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South Africa

Cheap Car Hire in South Africa from £9

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car hire in South Africa with a pick-up date of 30/12 and drop-off date of 1/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
Driver's age: 26-65
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South Africa car hires in 2024

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in South Africa. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 December 2024.

Most popular company

CarWiz

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

£25

Cheapest price per day

£9

What are the car hire prices for popular cities in South Africa?

Discover the price range for hiring a car in popular cities across South Africa, helping you budget and make informed decisions for your upcoming travel. There are 796 pickup locations in South Africa to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 December 2024.

Price

£9 - £71

Out of all the popular cities in South Africa, Durban is the cheapest city to rent a car in at just £9/day. Renting a car in Durban is 87% cheaper than renting one in Hoedspruit where the per day rate is around £71. Other fairly inexpensive cities in South Africa to get a rental car in are: Cape Town (£10/day), Port Elizabeth (£10/day), and Pretoria (£13/day). While these cities typically have cheaper prices than the rest of the country, travelers looking to rent a car in Johannesburg should expect to spend around £16/day on their transportation. The most popular city to rent a car in South Africa is Johannesburg.

What is the cheapest time to rent a car in South Africa?

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in South Africa and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 19 December 2024.

January

£22

February

£25

March

£27

April

£29

May

£29

June

£26

July

£26

August

£26

September

£29

October

£29

November

£29

December

£25

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in South Africa is January. The most expensive time to rent a car is April. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Popular car types in South Africa

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in South Africa and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 19 December 2024.

There are 35 hire agencies servicing South Africa. These agencies, altogether, have 1,340 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in South Africa with prices from £9 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 5 car types you can hire in South Africa:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

People carrier

People carrier

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Mini

Mini

Premium

Premium

Compare available car types for hire in South Africa

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in South Africa to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 December 2024.

Small cars

£16 - £24

All Car Types

£33 - £53

To hire a small car in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £19/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a small car in South Africa (~£16/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is March (~£24/day). In fact, November is about 20% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a small car saves you 54% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Africa small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a medium car in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £38/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in South Africa (~£33/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is March (~£46/day). In fact, October is about 16% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a medium car saves you 10% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Africa medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a large car in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £67/day. December is the cheapest month to hire a large car in South Africa (~£54/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is June (~£77/day). In fact, December is about 21% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a large car is 37% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Africa large car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a SUV in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £47/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in South Africa (~£37/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~£58/day). In fact, January is about 22% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a SUV is 9% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Africa SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a van in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £57/day. June is the cheapest month to hire a van in South Africa (~£51/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is January (~£68/day). In fact, June is about 13% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a van is 26% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Africa van hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a pickup truck in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £60/day. September is the cheapest month to hire a pickup truck in South Africa (~£50/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is June (~£76/day). In fact, September is about 17% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a pickup truck hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a pickup truck is 29% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a luxury car in South Africa, you would pay an average price of £90/day. June is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in South Africa (~£66/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~£126/day). In fact, June is about 28% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car hire for South Africa. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Africa, hiring a luxury car is 53% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

Chevrolet Spark£9/day
2
M
A/C
Chevrolet Spark
Hyundai i10£10/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i10
Ford Fiesta£11/day
2
M
A/C
Ford Fiesta

Top hire agencies in South Africa

Explore the leading car hire agencies in South Africa known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in South Africa. Reviews were last updated on 19 December 2024.
Book your reservation with one of the top car hire agencies located in South Africa, including those serving the greater Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban area. Make sure to take a look at reviews from past customers, daily rate and other charges, and pickup location before making your decision.

keddy by Europcar

138 locations

Bluu

114 locations

Avis

108 locations

Bidvest

104 locations

Budget

99 locations

Europcar

81 locations

1First Car Rental

76 locations

Sunnycars

76 locations

Best South Africa car hire deals found

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in South Africa. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in South Africa with an average daily rate of £16. Data was last updated on 19 December 2024.
Take a peek at some options we've found for car hires in South Africa, including locations near Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Come back soon if you don't find what you're looking for as deals are updated often.
Chevrolet Spark£9/day
2
M
A/C
Chevrolet Spark
Hyundai i10£10/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i10
Ford Fiesta£11/day
2
M
A/C
Ford Fiesta

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in South Africa, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 19 December 2024.
  • What are the requirements to hire a car in South Africa?

    Car hire in South Africa is a great solution for your Mzansi trip. Firstly, much of the public transportation does not ideally cater for tourists, and secondly, this diverse and scenic terrain is widely set apart and needs exploring with the autonomy and freedom of your own vehicle. Cheap car hire in South Africa will require some standard documentation, such as your passport, international driving permit and a credit card with sufficient credit. Whilst all South African car hire can be paid for with credit cards, only a select few will accept debit cards. It is always best to check beforehand if you are planning on paying for your car hire in South Africa with a debit card, even if it is Visa or Mastercard.

  • What are the rules for driving in South Africa?

    You will be driving your car hire in South Africa on the left-hand side of the road, which is great news for British tourists. Rules are standard and easy to follow, with good signage in all urban and suburban areas. Parts of the towns will make use of traffic circles, which always give cars in the circle right of way. Buckle up, no matter what seat you are using, and ensure babies under three have an approved car seat. You can hire one from your car hire location in South Africa. Do not drink and drive, as random road blocks pop up often and sporadically and you could find yourself arrested on the spot. Refrain from mobile phone use whilst driving, and be courteous, despite the often frustrating driving style of the local minibus taxis. Cheap car hire in South Africa will otherwise be a pleasant and smart solution for your holiday or business travels.

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in South Africa?

    Car hire in South Africa can be selected for your trip largely by where you will be driving in the country. Most of the national roads in South Africa are good, and you can easily drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town with an economy hire or a solid passenger car. If you are planning on visiting any of the national wildlife parks or mountain regions, you may enjoy the sturdy approach of a 4x4 vehicle. Car hire in South Africa also gives you the option to choose a top-down convertible, to enjoy the beach roads of Durban and the Cape coast, or a luxury car hire, for those who enjoy the finer things in life. The city roads are diverse, depending on where you go, and potholes are a problem in summer when the heavy rainfall could be damaging. Be diligent when you drive your South African car hire and enjoy the open road of this popular tourist country.

  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in South Africa?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Thrifty (10.0 rating), keddy by Europcar (10.0 rating) and 1First Car Rental (9.5 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in South Africa.

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

    With an average price of £17/day, Europcar is the most popular car hire provider in South Africa, booking 223% more hire cars than any other provider.

  • What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in South Africa?

    At £12/day, the cheapest car hire price in South Africa was found in Pretoria. On average, Pretoria has the cheapest daily rental car price (£13/day), which is 60% below average price for cities in South Africa.

  • What side of the road do you drive on in South Africa?

    Cars travel on the left side of the road in South Africa.

Small car hires in South Africa

Find small car hire deals in South Africa from well-known providers in the area and save on gas mileage with the options provided below. small car hires in South Africa cost an average of £11 per day. Price data was last updated on 19 December 2024.
Chevrolet Spark£9/day
2
M
A/C
Chevrolet Spark
Hyundai i10£9/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i10
Fiat Panda£9/day
2
M
A/C
Fiat Panda

Car hires by fuel type in South Africa

Browse car hires by fuel type in South Africa. Currently, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in South Africa. Deals were last updated on 19 December 2024.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in South Africa. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest (£16+).

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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