Hire a car in East London without a credit card. Collect it at King Phalo Airport or in the city, with full cover included and the deposit on your debit card.
What a week costs in East London
| Car | East London Airport | East London (city) |
|---|---|---|
| Small car | from €168 | from €168 |
| Midsize car | from €246 | from €253 |
| Large car or SUV | from €648 | from €648 |
From prices per week for a seven-day rental, all-inclusive, with the deposit on your debit card. Your price depends on your dates and how early you book. Updated 4 November 2026. About this price
Why hire a car in East London?
East London lies at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, a 300-kilometre stretch of coast to Gqeberha. The Wild Coast and the Amathole Mountains are within a day's drive. The places worth driving to lie 35 to 275 kilometres from the airport, in different directions, so a car is the practical choice.
The airport, renamed King Phalo Airport in 2021, is about ten kilometres west of the city centre; it appears in our search as East London Airport. You can also collect your car in the city. For more destinations, see car hire in South Africa.
Exploring the Eastern Cape by car
In and near the city
The East London Museum, at 319 Oxford Street, holds the type specimen of the coelacanth, a fish that was thought to have been extinct. Mpongo Private Game Reserve, about 35 kilometres from the airport along the N6, is home to elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo and giraffe; Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve at Chintsa West, about 60 kilometres away, has the Big Five.
The Wild Coast
Hole in the Wall, south of Coffee Bay, is a rock formation of shale and sandstone capped with volcanic dolerite. Coffee Bay is about 275 kilometres from the airport, via the N2 and the R411 from Viedgesville. In 2023 SANRAL described 35 of the 75 kilometres of that road as in very bad condition, and floods had damaged three bridges, and the road beyond Coffee Bay to Hole in the Wall turns to gravel, so allow plenty of time and check conditions before you go.
Hogsback and the Sunshine Coast
Hogsback, in the heart of the Amathole Mountains and about 150 kilometres from the airport, is reached by driving up from Alice. The village is known for its forest walks and has become an arts and crafts colony. South-west of East London, the R72 follows the Sunshine Coast towards Gqeberha, past Port Alfred, about 130 kilometres away, and Kenton-on-Sea, about 155.
Driving around East London
South Africa drives on the left. Your own licence is valid if it is in English and has your photo and signature; if not, bring an International Driving Permit. There are no SANRAL toll plazas on the N2 or N6 around East London.
Best time to hire a car in East London
East London has mild weather all year. Average highs range from about 22°C in winter to 26°C in February, and even in July the nights average about 10°C. Rain falls in every month, most of it from October to April; November is the wettest month and June the driest. The sun shines for about seven hours a day year-round.
The sardine run passes along this coast between May and July, though its timing is hard to predict: in April or May it can be seen off Gqeberha and East London, later further north at Coffee Bay, Port St Johns and Mboyti. The longest South African school holiday runs from mid-December to mid-January, with shorter breaks around Easter, from late June to mid-July and in late September.
| Season | Average highHigh | Average lowLow | Rain a monthRain per month | Sunshine a daySun per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SummerDec to Feb | 26°C | 18°C | 79 mm | 7 hours h |
| AutumnMar to May | 24°C | 15°C | 74 mm | 7 hours h |
| WinterJun to Aug | 22°C | 11°C | 43 mm | 8 hours h |
| SpringSep to Nov | 22°C | 14°C | 78 mm | 7 hours h |
Averages measured at East London, 1991 to 2020 (World Meteorological Organization climate normals).
Frequently asked questions
How much does car hire in East London cost without a credit card?
A week of all-inclusive car hire in East London: a small car from €168, a midsize car from €246 and a large car or SUV from €648. That is the total for seven days, with the deposit on a debit card. These are the lowest prices across East London Airport and East London (city). Updated 4 November 2026.
How much is the deposit in East London?
About €164 (R3,000), held on your debit card when you collect the car. Updated 4 November 2026.
Can I hire a car in East London without a credit card?
Yes. Choose East London Airport or East London city in the search above. We show you the cars that let you leave the deposit on a debit card.
Is East London Airport the same as King Phalo Airport?
Yes. The airport was renamed King Phalo Airport in 2021.
Can I drive to Coffee Bay in a normal car?
The road is tarred as far as Coffee Bay, but when SANRAL last reported on it, in 2023, a long stretch was in very bad condition. Allow extra time and check the latest conditions locally.
