Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
From chasing sunsets on Chapman’s Peak to finding your way around the city centre, there’s a ton of freedom and adventure that comes with renting a car in Cape Town. But is it worth the cost?
I’ve lived here for a few years now and you may be surprised to learn that I don’t own a car! Since I work from home and live centrally, I can’t quite justify it, although I do wind up using Uber a lot.
However, I have rented cars when friends have come to stay. So if you’re wondering whether or not it’s worth hiring a car in Cape Town, I’m here to help you answer that question!
Pros of Hiring a Car in Cape Town
Convenience
Cape Town is very much a driving city. The public transport here is limited, and the network is far from extensive. So when you’re exploring the city, having a car makes life so much easier. With a car, Cape Town is your oyster, and you won’t have to waste time waiting for Ubers, either.
Sense of freedom
I mean, this is true of hiring a car anywhere – nothing beats that sense of freedom!
You can go where you want, when you want, and build your own itinerary. If you’re not the kind of person who enjoys organised tours, having a rental car allows you to take sightseeing at your own pace and discover those off-the-beaten-track hidden gems.
Easier to explore the Western Cape
Renting a car is great for when you’re in the city, sure, but I think the biggest advantage is that it allows you to explore all of the fantastic places around Cape Town!
There are SO many fun day and overnight trips to take from here. Off the top of my head, I can think of Stellenosch, Franschhoek, the Paarl Spice Route, and Hermanus, aka the whale-watching capital of the world.
If you’re a festival goer, then renting a car is an absolute no-brainer. I had the best time ever at the Wolfkop Weekender, which is a 2-hour drive from Cape Town, and there are tons of others, like Rocking the Daisies, and Up the Creek.
Can save you money
Renting a car in Cape Town can certainly save you money, although I will include the caveat that this does depend on your itinerary.
As a tourist, you’ll be travelling all over the city, and those Uber fees do add up over the course of the day. But it’s really when you look at going out of the city that the big savings come in.
Having your own car means you often don’t need to book organised tours. For example, you can visit Cape of Good Hope by yourself, or go see the penguins at Boulders Beach without a tour. So really, it depends on how many day trips you plan on taking!
When my friend and I rented a car for 12 days, it cost us R7,500 in total. That included:
- 1.5 tanks of petrol
- Two drivers under 30
- Full coverage insurance
We booked through Discover Cars, so we were able to compare prices between lots of different rental companies and snag a great deal.
Cons of Hiring a Car in Cape Town
Drivers can be aggressive
My least favourite thing about driving in Cape Town is that people drive pretty aggressively here. This is especially true during the summer when the city is extra busy.
People are impatient and don’t tend to give way, which means that you have to be pretty bolshy at times unless you want to wait for hours to be able to go. As a fairly timid driver, I don’t really enjoy this.
Lots of parallel parking
UGH. I hate parallel parking, and I know I’m not alone in this.
If you hail from a big city, you’re probably used to this, but having grown up in a small village, it’s not something I really had to worry about much until I moved to Cape Town!
Can be more expensive
I know I said above that renting a car can save you money, but it can also work out to be more expensive. It really does depend on your itinerary!
If you’re only here for a couple of days and are mostly going to be sticking to the central area, Uber will probably prove to be cheaper.
However, if you want to go further afield, renting a car will definitely save you money, and it just makes life easier.
Do remember though that you don’t have to rent a car for the entire time!
If you’re concerned about budgeting, my advice would be to structure your itinerary so that your days in central Cape Town and days outside of the city are in two separate chunks. This way, you can save money by just renting a car for a few days!
There are plenty of rental companies who have pickup locations downtown, so you won’t have to go back to the airport, either. Just type in “Cape Town downtown” when searching on DiscoverCars!
Where to Hire a Car in Cape Town
I always hire cars through Discover Cars. They’re like Booking.com but for car rentals!
I love it because it makes it easy to compare rentals by supplier rating and price. This means it’s easy to find the best prices, and trustworthy rental companies.
If you want two drivers, Discover Cars also highlights which suppliers will let you add an additional driver for free! The site is honestly so easy to use.
I’ve had really good experiences with DiscoverCars. Last time I used them, we even got a free upgrade on our vehicle! Plus, I only had to pay a small deposit when I booked the car. Then, I paid the rest of the balance upon pickup, which made budgeting easier.
Click here to check out your options with Discover Cars
What’s the Deal with Car Insurance in Cape Town?
Car insurance isn’t a legal requirement in South Africa – I know, crazy, right? But rental companies won’t let you go without it, and with Discover Cars, basic third party insurance is included in the price of your rental. However, you can add full coverage insurance from R1,130 per week.
I think it’s definitely worth getting the full coverage insurance for peace of mind. It covers you for things like locking your keys out of the car, repair costs, and towing expenses – although do try to not get towed!
Where Can I Drive to in Cape Town?
As mentioned, some places are just way easier (and cheaper!) to access with a rental car. So if you’re thinking about visiting any of the following, a rental car will certainly help…
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is STUNNING, offers fantastic fish and chips, and it’s the best place in Cape Town for seal encounters. I loved my seal snorkelling experience here and the drive from Camps Bay is absolutely stunning. And if that weren’t enough, it’s the gateway to….
Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive
Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is a stunningly beautiful road. I love the contrast of the red, rocky cliffs against the sea and the (usually) bright blue sky.
My friends took me on a drive along here on Easter Saturday, and we went for beers and burgers at the Aegir Project. It was a cute little experience that I can highly recommend!
Noordhoek
Noordhoek is waiting for you at the other end of Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive. From the aforementioned Aegir Project to horse riding on the insanely beautiful beach (a favourite memory of mine!) I think it’s definitely worth driving out there.
The Cape Winelands
If you’re into your wine, it’s definitely worth driving out to the winelands and staying there for a few nights. I love the charming university town of Stellenbosch and the Franschhoek wine tram is a quintessential Western Cape experience.
Many of South Africa’s best restaurants can be found out here, too, like Post & Pepper in Stellenbosch, where I had one of the best meals of my life. Oh, and La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek is incredible, too.
Hermanus
During Cape Town’s winter months, Hermanus is one of the best places in the world to spot whales!
From horseback whale watching on the beach to whale spotting cruises, there are tons of opportunities to see these beautiful, gentle giants.
I also loved walking a portion of the Cliff Path when I was here, and I had the best eggs benedict of my life at The Station.
So… Should I Hire a Car in Cape Town?
Yes! For most people, I believe that hiring a car for at least a portion of your stay is a convenient and cost-effective choice.
However, if you’re spending most of your time in central Cape Town, then Uber might prove cheaper. It can be easier, too, because you don’t need to worry about navigation or parking. And if you’re only taking 1-2 day trips outside of the city, there are plenty of amazing and affordable tours on offer!
But for exploring the Western Cape, renting a car is 100% worth it! There are lots of places that it’s difficult or expensive to Uber to, and nothing beats the independence of having your own car.