South Africa

Cheap Car Hire in South Africa from £8

Driver's age: 25-65
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South Africa car hires in 2026

Most popular company

Woodford

Most common car type

Compact

Average price per day

£22

Cheapest price per day

£8

Popular car types in South Africa

There are 43 hire agencies servicing South Africa. These agencies, altogether, have 1,480 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in South Africa with prices from £8 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

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Mini

Mini

Best car hire deals found in South Africa

Mitsubishi Mirage£8/day
Mitsubishi Mirage
Toyota Yaris£9/day
Toyota Yaris
Fiat 500£9/day
Fiat 500

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 7 days before pickup. The average price then is just £17/day – about 43% 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 Sixt, offering prices from just £8.81/day over the past two weeks. Another budget-friendly choice is Woodford, with rates starting at £9.11/day.

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

Planning to hire a car in South Africa? June is the cheapest month, costing about £19 per day. In contrast, October is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of £26. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

£21

February

£24

March

£22

April

£23

May

£20

June

£19

July

£22

August

£22

September

£24

October

£26

November

£25

December

£25

What car do most people hire in South Africa?

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

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

Avis has 108 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Pace Car Rental has the second-highest number of locations in South Africa at 3.

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

If you're looking for the best car hire deals in South Africa, start with Pietermaritzburg, where rates average £7/day. You can also find good prices in Bloemfontein (£8/day), Durban (£9/day), and George (£9/day).

Top hire agencies in South Africa

Avis

8.1
Very Good
33 reviews•108 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.8

Comfort

8.6

Overall

8.1

Pick-up/drop-off

8.2

Value

8.1

Europcar

5.8
Fair
20 reviews•90 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.7

Comfort

7.2

Overall

5.8

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.2

Thrifty

4.7
Mediocre
7 reviews•50 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

5.5

Comfort

5.5

Overall

4.7

Pick-up/drop-off

4.7

Value

5.2

CABS Car Hire

6 locations

Pace Car Rental

3 locations

BOBO

2 locations

U-Save

18 locations

Al Wefaq

3 locations

Car hire FAQs

  • 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 £15/day, Sixt is the most popular car hire provider in South Africa, booking 270% more hire cars than any other provider.

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

    At £9/day, the cheapest car hire price in South Africa was found in Pinetown. On average, Bloemfontein has the cheapest daily rental car price (£12/day), which is 55% 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 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 (£12+).

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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Free Cancellation

Plans change — we get it. And that’s why you can search and book car hire on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation