South Africa car rentals

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

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in South Africa are Avis (8.1, 221 reviews), Dollar (6.7, 116 reviews), and Thrifty (6.5, 130 reviews).

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK. The most popular cities to rent a car in South Africa are Cape Town (52% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in South Africa). Johannesburg (28%) and Durban (16%).

On average a rental car in South Africa costs $203 per week ($29 per day).

On average a rental car in South Africa costs $870 per month ($29 per day).

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.

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.

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.

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).