Q: What methods of payment does First Car Rental accept?
A: First Car Rental accepts all major credit cards including American Express, Diners Card, MasterCard and Visa. We can either charge your credit card when you arrive at the rental kiosk for collection, or at the time of making your reservation online.

As an added security feature introduced by various international banking institutions, transactions on credit cards issued outside South Africa will not be authorised by the issuing bank if the cardholder fails to inform them of their intention to travel to South Africa and the period concerned.

Q: What is the minimum age to rent a car from First Car Rental?
A: You should be 21 or older with a valid driver’s licence card that you have held for 3 or more years. There is a R150 surcharge per day for drivers younger than 21.

Q: What type of driver's licence is accepted at First Car Rental?
A: A valid South African driver's licence card or a valid international driver's licence with your passport will be accepted. An English translation is required for licenses recorded in a foreign language.

Q: What do you need to bring when you hire a car from First Car Rental?
A: Please bring your online booking voucher, your driver’s licence card and your credit card. Please note that we may require additional methods of identification or conduct a security check to the branch manager’s satisfaction for the following vehicle groups: D, E, Z, K, F, I & Y.

Q: What is the cost for an additional driver and what is this cost for?
A: The fee of R150 applies per rental, irrespective of its length and is applied by most car rental companies. This is for risk and administration related costs for multiple drivers. Prices are subject to change without prior notification.

Q: What happens if you get traffic fines?
A: The renter is liable for payment of all traffic fines. We charge a handling fee of R100 for traffic fines under R300 and a handling fee of R175 for fines over R300. This is charged to your credit card.

We are the first car rental company in South Africa to be AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) compliant and are able to seamlessly relay renter and vehicle movement information to the authorities, allowing us daily updates of fines issued to renter vehicles across the country.

This process is due to be implemented when AARTO is launched countrywide in 2011.

Q: Are there any hidden costs?
A: No, none at all.

Q: When will my final invoice be ready?
A: It is available as soon as the contract is closed, which for most renters is immediately after rental termination. There are instances that this is longer, subject to the situation for refuelling, damages or similar. We will have all your previous rental activity available to you online at all times.

Q: What do you do in the event of a breakdown?
A: Contact First Car Rental on the Emergency Roadside Assistance toll-free number 0860 888 911 (SA only). If outside of SA borders with a roaming cellphone, please dial +27 11 230 9920.

The renter will be assisted in the following way

Message Relay Service First Car Rental will relay a message to a family member, friend or colleague anywhere in South Africa in the event of a breakdown or accident.

Flat Tyre Assistance If the vehicle’s spare tyre is inflated and serviceable, it will be installed to replace the flat tyre at the renter’s expense. When a serviceable spare tyre is unavailable, towing will be provided, at the renter’s expense.

Battery Jump Start If the vehicle’s battery is dead, the service provider will jump-start the vehicle

Vehicle Lockout Service In the event of keys being locked in the vehicle, a locksmith will be appointed to unlock the vehicle, at the renter’s expense.

Emergency Fuel Delivery If the vehicle runs out of fuel, a limited supply of fuel will be delivered to the renter to enable you to reach the nearest petrol station. (Cost of the fuel and delivery fee for the renter’s account).

Extrication/Winching Service If a vehicle becomes stuck, it will be extricated or winched as long as it is adjacent to a passable, established road or thoroughfare and can be safely reached from the hard road surface, at the renter’s expense.

Towing Service Sometimes a breakdown will occur at inconvenience locations. If the vehicle breaks down and requires towing, contact First Car Rental and we will appoint a towing operator to tow the vehicle to the nearest repairer, at the renter’s expense.

Q: Should I fill my car up with fuel before I return it?
A: No. When a vehicle is returned to us at any one of our locations, we automatically top up the tank, irrespective of what the fuel gauge reflects. Your invoice will reflect the actual fuel amount and we do not charge a refuelling fee.

Q: What is First Car Rental’s typical rental cycle?
A: Our car rentals are charged in 24-hour cycles. Late return of vehicles will result in renter’s being charged for an additional day.

Q: What if I want to extend my rental period?
A: If you wish to extend the rental beyond the original return date, authorisation must be obtained from First Car Rental prior to the expiry of your rental agreement. Contact your branch directly. Failure to do so will result in First Car Rental reporting the car stolen and it immediately negates all waivers. Additional days will be charged directly to your credit card, at the extension rates.

Q: What is an airport surcharge and is this included in the rates?
A: A 9% airport surcharge is applicable for all rentals from airports. This surcharge is included on final invoice for all rate structures and imposed on all rental companies by the Airports Company South Africa (Ltd). (ACSA)

Q: What is a tourism levy?
A: A 1% tourism levy is charged on all rentals and is included in your daily rate. The levy goes towards supporting SA tourism.

Q: How much is the contract fee?
A: Our contract fee is R40.

Q: What are the rules for crossing borders into other countries?
A: A letter of authorisation must be requested at the time of reservation for all cross-border travelling. We need 4 days advance notification for Zimbabwe as authorities now require the original registration documents for all vehicles crossing the border.

First Car Rental will not be held responsible if a renter is refused entry into another country. First Car Rental will not be held accountable for the lack of fuel availability in any country the driver of the vehicle enters. Should a vehicle need replacing, the renter may have to move the vehicle to the nearest South African border post. This cost is for the renter’s own account.

Delivery of a replacement vehicle is subject to time and distance constraints and an extra fee. First Car Rental is not responsible for any costs that may be incurred at the South African border posts or by local governments. These include Commercial Vehicle Guarantee, permits, visas, import permits and toll fees.

Vehicles are permitted into Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique
All vehicles entering Mozambique are required to have a reflective vest and two emergency triangles.

Reflective vests are available at every First Car Rental branch at no extra charge. Once in Mozambique, it is law for drivers to wear a reflective vest at any undesignated stop points. Failure to do so may result in a traffic fine. To prevent unnecessary encounters with the local law enforcers, it is advisable to display the vest on the front console.

Vehicles are not permitted into Angola and Zambia (Zambia is under review).

A penalty fee of up to R5000 may be levied if the documentation is not produced. A non-refundable fee will be levied for vehicles crossing any of the below-mentioned permitted borders and is payable directly by the renter:

The following vehicles are not permitted to cross any of the following borders: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique: E (SDAR), Z (SCAR), K (SFAR), I (IVMR) and Y (LVMR)

One-way car rentals to Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are not permitted.