How to rent a car in Johannesburg?
South Africa is an extremely progressive country that welcomes all visitors, which makes booking & renting a vehicle as easy as it could be:
Choose Your Car
Select Options
Book and Pay
Car Pickup
RosCar Offer: Rent a Car in Johannesburg with No Deposit, No Credit Card, Pay Cash or Debit Card
Car hire in Johannesburg is a no-compromise service, but there are always several ways to improve your driving experience without any downsides. There are four upgrades everyone should consider.
Car Rental Johannesburg No Deposit
Car Rental Johannesburg No Credit Card
Car Rental Johannesburg For Cash
Car Rental Johannesburg Debit Card Payment
Cheap Car Rental in Johannesburg and at Johannesburg Airport with RosCar.co.za
Exploring South Africa’s largest city takes time and effort, as every street is lined with dozens of interesting sights you’ll want to stop and explore. But you’ll see even more if you rent a car in Johannesburg:
- Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct: a former prison with a rich history, once home to some of the most iconic figures you’ve probably heard of.
- Apartheid Museum: A futuristic cultural site with fascinating historical and cultural tours.
- Maboneng Precinct: An innovative district with galleries, art installations, and stylish coffee shops serving delicious delicacies.
- Gold Reef City: A fun park worth visiting to enrich your travel experience.
Book now and see the truly beautiful side of South Africa’s largest city.
A whole host of benefits become available when you book your car hire in Johannesburg online
- Cash or debit card payment: More and more travelers are opting to skip the credit card.
- Free cancellation: Only available if more than 48 hours before departure.
- Car rental at Johannesburg Airport: Just a few minutes of registration and you’re ready to go anywhere.
- Hotel delivery: Simply name any location in the city, and your vehicle will be delivered on time.
- No credit card: A cash or debit card can be much more convenient when traveling in Africa.
- Additional insurance: Here you can choose basic upgrades like LDW and CDW, or upgrade to a more premium version like Full Coverage.
- Reasonable prices every day: RosCar.co.za is a one-stop platform for finding rentals in South Africa’s main cities, offering only fair prices without overpayments.
- No deposit: Reduces upfront costs by 30-60%.
- Short- or long-term car rental: You are free to rent as many days as your travel schedule allows.
Car Hire Johannesburg Price
A feature you'll notice about your upcoming trip is that you won't see as much volatility from season to season when renting a car in Johannesburg. Daily rates typically look like this:
Small cars
from $12 per daySUVs
from $15 per dayVans
from $33 per dayPremium cars
from $59 per dayHow to get the best price for Johannesburg car rentals?
Picking up a car in South Africa's largest city isn't much different from any other major city in Europe, America, or Asia. Therefore, standard savings rules always apply here, and you can reduce the price by 20-35%:
- Look for deals with free options included.
- Try renting at Johannesburg Airport (O.R. Tambo International) to avoid extra transfer fees.
- Try planning long-term car rentals.
- Make a quick reservation using the RosCar smart search service.
- Have a confirmed reservation a week in advance.
- Always compare prices between vehicles you like.
Table of hire prices for popular cars at Johannesburg Airport by season
| Car model | Body type | Passengers | Luggage capacity | Price per day (low season) | Price per day (high season) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki S-Presso | Mini car | 4 | 1-2 | $14 | $28 |
| Volkswagen Polo Vivo | Economy car | 5 | 2 | $16 | $31 |
| Suzuki Swift | Economy car | 5 | 2 | $18 | $34 |
| Toyota Starlet | Economy car | 5 | 2-3 | $20 | $38 |
| Toyota Corolla Quest | Compact sedan | 5 | 3 | $22 | $42 |
| Volkswagen T-Cross | Compact SUV | 5 | 3 | $29 | $55 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | SUV | 5 | 4 | $34 | $63 |
| Suzuki Ertiga | 7-seat MPV | 7 | 3 | $38 | $69 |
| Toyota Hilux | Pickup | 5 | 3-4 | $43 | $78 |
| Toyota Fortuner | Full-size SUV | 7 | 4-5 | $58 | $105 |
| BMW 3 Series | Premium car | 5 | 3-4 | $52 | $98 |
⚠️ Note: Prices are approximate and may vary depending on the season, booking date, vehicle availability, category, insurance, deposit requirements, and rental duration. Cars can be picked up in Johannesburg, Sandton, Rosebank, or at O. R. Tambo International Airport. The table shows typical rental prices, including offers with no deposit and no credit card required.
Chart of average car rental prices at Johannesburg Airport based on confirmed bookings
The documents you need to rent a car in Johannesburg
Passport
Driver’s License
Credit Card
Booking Voucher
Traffic Rules
South Africa’s major cities can be somewhat chaotic and confusing, though you can get the hang of it after just a few hours of driving. These rules will help you avoid trouble and gain confidence:
- Traffic drives on the left.
- Ensure everyone inside is wearing a seatbelt before driving.
- Do not exceed 60 km/h in urban areas.
- The maximum permissible blood alcohol level for all drivers (except commercial or professional drivers) is 0.05%.
- The maximum speed on open roads or motorways is 100-120 km/h.
- Vehicles already on the roundabout have the right of way.
Parking
Johannesburg car rentals can save you some money by taking advantage of low parking rates.
A good parking spot in the city center costs up to R40 ($2.50) for two hours.
Gas Stations
R27 ($1.69) is the price of a liter of high-octane gasoline in Gauteng province.
Self-service gas stations are typically found near major roads or cities.
Toll Roads
Only a tourist planning long trips to neighboring provinces is likely to encounter a toll road.
Typically, the cost of an average trip for a light vehicle ranges between R200 ($12) and R350 ($21.80).
Best car rental deals at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Hyundai i10
Mini car
Hyundai i20
Economy car
Volkswagen Polo
Economy car
Suzuki Swift
Economy car
Citroen C3
Economy car
Suzuki Celerio
Economy car
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg
✈️ Address: Airport Rd, Johannesburg, 1627, South Africa
📍 Coordinates: -26.134789,28.240528
🌐 Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=-26.134789%2C28.240528
Best places to visit by rental car from Johannesburg Airport
Explore popular attractions near Johannesburg by rental car. Below are six well-known places with approximate distances and driving times from O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Apartheid Museum
One of Johannesburg’s most important museums, dedicated to South Africa’s modern history.
Union Buildings, Pretoria
A famous Pretoria landmark with impressive architecture, gardens and city views.
Lion & Safari Park
A popular wildlife park where visitors can see lions, giraffes, zebras and other animals.
Cradle of Humankind
A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for caves, fossils and human history.
Hartbeespoort Dam
A popular scenic destination with mountain views, restaurants and outdoor activities.
Pilanesberg National Park
A major safari destination where visitors can see the Big Five and other wildlife.
Customer Reviews
All reviews published on RosCar.co.za are authentic and submitted by verified customers who booked a car rental in South Africa through our platform. To leave a review, customers are required to provide their booking number and email address so we can confirm that the rental was completed. Each review is checked before publication to help maintain accuracy, transparency, and trust, and approved comments are then added to the website.