City guides
Car hire in Midrand
By CarRentalZA editorial team · 5 min read · Updated 29 September 2026
- Nearest airport
- OR Tambo International, about 35 km
- Airport to Midrand
- Roughly 30 to 40 minutes
- Gautrain
- Midrand station on the Pretoria line
- Small car, from
- About R202 a day nationally (Discover Cars, 29 September 2026)
- Traffic
- The N1 through Midrand is slow in both peaks
Car hire in Midrand serves the office parks, conference venues and Waterfall City development that sit halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and because Midrand has its own Gautrain station you can arrive from OR Tambo by rail and collect a car locally rather than driving through the metro on arrival.
The N1 through Midrand is one of the busiest roads in the country, and it defines how you plan your day here.
Below: who has a presence, national rate benchmarks, traffic and parking, and drive times in both directions.
Where to collect a car in Midrand
Midrand has local branches serving the corporate market around Waterfall City, Halfway House and the office parks. Weekday hours are good and weekend cover is thinner.
Grand Central Airport in Midrand handles general aviation rather than scheduled passenger flights, and some rental presence is associated with it.
OR Tambo remains the deeper market at about 30 to 40 minutes away, and Lanseria is a similar distance to the north west. If you want a specific vehicle group or you are arriving on a weekend, the airport counters are the safer bet.
Which rental brands have a presence in Midrand
| Brand | Presence |
|---|---|
| Avis | Midrand presence including the Grand Central area |
| Budget | Run alongside Avis in South Africa |
| First Car Rental | Midrand presence |
Other brands on this site serve Midrand from Sandton, Centurion or the airports rather than locally. Check availability for your dates rather than assuming a branch nearby.
What you can expect to pay
Midrand pricing follows the Gauteng market, which is the most competitive in the country.
| What price comparison sites showed on 29 September 2026 | Per day |
|---|---|
| Discover Cars, small car, from | R202 |
| Discover Cars, average rental in South Africa | R271 |
| Discover Cars, premium car, from | R837 |
| Cheapflights, average paid over the last 12 months | R556 |
These figures come from Discover Cars and Cheapflights. Most are national, not Midrand 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.
Corporate and monthly hire is a large part of local demand. If you need a vehicle for a month or more, ask for a long term rate rather than multiplying the daily figure.
Driving and parking in Midrand
The N1 is the main artery and it is heavily congested in both peaks, southbound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon. Allen Road, New Road and the K101 old main road are the local alternatives, and they also slow down when the freeway does.
Gauteng's urban e-toll gantries stopped billing in 2024, so the freeways here are not tolled. Conventional toll plazas apply on the N1 further north and the N4 east.
Parking is easy. Mall of Africa and the office parks have large parkades, and Waterfall City is built around structured parking.
Usual Gauteng habits apply: valuables out of sight, doors locked in traffic, guarded parking, and unlit intersections treated as four way stops during load shedding.
Drive times from Midrand
Approximate one way driving times in normal traffic:
| Destination | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Sandton | About 20 km | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Centurion | About 15 km | 15 to 25 minutes |
| Pretoria CBD | About 40 km | 35 to 50 minutes |
| OR Tambo International | About 35 km | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Lanseria Airport | About 40 km | 35 to 45 minutes |
| Johannesburg CBD | About 30 km | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Hartbeespoort Dam | About 65 km | 1 hour |
Add substantially to anything on the N1 during the peaks.
Frequently asked questions
Which car hire companies are in Midrand?
Avis, Budget and First Car Rental have a Midrand presence, including around the Grand Central area. Other brands serve Midrand from Sandton, Centurion or the airports, so check availability for your dates rather than assuming a local branch.
How far is Midrand from OR Tambo?
About 35 km and roughly 30 to 40 minutes off peak. The Gautrain also links the airport to Midrand with a change at Marlboro, which is useful if you would rather not drive immediately after landing.
How much is car hire in Midrand?
On 29 September 2026 Discover Cars showed small cars across South Africa from about R202 a day and an average rental of R271 a day, and Cheapflights' average over the previous 12 months was R556 a day. Prices move with the season, how early you book, how long you keep the car and the excess cover you choose, so get a quote for your dates.
Is there a Gautrain station in Midrand?
Yes, Midrand is on the Pretoria line. From OR Tambo you change at Marlboro. It is often faster than driving the N1 during peak hours, so it is worth using even on days when you have a hire car available.
How bad is the N1 through Midrand?
It is one of the busiest freeway stretches in South Africa, slow southbound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon. Plan meetings and airport runs outside those windows, and expect the local alternatives such as the K101 to be busy too.
Can I hire a car at Grand Central Airport?
Grand Central handles general aviation rather than scheduled passenger flights, and there is some rental presence in that area. For a wider choice, OR Tambo and Lanseria are both about 30 to 45 minutes away and carry far deeper fleets.
