I was a little hesitant to drive in South Africa, expecting the roads to be busy and lawless. But it was actually not so different to driving in Europe, Australia, or New Zealand! Driving is the best way to explore this beautiful city and beyond. And renting a car in Cape Town may be easier than you think. Here’s everything you need to know for the perfect rental experience.
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Jump to these guide sections about renting a car in Cape Town, SA
Key takeaways
- Renting a car is the best way to explore Cape Town, South Africa.
- You can find incredibly affordable car rentals by using comparison sites (like Discover Cars).
- There are some important safety considerations to remember when driving around South Africa.
- Cape Town has some amazing scenic routes for your itinerary.
- It’s wise to opt for full coverage insurance in case of theft and other risks.
Why rent a car in Cape Town
Cape Town is pretty sprawling. For example, Table Mountain is an hour’s drive from the famous penguin beach. Cruising along the famous Chapman’s Peak coastal road requires a car. You also need to drive yourself to the stunning Cape Point unless you go with a tour group. So renting a car is basically a must.
Safety is also a concern throughout the city. While I felt comfortable most of the time, several locals advised me against taking public transport. Thousands of people use it every day, so I’m not trying to scare you off, but its a consideration.
Read more: The Perfect Weekend Getaway at Cape Point
Essential requirements for renting a car in Cape Town
Renting a car in Cape Town is really straightforward. Make sure you bring your:
- passport
- credit card for the deposit
- valid driver’s license
- Note: if your license is not in English, you also need an International Driving Permit (IDP)
Make sure you check the age requirements if you’re reserving your rental car in advance. Some car rental companies in Cape Town require drivers to be over 18, 21, or even 25.
Choosing the right rental car
If you’re just zipping around the city, hitting major attractions like Boulders Beach, Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, and Hout Bay — a small city car will work just fine. But I love an SUV, and it’s a more suitable ride for exploring more of Cape Town.
Driving out to Silver Mine for a hike, reaching some of the Stellenbosch wineries, visiting Cape Point, or driving the Garden Route requires a bit more power.
Fortunately, there are lots of SUVs with AWD. They usually cost a bit more, but renting a car in Cape Town isn’t expensive, so I definitely recommend upgrading to a more robust car.
We should also talk about car theft, lol.
We are in South Africa, after all. According to Statista, 32% of the 20,000+ hijacked cars in Cape Town were Toyotas (2023). The most commonly stolen like, car sub-genres are Hilux and Fortuner.
That’s not to say your car will definitely get stolen if you rent a Toyota Hilux! But the make and model of your car is certainly something to consider when you’re looking at rental options. I’ll talk more about insurance coverage below.
Top car rental companies in Cape Town
You’ll find all the ol’ faithfuls like Avis, Budget, and Hertz. (There’s also Sixt, but I had a brutal experience with those guys in New Zealand so I no longer recommend them.)
Then there are other options you may never have heard of. U-Save, Carwiz, Bluu, and First, just to name a few. You can compare all the options on DiscoverCars, including the price, features, average customer rating for each rental company. That’ll help you narrow it down.
By rating, the top 5 car rental companies in Cape Town are: Hertz (9.2), Woodford (9.1) First (9), Carwiz (8.7), and U-Save (8.5).
I booked a Mitsubishi Xpander with U-Save and everything was great.
Cost of renting a car in Cape Town
The cost of renting a car in Cape Town depends on a ton of different factors. But overall, I found it very affordable. Here are some examples of what you can expect to pay for a week (7 days).
- Budget-friendly: 1250 ZAR (Small car)
- Mid-range: 2600 ZAR (SUV or truck)
- Luxury: 14200 ZAR (AWD Ford Ranger or Toyota Fortuner)
- Unnecessarily expensive: 35500 ZAR (BMW convertible)
- Gas prices: Pretty low at around 20 ZAR per litre.
Obviously, things like booking well in advance and traveling in the off-season can reduce the price. You will likely pay more for things like all-wheel drive (AWD). And automatic vehicles are common but usually a bit more expensive than manual.
Insurance is essential and often included, but make sure you go for full coverage. I’ll go into details a little later on.
My experience renting a car in Cape Town
When my partner and I drove the Garden Route on our first trip to South Africa, we whipped around in an SUV. For our second visit, we rented a 7-seater Mitsubishi Xpander (crossover SUV) because we were traveling as a group of 6.
The Xpander cost 8000 ZAR for just over 2 weeks (16 days). Pretty good split among 6 people if you ask me!
Navigating Cape Town - tips for drivers
Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when driving in Cape Town, South Africa.
- South Africans drive on the left. It’ll take some getting used to if you’ve never done it before, so make sure you don’t hop in your rental vehicle after a long flight when you’re tired. You’ll need to focus.
- Traffic lights are called “robots.” This is just something I love. So don’t be confused if someone tells you to “turn left at the robots.”
- Double check your maps route. Google will always want to take you the most direct way, but you should make sure you’re not driving through dangerous areas or townships (also known as shanty towns). We accidentally drove through one once during the day and it was fine, but I don’t recommend it.
- Keep your doors locked. Not just when you get out, even when you’re driving! And especially when you’re stopped at a light. I wouldn’t even drive around with the windows down.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car. Cover anything you need to leave in there with a towel.
- Pay the parking guards. You’ll almost always find a guy in a hi-vis vest hanging around the parking lot. Pay them a few rand (5 rand is standard) and they’ll keep an eye on your car to deter theft. It’s an unofficial system, but it works.
According to World Population Review, South Africa has the fifth-highest crime rate in the world (2025). Ranked only behind Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Haiti.
I’m not trying to freak you out, but I want to be realistic. Cape Town is actually a lot safer than many other places in South Africa. But the country has an objectively high crime rate, so you have to take care.
Best routes and scenic drives
As a coastal city surrounded by mountains, you can bet Cape Town has some of South Africa’s most beautiful drives.
Cape Point (via Simon's Town)
Stop at Boulder’s Beach, explore charming Simon’s Town, and continue your scenic drive all the way down to Cape Point. You’ll spot plenty of wild baboons, ostriches, eland, and bontebok running around. The trip takes about two hours from the city. Make a weekend of it and try to book the Olifantsbos Cottage for an overnight stay on the beach.
Chapman's Peak Drive
A must-do coastal road between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. The whole thing only takes about 20 minutes if you don’t stop, but you’ll want to pull over for some photos along the way. Be sure to visit the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. There’s a 66 ZAR one-way toll, but you can pay with card/tap.
West Coast National Park
Drive up to West Coast National Park, an hour or two north of Cape Town. Wildflower season is August-September.
Do NOT miss the opportunity to eat at Die Strandloper if you love seafood. It’s just 20 minutes away from the park in Langebaan. Note booking in advance is essential, and the whole experience takes about four hours.
Fueling your Cape Town rental car
Gas station are “full service” meaning you just roll up, pop the little gas lever thingy, and an attendant will fill it up for you. Make sure you know whether you need petrol or diesel so you can tell them.
This is also a situation where you should leave a little cash tip. (5-10 rand is appropriate.) I recommend having a handful of rand coins stashed — out of sight — in the car that you can grab when you need to tip.
Handling tolls and parking
The tolls are pretty straightforward, but South Africa’s parking system is a bit unique.
Toll roads in Cape Town
There aren’t many toll roads in Cape Town, but you will pay to cross Chapman’s Peak. It costs 66 ZAR for most vehicles one-way. The Huguenot Tunnel and a couple sections of highway on the N1 and N2 also have tolls.
Most rental cars have an automatic toll road tag that bills the company, and they’ll charge you at the end of your trip. However, the system may vary for different rental offices. Make sure you read the contract or ask for clarification so you don’t get any surprises.
Parking in Cape Town
As for parking, some areas have meters you’ll have to pay, and big parking buildings and mall parking often have pay stations like you probably have in your home country.
The only real difference in Cape Town (and South Africa in general) is the parking attendants. Make sure you keep some coins handy to give them a 5-10 rand tip for looking after your car.
Safety and insurance considerations
Alright so you do have to be careful when renting a car in Cape Town, it’s true. But I found the actual driving part super chill. It’s more just about like, locking yoru doors, choosing safe places to park, not driving alone at night, and hiding your belongings if you leave anything in the car.
Fortunately, there’s always a full coverage insurance option that you should definitely — without a doubt — get in South Africa. The standard included insurance isn’t enough. Beyond the usual risks of damage, full coverage has your back for things like theft, vandalism, and hit and runs. It wasn’t even that much more expensive — 1680 ZAR for over two weeks. Worth it.
Rental car insurance coverage is always a good idea. But it’s kind of non-negotiable in Cape Town, if you ask me.
Exploring beyond Cape Town
The Garden Route is the ultimate week-or-longer road trip, starting in Cape Town and ending in Storms River. (Technically starting in Mossel Bay, but you’re going to start in Cape Town.) We only went as far as Plettenberg Bay, but there are so many cool activities along this stretch of road. It’s considered by many to be one of the most beautiful road trips in the world!
Whale watching from the shore in Hermanus, braving the world’s longest over-ocean zipline in Mossel Bay, swimming with seals and exploring Monkeyland in Plet… the list goes on.
You don’t cross any borders, so you’re totally allowed to take your rental car along the route. I highly recommend choosing a rental car with unlimited kilometres/mileage so you can explore freely without worrying about limitations or added charges.
Returning your rental car
Most rental car agreements have a full-to-full policy. So make sure you leave enough time to hit a gas station before you return the vehicle. If you don’t, they’ll slap a huge penalty on your card.
If you’re returning your rental car at the airport right before hopping on a flight, give yourself a little extra time. And make sure you drop it off before the cut-off time so you don’t get charged any late fees. This will be clear in your booking contract. If you’re going to be late, call the rental company directly to let them know and they’ll prob be like, no worries.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Cape Town
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about renting a car in Cape Town, South Africa. Drop any other questions in the comments!
Is renting a car in Cape Town a good idea?
Yes! The city’s limited public transportation system and sprawling nature calls for a rental vehicle. While Uber exists, those costs can add up, and it’s nice to be able to move around at your own pace.
Do I need an all wheel drive car for Cape Town's roads?
Nah, you can explore the city with a normal vehicle. You don’t need to worry about 4×4 or AWD to see Chapman’s Peak, visit Table Mountain, or get to the African penguin colony. Cape Town has well-paved roads so if you’re on a budget, a zippy city car or compact SUV will do you just fine.
Is it unsafe to drive in Cape Town?
I would definitely not consider driving in Cape Town “unsafe.” You have to be careful and there are some areas to avoid. But with a reasonable level of caution, you can drive around Cape Town comfortably. It’s definitely safer than walking or even taking the bus.
What happens if my rental car in stolen in South Africa?
If you’re unlucky and your rental car is vandalized or stolen, report it to the police and inform the rental car company right away. Start collecting as much evidence as you can.
Hopefully you thought ahead and got a full coverage policy! You’ll have some paperwork to fill out and it’ll be a headache, but you won’t have to cover the cost of the car or anything.
Also, be aware some opportunists might see your misfortune as a way to run a scam. So keep your wits about you. Deal directly with the police and people you’re 100% sure work for the car rental company. People asking for cash in exchange for any sort of “help” are likely not helping.