Some usefull tips for the international travellers on car rental in Cape Town

What you should know when renting a car in South Africa

In Cape Town Car Rental can be arranged easily, but sometimes this simple task can develop into a nightmare if you do not do your homework beforehand and research your options.

During the last years we have rented cars with various companies in the Mother City for family and friends and also for business purposes but the vast array of experiences with rental agencies did give us some real insights I want to share here with you.

You would expect a rental car to be in excellent working condition and well serviced and certainly not to be with worn down tyres, broken windscreens or failing ABS, wouldn't you?

This did happen to us and could happen to you too. So make sure to book with a reputable Cape Town Car Rental company and check your rental vehicle, when you book it out!

Often it is better to have an extra day to get used to your car before going on your South African safari trip and noting that something with the car is wrong! Especially beware of run down tyres which are a weak point at many car rental companies even the bigger ones.

In this little Expat Cape Town Car Rental guide I will give you some tips for getting the right rental car in Cape Town and where you might find it.

Car rental companies in Cape Town

There are many car rental agencies operating in the Mother City. The major car rental agencies that also have got a desk at the Cape Town International Airport are as follows: • Avis Car Hire: www.avis.co.za

• Budget: www.budget.co.za

• Dollar Thrifty: www.thrifty.co.za

• Europcar: www.europcar.co.za

• Hertz: www.hertz.co.za

• National Alamo: www.national.co.za

• Tempest Sixt: www. www.tempestcarhire.co.za

Remember: Cape Town Car Rental prices often differ significantly.

Check also the insurance cover and excess which all the companies handle differently.

Even with these companies I would recommend you confirm your pick-up date via telephone the day before you want to collect the car. We experienced twice with different companies that the selected rental car was not available for the time and day we booked it and had a written confirmation for.

Always leave a little time window in your travel schedule for these inconveniences.

Car Rental in South Africa

When you rent a car in South Africa choose your car size wisely. Driving off the main roads even outside of Cape Town you will find that you really would drive more comfortably in a bigger car with better suspension because of potholes and untarred roads or roads with potholes.

Then to have air-condition in your rental car is quite a must in South Africa, especially in summer when the temperatures can feel scorching. I personally would not consider renting a convertible as I would advise to keep your windows closed most of the times to avoid confrontations with street vendors.

What to consider when hiring a car in South Africa:

• Get full/comprehensive insurance cover. Not all motorists in South Africa do have insurance cover, so you have to make sure you and your passengers will be insured.

• Insist on unlimited mileage. Distances often are longer than expected and calculated. Should you encounter roadclosures, the distances increase significantly here.

• Opt for Zero Excess, this means you will not have to pay for any damage to the car, like chipped windows or scratches even if you have to pay additional fees.

• Get written confirmation for one way rentals when booking. Transfers are often possible at additional cost, but must be confirmed to you in writing.

• Consider carefully the length of your contract. Often renting more than 14 or 30 days gives you more value and better prices. Depending on the length of your stay, consider taking out an annual insurance for the car too.

• Opt for a rental car agencies with Round-the-clock-breakdown service or check if your national automobile club offers a partnership with the local AA in South Africa. In any case you should have an emergency contact number in case of an accident or car breakdown.

• When booking with a frequent flyer card, check if special rates apply. Most of the car rental companies are members in an airline mileage program.

Cape Town Car Rental: Important Documents

• Valid Driver’s Licence: International Drivers Licence advisable, only mandatory if your national driver’s licence is not in English.

• Passport or Picture ID Card

• Credit Card or Cash Payment

Cape Town Car Rental: When something goes wrong...

Make sure you take out sufficient insurance cover for your car and maybe take out a passenger insurance too.

Always take along the break-down emergency number which you will receive from your car rental agency.

Should you have a car tyre puncture which is happening fairly often in South Africa due to debris on the roads, get the tyre fixed at a local Hi-Q or SupaQuick or KwikFit Tyres or Speedy Tyres Shop, just to name a few. There they check the puncture and repair it for you in less than an hour. It usually costs R30-40 for repair.

South Africa Driving Tips

Driving in Cape Town and surrounds is not much different than driving in many western cities, but if you drive through the countryside untarred roads will become more and more a common sight.

Capetonians are known for a quite aggressive driving style, but often you will feel less pressure driving in Cape Town than driving in any other metropolitan city in Europe or the US. In South Africa in general driving is easy with less cars and less congested roads outside the cities.

When renting a car in Cape Town, you should however be aware of the bad track record of Minibus operators and Truck Drivers. Taxi drivers in Cape Town are known for their aggressive and often offensive driving style and there are also some really typical South African road rules to observewhen driving in South Africa.