Driving in South Africa starts on the left side of the road, in a car with the steering wheel on the right. For anyone collecting a hire car at CPT, the first kilometres run on the N2, with Cape Town city centre 19 km away.
Which side of the road do you drive on in South Africa?
The left. The law requires every vehicle on a public road to be driven on the left side of the roadway and, where the road is wide enough, without crossing into the half on the driver's right. Rental cars in South Africa have the steering wheel on the right.
What are the speed limits in South Africa?
The general limits are 60 km/h on every public road inside an urban area, 100 km/h on roads outside urban areas that are not freeways, and 120 km/h on freeways. A road sign can set a different limit on any road, and the sign then applies.
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Public road in an urban area | 60 km/h |
| Road outside an urban area, not a freeway | 100 km/h |
| Freeway | 120 km/h |
| Any road with a sign | the signed limit |
Do I have to wear a seatbelt, and what about children?
Every adult in a seat fitted with a seatbelt must wear it, apart from while reversing or moving in or out of a parking bay. The driver is responsible for children: a child uses an appropriate child restraint where one is available in the car, or otherwise a seatbelt on a free seat that has one. A child car seat can be added as an extra when booking, where the car offers it.
What is the drink-driving limit in South Africa?
It is 0.05 g of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, or 0.24 mg per 1,000 ml of breath, for ordinary drivers, and 0.02 g and 0.10 mg for professional drivers. The limit is under review: in January 2026 the Department of Transport announced a process to amend the law and scrap the legal alcohol limit. The safe rule is not to drink at all before driving.
Can I drive in South Africa on my own licence?
A licence issued in another country counts in South Africa if it is in an official language of South Africa or has a certificate or translation in one attached, and if it carries your photograph and signature. An International Driving Permit issued while you are not resident in South Africa is also recognised. For a hire car in South Africa the rental conditions ask for a valid national licence with its details in Latin script, valid to the end of the rental, never a copy or an electronic version, and strongly recommend an International Driving Permit alongside it if your licence is valid only in its country of issuance.
Which roads charge tolls near Cape Town?
Two toll roads come up most on trips from the airport. The N1 out of Cape Town has SANRAL's toll plaza at the Huguenot Tunnel, R54.50 for a light vehicle from 1 March 2026. The Chapman's Peak toll is charged in each direction on the 9 km coastal drive between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, payable in cash or with a contactless card or phone, except American Express and Diners Club. Tolls, like fuel, parking and fines, are the driver's cost in a rental car.
Can a hire car go on gravel roads or cross a border?
No gravel: rental cars may travel only on paved public roads. Some Cape Town cars list a cross-border option for Lesotho and Eswatini, with its fee, on the car's page; tell the rental agent in advance so the documents for the car can be completed. Keep the phone number you booked with reachable from the day before pick-up to the end of the rental, and after an accident or theft notify the agent at once and get a police report unless the agent agrees otherwise.
Can roads be closed for weather?
Yes. Chapman's Peak Drive closes from time to time in high winds, heavy or continuous rain, for maintenance and to clear rocks from its catch fences. SANRAL has closed the Huguenot Tunnel after adverse weather caused mudslides and rockfalls, and Clarence Drive, the R44 coast road, has been closed after weather damage; when its section between Rooi Els and Gordon's Bay is closed, it is closed to all traffic. Check the status of a mountain or coast road before setting out.
How long are the drives out of Cape Town?
From CPT, Stellenbosch is 35 km, about 35 minutes; Hermanus 102 km, about 1 h 30; George Airport on the Garden Route 408 km, about 4 h 50; and O.R. Tambo, at the end of the long drive to Johannesburg, 1,426 km, about 15 h 40, all without traffic or stops. Both far airports are drop-offs for a one-way hire to George or Johannesburg.