Car rental prices at Johannesburg Airport

For November 2026 at Johannesburg Airport, a Compact car such as a Toyota Corolla Quest averages $37 a day when booked around a month before your trip, giving you a benchmark for your quote. An Economy car such as a Volkswagen Polo Vivo averages $28 a day, while a Mini car such as a Toyota Agya averages $22. In the last 2 weeks before pickup, a Compact car averages $40 a day, which is $3 more. Use the price checker to compare your quote for your exact dates.

For November 2026 at Johannesburg Airport, book around a month before your trip: a Compact car averages $37 a day then, against $40 in the last 2 weeks. Across the year, Compact cars average $38 a day around 2 weeks before pickup against $53 around 9 months before, so you have not missed the lower prices by leaving booking late. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 65% of our customers book within a month of pickup, so booking now would put you in the majority.

Firefly Powered by Hertz is the cheapest company at Johannesburg Airport for a Compact car over the last 12 months, averaging $29 a day, but does not yet have enough reviews for a score. If you want a scored alternative, Alamo averages $50 a day for a Compact car over the last 12 months, from 506 prices, and scores 85/100 from 30 reviews. Sixt averages $33 a day for a Compact car over the same period, but does not yet have enough reviews for a score. Sixt has an airport desk and requires a credit card, so check that requirement before choosing the lower daily price.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

Choose Alamo at Johannesburg Airport if a review score matters to you: it is the best-reviewed company, scoring 85/100 from 30 reviews in the last 5 months, with an average desk wait of 13 minutes. Alamo is not the cheapest: over the last 12 months, Alamo averages $50 a day for a Compact car from 506 prices, while Firefly Powered by Hertz averages $29 for a Compact car. Firefly Powered by Hertz does not yet have enough reviews for a score, so choose Alamo if you want a scored option rather than the lowest daily price.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

You need a credit card at Johannesburg Airport because all 13 desks require one, and typical deposits range from $169 with Avis to $1,914 with Budget. If you need to use a debit card, filter for it before comparing prices rather than choosing a car whose deposit you cannot provide. Check the deposit and card rule beside each car, and make sure your available credit covers the hold. Extras charged at the desk are listed under each car with their price.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

At Johannesburg Airport, watch out for credit-card-only deposits and desk waits: all 13 desks require a credit card, so a debit card will not get you through collection. Check your available credit before booking: Budget typically holds $1,914, compared with $169 at Avis. If you have a meeting soon after landing, allow for Green Motion's average 19-minute desk wait, compared with 6 minutes at Sixt.

Fuel is full tank out, full tank back on 100% of prices at Johannesburg Airport, so there is no fuel charge to be surprised by.

For up to 5 people with cases, pick a Compact at Johannesburg Airport, the Toyota Corolla Quest or Volkswagen T-Cross size at about $37 a day in November 2026. It seats 5 but takes 2 bags, so a full car means soft bags on laps. A couple can save a little with a Mini, a Toyota Agya, at $22 a day, though it takes 1 bag. An Intermediate, the Toyota Corolla Cross size, takes 3 bags and is $52 a day. 60% of rental cars at Johannesburg Airport are automatic, at $52 a day against $40 for a manual, so tick automatic when you search rather than assuming. No electric or hybrid cars are on offer at Johannesburg Airport.