There is no single regulator for car rental in South Africa: each company sets its own terms. At Avis, Hertz and Budget the minimum age is 18, you need a valid unendorsed driver’s licence, and the main driver needs a credit card in their own name. Avis and Budget also require the licence to have been held for at least a year.
Those are the car rental requirements South Africa’s big three publish. Terms change and differ by branch and vehicle group, so confirm them with the company you book with before you travel.
Property Requirements at a Glance
What the major companies ask for.
- Minimum age of 18 at Avis, Hertz and Budget; Avis adds a Young Drivers Surcharge for drivers under 25
- A valid driver’s licence, unendorsed at Hertz and Budget, held for at least one year at Avis and Budget
- A credit card in the main driver’s own name at collection
- A passport as well, for foreign visitors renting from Avis
- Every additional driver to show a valid licence and be listed on the rental
- Written permission before you take the car out of South Africa
Eligibility and Financial Requirements
Age and licence. Avis says you must be 18 or older and have held a valid licence for a year (Avis rental guide). Hertz sets its minimum rental age at 18 (Hertz FAQs). Budget asks for a minimum age of 18 and a licence valid for at least a year (Budget FAQs). Hertz does not state a minimum licence-held period, so ask Hertz if you have held yours for less than a year.
Young driver surcharge. The Avis FAQs list a Young Drivers Surcharge of R155 per day for drivers under 25, for a maximum of 10 days. Avis publishes this figure in more than one place and it may change, so check it when you book. Hertz does not state a young driver surcharge publicly.
Credit card. Hertz needs a credit card in the renter’s name at collection, and some categories need two. Avis needs a credit card or hybrid cheque card in the main driver’s name, and car groups F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N and O need two payment cards, one of them a credit card. Avis states that it does not accept cash, and its rental guide says it does not accept debit cards, although its FAQs mention that some debit cards may be accepted after a card check. Do not assume a debit card will work: ask first.
Deposit. Hertz takes a R2,000 deposit on credit card rentals, plus deposits for extras and fuel and the applicable damage responsibility; banks can take up to 21 working days to release it. Avis places a temporary authorisation hold on your card and debits only the final amount after return, and at listed branches an additional R10,000 hold applies. Budget for the hold on your available credit, especially if the card is also your travel card.
Excess and waivers. Avis explains that your liability is the amount you pay if the car is damaged or stolen, and it depends on the vehicle and the waiver level you choose. Personal accident insurance, windscreen and tyre waivers and super waivers are optional at Avis, not mandatory. Its Windscreen, Tyre and Third Party Damage Waiver starts from R90 per day. Excess amounts are vehicle-specific, so get the figure for your car in writing and ask exactly what the cover excludes.
Documents and Verification Required
- Your valid driver’s licence, in physical form. Avis will not release the car without it, and does not accept photocopies or driving permits
- Foreign licences: Avis accepts a licence in English that carries your photo or ID/passport number and your signature. If it is in another language, an international driver’s licence must accompany it. Hertz accepts a valid, unendorsed local or international licence
- Your passport, if you are a foreign visitor renting from Avis
- A credit card in your own name, with enough available limit for the hold
- The licence of every additional driver, shown at collection
Proof of address and return flight itineraries are not listed by Avis, Hertz or Budget, but a branch may ask for more, so confirm when you book.
Property, Compliance or Technical Requirements
Additional drivers. At Hertz only the signed renter may drive unless another driver is listed. If an unlisted driver is in an accident or the car is stolen, the renter is liable for the full damage or replacement cost. Hertz charges R500 per additional driver per rental, including VAT.
Cross-border travel. Avis allows travel into Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho and Namibia with a letter of authority from the rental station, at extra cost. It does not allow Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Zambia. Hertz requires a cross-border permit and written notice of 48 hours or 2 business days before pick-up; travelling without it is a material breach of the agreement (Hertz terms and conditions).
Inspect the car before you leave. Walk around it with the agent, record every scratch and dent on the condition form, and take dated photographs or video including the wheels, windscreen and roof. Do the same at return and keep a signed return form.
Application, Registration or Approval Process
Book directly with the company or through a booking platform, then collect the car at the branch with your documents. There is no application to a government body.
- Read the rental terms before you book, not at the counter.
- Compare the total cost, not the daily rate: add waivers, additional driver fees, surcharges and deposits. Hertz, for example, lists an airport surcharge of around 13% of the time and kilometre rates, an online cancellation fee of R300 and an accident administration fee of R800 per incident.
- Budget charges R600 for delivery or collection within 25 km in office hours and R1,100 out of hours, plus R20 per km beyond 25 km.
- Report any accident to the rental company immediately and follow its instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the car rental requirements in South Africa?
Minimum age of 18, a valid unendorsed driver’s licence, and a credit card in the main driver’s name. Avis and Budget want the licence held for at least a year, and Avis charges a young driver surcharge under 25.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car?
Hertz and Avis both require one in the renter’s name. Avis says it does not accept debit cards or cash, though its FAQs note that some debit cards may be accepted after a card check. Ask before you travel.
Can I rent a car at 18 in South Africa?
Avis, Hertz and Budget set the minimum at 18. Avis adds R155 per day for drivers under 25, for up to 10 days.
Can I use a foreign driver’s licence?
At Avis, yes, if it is in English with a photo or ID/passport number and your signature; otherwise an international driver’s licence must accompany it. Hertz accepts a valid unendorsed local or international licence.
What is the excess?
At Avis it is the amount you pay if the car is damaged or stolen, and it depends on the vehicle and waiver level. Optional waivers reduce it. Ask for the exact figure and the exclusions in writing.
Can I drive into another country?
Only with the company’s written permission. Avis allows Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia with a letter of authority at extra cost. Hertz requires a cross-border permit with 48 hours or 2 business days’ notice.
Confirm current terms with the rental company you are booking with, such as Avis, Hertz or Budget. See property requirements and browse all property and housing requirements.