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South Africa

Cheap Car Hire in South Africa from £7

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 21/7 and drop-off date of 8/8. 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 2025

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 13 junho 2025.

Most popular company

CarWiz

Most common car type

Compact

Average price per day

£21

Cheapest price per day

£7

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 13 junho 2025.

There are 35 hire agencies servicing South Africa. These agencies, altogether, have 1,362 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in South Africa with prices from £7 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

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Mini

Mini

Premium

Premium

Compare car hire deals in South Africa by type

Here are the best South Africa small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best South Africa medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best South Africa SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best South Africa van hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best South Africa luxury car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Kia Picanto£7/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Renault Twingo£7/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Twingo
Chevrolet Spark£7/day
2
M
A/C
Chevrolet Spark

Best car hire deals found in South Africa

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 £12. Data was last updated on 13 junho 2025.
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.
Kia Picanto£7/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Renault Twingo£7/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Twingo
Chevrolet Spark£7/day
2
M
A/C
Chevrolet Spark

Cheapflights insights for South Africa car hires

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in South Africa, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in South Africa?

For the best savings on car hire in South Africa, make your reservation 4 days before pickup. The average price then is just £21/day – about 44% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in South Africa?

In South Africa, the most affordable car hire company right now is CarWiz, offering prices from just £7.11/day over the past two weeks. Another budget-friendly choice is Firefly, with rates starting at £7.24/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in South Africa?

Planning to hire a car in South Africa? January is the cheapest month, costing about £22 per day. In contrast, October is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of £37. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

£22

February

£23

March

£27

April

£27

May

£24

June

£28

July

£23

August

£24

September

£31

October

£37

November

£34

December

£30

What car do most people hire in South Africa?

Economy cars (Class Economy Car, for example) are the most popular in South Africa. Intermediate (Class Intermediate Car) and Premium (Class Premium Car) cars are also often chosen by our users when visiting South Africa.

Which car hire company has the most locations in South Africa?

keddy by Europcar has 139 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Bluu has the second-highest number of locations in South Africa at 114.

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 661 pickup locations in South Africa to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 13 junho 2025.

If you're looking for the best car hire deals in South Africa, start with Durban, where rates average £11/day. You can also find good prices in Cape Town (£12/day), Johannesburg (£14/day), and Port Elizabeth (£16/day).

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 13 junho 2025.
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

10.0
Wonderful
2 reviews139 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

8.6

Overall

10.0

Pick-up/drop-off

9.3

Value

8.6

Firefly

10.0
Wonderful
2 reviews65 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Overall

10.0

Pick-up/drop-off

10.0

Value

10.0

Thrifty

10.0
Wonderful
7 reviews44 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Overall

10.0

Pick-up/drop-off

10.0

Value

10.0

1First Car Rental

9.6
Wonderful
4 reviews76 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

9.2

Overall

9.6

Pick-up/drop-off

10.0

Value

9.6

Budget

8.7
Very Good
29 reviews99 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.3

Comfort

9.2

Overall

8.7

Pick-up/drop-off

8.5

Value

8.4

Avis

7.9
Good
26 reviews105 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Overall

7.9

Pick-up/drop-off

8.1

Value

8.0

Europcar

7.0
Good
24 reviews83 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.8

Comfort

8.5

Overall

7.0

Pick-up/drop-off

7.6

Value

7.5

Hertz

6.8
Okay
14 reviews50 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

7.7

Overall

6.8

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

7.1

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 13 junho 2025.
  • 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.

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

    With an average price of £23/day, 1First Car Rental is the most popular car hire provider in South Africa, booking 46% more hire cars than any other provider.

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

    At £7/day, the cheapest car hire price in South Africa was found in Randburg. On average, Randburg has the cheapest daily rental car price (£7/day), which is 74% 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.

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 13 junho 2025.

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 (£11+).

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Travelling to a place near South Africa?

Hire a car at South Africa if you plan to visit one of these locations
Fitchburg
Wisconsin Dells

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