Hire a car in George without a credit card. Collect it at George Airport or in town, with full cover included and the deposit on your debit card.
What a week costs in George
| Car | George Airport | George (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 14 November 2026. About this price
Why hire a car in George?
George lies on a plateau between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, roughly halfway between Cape Town and Gqeberha. That puts the whole Garden Route within reach: the lakes of Wilderness, the lagoon at Knysna and the beaches of Plettenberg Bay to the east, Mossel Bay to the west, and the Klein Karoo with Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves just over the mountains. Each of these is a separate drive, so a car is the practical way to see more than one.
Collect your car at George Airport, about ten kilometres from the town centre, or at a branch in town. For more destinations, see car hire in South Africa.
Exploring the Garden Route and the Klein Karoo by car
East along the coast
The Garden Route National Park has three sections: Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma. Wilderness is about 25 kilometres from the airport. In Knysna, about 70 kilometres away, a lookout on the eastern of the two Heads looks out over the lagoon, which is a protected marine reserve. Robberg Nature Reserve, eight kilometres south of Plettenberg Bay and about 105 kilometres from the airport, is a World Heritage Site with three circular walks of 2.1, 5.5 and 9.2 kilometres. Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma section is about 165 kilometres away.
West to Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay, about 45 kilometres from the airport, has the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex with a replica of Dias's caravel of 1488 and the Post Office Tree.
Over the mountains to Oudtshoorn
The Outeniqua Pass, the N9/N12 north of George, takes you over the mountains to Oudtshoorn, about 65 kilometres from the airport. The Cango Caves lie north of the town on the R328, about 90 kilometres from the airport. There are two tours: the Heritage Tour of about an hour, and the Adventure Tour of about 90 minutes with crawling and climbing, not open to children under eight. Book ahead in the holidays; the caves are closed on 25 December.
Beyond the caves, the R328 continues as the Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert, about 135 kilometres from the airport. The pass is gravel, climbs to 1,585 metres and can be slippery after rain.
Driving around George
South Africa drives on the left. Your own licence is valid if it is in English and has your photo and signature; otherwise bring an International Driving Permit. On the N2 east of Plettenberg Bay you pass the Tsitsikamma toll plaza. Mountain passes around George can close after storms, so check road notices from the Western Cape government before you set out on one.
Best time to hire a car in George
George gets rain all year round: the driest month, May, averages about 37 millimetres and the wettest, November, about 82. There is no real dry season. Average highs run from about 19°C in July and August to 25°C in February, and lows from about 8°C in winter to 16°C in summer. The sun shines for six to eight hours a day in every month.
Winter and spring are whale season on this coast. Southern right whales are seen at Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay from June to October and at Knysna from July to October, and Bryde's whales are seen all year at Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
SANRAL calls the N2 along the Garden Route a particularly busy route for holiday travellers, so allow extra time on the road and book your car early for the summer holidays. 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 | 24°C | 16°C | 55 mm | 7 hours h |
| AutumnMar to May | 23°C | 12°C | 51 mm | 7 hours h |
| WinterJun to Aug | 19°C | 8°C | 48 mm | 7 hours h |
| SpringSep to Nov | 21°C | 11°C | 69 mm | 7 hours h |
Averages measured at George Airport, 1991 to 2020 (World Meteorological Organization climate normals).
One-way trips from George
You can also return the car somewhere else. These are the measured routes from George.
| To | Car hire from | One-way fee | Total, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | €178 | R1,314about €72 | €250 |
Seven days, airport to airport, all-inclusive rates without a credit card. The car hire is paid when you book; the one-way fee is paid in local currency when you collect the car, so its euro amount and the total are approximate. Measured on 2 November 2026. All one-way routes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does car hire in George cost without a credit card?
A week of all-inclusive car hire in George: 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 George Airport and George (city). Updated 14 November 2026.
How much is the deposit in George?
About €164 (R3,000), held on your debit card when you collect the car. Updated 14 November 2026.
Can I hire a car at George Airport without a credit card?
Yes. Choose George Airport in the search above. We show you the cars that let you leave the deposit on a debit card.
How do I pay the park fees on the Garden Route?
The Garden Route National Park works without cash; Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and American Express are accepted.
Can I drive from George to the Cango Caves?
Yes. The caves are about 90 kilometres from George Airport, over the Outeniqua Pass and past Oudtshoorn.
