Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at airports across South Africa. Airport safety advice, licence rules, the end of e-tolls, Kruger and Chapman’s Peak.
Leaving the airport? GOV.UK has specific advice for both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Read the safety section below before you set off.
The UK became South Africa’s biggest overseas source of visitors in 2025, overtaking the US, as the country welcomed a record 10.498 million tourist arrivals (Tourism Update).
South Africa drives on the left, like the UK, which makes it one of the more familiar long-haul countries for a self-drive family trip. The things to plan for are personal safety and wildlife.
Where to hire a 7 Seater in South Africa
Most of South Africa’s main airports are run by Airports Company South Africa, and the big ones have rental desks in the terminal. Distances are long, so the airport you pick shapes the whole trip. Where we have a full airport guide, the name links to it, and we add new guides regularly.
- Johannesburg. The country’s busiest airport, and the usual start for Kruger and Pilanesberg.
- Cape Town. 11.1 million passengers in 2025, a record. For the Winelands and the Cape Peninsula.
- King Shaka, Durban. For the KwaZulu-Natal coast and the Drakensberg.
- George. 911,354 passengers in 2025. The airport for the Garden Route.
- Gqeberha. The eastern end of the Garden Route, close to Addo Elephant Park.
- Kruger Mpumalanga. Near Mbombela, and the closest major airport to the southern Kruger gates.
Safety on the road
GOV.UK warns that criminals have followed people from OR Tambo International Airport to their destinations and robbed them (GOV.UK). Stay alert as you leave the airport, and read GOV.UK’s advice before you travel.
In Cape Town, GOV.UK advises staying on the M3 and N2 rather than the R300, and avoiding routes through higher-crime areas such as Nyanga. Lock the doors and keep valuables in the boot, out of sight.
Power cuts can knock out traffic lights, which GOV.UK also flags. Approach dead junctions slowly and carefully.
Licences and the left-hand rule
GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence is valid for up to 12 months in South Africa. Hire firms may set their own conditions on age and experience, so check the terms.
Driving on the left means the controls feel familiar. The big difference is distance, so plan rest stops on long drives between cities.
South African airport 7 Seaters, side by side
One search shows the 7 seaters at Johannesburg, Cape Town and beyond, with the full price for each.
Tolls: the end of e-tolls
The Gauteng e-toll network around Johannesburg and Pretoria stopped charging on 12 April 2024 (SANRAL). Older guides that warn about e-toll bills on hire cars are out of date for that network.
Wildlife and national parks
Kruger National Park’s rules are strict. The speed limit is 50 km/h on tar roads and 40 km/h on gravel, and you must stay in the car except in designated areas (SANParks).
Around the Cape, SANParks warns that baboons in Table Mountain National Park are dangerous and attracted by food. Lock food and bags away in the car (SANParks), and never feed them (Cape Point).
Chapman’s Peak and the 2.1 m limit
Chapman’s Peak Drive closes from time to time for bad weather or rock clearing (Chapman’s Peak Drive). Northbound vehicles, from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, cannot be wider than 2.1 metres.
Most 7 seaters are inside that, but a large van-based people carrier may not be. If in doubt, drive it southbound from Hout Bay.
Child seats
Children under three must use a child restraint, and older children must use one where available or wear a seatbelt (Arrive Alive).
UK rules are stricter, with a seat until 12 years or 135 cm (GOV.UK). Keep using boosters for younger children, since the safety reasons are the same.
Seven people, seven cases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres. With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters manage about 340 to 350 litres of boot.
For a full family with a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats plus more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater. Keep everything in the boot and out of sight.
Getting a better 7 Seater deal in South Africa
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Insurance excess, deposit, one-way fees and extra driver charges all sit outside the headline price.
- Check one-way fees. Collecting in Cape Town and dropping at another airport can cost more than driving back.
- Price child seats per day. Hire firms usually charge per seat, and long trips add up. Bringing your own can be cheaper.
- Book early with free cancellation. December and January, the South African summer, bring the highest demand. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Price a South Africa 7 Seater for your dates
Put in your airport and times to compare low-cost rates in GBP.
Questions people ask
Does South Africa drive on the left?
Yes, like the UK. A UK photocard licence is valid for up to 12 months, according to GOV.UK.
Is it safe to drive from Johannesburg or Cape Town airport?
GOV.UK has specific advice for both. Stay alert leaving OR Tambo, and in Cape Town use the M3 and N2 rather than the R300.
Are there still e-tolls around Johannesburg?
No. The Gauteng e-toll network stopped charging on 12 April 2024.
Can I drive a 7 Seater on Chapman’s Peak?
Usually, yes. Northbound vehicles must be no wider than 2.1 metres, and most 7 seaters are inside that.
How do I compare cheap 7 Seater car hire in South Africa?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from the firms at your South African airport in one list, with the total price for each. Prices move with demand, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
