One-way car hire in South Africa from Cape Town ends at one of two airports: George Airport (GRJ) on the Garden Route or O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Every one-way car is collected at Cape Town International Airport (CPT), under the rules for hiring a car in South Africa. Pick the drop-off on the second tab of the location field and the search lists only the cars that can be returned there, each with its deposit, card rule, driver age and kilometre allowance.
Where can I drop a hire car from Cape Town?
At George Airport or at O.R. Tambo International Airport, the only two cities outside Cape Town that cars from CPT return to: Cape Town to George ends on the Garden Route, and Cape Town to Johannesburg on the far side of the country. No car from Cape Town can be dropped in Mossel Bay; a Mossel Bay trip ends at George Airport, 43 km further on, about 35 minutes, or back at CPT.
| Drop-off | Distance | Time | Main road |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Airport (GRJ) | 408 km | about 4 h 50 | N2 for 401 km |
| O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | 1,426 km | about 15 h 40 | N1, part of it shared with the N12 |
How is a one-way hire priced?
The search shows a price for the car, the dates and the drop-off you chose, and the car's page breaks it down before you book, with the extras and insurance you add. Compare one-way cars against each other rather than against a return to CPT, because the car you choose for a same-place rental may not be offered one-way. The car's page shows the amount to pay now and the amount to pay when picking up the car; read both before booking.
Which car suits a one-way drive?
Start from the kilometre allowance. Each car shows its allowance for your dates, with a per-kilometre rate beyond it; some cars offer Unlimited mileage as an extra. George Airport is 408 km from CPT by the direct N2, for the route alone; running on to Plettenberg Bay (506 km) and back to George Airport (103 km) makes 609 km. Johannesburg is 1,426 km by the direct route, before any detours. Those figures are the route only: every other kilometre, to a beach, a restaurant or a hotel, comes out of the same allowance, so count the whole trip.
For the N1 to Johannesburg, choose a car with room for every passenger's luggage. Cape Town listings include automatic and manual gearboxes and seat counts from 4 to 9; the search filters show which of them are offered one-way on your dates.
What does the rental agent need from me for a one-way hire?
The same as for any rental in South Africa. Bring a valid national driving licence with its details in Latin script, valid until the last day of the rental; copies and electronic licences are refused. If your licence is only valid in the issuing country, carry an International Driving Permit too. Some cars require a physical embossed credit card in the main driver's name, and where a debit card is accepted the booking says so. Keep the phone number you gave at booking reachable from the day before pick-up until the drop-off, because the rental agent uses it to reach you. The same rules apply the whole way.
What if something goes wrong a long way from Cape Town?
Tell the rental agent straight away and obtain a police report, unless the agent agrees to something else; skipping either cancels the insurance issued for the car and leaves you fully responsible. On a long drive the exclusions matter more: what standard cover leaves out is damage to the wheels, the undercarriage, the windscreen and the interior. The agent's number is on the voucher.
Can I change the drop-off or keep the car longer?
To extend the rental, tell the rental agent before the booked return. Rental time is charged in 24-hour days, so arriving at O.R. Tambo on Friday afternoon for a car collected on Wednesday morning is three days.
Who pays the tolls and fuel on the way?
You do. Fuel, parking, fines and road tolls are the driver's cost. The N1 carries a SANRAL toll plaza at the Huguenot Tunnel, R54.50 for a light vehicle from 1 March 2026. The car goes back with the fuel level it had at CPT; a lower level is charged at the rental company's rates, and a higher level is not refunded.
What are the speed limits on the long roads?
Outside urban areas the general limit is 100 km/h on ordinary roads and 120 km/h on freeways, and 60 km/h applies in urban areas; a sign can set another limit on any stretch. South Africa drives on the left.