will be refunded within 10-28 days after the rental if there has been no damage. Cartrawler offer damage refund insurance in association with Autoprio.com insurance partners, which will allow you to claim for reimbursement in the event that you have been charged for collision damage or theft. This damage refund insurance can be purchased at the time of booking.

What is the best rental car company in South Africa?

Based on ratings and reviews on autoprio.com, the best car rental companies in South Africa are Europcar, Alamo, Thrifty, Hertz, Budget, Sixt and Avis. You can find these car hire companies in cities like Port Elizabeth, Soweto, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, East London, Durban, Johannesburg, Tembisa, Pretoria and Benoni.

Do I need an international driver’s licence in South Africa?

If your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet (i.e. Arabic, Greek, Russian or Chinese) you will need to bring an international driving licence and your domestic licence in South Africa. If you are renting abroad (outside your country of residence, or outside where your license was issued), an international drivers licence is usually required regardless of the alphabet. International driver’s licences must be accompanied by the original domestic licence of the driver.

Are there any cross-border charges if you want to leave South Africa?

The car rental agents like Europcar, Alamo, Thrifty, Hertz, Budget, Sixt and Avis may choose to charge you for cross-border travel. Any fees will need to be paid at the rental desk in South Africa in local currency. We will state whether cross-border travel is allowed and in which countries at the time of booking under rental conditions at Autoprio.com.

How can I find car rentals near me in South Africa?

Do a search for the city, island or airport closest to you in South Africa. A search for country or e.g. island in South Africa lists the largest airports like Pieter Maritzburg Airport, Wonderboom Airport, Virginia Airport, Cape Town Airport, Newcastle Airport, Durban-King Shaka Airport, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Bram Fischer-Bloemfontein Airport, Port Elizabeth Airport and East London Airport. Then take a look at our map of cheap car hire companies to find the best rental cars near you.

Compare Rental Cars in South Africa - Search, Compare & Save

Car rental in South AfricaEasy, effortless and safe car rental where every cost is included, no hidden fees and free cancellations and amendments up to 24-48 hours before you are supposed to pick up the car. We have an easy and safe booking of rental cars online. At autoprio.com you can search for cars at and in the most popular cities, train stations, ferry terminals and airports in South Africa.

At our website, you can compare prices on rental cars and car rental from several companies in all cities in South Africa. Find the best prices for rental cars online. Search for and book a cheap car in cities such as, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Benoni, Tembisa, East London, Vereeniging. We only list prices of rental cars from companies that are safe and quality assured so that there will not be any problems when you arrive.

South Africa facts

South Africa (Republic of South Africa) has approximately 49,000,000 inhabitants and is located in Africa. Total surface/area 1,219,912 km² / 471,011 mi². South Africa is the 25th largest country when it comes to inhabitants and the 26th largest regarding the surface in the world. The 5th largest country when it comes to inhabitants and the 9th largest regarding the surface in Africa. The largest regions/states/counties are KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Western Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, Orange Free State and Northern Cape from a total of nine. Alternative names are iSewula Afrika, iNingizimu Afrika, Union of South Africa, Riphabuliki ya Afurika Tshipembe, IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika, iRiphabhuliki yase Ningizimu Afrika, Afurika Tshipembe, Republic of South Africa, iRiphabliki ye Sewula Afrika. The capital is Pretoria where about 1,619,400 people live. Top five highest mountains are Mafadi (3450 m / 11,319 ft), Njesuthi (3408 m / 11,181 ft), Popple Peak (3331 m / 10,928 ft), Giant’s Castle (3315 m / 10,876 ft) and Cathedral Peak (3004 m / 9,856 ft). Has neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho. Is it included in the price to cross national borders? Usually not, the car rental company may charge a fee to cross national borders to Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho. All additional costs are paid directly at the rental desk in the local currency, Rand (ZAR). It is stated in the rental terms and during the booking whether it is allowed to cross national borders and to which countries. The official currency is Rand (ZAR) and is used to pay your purchases with. Suggestions on places, attractions, museums that could be worth a visit during your trip to South Africa. Weather and maps of the country, cities etc. +27 is the country code when you want to make a phone call to the country. Websites mostly have the top domain .za. English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda, South Ndebele are languages used in the country. Top five largest cities are Cape Town (c. 3433400 pop), Durban (c. 3120300 pop), Johannesburg (c. 2026500 pop), Soweto (c. 1695000 pop), Pretoria (c. 1619400 pop).

South Africa tourist attractions & activities

Water parks, amusement parks or theme parks you can go to are for example Zip Zap Circus School, Ratanga Junction and Cool Runnings. Looking for activities and experiences with the kids? Tropical houses, tropicarium, zoo, animal parks, aquarium and terrarium are Big Cat Park, Monkey Town, Drakenstein Lion Park, Tygerberg Zoo, Cheetah Outreach, Fynbos Guest Farm, Giraffe House and World of Birds. Looking at exotic animals? Mont Blois, Wolfkloof Wines, Kranskop Winery, Buitehof, Major’s Hill Wine Estate, Rietvallei, Graham Beck Wines and Springfield are examples of wine producers and vineyards. A day for wine tasting in South Africa?

Cheap car rental with unlimited mileage in South Africa

There are many different models and sizes of cars to choose from. Fleet list in South Africa: Small SUV, Fullsize cars (Fullsize), Minivan, Luxury elite, Small-medium truck-lorry (Small-medium truck), Fullsize elite, Hybrid cars, Special cars (Special), Intermediate, Economy cars (Economy), 7 seater minivan (7 seat minivan), Intermediate elite, Mini elite, 9 seater minivan / Minibus (9 seat minivan), Electric cars, Luxury cars (Luxury), Convertible, Compact cars (Compact), Exotic cars (Exotic), Compact elite, Mini cars (Mini), Economy elite, 5 seater minivan (5 seat minivan), Moped, Cargo van, Estate, Premium cars (Premium), SUV / Jeep (SUV), Large truck-lorry (Large truck), Standard cars (Standard), Medium SUV. Big cities and popular destinations have more car types to choose from. If you want to rent a luxury car then search at the major airports and the most popular destinations in the major regions such as KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Western Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, Orange Free State and Northern Cape etc. It can also be harder to find and book special cars during peak season, if you do not search well in advance, before you need your rental car.

Cars you can rent in South Africa are e.g. 5 seater minivan: e.g. Citroen C4 Picasso, Dacia Lodgy, Dacia Dokker, Toyota Avanza, Small SUV, etc. 7 seater minivan: e.g. Kia Carnival, Volkswagen Touran, Toyota Avanza, etc. SUV / Jeep: e.g. Toyota Rav4, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Landcruiser, Hyundai iX35, Luxury elite, Medium SUV, Electric cars, Hybrid cars, Small-medium truck-lorry, Large truck-lorry, etc. Estate: e.g. Toyota Corolla Estate, etc. Economy cars: e.g. Nissan Micra, Citroen C3, Mini One, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Intermediate elite, etc. Fullsize cars: e.g. BMW 3 Series, Moped, etc. Standard cars: e.g. Toyota Avensis, Special cars, etc. 9 seater minivan / Minibus: e.g. Toyota Minibus, Volkswagen Caravelle, etc. Compact cars: e.g. Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Polo Sedan, Chevrolet Aveo, Nissan Tiida, etc. Convertible: e.g. Fiat 500 Convertible, Peugeot 308 Convertible, etc. Intermediate: e.g. Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Hilux Double Cab 4WD, Honda Accord, Compact elite, etc. Exotic cars: e.g. Mercedes S Class, Dodge Journey, etc. Minivan: e.g. Toyota Avanza, Volkswagen Kombi, Volkswagen T5, Toyota Quantum, Economy elite, etc. Mini cars: e.g. Citroen C1, Kia Picanto, Fullsize elite, etc. Luxury cars: e.g. Mercedes E Class, Jaguar XF, etc. Premium cars: e.g. Volvo S60, Mercedes C Class, Mercedes E Class, Audi A6, etc. Cargo van: e.g. Iveco Koffer 14 Tonne, Toyota Hilux Single Cab, Ford Ranger, Nissan Double Cab, Mini elite, etc. However, in smaller cities and on islands like Robben Island, Woody Island, Witkopeiland, Witklipeiland, Watervaleiland, Vlameiland, Uitvaleiland, Tierhokeiland, Thesen’s Island, Swartkopeiland, Stag Island, Skanskopeiland, Seal Island, Seal Island, Sandkopeiland, Saint Croix Island, Rooikopeiland, Rondemuiseiland, Renosterkopeiland, Rameiland, Rameiland, Pokkies Eiland, Perde-eiland, Perde-eiland and Pelican Island etc, the range is smaller.

Traffic regulations and car driving

Renting and driving a car is usually easy and effortless, but as in all countries there are many traffic regulations in South Africa you must follow. If you are going to visit and drive in large cities such as Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Benoni, Tembisa, East London, Vereeniging, prepare yourself for a lot of traffic, especially in rush hour and that it is sometimes difficult to find parking. Try to memorize the most common parking and traffic regulations before you leave to ensure that your car trip is safe, and to avoid trouble with the police.

Tips and advice when looking for a rental car in South Africa

How do you find the cheapest rental car in South Africa? Book your car online, it is cheaper, easier and saves time. Book as early as possible, it becomes more expensive the closer you get to your trip. Book before you leave, especially if you are going to collect your car at an airport, such as Cape Town International Airport, Durban King Shaka La Mercy Airport, Johannesburg Oliver Reginald Tambo Jan Smuts Airport, Wonderboom Pretoria Airport, Port Elizabeth H. F. Verwoerd Airport, Pieter Maritzburg Airport, Virginia Durban Airport, East London Airport, Bloemfontein Bram Fischer Airport and Newcastle KwaZulu-Natal Airport. When you are searching with us you will find the best prices. We compare, for example, these companies in South Africa: Keddy By Europcar, Thrifty, Dollar, Comet Car, First Car Rental, Budget, Avis, Alamo, Sixt, Hertz, Firefly, Europcar, Bidvest, Woodford Exclusive Rentals, Cabs Car Hire, Tempest.

Destinations in South Africa

Compare car rental and find cheap hire cars in regions such as: Van Rental KwaZulu-Natal, Car Rental Gauteng, Cheap Car Hire Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Western Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, Orange Free State and Northern Cape. Compare rental cars and renting of a vehicle from several companies in South Africa. Find the best hire cars and the cheapest car rental in towns such as: Cheap Car Hire Cape Town, Rent a Car Durban, Compare Car Rental Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Benoni, Tembisa, East London, Vereeniging, Bloemfontein, Boksburg, Welkom, Newcastle, Krugersdorp, Diepsloot, Randburg, Botshabelo and Brakpan. Compare long-term rental for one day, one year, a whole month, week, weekend, or for as many days as you wish in South Africa. Compare car hire and van rental in airports such as: Compare Car Hire Cape Town Airport, Rental Cars Durban-King Shaka Airport, Cheapest Hire Cars Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Wonderboom Airport, Port Elizabeth Airport, Pieter Maritzburg Airport, Virginia Airport, East London Airport, Bram Fischer-Bloemfontein Airport, Newcastle Airport, Lanseria Airport, Richards Bay Airport, Klerksdorp Airport, Grand Central Airport, Vryheid Airport, Rand Johannesburg Airport, Kimberly Airport, Polokwane Airport, Nelspruit Airport and Phalaborwa Airport.

Car rental companies we compare in South Africa

Sixt, Hertz, Woodford Exclusive Rentals, Alamo, Keddy By Europcar, Thrifty, Comet Car, Europcar, Tempest, Budget, Avis, First Car Rental, Bidvest, Firefly, Cabs Car Hire and Dollar are the companies that autoprio.com compares in South Africa.

Car Hire & Rent a Car South Africa Customer Reviews & Feedback