Car

Renting a car in South Africa

Updated 4 November 2026

Rental firms in South Africa quote per day or per month, and the rate depends on the class, the dates and whether a driver is included. Local firms set their own terms, so compare the deposit, the driver rules and the rate together, not only the daily figure. We have no confirmed price range for this country yet, so the quickest way to a current price is a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Licence and what to check

The person who drives must hold a valid driving licence, so check that before you book. One renewal guide in our search puts the licence renewal fee at around R 250 and says no driving test is required, which matters if your licence is close to expiry. Before you sign, ask about the collateral the firm holds, the minimum age for the driver and how long the driver has held a licence.

Season and travel

Summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August, which is the reverse of the northern calendar. Book early for a December trip, and give the exact dates in the request, because a week-long hire and a monthly hire are priced very differently. You can ask for a pickup in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria or Gqeberha, and a one-way hire needs the drop-off city stated in advance.

What to put in the request

Name the car class, the rental dates and the pickup city, and say whether you want a driver included. Give the gearbox you need (manual or automatic), the age of the main driver and the number of years they have held a licence. If the car is for a route, say where it goes and roughly how many kilometres you will drive. Say if you need a monthly rent rather than days, so the offers compare like with like.

Describe the trip once, in your own words, in a chat on BlaBlaPrice; a photo can be added. Our AI reads the request, asks for anything missing, and looks through sellers' websites and price lists in South Africa before it shows the prices and businesses it found. Local sellers registered with us receive the request and reply in the chat with their own offer. It is free for buyers, and your contacts stay hidden until you decide whom to contact. You can also read how BlaBlaPrice works or browse vehicle and heavy equipment hire.