Cape Town International Airport car hire, tailor-made for you
Framed by the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, Cape Town makes for a picturesque starting point to exploring South Africa. Pick up your Avis car rental and venture out into this beautiful country.
We make car rental easy, because we know you can’t wait to feel the freedom of the road and get the very most out of your stay. Wherever your travels take you, the keys are waiting for you to unlock the world.
Popular car hire locations in Cape Town
Plan your journey from Cape Town International Airport
Take the N2 from Cape Town International Airport, and 20 minutes later you’ll arrive in downtown Cape Town.The second most populated city in South Africa, Cape Town is one of the world’s most multicultural destinations thanks to its Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and African influences. Diversity can be found all over the city, from the cuisine to the architecture. The colourful building exteriors of the Bo-Kaap area are a striking contrast to the modern skyscrapers found in the east of the city, and so is the European-style architecture like the Italian Renaissance-themed City Hall.
Spend some time in Table Mountain National Park, the city’s most coveted attraction. Other than the iconic flat-topped mountain, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and Green Point Park is also worth visiting. If it’s beach time you’re looking for, Cape Town has some of the best stretches of sand on the continent. Pack a picnic and head to Camps Bay or Boulders Beach for the day.
Many restaurants around Cape Town will allow you to experience African culture and entertainment, with live local music, dancing and drumming shows alongside traditional food served as a communal feast. For African-style dance, head to the Observatory area.
With an Avis car rental, you’ll easily be able to reach every corner of Cape Town.
Beyond Cape Town
Some of South Africa’s best attractions are found just beyond Cape Town. This part of the country is renowned for its scenery, making it ideal for day trips.Cape Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula drive, on routes M3 and M65, is a must-do experience when visiting South Africa. The drive to the Cape of Good Hope takes about 90 minutes, and there’s plenty to see along the way. Stop at Boulders Beach, where you’ll find a colony of sunbathing penguins, and take the funicular up to the historic lighthouse in Cape Point. Spend a bit of time in Noordhoek village and cruise the stretch of road along Chapman’s Peak Drive, with its winding route hugging the coastline.
Muizenberg
This tiny surf town is located just 30 minutes from Cape Town on the M5, and offers a much slower pace of life. Muizenberg Beach is ideal for swimming, and its bright-coloured Victorian beach houses make for some perfect photo opportunities. There are also lots of cafes and restaurants around town, many of which offer outdoor seating.
Simon’s Town
This coastal town is home to the country’s naval base and is rich in history. Simon’s Town Museum, once a residency for the governor of the Dutch East India Company, is where you can discover the town’s past, and make sure you stop by the Scratch Patch on the way back, where you can take home polished gemstones that cover the site’s floor. Just a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, via the M3 and Ou Kaapse Weg, Simon’s Town is a fantastic place to stop off on your road trip.
South Africa is best explored by car. All you have to do is drive.
Driving rules in South Africa
Which side of the road?
In South Africa, please drive on the left side of the road.
Country driving laws
- Mobile phones may only be used with a headset or hands-free device
- It is compulsory to carry your driving license with you at all times
- Many of the national roads between the major centres are toll roads. Booths usually accept credit cards and cash
- It's a good idea to keep your doors locked and the windows up, especially in cities and at traffic lights
- In rural areas, you are likely to encounter animals on the road. Please drive slowly and carefully, especially at night
Speed limits
All speed signs will be in km/h.
For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:
- Urban areas: 60 km/h (35 mph)
- Rural areas: 100 km/h (60 mph)
- Motorways: 120km/h (75mph)
Unless indicated by road signs.
Child safety / Seatbelt laws
- It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
- Children under 7 must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size and must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has two or more rows of seats.
- Children aged between 7 and 16 must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size, or use a seatbelt that is properly adjusted to fit them and fastened securely
Please note - It is the child’s parent / guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.
This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.