Cape Town Travel Forum

Hi, I was hoping to get some advice/help on car rentals from Cape Town Airport to Port Elizabeth Airport. Any recommendations on car rental agencies? Anything to look out for? What type of insurance is recommended? What is the "excess"? Is it advisable to get any of the additional coverages or is it better to get coverage under travel insurance?

Thanks very much!

I would deal with the well known companies, as I always feel there backup in the event of a problem is usually better due to the fact that they are more represented through the area.

Any one of Avis, Budget, 1st Car Rental ( ex national-alamo)Hertz or Imperial would be my choice

I would do the insurance with the company conserned. They are alll reputable companies

Regards

Mike

Hi,

I have use a company called 'Aroundaboutcars' 2 times for a total of 2 1/2 months.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/30b4a/fac/9/

They are a fantastic company that will beat any price you find. HAving said that they use some of the major car rental firms for their cars. Both times I had a brand new car.

I elected for a high excess and had an accident in Botswana (I picked the car up in Jo'burgh). The damages charged to me were way LESS than the excess and incedibly low. Most companies charge extra to insure tyres. I didn't and had a flat after 10,000 kms. I had been in the desert of road for weeks and there is only so much a trye can take. The cost of that tyre was less than the insurance I would have paid.

Most travel insurance does not cover car rental and/or the car rental firm will not accept it. Be very careful on that point.

I have drivem in RSA, Bots, Moz, Namibia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe with their cars and the 3 times I had an issue they were here on the phone for me. The 3rd issue was a manufactures defect and the garage in Namibia fixed it free after Aroundaboutcars spoke to them. They also did the insurance and entry paperwork for all of the countries.

I don't know anyone who as punished rental cars as much as I have. A true test of a rental company is how they help you when it does go wrong. These folks never let me down.

Have a great trip!

DAO

Investigate whether your credit card covers insurance. For example, if we pay for travel with our credit card, it doubles as travel insurance. However, make sure your policy has excess cover. Not all travel insurance policies cover motor vehicle accident excess, which may become a headache down the track should something untoward happen (heaven forbid).