One-way car hire vs a relocation: Which costs less in South Africa?
Lots of trips in South Africa only need to go in one direction. You might be heading to the coast for a holiday, moving to a new city for work, or driving home to see family over the festive season. When you won't be making the return drive, one-way car hire is the obvious option.
It gets you there, but it isn't cheap. Most rental companies add a one-way fee on top of the daily rate to cover the cost of bringing the car back, and on a long drive that fee can run to a couple of thousand rand.
There's a cheaper way to make the same trip if your plans have some flexibility. This guide puts one-way car hire and car relocations next to each other: what each one costs, what you give up, and when each is the better pick. It finishes with a few ways to bring down the cost of any one-way trip.
One-way car hire lets you choose the car, route and dates, but you pay the daily rate and a one-way fee. A relocation is free and has no one-way fee, because the rental company needs the car moved. In exchange, the company sets the route and the number of days, and you choose your dates within its range.
THE BASICS
What is one-way car hire?
One-way car hire, also known as one-way car rental, means collecting a car in one city and returning it in another, for example picking it up in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Durban. You pick the vehicle class, both locations and how long you need it.
That leaves the rental company with a car at the wrong branch. Most companies charge a one-way fee, sometimes called a drop fee, to cover getting it back. It normally shows up in your quote when you book, and it usually goes up the further apart the two branches are.
THE ALTERNATIVE
What is a vehicle relocation?
A vehicle relocation turns that cost into a free trip. When a rental company needs a car moved to another branch, it lists the trip as a relocation deal on websites like Transfercar. You drive the car to where it's needed, and you don't pay for the hire.
Since the trip solves a problem for the rental company, there's no one-way fee either. What you give up is some control: the company decides the pickup and drop-off locations, how many days you have and the range of dates. You choose when to go, as long as it's within that range. Our guide on what a vehicle relocation is explains the process step by step.
COST
How much does one-way car hire cost in South Africa?
A one-way hire has two main costs: the daily rate and the one-way fee.
- Daily rate. Every rental company sets its own, and it changes with the type of vehicle, the time of year and how far ahead you book. As a rough guide, a car costs about R400 to R700 a day, and a campervan or motorhome about R3,000 to R7,000 a day, with prices peaking over the December holidays and long weekends.
- One-way fee (drop fee). Expect around R1,500 to R2,000, depending on the distance between the two branches. On a short hire it can cost more than the days you're paying for. Some companies leave out the separate fee and charge a higher daily rate instead.
On a popular route like Johannesburg to Durban, the one-way fee alone can be worth several days of hire. Longer trips, such as Johannesburg to Cape Town, sit at the top of that range. A relocation has no one-way fee at all.
SIDE BY SIDE
One-way car hire vs relocation: side by side
| One-way car hire | Relocation | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | R400 to R700 a day for cars, R3,000 to R7,000 for campervans and motorhomes | Free |
| One-way fee | R1,500 to R2,000, depending on distance | None |
| Route | You choose | Depends on the routes rental companies publish |
| Dates | You choose | You choose, within the deal's date range |
| Number of days | As many as you book | A set number for the trip |
| Vehicle | You choose the class | Whatever needs moving |
| Fuel and tolls | You pay | You pay |
The pattern is simple. One-way car hire charges you for flexibility. A relocation gives you the same one-way trip for almost nothing, as long as you can work with the rental company's route, date range and number of days allowed.
When a relocation is the better choice
A relocation makes the most sense when:
- Your dates are flexible. Deals appear when cars need moving, so leaving a few days of wiggle room in your plans gives you many more options.
- You only need to go one way. A holiday on the coast, a move to a new city or a trip to see family.
- Any car will do. You drive whatever the rental company needs moved, which suits travellers who just need to get from one city to another.
- You want to keep costs down. The hire is free and there's no one-way fee, so your main costs are fuel and tolls.
When one-way car hire makes more sense
Relocations don't suit every trip. A standard one-way hire is the better choice when:
- Your dates are fixed, such as for a wedding, an event or a flight you've already booked.
- You need a specific vehicle, such as a seven-seater for the family or a 4x4 for gravel roads.
- You need to book well ahead. You can book a standard hire many months in advance, while most relocations are listed a few weeks before pickup and very few appear more than two months out.
- Nothing is listed on your route, which is more likely between smaller towns.
If you do go with a standard one-way hire, compare the one-way fee between rental companies as well as the daily rate. It can make a bigger difference to the total than the rate itself.
SAVE MONEY
How to cut the cost of a one-way trip
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Check relocations first
Search current relocations on Transfercar for your route. If a deal fits your plans, it's almost always the cheapest way to make the trip.
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Set a route alert
No deals on your route right now? Set an alert and you'll hear about new relocations as soon as they're listed, often at short notice.
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Compare one-way fees, not just daily rates
If a relocation won't work for your trip, compare the full cost of a standard hire. A low daily rate can be cancelled out by a high one-way fee.
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Ask the rental company
Some companies waive the one-way fee on short trips or longer hires, so it's worth asking before you book.
Why book your relocation through Transfercar
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Free relocations. Relocation deals in South Africa are free, so you don't pay for the days included in the trip.
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No one-way fee. The rental company needs the car moved, so there's nothing extra to pay for leaving it in another city.
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No booking fee. Transfercar doesn't charge a booking fee, so requesting and booking a relocation costs you nothing.
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The only relocation marketplace in South Africa. Transfercar is where rental companies across the country list their car relocations, so you can compare deals from different companies in one search.
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In the business since 2008. Transfercar has been matching travellers with rental companies' vehicles since 2008, and also operates in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Brazil and Argentina.
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Flexible requests. Request several relocations at once, and withdraw any of them before the rental company confirms.
Find a cheaper one-way trip
One-way car hire gives you full control over the car, the route and the dates, and you pay for that through the daily rate and a one-way fee. A relocation gets you there for free with no one-way fee, as long as you follow the rental company's route and book within its date range. If your dates have some give, look at relocations first, or browse one-way rental cars on Transfercar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a relocation the same as one-way car hire?
A relocation is a kind of one-way hire, but the rental company decides the route and gives you a date range to book within. Because it needs the car moved, the hire is free and there's no one-way fee. With standard one-way car hire, you make all the choices and pay the daily rate plus any one-way fee.
Do relocations have a one-way fee?
No. A relocation happens because the rental company needs the car in another city, so you aren't charged for leaving it there. You still pay for fuel and tolls, and you leave a refundable bond with the rental company when you pick up the car.
Can I drop off a hire car in another province?
Usually, yes. Most rental companies in South Africa allow one-way hires between provinces, but a one-way fee normally applies and not every branch accepts drop-offs. The company confirms at booking whether your drop-off location is available and what it costs. Many relocations cross provinces too, such as Durban to Johannesburg.
Can a one-way fee be waived?
Sometimes. Depending on the rental company, the one-way fee may be waived on short trips, within the same city or region, or on longer hires. It's worth asking before you book. A relocation avoids the question altogether, because there's no one-way fee to pay.
What is the cheapest way to hire a car one way in South Africa?
A relocation is usually the cheapest option. Deals are free and have no one-way fee, so you mainly pay for fuel and tolls. The trade-off is that you follow the rental company's route and book within its date range, which suits travellers with some flexibility.
Do relocation websites charge a booking fee?
Some do, but Transfercar doesn't. You won't pay a booking fee to request or book a relocation in South Africa. On other sites, check for a booking fee before you confirm. You'll still leave a refundable bond with the rental company at pickup.
Is one-way car hire worth it?
It is when your dates are fixed or you need a specific vehicle, because you get full control over the trip. If you're flexible, a free relocation on the same route will cost far less. Compare the full cost, including the one-way fee, before you decide.