Rental company reviews
Avis car rental in South Africa
By CarRentalZA editorial team · 12 min read · Updated 29 September 2026
- Reservations
- 0861 021 111
- Website
- avis.co.za
- Airport desks
- OR Tambo International (Johannesburg), Cape Town International, King Shaka International (Durban), Port Elizabeth Airport (Gqeberha), Lanseria, Kruger Mpumalanga International, East London, George, Kimberley, Bloemfontein (Braam Fischer), Upington, Hoedspruit Eastgate, Margate, Mthatha, Phalaborwa, Pietermaritzburg, Polokwane, Richards Bay, Skukuza
- Brand type
- Avis is operated in South Africa and 10 other Sub-Saharan countries by JSE-listed Zeda Limited under a licence from Avis Budget Group; Zeda also holds the Budget licence
- Sister brand
- Budget, the value brand in the same Zeda stable
- Regional reach
- Zeda operates Avis in South Africa and 10 other Sub-Saharan countries
- Fleet
- Standard rental cars, plus luxury cars, vans, chauffeur-driven services, safari vehicles and subscriptions
Avis is one of the best-known car rental brands in South Africa. It is run locally by Zeda Limited, a JSE-listed company that also holds the Budget licence. Zeda operates Avis in South Africa and 10 other Sub-Saharan countries under a licence from Avis Budget Group.
This page explains what Avis's rules mean for you: driver age, payment cards, deposit holds, cross-border limits and one-way hire. Avis also sells luxury cars, vans, chauffeur-driven services, safari vehicles and subscriptions. We are an independent information site, not an agent or a booking desk.
Avis's own pages disagree with each other on some points, debit cards most of all. Confirm the details with Avis before you pay anything.
Who runs Avis in South Africa
Avis in South Africa is operated by Zeda Limited, a JSE-listed company, under a licence from Avis Budget Group. Zeda also holds the Budget licence. Zeda's half-year report, covered by the press on 26 May 2026, said car rental volumes dipped while leasing and car sales grew.
For a renter, the useful part is simple. Avis and Budget share an operator, so you can price both brands for the same dates and compare. Cross-border trips are where Avis's rules are most specific, and they are covered below.
What to know about Avis in 2026
- Avis app supports key collection from an Avis Preferred locker: scan your driving licence and enter the RA number to open the key box, and change or upgrade vehicle at the station. (avis.co.za)
- Avis sells separate product lines beyond standard cars: luxury cars, vans, chauffeur-driven services, safari vehicles, and subscriptions. (avis.co.za)
- Zeda's half-year report (reported 26 May 2026) said car rental volumes dipped while leasing and car sales grew. (ewn.co.za)
Avis contact numbers and booking
Checked on 29 September 2026 against Avis's official website. Numbers change, so confirm on the linked page before you call. A rental company will not ask you to pay a deposit into a new bank account by phone or WhatsApp; if anyone does, hang up and call the official number.
| What you need | How to reach Avis |
|---|---|
| Reservations (local, national call centre) | 0861 021 111 |
| Reservations (international) | +27 11 387 8431 |
| Reservations email (make, amend or cancel bookings) | [email protected] |
| Customer services (post-rental queries only, email) | [email protected] |
| 24-hour Roadside and Emergencies (local) | 0800 001 669 |
| 24-hour Roadside and Emergencies (international) | +27 11 387 8432 |
| Avis Preferred loyalty (local) | 0861 932 273 |
| Book online | avis.co.za |
| Loyalty programme | Avis Preferred: Free to join. 10% off future Avis rentals (off basic time and mileage only), priority service, partner offers; upper tiers add free additional driver and upgrades. Page tier thresholds are quoted in euros (EUR 1,000 / EUR 3,000) so it is generic EMEA text, not SA-specific. Separate Avis President Club exists for members. |
| App | Avis app (listed in stores as 'Avis Budget EMEA Ltd'); search 'Avis Car Hire' |
Sources: avis.co.za.
Avis rental rules: age, cards, deposit and borders
What Avis's own terms and FAQ pages said on 29 September 2026. Rules differ by vehicle group and branch, so check the terms for your booking.
| Rule | What Avis says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | Avis's FAQ says the minimum age to rent in South Africa is 18, with a licence held for at least one year. | avis.co.za |
| Young drivers | The terms extract page gives a different figure for the same surcharge (R165 a day, max 10 days). | online.avis.co.za |
| Licence | Licence must have been valid for at least one year and be unendorsed (FAQ and terms extract agree). | online.avis.co.za |
| Credit card | A credit card in the renter's name is needed at collection. Car groups F to O need two payment cards, one of which must be a credit card. | avis.co.za |
| Debit card | Avis pages contradict each other on debit cards: the rental guide says no cash or nameless debit cards, the FAQ says some debit cards are accepted (with a link to check your card), and the older terms extract and before-rental page say debit cards are not accepted at all. Treat credit card as the safe answer. | avis.co.za |
| Debit card | Before-rental page states debit cards are not accepted under any circumstances. | avis.co.za |
| Cross-border | Per the Avis terms extract: no cross-border rentals to Malawi, Angola or Zambia; no vehicles into Zimbabwe or Mozambique. Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia need a letter of authority from an Avis location at time of rental. Cross-border fee ZAR 2385 into Namibia and Botswana, ZAR 848 into Eswatini and Lesotho. The page is undated and carries some clearly old content, so confirm the fees with Avis. | online.avis.co.za |
| One-way hire | One-way fees are charged when the car is returned to a different location, stated at quote stage; they generally apply on long distances. One-way rentals out of South Africa are allowed to Botswana (ZAR 6996), Eswatini (ZAR 2120), Lesotho (ZAR 2120) and Namibia (ZAR 6996) per the undated terms extract. | online.avis.co.za |
| One-way hire | FAQ definition of the one-way fee. | avis.co.za |
| Foreign licence | Foreign licences are accepted if in English with photo (or ID/passport number) and signature. Otherwise an international driver's licence must accompany it. Driving permits and copies are not accepted. Passport required. | avis.co.za |
| Payment | Accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners and hybrid cheque cards. Card must be in the renter's name. Not accepted: cash. | avis.co.za |
| Also note | Airport surcharge per the undated terms extract: 11% at major airports (Cape Town, OR Tambo, King Shaka, George, East London, Port Elizabeth, Upington, Kimberley, Braam Fischer), 10% at other airports, 7% at outlying areas, plus a 1% tourism levy and a ZAR 132 rental contract fee. Other Zeda/Hertz-group operators publish around 13%, so this extract may be outdated. | online.avis.co.za |
Countries Avis lists for cross-border travel: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia (online.avis.co.za).
Airports and branches
Avis lists desks at airports from OR Tambo International, Cape Town International and King Shaka International to smaller airports such as Hoedspruit Eastgate and Skukuza. The full list is in the Airport desks row at the top of this page.
Avis also has branches away from the airports. The branches named in its deposit rules include Sandton Gautrain, Umhlanga, Centurion and Menlyn. Airport rentals carry an airport surcharge, so it can be worth pricing a city or suburban branch for the same dates as well. We have not tested how big the difference is, so compare quotes rather than assuming.
Avis at a glance
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Brand type | International brand run in South Africa by Zeda Limited, a JSE-listed operator, under a licence from Avis Budget Group |
| Products | Standard rental cars, luxury cars, vans, chauffeur-driven services, safari vehicles and subscriptions |
| Airport presence | Desks at the airports listed in the Airport desks row, plus branches in cities and suburbs |
| Deposit policy | A hold on the main driver's credit card. The average extra hold is about R3,500, and an extra R10 000 applies at named branches |
| Minimum driver age | 18, with a licence held for at least one year. A young driver surcharge applies under 25 |
| Cross-border | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia only, with a letter of authority and a fee |
| One-way rentals | Available, with a one-way fee that generally applies over long distances |
Avis publishes rand figures for some of these. Confirm the current amounts with Avis for your dates and car group.
Deposits, cards and the hold
The deposit is a hold on a credit card in the main driver's name, not a payment. Avis holds the estimated rental plus a security amount. The average extra hold is about R3,500, but it varies by rental.
At 59 named branches, including OR Tambo, King Shaka and Sandton Gautrain, Avis adds a further R10 000 hold on every rental. It is waived only for Avis President Club members or if you show a same-day boarding pass. Cape Town branches are not on that list.
The hold is released by your bank after the final invoice is debited. Avis says some banks take up to 30 days. Plan your spending around that if the card has a low limit.
Cards are where Avis's own pages contradict each other. Car groups F to O need two payment cards, one of which must be a credit card. On debit cards, the FAQ says some are accepted while the before-rental page says none are. Bring a credit card in your own name and you avoid the argument.
Cross-border with Avis
Avis allows cross-border travel to four countries only: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia. You need a letter of authority from an Avis location at the time of rental, and a cross-border fee. Avis's terms extract lists ZAR 2385 for Namibia or Botswana and ZAR 848 for Eswatini or Lesotho. That page is undated, so confirm the fees with Avis.
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Angola are not allowed on standard rentals. If your route touches one of them, Avis is not the answer for that trip. Carry the authority letter and your rental agreement to the border post.
Avis compared with the alternatives
Avis and Budget come from the same operator, Zeda. Budget is the value brand, so quote both for the same dates and group.
Against Europcar, Hertz and First, the differences that matter are the ones in the rules: Avis asks for a credit card, sets a flat minimum age of 18 with a young driver surcharge under 25, and limits cross-border travel to four neighbouring countries. If you need Zimbabwe or Mozambique, check another operator's terms. If you want a standard one-city rental with a credit card in your own name, Avis is a reasonable first quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Avis contact number?
According to Avis's website (checked 29 September 2026), call 0861 021 111 for reservations. Confirm on the official site before calling, because numbers change.
Does Avis accept debit cards?
Avis pages contradict each other on debit cards: the rental guide says no cash or nameless debit cards, the FAQ says some debit cards are accepted (with a link to check your card), and the older terms extract and before-rental page say debit cards are not accepted at all. Treat credit card as the safe answer. (Avis's published terms, checked 29 September 2026.)
What is the minimum age to rent from Avis?
Avis's FAQ says the minimum age to rent in South Africa is 18, with a licence held for at least one year. (Avis's published terms, checked 29 September 2026.)
Who owns Avis in South Africa?
Avis in South Africa is operated by Zeda Limited, a JSE-listed company, under a licence from Avis Budget Group. Zeda also holds the Budget licence and operates Avis in South Africa and 10 other Sub-Saharan countries.
Is Avis or Budget cheaper in South Africa?
Budget is the value brand and Avis the main brand, and both are run by Zeda. Prices depend on your dates, car group and branch, so quote both for the same booking rather than assuming.
How big is the Avis deposit hold?
Avis says the average extra hold is about R3,500, but it varies by rental. At 59 named branches, including OR Tambo, King Shaka and Sandton Gautrain, an extra R10 000 hold applies unless you are a President Club member or show a same-day boarding pass. Banks can take up to 30 days to release it.
Which countries can I drive an Avis car to?
Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia, with a letter of authority from an Avis location at the time of rental and a cross-border fee. Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Angola are not allowed on standard rentals.
Is there a young driver surcharge at Avis?
Yes. Drivers under 25 pay a daily young driver surcharge for a maximum of 10 days. Avis's FAQ says R155 a day and another Avis page says R165, so confirm the figure when you book.
Does Avis do one-way rentals in South Africa?
Yes. Avis charges a one-way fee when the car is returned to a different location. It does not apply to every location and generally applies over long distances. The fee is shown when you get a quote.
Does Avis have branches outside the airports?
Yes. Besides its airport desks, Avis has city and suburban branches. The branches named in its deposit rules include Sandton Gautrain, Umhlanga, Centurion and Menlyn. Check the Avis site for the branch nearest you.
