The cost of driving in South Africa
A visitor's guide to what a self-drive trip actually costs: how fuel pricing works, where tolls apply and what a rental car pays, in rand, with every number verified against the official source. For a specific trip, the planner gives you a live figure.
Set by the government on the first Wednesday of each month; identical at every station in a region, so nobody shops around. A compact rental at 7 L/100km costs about R 173 per 100 km. Attendants fill up for you; cards accepted everywhere. Current prices: all grades, inland and coastal.
Only some national routes are tolled; a normal car (any rental) is Class 1 and pays the range above at each of the 39 conventional plazas we track. Contactless card or cash at the boom; no e-tag or pre-registration needed. Full list: every plaza and tariff.
Plan a corridor, not just a distance
The classic visitor road trip: Cape Town to the Garden Route, with the full cost picture.
The main corridor towards Kruger National Park, tolls included.
The whale-coast day trip; no tolls, one glorious coastal road.
Car hire
South Africa drives on the left and most rental fleets are manual; book an automatic early if you need one. A compact hatch handles every tourist corridor, including the Garden Route and the paved roads inside Kruger. Compare desks before you land: we use and link DiscoverCars, which covers the local and international counters at the main airports.
Sponsored link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to drive in South Africa?
Fuel is the main cost: petrol is R24.71 per litre (regulated, effective 5 August 2026), so a compact car doing 7 L/100km costs about R 173 per 100 km. Tolls only apply on some national routes and a normal car pays between R 7 and R 126 per plaza.
Do rental cars pay tolls in South Africa?
Yes, the driver pays at the plaza like any other car. A standard rental is Class 1, the cheapest class. You do not need an e-tag or any pre-registration for national toll routes; conventional plazas take card or cash at the boom.
Can I pay South African tolls with a credit card?
Yes. Conventional toll plazas accept contactless Visa and Mastercard (including phone wallets) as well as cash in rand.
Is fuel expensive in South Africa?
Petrol costs R24.71 per litre at the coast right now, typically cheaper than Western Europe and pricier than the US. The price is set by the government on the first Wednesday of each month and is the same at every station in a region, so there is no shopping around.
Get the exact number for your route
Pick any two places in South Africa and the planner adds fuel, every toll plaza on the way and drive time, at this month's prices.