Tempest car hire in South Africa

Tempest is a division of Motus Group Ltd, the JSE-listed group that also runs Europcar South Africa. Europcar carries the international name and Tempest is the value brand.

Because both brands sit in one division, they are easy to price against each other. Tempest also runs a free loyalty scheme, Trippa, which gives 15% off the lowest rate on your first rental and an upgrade on that rental, on Groups T, B and C only. Members can also choose an unlimited-mileage rental option that other renters do not get.

• FLASH 'n GO is Tempest's free express check-out service, with a dedicated counter at major airports and terminals at selected branches; it requires a credit card loaded on the account. (tempestcarhire.co.za)
• Trippa members get an unlimited-mileage rental option exclusive to them, plus 15% off the first rental. (tempestcarhire.co.za)
• Tempest publishes a two-year fee schedule in rand (valid from 1 Nov 2026 to 31 Oct 2027): young driver R185 a day, additional driver R585, child seat R605, GPS R154 a day, tyre and windscreen cover R108 a day, minor damage waiver R56 a day. (tempestcarhire.co.za)
• Extras on offer: baby seats on request, GPS at all major airport branches, tyre and windscreen cover, additional driver, delivery and collection, one-way drop-off, USB car chargers at selected locations, minor damage waiver. (tempestcarhire.co.za)

Checked on 29 September 2026 against Tempest Car Hire'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.

Sources: tempestcarhire.co.za.

What Tempest Car Hire'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.

Countries Tempest Car Hire lists for cross-border travel: Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Mozambique (prior approval, no one-way drop), Zimbabwe (prior approval, no one-way drop) (tempestcarhire.co.za).

Tempest lists desks at OR Tambo International, Cape Town International, King Shaka International, Lanseria International and Port Elizabeth International. It also lists East London, George, Bloemfontein International, Kimberley International and Upington International. The full list is in the Airport desks row at the top of this page.

If you are collecting in a city, get a quote for a branch there as well as the airport desk, since airport locations can carry their own surcharge.

Confirm the current rand amounts with Tempest before you pay.

Tempest's FAQ states no minimum age as such. What matters is a valid unendorsed licence held for at least 3 years for that vehicle code. Drivers under 23 pay a young driver surcharge of R185 a day on the fee schedule valid from 1 November 2026.

Tempest accepts credit cards, cheque cards and local debit cards from major South African banks. It does not accept international debit cards, cash, cheques or bank transfers. If you pay by debit card, the deposit and the reduced liability excess differ from the credit card option, refunds need your bank account details, and the FLASH 'n GO express check-out does not apply.

The deposit amount depends on the payment method, the vehicle group and the rental length. Tempest does not publish it. It refunds the deposit as soon as possible and no later than 21 days after return.

Cross-border travel needs a letter of authority from the renting branch. Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho cost R2 020 per crossing on the schedule valid from 1 November 2026. Mozambique and Zimbabwe need prior approval and cost R4 752, and a rental cannot end there as a one-way drop. Angola, Malawi and Zambia are not allowed.

One of Tempest's older documents lists Zambia as permitted. Tempest's FAQ and its 2026 fee schedule say otherwise, so treat Zambia as closed unless Tempest confirms in writing.

One-way fees are quoted at reservation. Within South Africa, a drop-off more than 150 km from the pick-up costs R1 314. An additional driver costs R585 per rental. Rentals are charged in 24 hour periods, and returning after the booked time adds a day.

Europcar and Tempest sit in the same Motus division, so they are the easiest pair to compare. Run the same dates, vehicle group and pick-up city through both and take the cheaper quote.

Europcar is worth the premium if your employer's travel policy names it. Tempest may suit you if you are paying yourself. The rules differ in places too: Tempest names no minimum age but wants three years on the licence, and it lets you cross into Mozambique and Zimbabwe only with prior approval. Read both sets of terms.