Car hire in East London

The airport is the standard collection point. It is small, the counters sit in the arrivals area and collection is quick, which is a pleasant contrast to the bigger airports.

There are also city branches, generally around the central business area and Vincent, which suit local hires and longer term rentals more than arriving visitors.

East London is a frequent one way endpoint. People drive down from Durban along the Wild Coast, or up from Port Elizabeth along the N2, and drop the car here. All the national brands will quote a one way fee, but it varies, so ask before you book.

Coverage for the other brands on this site varies in the Eastern Cape. Check availability for your dates rather than assuming a branch exists.

East London is a smaller market than the coastal tourist centres, and rates outside the December peak are usually reasonable.

These figures come from Discover Cars and Cheapflights. Most are national, not East London quotes. A "from" price is the cheapest car found on the day; an average includes bigger cars and longer rentals, which is why the two sites differ so much. Discover Cars puts December at about R474 a day against about R387 in September, so holiday dates cost more.

Demand rises sharply over December and Easter when families travel home to the Eastern Cape, and one way vehicles get scarce in that period. Book early if your dates fall in a school holiday.

The city itself is easy to drive. It is compact, traffic is light by national standards, and parking at the beachfront, the Esplanade and the malls is straightforward and mostly cheap or free with car guards.

The roads out of town need more thought:

• The N2 west towards Port Elizabeth is generally good.
• The N2 north east towards Mthatha is the stretch to be careful on. Surface quality varies, potholes appear after rain, and livestock and pedestrians on the road are common, particularly near settlements. Drive it in daylight.
• The R63 and the mountain road up to Hogsback are scenic but narrow, with the final approach in poor condition at times.
• Coastal access roads to places like Chintsa, Haga Haga and Morgan Bay are partly gravel and can be rough after rain.

Avoid driving the rural Eastern Cape after dark. Unlit vehicles, wandering livestock and pedestrians are the reason locals plan to arrive before sunset.

Approximate one way driving times:

The Durban run is long and the middle section through the former Transkei is the slowest part, so most people break it overnight rather than pushing through.

A hatchback is enough for the city, the N2 in both directions and the main coastal resorts.

Higher clearance is genuinely useful if you are heading to Wild Coast accommodation reached by gravel, where corrugations and washaways after rain are normal. A bakkie is the local answer to that, and it is a common hire in this part of the country.

Before you commit, read the unsurfaced road clause in your agreement. Many Wild Coast lodges sit at the end of several kilometres of gravel, and if your rental excludes that ground you are carrying the full risk yourself. Ask the rental company directly and get the answer in writing.