---
type: "Article"
title: "Driving Tips When Hiring a Car in South Africa"
description: "South Africa is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination, with many visitors now taking advantage or relatively cheap prices and accommodation. Whilst there you can get the most from your vacation and see much more of this beautiful country if you hire a car. Hiring a car in South Africa is essentialRead More"
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/south-africa/driving-tips-hiring-car-south-africa-gps"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 2
tags: ["Contributions", "South Africa"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/south-africa"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/europe"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/united-states"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:25:53+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2012-04-28T08:34:01+00:00 }
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:25:53+00:00
---

# Driving Tips When Hiring a Car in South Africa

> South Africa is a popular tourist destination where hiring a car is highly recommended, as public transport outside Cape Town is limited and a vehicle allows visitors to explore well beyond the standard tourist trail. This article provides practical driving tips for tourists renting a car in South Africa.

## Good to know
Drive on the left-hand side of the road. Speed limits are enforced by cameras and police: 60 km/h on residential streets, 70–80 km/h on urban roads, 100 km/h on open roads, and 120 km/h on national motorways. Minibus taxis operate under informal rules — for example, turning left at red lights — so do not follow their lead. A GPS device with South African maps and lane guidance is strongly recommended; car hire companies often provide a Garmin unit.