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South Africa

Cheap Car Rentals in South Africa from AED 37

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 12/7 and drop-off date of 12/8. 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 rentals in 2025

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car rental in South Africa. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 13 June 2025.

Most popular company

U-Save

Most common car type

Intermediate

Average price per day

AED 118

Cheapest price per day

AED 37

Popular car types in South Africa

Explore the most popular car models available for rent in South Africa and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car rental companies and was last updated on 13 June 2025.

small car is the cheapest car type you can hire in South Africa this past week from 1,362 hire locations out of 35 hire agencies. Prices for a South Africa small car hire start from AED 37/day. Check out available deals for 5 car types currently offered at listed car hire agencies here:

Economy

Economy

AED 45+

Compact

Compact

AED 46+

Intermediate

Intermediate

AED 56+

People carrier

People carrier

AED 62+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

AED 132+

Mini

Mini

AED 37+

Passenger van

Passenger van

AED 185+

Luxury

Luxury

AED 180+

Compare car rental 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:

Mini HatchAED 37/day
2
M
A/C
Mini Hatch
Mitsubishi MirageAED 39/day
2
5
M
A/C
Mitsubishi Mirage
Chevrolet Aveo SedanAED 45/day
2
5
M
A/C
Chevrolet Aveo Sedan

Best car rental deals found in South Africa

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car rental deals in South Africa. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect rental option for your needs. There are currently 8 rental car agencies in South Africa with an average daily rate of AED 87. Data was last updated on 13 June 2025.
These are some of the most attractive deals we've found on rental cars within the South Africa region, including options close to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. To make sure you find the deal you're looking for, verify the details of the rental, such as car type, price, and pickup address.
Mini HatchAED 37/day
2
M
A/C
Mini Hatch
Mitsubishi MirageAED 39/day
2
5
M
A/C
Mitsubishi Mirage
Chevrolet Aveo SedanAED 45/day
2
5
M
A/C
Chevrolet Aveo Sedan

Cheapflights insights for South Africa car rentals

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 AED 98/day – about 187% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in South Africa?

CarWiz is currently the cheapest car hire company in South Africa with deals as low as AED 29.71/day found in the past two weeks. Thrifty is another inexpensive option with rates as low as AED 35.40/day.

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

At South Africa, the best time to rent a car is at August, with an average daily rate of just AED 98. Conversely, October is the priciest month, averaging AED 180 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.|1#In South Africa, the best time to rent a car is in August, with an average daily rate of just AED 98. Conversely, October is the priciest month, averaging AED 180 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

AED 103

February

AED 102

March

AED 131

April

AED 121

May

AED 107

June

AED 123

July

AED 101

August

AED 98

September

AED 152

October

AED 180

November

AED 143

December

AED 140

What car do most people hire in South Africa?

SUV cars (Class Premium SUV or similar) are the most popular option for those visiting South Africa. Premium cars (Class Premium SUV or similar) are also a popular choice, followed by Economy cars (Toyota Urban Cruiser or similar).

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.

Discover the price range for renting 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 June 2025.

Top rental agencies in South Africa

Explore the leading car rental agencies in South Africa known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car rental companies in South Africa. Reviews were last updated on 13 June 2025.
Rent a car with one of the top providers serving the South Africa region, including those located within the Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban area. Helpful information on each car rental agency is available, including reviews, pricing, pickup location, and more.

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 rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car rentals in South Africa, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 13 June 2025.
  • What is the most popular car hire provider in South Africa?

    When hiring a car in South Africa, the most popular provider of hire cars among Cheapflights users is 1First Car Rental, and with prices around AED 95/day, it’s easy to understand why. The most popular car type from 1First Car Rental is INTERMEDIATE, which starts as low as AED 92/day.

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

    When visiting South Africa, it is typically cheapest to rent your car in Cape Town where rental cars typically will cost around AED 108/day (16% less than the country average). The absolute cheapest rental car price in South Africa was found in Johannesburg for just AED 56/day.

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

    Cars in South Africa are to be driven on the left side of the road.

Car rentals by fuel type in South Africa

Browse car rentals by fuel type in South Africa. Currently, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in South Africa. Deals were last updated on 13 June 2025.

Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in South Africa. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest (AED 15+).

Hybrid

Hybrid

AED 40+

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

AED 15+

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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