Car Hire Durban
In Durban, there are loads of car hire companies to choose from. Spread throughout the various suburbs of the city, in the city centre and at the major and minor airports.
All of the car rental companies in Durban endeavour to provide travellers with excellent service, the lowest rates, special weekend/monthly or car long term special offers, specialized services, unlimited mileage and a wide range of motor vehicles to choose from.
Unless referred by a reliable source, most people seeking car rental in Durban for the first time will likely choose a well-known, reputable company to avoid being ripped off. So well known names like Bidvest, Europcar, First, Hertz or Tempest, are typically the go-to car rental companies.
Car Rental Locations
Down the South Coast in Amanzimtoti, the majority of well-known car hire companies in Durban can be found, as well as in Umhlanga Rocks along Durban’s North Coast.
Located for travellers’ convenience at King Shaka International Airport are eight rental car agencies, namely:
Besides being visible at Durban airport, Avis, Budget and Europcar can also be found at Margate Airport. Meanwhile, Sixt, Avis, Europcar and Budget can be found servicing clients at Pietermaritzburg Airport. And lets not forget Richards Bay, with competition fierce between Avis, Hertz, Tempest, Europcar, Budget and First.
Car Rental Durban Options
Avis
This company has branches situated at 14 locations throughout the Kwazulu Natal province. Their Durban CBD branch can be found at the Royal Hotel Parkade, Ulundi Place. This is just off the Esplanade between Beach Walk and Dorothy Nyembe Street and is in close proximity to the Roma Revolving Restaurant, the Hilton Hotel, Thunder Peak Spur and many other wonderful eateries and entertainment venues.
Europcar
This rental agency has 12 branches throughout the Zulu Kingdom with their Durban city branch location at 216 Stalwart Simelane Street. (along with Thrifty car rental a little further down the road).
Thrifty
Thrifty car rental can be found just around the corner from Europcars’ Durban city branch at 125 Bram Fischer Road. Their other branch is at King Shaka.
Hertz
There are six Kwa-Zulu branches with their city branch located at the prestigious Hilton Hotel, Shop B3, Walnut Road, off Bram Fischer Road and close to the Durban ICC Arena.
First Car Rental
This company has its city branch at Liberty Towers, 214 West with the entrance being off Monty Naicker Street in the middle of the city. There are a total of eight branches throughout the province of Kwazulu.
Tempest
Besides King Shaka Airport, there is only one other branch located in the city at 47 Victoria Embankment.
Budget
Budget car rental has a total of 15 branches in Kwa-Zulu with their Durban branch located at the Royal Hotel Parkade, Ulundi Place.
Cheapest Car Hire Agency
Durban has what you need when it comes to cheap car hire, whether you need a vehicle just for one day while your jalopy has its service or you want some excitement in a 4×4. With the large variety of vehicles on offer from the various car hire companies, you’ll have no problem finding a vehicle to suit your exact needs.
If you’ve plenty of time on hand you may phone or go online to the various car hire companies.here you can check out the specials, what insurance is available, is there free accidental cover, are any extras included in the price, and what are their operating hours. You’ll also be able to see what payment options are available to you.
For a first-time car hire renter, this could prove to be a tedious, time-consuming task and you’ll still never be sure that you have got the best deal available.
Times are tough with budgets being stretched beyond the limit. Many more people are using less expensive modes of travel, especially those owning their own small businesses (with no personal assistant) and needing to save wherever possible with the most important factor being safety.
It’s this group of people that will entrust a separate company to source for them, from many reputable Car Hire Durban companies, exactly what they need at the best possible price. Saving them money, stress and importantly time, to get on with their business.
Large Variety of Rental Cars in Durban
For an adventure into the mystical mountains of the Drakensberg, choose between off-road vehicles like:
- Hyundai IX35
- Toyota Fortuner 3.0
If you’re looking for a normal drive, standard vehicles like this will do:
- Chevrolet Spark or Cruze
- VW Polo Comfortline Hatch or Sedan/Classic 1.4
- Fiat 500 Cabrio 1.3
- Hyundai 120 1.3
- Chevrolet Aveo 1.6
- Toyota Yaris 1.3 Navi/Corolla Sedan/Avanza
And if you need a vehicle for a family gathering or transporting large groups you’ll find these vehicles to your liking:
- Volkswagen Transporter TDI
- Hyundai
- Toyota Quantum
Of course, for the elite, there is always Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi. Additionally, a variety of vans and trucks are for hire for removals or to transport equipment for an event.
Top Tips for Hiring a Car in Durban
- Durban is South Africa’s second-most populous city and one of the most laid-back parts of the country. One thing that Durban is not known for is great public transport – there is no Gautrain or Myciti bus system in this city. Therefore, renting a car and driving yourself is the best way to get around.
- The East coast of South Africa is one of the premier vacation destinations for locals and internationals alike. No wonder it’s nearly impossible to book a trip here in December and January. This is due to there being so many things to do in Kwazulu Natal, from world-class restaurants, coffee shops and charming streets to the warm Indian ocean that rivals the cold waters of Cape Town.
- If you are looking for fun activities in Durban, you can always visit the Moses Mabhida stadium which hosted many games during the famous 2010 soccer world cup, including a semi-final. You can take a trip on the Sky Car where you get a 360-degree unobstructed view of Durban. For the thrill-seekers, take a swing on the Big Rush which is rated the world’s tallest swing by the Guinness Book of Records.
- Durban is the perfect place for a family vacation. With places like uShaka Marine World, Durban Botanical Gardens, the Golden Mile and Minitown you will never be short on activities for the whole family.
- Durban is 572 kilometres from Johannesburg which takes roughly 7 hours to drive. This is the cheapest way for international visitors to get the most out of their South African holiday because they can spend a few days checking out the hipster scene in Jozi before driving down to Durban.
- The drive from JHB to Durban is also a fantastic way to see the Kwazulu Natal countryside. Stop along the route at places like the Drakensberg, the Midlands, Intabazwe and more.
- Remember not to leave any items visible when you leave your car and try to avoid driving at night when it comes to the safety of your possessions.
- Another safety rule would be not to open your window to anyone who is signalling you from the outside of your vehicle and absolutely DO NOT pick up hitchhikers.
- A fun fact about driving in Durban is that traffic lights are called ‘robots’ and when you come to a 4-way stop, the first person to arrive will have right of way.
Car Hire Durban FAQs
-
How much does it cost to hire a car in Durban?
Car hire in Durban can be as little as R696.39 per day. The average hire car in Durban costs approximately R800-00 per day.
-
What is the cheapest car hire agency in Durban?
There is no winner here as Avis, Budget, Tempest, Woodford, and First, all have varying prices. It simply depends on the time and date that you are hiring your car. Car hire in Durban starts from around R696.39/day depending on when you make your booking.
-
What is the most popular car to hire in Durban?
The Hyundai Accent and Toyota Corolla are the most popular cars hired in Durban.
-
Which car hire agencies are at King Shaka Airport (DUR) ?
Car hire companies onsite at King Shaka International airport include Avis, Bidvest, Europcar, Thrifty and more. There is a wide selection of suppliers to choose from.
-
How much does an Economy car hire cost in Durban?
It costs on average approximately R696.39 to hire the cheapest economy car (Suzuki S-Presso from First) in Durban per day.
-
How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in Durban?
-
What type of car is preferred for driving in Durban?
Compact and small economy cars are highly recommended for driving in Durban as there is quite a lot of traffic in the city. However, if you are travelling with a party of 5 or larger, then the storage and seating capacity of an SUV such as a Toyota Fortuner is preferable.
-
How much does a Standard car hire cost in Durban?
It costs between R819.21 – R3133.59 per day to hire a standard car/sedan in Durban.
-
How much does an SUV car hire cost in Durban?
An SUV can cost anywhere between R1589.25 and R5215.69 per day in Durban to hire.
-
How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in Durban?
The average cost to hire a car in Durban for a week is around R3149.93 for a Suzuki S-Presso from First.
-
What Is the Price of Fuel in Durban?
The fuel price in Durban for Unleaded 95 was R22.22 in November 2022, with a 2.35% increase from the previous month. The cost of Diesel 50ppm was R25.11, rising 6.08% from the previous month.
-
What Is the Best Vehicle for Driving in Durban?
While the size of the rental car you choose will depend on your needs, we recommend an economy (small) car for driving around Durban. These vehicles are the most affordable and are also easy to handle in congested areas.
-
Which Car Rental Agencies Are at King Shaka International Airport (DBN)?
Besides Woodford Car Hire’s branch, you can also find a variety of other car rental agencies available at the airport. Read more on our site about Thrifty Car Rental, Bidvest Car Rental, and Avis Car Hire who all operate out of the King Shaka airport in Durban.
-
What Happens If You Receive a Traffic Fine While Driving a Rental?
Woodford Car Hire will receive the traffic fine and redirect it to your address. You will be liable to pay this fine, as well as a R250 administration fee, to the company.