BLUU Car Rental Richards Bay

Richards Bay is a coastal city blessed with a number of natural wonders and scenic routes. As such, the city is best explored via a self-driving adventure where you can explore at your own pace. While there’s a long list of car hire agencies, you can use while in Richards Bay, there aren’t many better than Bluu Car Rental.

While the name might sound new, the agency and its operations are anything but. In short, Bluu Car Rental was formerly known as Bidvest Car Rental, which was founded in 1986. In 2021, the Thesele Consortium bought and took over the brand and rebranded it into Bluu Car Rental, keeping the same values and quality that made Bidvest a premier rental option.

Bluu Car Rental’s Richards Bay branch has a range of vehicles available for hire, so you can see the city in style. From SUVs and luxury sedans to budget rentals, Bluu’s got the car for you. With Bluu, you can get one of the cheapest car hire Richards Bay has to offer, with rentals from as low as R510 per day.

 

BLUU Car Rental Richards Bay

 

Benefits of Using Bluu Car Rental Richards Bay

While you can get around Richards Bay with just public transport or ride-hailing apps like Uber, one isn’t too reliable, and the other can be expensive. When you hire a car with rental agencies like Bluu, you can have reliability at an affordable rate, amongst other benefits.

 

Affordability

One of the lesser-known benefits of renting a car is that it can be a cheaper mode of transportation, especially for group travel. Costs can add up when you’re travelling from stop to stop, even when it’s with public transport. In contrast, you pay a fixed fee for car hire that allows you to go from place to place without incurring extra costs, besides petrol.

 

Flexibility

Unfortunately, travel plans can change instantly, and this can cost you both time and money. Luckily, Bluu understands this and allows free cancellations up to 48 hours before your pick-up time. You also have flexibility in terms of where you can go, which is usually where public transportation can cause issues in your itinerary.

 

Travel in Comfort

One of the major advantages of rental vehicles is that you can pick whichever one you want, to secure a great level of comfort. If you’re travelling with family or friends, you can take a larger car, avoiding the struggle for seat space in public transportation. Not to mention, with a car from Bluu Car Rental, you won’t need to worry about losing your valuables.

 

Requirements for Bluu Car Rental Richards Bay

While getting a rental car from Bluu Car Rental is super easy, there are still requirements that need to be met before you can take the vehicle.

South Africans will need to produce a valid form of identification and an unendorsed, valid driver’s licence.

The same applies to international travellers, except those whose driver’s licence isn’t printed in English. If your licence isn’t in English, you’ll need to also provide an international driving licence or an official consulate or embassy translation.

Further, if you’re 23 years old or younger, or have had your licence for less than three years, you’ll be charged a daily surcharge. Travelling with others who can drive? Great, you can add them as additional drivers for an additional fee.

Regardless of your nationality, you’ll also need to present a credit card in your name, as Bluu doesn’t accept debit cards. These need to be either Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Diner’s Club to be eligible.

 

Bluu Car Rental Branches in Richards Bay

Bluu Car Rental only has a single branch in Richards Bay. The branch is located in the Richards Bay Airport.

The Bluu Car Rental Richards Bay Airport branch operates between 07:00 and 17:00 during the week and between 08:00 and 10:00 on Saturdays. However, you can call them and make arrangements if you need to pick up the car on a Sunday or a public holiday.

 

Bluu Car Rental Prices

The cost of hiring a car depends on a number of factors, including the car type, rental period, and the time of year. In Richards Bay, you’ll find car hire at its most expensive between December and January, the peak tourist season.

While the costs do fluctuate, here’s a quick estimate of what you can typically expect to pay (for the standard waiver):

  • Small: Hyundai Atos Manual (or similar) 3-day hire: R1,522+
  • Medium: Toyota Corolla Quest Manual (or similar) 3-day hire: R1,881+
  • Large: Toyota Urban Cruiser Auto (or similar) 3-day hire: R4,001+

If you’re interested in continuing your exploration of KwaZulu Natal’s coastal beauty, consider hiring a car via the Bluu Car Rental King Shaka Airport branch.

 

Additional Add-Ons for Bluu Car Rentals Richards Bay

If you want to make the rental period even better and more comfortable, Bluu Car Rental has a few extras to improve your quality of life.

  1. Child seats for R500 per rental
  2. GPS rental available for R140 per day
  3. Bicycle carrier rental for R125 per day

Note: The GPS and bicycle carrier rentals have liability of R1,513 and R2,522 in the event of damage or loss.

 

Services Offered by Bluu Richards Bay Car Rental

In addition to the add-ons above, Bluu Car Rental has a number of other services on offer for renters, including the following:

  • In addition to the standard waiver, you can book your vehicle with a super waiver. This adds costs to your daily fee but can reduce your liability significantly.
  • International visitors have unlimited mileage.
  • For an additional fee, you can cross the border, but only to Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and eSwatini.
  • You can extend your rental period by getting in touch with Bluu Car Rental.
  • Bluu offers one-way rentals that allow people to pick up their Bluu car rentals in Richards Bay and drop it off at a different Bluu Car Rental branch around the country.
  • Bluu Car Rental offers 24/7 roadside assistance in the event of any emergency for R850 per non-mechanical instance.
  • If you need extra protection, you can take out additional waivers for things like hail damage, tyre and glass, and minor damage.

 

List of Bluu Richards Bay Car Rentals

Bluu Car Rental has an impressive fleet of rental vehicles that should satisfy all types of travellers. Whether you’re a family or friend group or a solo or couple travellers, plus they offer both automatic and manual transmissions.

You can view their range of vehicles on their website, but here’s a quick glance of cars available from Bluu Car Hire:

  • Small cars: Hyundai Atos, Toyota Starlet, or similar
  • Medium cars: Audi A4, Toyota Corolla Quest, or similar
  • Large cars: Haval Jolion Premium, Audi Q2, or similar
  • People carrier: VW T6 or Toyota Quantum

BLUU Car Rental Richards Bay

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    How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car in Richards Bay with Bluu Car Rental?

    The cheapest car at Bluu Car Rental’s Richards Bay (formerly Bidvest Car Rental Richards Bay) branch starts at around R510 per day.

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    What Payment Methods are Available with Bluu Car Rental?

    Bluu Car Rental only accepts major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Diner’s Club.

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    Are There Corporate Discounts with Bluu Car Rental?

    Yes, Bluu Car Rental offers tailor-made rates to corporate clients, making it easy for a single corporation to book on the same account facility.

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    How Much is the Price of Fuel in Richards Bay?

    The cost of petrol/fuel in Richards Bay is R21.38 for petrol unleaded 93 and R21.58 for petrol unleaded 95 at the time of writing. This is important to know as you’ll have to return the vehicle with a full tank to Bluu Car Rental.

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    What Happened to Bidvest Car Rental?

    Bidvest Car Rental, founded in 1986, was acquired by the Thesele Consortium in 2021 and rebranded into Bluu Car Rental.

Top Tips for Hiring a Car in Richards Bay

  • For international visitors, South Africans drive on the left-hand side of the road. This may be different to your home country and takes some time to adjust to.
  • As always with renting a car, be sure to check and keep a record of any pre-existing dents or damages of the car. The best way to do so is by taking pictures or videos; this helps you avoid paying any damage fees that aren’t your fault.
  • If you want the best deal on your vehicle rental, be sure to book days, or even weeks, in advance.
  • The peak season in Richards Bay is between December and January, meaning you should expect busy roads and tons of traffic. There will also be increased foot traffic, so drive safely at all times. Check out this guide for more safety tips while driving in South Africa.
  • During your time in Richards Bay, be sure to visit attractions like the Enseleni Nature Reserve and Alkantstrand Beach or try snorkelling at Cape Vidal.
  • If you have a smartphone, just use it to navigate your way around Richards Bay instead of paying an extra fee for GPS rental.