South Africa

Cheap Car Rentals in South Africa from $21

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 30/7 and drop-off date of 20/8. 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: 25-65
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South Africa car rentals in 2026

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 23 May 2026.

Most popular company

Woodford

Most common car type

Intermediate

Average price per day

$45

Cheapest price per day

$21

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 23 May 2026.

There are 38 hire agencies servicing South Africa. These agencies, altogether, have 1,444 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in South Africa with prices from $21 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

People mover

People mover

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Mini

Mini

Premium

Premium

Passenger van

Passenger van

Best car rental 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 $51. Data was last updated on 23 May 2026.
Mazda Mazda2$21/day
2
5
M
A/C
Mazda Mazda2
Hyundai Elantra$27/day
5
M
A/C
Hyundai Elantra
Toyota Yaris$28/day
2
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris

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?

To get the best deal on a rental car in South Africa, book about 5 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around $40, which is about 33% cheaper than the typical rate.

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 $10.85/day found in the past two weeks. Rentacar is another inexpensive option with rates as low as $10.91/day.

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

At South Africa, the best time to rent a car is at June, with an average daily rate of just $46. Conversely, September is the priciest month, averaging $59 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 June, with an average daily rate of just $46. Conversely, September is the priciest month, averaging $59 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

$48

February

$56

March

$51

April

$47

May

$47

June

$46

July

$53

August

$52

September

$59

October

$51

November

$50

December

$56

What car do most people hire in South Africa?

Mini cars (Datsun Go, for example) are the most popular in South Africa. Passenger van (Toyota HiAce) and SUV (Toyota RAV4) 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 107 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. U-Save has the second-highest number of locations in South Africa at 17.

What are the car rental 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 450 pickup locations in South Africa to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 23 May 2026.

Out of all the popular cities in South Africa, Port Elizabeth is the cheapest city to rent a car ($16/day). Other popular cities in South Africa to get a cheap rental car are: Cape Town ($18/day), Johannesburg ($22/day), and East London ($23/day).

Top rental 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 23 May 2026.

Budget

8.3
Very Good
30 reviews98 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.1

Comfort

8.8

Overall

8.3

Pick-up/drop-off

8.1

Value

7.9

1First Car Rental

9.4
Wonderful
4 reviews77 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.7

Comfort

9.1

Overall

9.4

Pick-up/drop-off

10.0

Value

9.4

Avis

7.9
Good
28 reviews107 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.6

Comfort

8.4

Overall

7.9

Pick-up/drop-off

8.0

Value

7.8

Europcar

5.8
Fair
20 reviews89 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.7

Comfort

7.2

Overall

5.8

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.2

Thrifty

5.4
Fair
8 reviews50 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

5.8

Comfort

5.8

Overall

5.4

Pick-up/drop-off

5.4

Value

5.8

CABS Car Hire

6 locations

National

6 locations

U-Save

17 locations

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in South Africa, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 23 May 2026.
  • What is the most popular car hire provider in South Africa?

    The most popular car hire company at South Africa is Sixt. With prices on ECONOMY starting at $20/day about 398% more people book with Sixt than other companies in the country.

  • 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 East London where rental cars typically will cost around $23/day (73% less than the country average). The absolute cheapest rental car price in South Africa was found in East London for just $21/day.

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

    In South Africa, drivers are expected to drive 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 23 May 2026.

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 ($19+).

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Free cancellation

Plans change – we get it. And that’s why you can search and book rental cars on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation