Expat Car leasing and Rental South Africa

Relocation support for all your mobility needs!

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Get a car without a South African credit history or driver's license

Start the process when the time is right for you – before or after your move to South Africa. ExpatRide provides car leasing for new vehicles to individuals without a credit history.

Financing/leasing options from 12 to 48 months.

A Destination Service Created For Expats Moving to and Living in South Africa

We will search for your vehicle according to your wishes, needs and budget.

Lease New Cars And Used Cars

There are no limits to what makes or models you can choose from: Ford, Toyota, VW, Porsche, BMW, Audi or even Bentley. Lease any vehicle available in South Africa.

Personal Car Shopper Service

The “Personal Car Shopper Service” gives expatriates the benefit of a skilled and knowledgeable contact person who understands the auto market in South Africa.

Expat Auto insurance

Get competitively priced insurance for your car with our partner or provide your own insurance. No South African driver’s license needed.

Car rentals for foreign professional

Rentals are from 1 day up to 12 months. The rental car program covers 100 countries globally. Click here to book…

We can assist you in all of South Africa

All major cities and all smaller cities, we’ll be there for you: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Benoni, Tembisa, East London and the list goes on…

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What documents are needed to start the lease process?

    The following documents are required:
    • Completed finance application
    • Copy of passport with photo and work visa
    • Copy of valid driver’s license
    • Letter of employment stating salary, term and allowances

  • Could I terminate the lease early if I need to leave South Africa early?

    There is a penalty if there is a 3-month notice period. We will refund the deposit, provided that there are no damages to the vehicle.

  • Is insurance included in the lease?

    Yes, comprehensive insurance (i.e. super cover, rental car covers, and third party) is included. In the event of accident, there is a penalty of ZAR 4,000-10,000.

  • What features are included in the lease?

    The lease includes the following features:
    • Comprehensive Insurance (super cover, rental car cover, and 3rd Party)
    • Maintenance (including tires), we will take care of any mechanical failure or normal wear and tear repairs
    • Tracking (inclusive of vehicle recovery)
    • Licensing
    • All factory-installed standard equipment including tool kit, spare wheel, and number plates
    • All local taxes required

  • What is the payment due at delivery?

    The payment due at delivery consists of:
    • Pro-rated portion of current month’s finance payment
    • Down payment required on all agreements.
    • There are no additional fees/taxes

  • What type of vehicles do you offer?

    We have many types of vehicles available, including minibus, panel van hire, bakkie, SUVs and luxury cars.

  • Do I need a credit card to lease a car through your program?

    No, we allow customers to lease cars without a credit card. We accept cash, debit card, and EFTs (Electronic Funds Transfers) as forms of payment. *Terms and Conditions Apply*

  • Can I vacation outside South Africa with my lease car?

    Yes, you can drive to the following countries from South Africa: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique

  • What do I do if my car gets stolen?

    Give us a call and we'll assist you.

  • Do you support Global Mobility HR with their expats’ transportation needs?

    Yes, we can assist corporate human resource divisions in coordinating all transportation needs for their employees on international assignments.

  • Do you offer corporations direct billing via invoicing instead of credit card payment?

    Yes, we offer different payment options worldwide for corporations. This is individually accessed and may not be available for all.

  • How can ExpatRide support our corporate relocation service needs?

    We work with you to establish a global mobility program for all aspects of car transportation. Aligning customary transportation across continents, budgets, allowances, self-pay, approved vehicles, individually tailored solutions, and centralized direct billing arrangement across all services.

    If you work with a Relocation Management Company. We can support and implement the plan mentioned above together with the RMC, including coordinating expense management for your employees, thus utilizing the relocation support services infrastructure already provided to you by the RMC. We work with all the major RMCs and Destination Services Providers.

    Please see more information on our “Corporate page”

  • Is ExpatRide specialized in only supporting expatriates, or is it available for short-term and domestic needs?

    ExpatRide’s primary focus is on workforce mobility services. It includes all employees’ transportation needs, be it short-term international assignments or long-term and permanent moves. We can assist employees moving domestically and internationally.

Practical Information on Driving in South Africa

Speed Limits

Urban areas: 60 km/h
Outside urban areas: 100 km/h
Freeways: 120 km/h

Alcohol & Driving

Don’t do it! The legal blood alcohol limit for driving is less than 0.05g per 100ml of blood. The legal breath alcohol limit is less than 0.24mg in 1,000 ml of breath.

Kids in Cars

This Law states that the driver of a motor vehicle must ensure that a child (all persons between the ages of three and fourteen except those taller than 150 cm) in the vehicle uses a child restraint if one is available.

Documentation

Photographic ID and your driving license should always be carried. If your driver’s license does not have a photograph, then you will need your passport for photographic identification.

Minimum Age

The minimum age to hold a license is 18.

Expat Auto Insurance

Automotive insurance is not compulsory in South Africa.

Phone & Driving

Motorists may not drive on a public road while holding a mobile phone or any other communication device.

Seat Belts

Seat belts are mandatory

Driver's License

To drive a motor vehicle in South Africa it requires a valid international driving license and the valid foreign driving license from your home country must also be carried. The international driving license can be applied for at any police station in your home country


How to Exchange your foreign driver’s license / Reciprocity Agreements

Your foreign driving license will be converted if:

    • the license is valid
    • it is translated into one of the official South African languages
    • the license is accompanied by a letter of validity obtained from the relevant embassy and a translation if the license is not in an official language of South Africa
    • the license has your photo and signature.

What you should do

    • Go to the driving license testing center (DLTC) in the province where you obtained your permanent residence.
    • Complete the Application for exchange of a driving license form (DL1) at any driving license testing center.

Please see more details on the website of the South African Government

Note: Information may not be up-to-date. Please check official government information for latest laws and regulations.

We finance all makes and models nationwide

We offer the following car brands and any other car brand available in South Africa.

Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford,Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Lancia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, MG, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Rolls-Royce, Skoda, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

"So responsive and a pleasure to deal with"

– Neil from Britain, Toyota C-HR

"I highly recommend ExpatRide for anybody looking for a car after making the big move!"

– Andreas from Denmark, Audi A4

”The service we received was amazing! Out of everything we've had to do with our move overseas, getting our new car was the easiest and most stress-free."

We are ready to assist!

    • Start process before or after arrival to South Africa
    • We can source any make and model
    • Personal Car Shopper Service (free service) - saves time and hassle with visiting dealers
    • Competitive interest rate
    • Intercultural assistance throughout the term in regards to registration, renewals, etc