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Arrivals · Step 7 of 9

Car Rental at CPT

The rental centre is not inside the terminal. Here is the route.

  1. 1. Before you fly
  2. 2. Landing
  3. 3. Immigration
  4. 4. Baggage & customs
  5. 5. Arrivals hall
  6. 6. Transport
  7. 7. Car rental
  8. 8. eSIM & money
  9. 9. First 24 hours

The rental centre is not inside the terminal. It sits in front of the Transport Plaza / Central Terminal Building and you reach it through a pedestrian subway (underpass).

  1. Clear Customs and follow the Car Rental signs

    Follow the Car Rental signs out of the arrivals hall.

  2. Take the pedestrian subway

    The same underpass also serves the shaded P3 / P4 parking.

  3. Ask about the courtesy golf cart

    A golf-cart service has been used at the airport to carry passengers between the terminal and the rental area, and carts can carry luggage. With heavy bags, children or mobility difficulty, look for the service and ask the operator about your exact destination before you enter the subway. Routes and availability can change, so follow current signs and staff directions.

  4. Have your documents ready at the desk

    Your licence, booking reference and card.

Do not improvise

Never cross a vehicle road with luggage. Use the subway or the cart. Smoking is only allowed in the designated outdoor zone.

Planning a road trip?

Cape Town is the starting point for popular self-drive routes such as the Garden Route. A hire car lets you set your own pace and stop where you like. Before you book:

  • Reserve ahead in busy seasons.
  • Remember South Africa drives on the left.
  • Check that your licence is accepted. If it is not in English, ask the rental company about an International Driving Permit.
  • Confirm mileage, insurance, one-way drop-off options and fees, and the return location with the rental company.
  • Landing at peak? Allow for the immigration queue before your collection time.

ACSA (official site) for current car rental information.

Your notes

Rental company · Booking reference · Pickup level

What to do nextGet Connected: eSIM & Money

Get the full Cape Town Airport Arrival Guide

A calm, step-by-step route from the aircraft door through immigration, baggage and customs into verified onward transport. Mobile-first, printable and offline-ready, with the peak-time planner, the 10-second stamp check, the 2026 declaration summary, transport and pickups, and a 60-second checklist. Keep the car-rental route and road-trip checklist with you, offline.

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October 2026 edition · 20 pages · Independent, not affiliated with ACSA

Airport procedures can change. Layouts, procedures, services, transport, fares and operating hours can change. Always follow current instructions from the airport, airline, immigration, Customs, security and transport providers. This page reflects the October 2026 edition of the guide.

Independent guide. Cape Town Flow is an independent publication, not affiliated with or endorsed by ACSA, the airport operator. The views are the author’s own.

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