Car hire in Cape Town, South Africa

Compare car hire from trusted providers

Book car hire with confidence

Save big on car hire in Cape Town

Find a cheap car hire deal

Search for Cape Town car hire near you

Choose from 59 pick-up spots

Find cheap car hire in Cape Town

These are the lowest Cape Town car hire prices we found over the next 30 days and are subject to change.

When's the cheapest time to hire a car in Cape Town?

Our data shows that September is the cheapest month to rent a car in Cape Town. It’s around 534.822 ₫ per day in September, compared to the yearly average of 822.696 ₫ per day.
Cheapest month avgSeptember • 534.822 ₫
Yearly avg price822.696 ₫

Select your Cape Town pick-up location

There are 59 car hire providers in Cape Town. Check out the map below to find the most convenient pick-up spot.

Car hire pick-up spots in Cape Town

Compare car hire prices at airports, train stations and in different neighbourhoods across Cape Town. You might find a better price, or the perfect pick-up point nearby. Start your journey where it suits you.
Filter locations
These are estimated prices to help you choose from a large number of options. Each is an average based on the lowest car rental prices found for each destination over the last 15 days.

Driving in Cape Town: What to expect on the road

Documents you'll need
You’ll need your driving licence, passport and a credit card to rent a car in Cape Town.
Most visitors can use their regular driving licence. You may need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence isn’t in English. Rental companies also ask for matching ID, and some require a credit card deposit.
Navigating city driving
Roads are well signed, with clear routes to beaches and mountains.
Driving in Cape Town is straightforward, though traffic builds near the CBD and Waterfront. Navigation apps help you avoid busy highways and guide you along coastal drives and routes to viewpoints.
Tolls, emissions zones and charges
South Africa uses some toll roads, but not within central Cape Town.
Most tolls apply to long-distance highways outside the city. Cape Town has no emissions zones. Check your rental company’s toll payment options if you plan to drive further along the coast.
Parking your car in Cape Town
Parking is available across the city, especially near shopping areas.
Street parking is monitored by attendants in busy zones. Multi-storey car parks are common in the CBD and Waterfront. At beaches and viewpoints, use marked bays and follow local guidance.
Finding fuel or charging points
Fuel is easy to find, and EV charging stations in Cape Town are increasing.
Petrol stations sit along major roads and near malls. Charging points are expanding across the city, though some suburbs have fewer options. Apps like PlugShare show available locations.
Local driving style and tips
Drivers are steady on main routes but quicker on highways.
Traffic slows near beaches and tourist areas. Watch for minibus taxis making sudden stops, and take care at night on unlit roads. Keep a safe distance and stay alert for pedestrians.
Find Cape Town car hire deals

The most popular car rental companies in Cape Town

Woodford Car Hire
Sixt
Green Motion
Firefly powered by Hertz
Hertz
Firefly

What's the most popular car to hire in Cape Town?

Based on recent Skyscanner data, the Volkswagen Polo is the most popular car to hire in Cape Town, with prices starting from 376.057 ₫ per day. The Hyundai i10 and similar models are also popular drives in Cape Town.
Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo20% chose this
Hyundai i10
Hyundai i108% chose this
Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto6% chose this
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla4% chose this
Most popular carVolkswagen Polo
Why?Small, practical, easy to park

Cape Town's cheapest car hire providers

Garage Nr1 has the cheapest car hire in Cape Town right now, with prices from 280.917 ₫ per day. You'll save an average of 192.180 ₫ per day when you book with them.
Garage Nr1from 280.917 ₫ per day
Woodford Car Hirefrom 376.057 ₫ per day
Firefly powered by Hertzfrom 503.609 ₫ per day
U-Savefrom 539.624 ₫ per day
Cheapest providerGarage Nr1
Book with them to save around192.180 ₫ per day

Choose from the best car hire companies in Cape Town

Hiring a car in Cape Town: Fast facts

Here's everything you need to know to hit the road happy.
Most popular car hire companyWoodford Car Hire
Most popular carLarge, fullsize pick up truck
Average daily price3.694.534 ₫
Best time to book3 weeks before

How to book the best car rental deals in Cape Town

We’re frequently named as the most trusted travel search site out there. We scan hundreds of trusted travel providers and put it all in one place, allowing you to instantly compare car hire rates and then book with no fees. Here's how to get the most out of your Cape Town car rental search.

Book now, cancel later

We clearly highlight car and van hire options in Cape Town that have free cancellation. So you can bag the best deal with total flexibility to change your plans if you need to.

Rent a car in Cape Town for a whole month

Want to hire a car for almost a month? Often, car rental companies in Cape Town avoid costly admin in between pick-ups by hiring out cars for longer periods. So see if monthly car hire is cheaper than the three weeks you need it for by selecting 30 days.

Compare fuel policies

To save money on topping up the tank as you take off in Cape Town, look out for deals with a 'full to full' fuel policy, as opposed to a 'half-full to full' one.

Skip the queues

We call out keyless pick-up when you search for cars with us. No keys to pick up, means no queues. Just turn up at your preferred Cape Town car hire location, hop in and hit the road.

Frequently asked questions

The average car hire cost in Cape Town is 3.694.534 ₫ per day or 17.113.703 ₫ for a seven-day rental. If you're looking for a cheap deal, the lowest price we found is 376.057 ₫ per day for Small hire from National. Need a specific type of car? Here's how prices compare:
Economy
Average price: 1.263.825 ₫ per day.
Cheapest price found: 376.057 ₫ per day.
SUV
Average price: 2.515.344 ₫ per day.
Cheapest price found: 538.124 ₫ per day.
Premium/Luxury
Average price: 4.832.006 ₫ per day.
Cheapest price found: 690.287 ₫ per day.
The cheapest car to rent in Cape Town is Small, mini. The most popular is Large, fullsize pick up truck.
The cheapest car hire companies in Cape Town are currently Hertz and Sixt.
Bagging the best car hire deal depends on when you book  – often, it pays to book your wheels as far in advance as possible. But according to our data, the cheapest month to rent a car in Cape Town is currently October.
On average, around 17.113.703 ₫. But the best price we found for car hire for a week in Cape Town is 2.632.393 ₫.
Based on everything we know about daily prices, the average cost to hire a car in Cape Town for a whole month is 16.602.891 ₫. 

But sometimes, you'll get a discount for booking a whole month instead of 3 and a half weeks. So play with your dates to find the best deals!
If you're looking for freedom to explore Cape Town, choose a car with unlimited mileage, or look for car hire deals with a ’full to full' fuel policy as opposed to a 'half-full to full' one.

We also clearly highlight car and van hire options in Cape Town that have free cancellation
If you've booked car hire with free cancellation, you can usually cancel or change your booking without paying a fee. The deadline depends on the car hire company, but it's typically around 48 hours before pick-up. If you cancel after that, you may be charged. If your booking doesn't include free cancellation, you'll need to check the car hire company's cancellation policy. Depending on when you cancel, you might have to pay a fee or you won't get a refund.
Yes. Most car hire companies in Cape Town offer same-day car hire. If you're looking for last-minute car hire in Cape Town, search for today's date on Skyscanner to compare what's available.
The best time to book car hire in Cape Town is usually as early as you can. Booking ahead often means cheaper prices and more cars to choose from. You can sometimes find a good last-minute deal, but it's never guaranteed and availability is often more limited.
A good deal for car hire in Cape Town is usually around 2.770.900 ₫ per day or less. That's about 25% cheaper than the average price in Cape Town, which is 3.694.534 ₫ per day. The cheapest price we found in Cape Town is 376.057 ₫ per day with National for Small car hire.
It depends on the car hire company. Some companies in Cape Town will let you drive your hire car abroad, often for an extra fee, while others don't allow it. If you're planning to cross a border, check with the car hire company before you travel. Driving your hire car abroad without permission could invalidate your insurance or break the terms of your rental agreement.
It depends on the car hire company. Some accept debit cards, others require a credit card. Either way, you'll need enough money on your card to cover a security deposit which you'll get back when you return the car.
Electric cars aren't currently available to hire in Cape Town. More electric cars are becoming available, so that could change in the future. If you're still looking for a lower-emission option, you can compare hybrid cars on Skyscanner.
Yes – you can easily find car hire companies that allow you to pick up your car in one place, and then drop it off in another. Just select ‘Return car to a different location’ when you search with us.
Public transport can only get you so far, and could be tricky to navigate with children or luggage. With your own set of wheels, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, for as long as you want. And you'll be able to discover more outside of Cape Town.
The cheapest price we found for an economy car is 376.057 ₫ per day. The average price per day is around 1.263.825 ₫.
Of course. Most major car hire companies like Woodford Car Hire, Sixt and Green Motion offer baby and child seats as an add-on when you book.
The best car hire company depends on what's most important to you. If customer ratings are your priority, here are some of the highest-rated car hire companies in Cape Town, based on Skyscanner reviews. We've also included their average daily prices to help you compare your options.
Europcar
4.8/5 (from 129 reviews)
Average daily price: 2.196.635 ₫
First Rent a Car
4.8/5 (from 50 reviews)
Average daily price: 1.854.862 ₫
Sixt
4.7/5 (from 12 reviews)
Average daily price: 1.748.128 ₫
You don't have to get it, but it's worth thinking about. In Cape Town, the excess (what you pay if the car gets damaged or stolen) ranges from 3.282.763 ₫ to 128.409.490 ₫ depending on who you book with. The cost of excess insurance also varies by car hire company. You can buy excess insurance separately, which is usually cheaper than buying it through the car hire company.
Yes. Most car hire companies in Cape Town let you add an extra driver. You usually need to pay an additional driver fee which costs around 632.749 ₫ per day. The good news is that some companies like First - Car Rental include it at no extra cost.
We search the internet for all kinds of vehicle hire deals, including vans. But at the moment, we can't find any van hire in Cape Town.