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Here, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about our vehicle hire services. Whether you’re looking to rent a car for a day, a van for your business, or a truck for a move, we’re committed to making your experience smooth and hassle-free.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to our friendly team for assistance.
Booking, documents and who’s allowed behind the wheel.
Kenings has branches across South Africa:
Every branch, including Mthatha, can also deliver your vehicle to and collect it from your own location on request.
You can book a Kenings vehicle in several ways:
A valid driver’s licence, held for at least two years
International visitors should bring their passport and licence; an International Driving Permit is
recommended if your licence isn't in English.
Drivers must be at least 23 years old and have held a valid licence for a minimum of two years.
Drivers under 23 may still rent, subject to a young driver surcharge. This applies to South African and international licence holders alike.
All valid South African driver’s licences and international driver’s licences are accepted, provided you’ve held the licence for at least two years. A Professional Driving Permit (PDP) is required for commercial vehicles and minibuses carrying passengers.
For credit cards, Kenings places a preauthorization for the deposit amount upfront, which holds the funds on your card rather than charging them. If the vehicle is damaged, the excess amount applies if the cost of the damage exceeds the deposit already held. For debit cards, Kenings always takes full payment of the excess amount upfront, refunded at the end of the rental provided the vehicle is returned undamaged. For rentals longer than 14 days, Kenings will take actual payment of the deposit amount from credit card renters as well, since the preauthorization expires before the rental ends.
When you pay, what’s held, and when you get it back.
You can pay in advance online, either in full or with a 10% deposit on your rental charge, or pay on arrival at the branch, whichever suits your booking. Corporate clients can pay upfront via EFT, credit or debit card, or open a corporate account with 30-day credit terms.
Kenings releases deposits/refunds as soon as possible after your vehicle is returned in good order. Bank processing can take up to 21 working days to reflect, depending on your card issuer.
| Cover level | Daily rate | Excess if damaged / stolen |
|---|---|---|
| Self Insurance (Customer Own Insurance) — corporates only | Lowest | Customer liable for all damage/theft (unlimited liability) |
| Standard Cover Waiver | Lower | Higher (limited liability) |
| Super Cover Waiver — optional upgrade | Higher | Lower (reduced liability) |
Note: Neither Standard nor Super Cover applies if the incident involves negligence — for example speeding, reckless driving, or driving under the influence. In those cases, you’re liable for the full cost of damage, not just the excess.
Yes. You can amend your booking online, contact our reservations department, or make changes when you receive your vehicle at the branch. Our team can amend your dates, add drivers, upgrade your vehicle, upgrade your cover, or add optional extras.
Fuel, mileage, flight details and crossing borders.
Rental days run on a 24-hour cycle. For example, a vehicle collected at 08:00 on Monday and returned at 08:00 on Tuesday is one day; returned at 10:00 on Tuesday, it becomes two days.
The fuel level in your vehicle is recorded on your agreement at collection — that’s the level we expect back, not necessarily “full”.
We note the exact gauge reading at collection rather than assuming every vehicle is full, since a previous renter may have topped it up right before drop-off and the gauge can shift slightly as you drive away from the depot. That way, you’re only ever charged for fuel you’ve actually used, never for a technicality in the gauge.
All rates include a free-kilometre allowance. Daily rentals can choose between 100km, 200km,
400km, or unlimited kilometres per day, and monthly rentals can choose between 3,000km, 4,000km, 5,000km, or 6,000km per month. Kilometres driven beyond your selected allowance are billed at a per-kilometre rate, which varies by vehicle group.
Selected vehicles can travel into the neighbouring countries below, provided you notify Kenings at least 72 hours in advance so the correct documentation can be prepared.
| Permitted destination | What you need |
|---|---|
| Botswana | 72 hours’ advance notice + border letter of authority |
| Lesotho | 72 hours’ advance notice + border letter of authority |
| Namibia | 72 hours’ advance notice + border letter of authority |
| Eswatini (Swaziland) | 72 hours’ advance notice + border letter of authority |
| Zambia | 72 hours’ advance notice + border letter of authority |
Cross-border fees are charged per border crossed, so each country you plan to enter must be
specified in advance. See our rates section for current cross-border fees.
So we can track your arrival time. If your flight is delayed, we hold your reservation instead of marking it a no-show; if you land early, we can often bring your collection forward.
What you’re liable for, and how additional drivers work.
The excess is the maximum amount you’re liable for if the vehicle is damaged or stolen during your rental. Upgrading from Standard to Super Cover lowers this amount. Ask your rental agent at collection or when booking for current rates.
Cover doesn’t apply in cases of negligence, including but not limited to speeding, reckless driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In these cases, you’re responsible for the full cost of damage, not just the excess.
Cover also never extends to certain parts of the vehicle, regardless of how the damage occurred: tyres, rims and hub caps, glass, the undercarriage, mechanical components, the interior, and any missing tools or accessories. See our full Terms and Conditions for the complete list of exclusions.
Only the person who signs the rental agreement is authorised to drive the vehicle, unless a second driver is added and signs too. An additional driver charge applies and covers the extra liability and admin of having more than one authorised driver on the agreement.
What to do, step by step, if something goes wrong.
Call our 24-hour emergency and roadside assistance line straight away on +27 (0) 87 095 8918,
press 2. Don’t attempt repairs yourself or arrange your own towing. Our team will assist with the
breakdown and organise a replacement vehicle where appropriate. If the breakdown resulted from negligence, no replacement vehicle will be provided. Where a replacement vehicle is issued, a second deposit is taken for that vehicle.
Kenings redirects the fine into the driver’s name and charges a fine handling fee to your card, along with a copy of the fine and the recharge amount by email. You remain responsible for settling the fine itself with the relevant authority.
For corporate rentals, Kenings will request the driver’s details to redirect the fine accordingly. If those details aren’t provided, the fine will either be redirected to the proxy’s name or paid by Kenings and recharged to the corporate customer.
Kenings holds items left behind at the branch for you to collect. Please note that Kenings isn’t responsible for personal items left in a returned vehicle.
A quick reference for charges that can apply on top of your daily rate. Current rates for every item below are published on our Additional Charges & Fees page and reviewed annually (1 March to 28 February) — rates are subject to change without notice.
| Charge | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Waivers & Cover | |
| Self Insurance (customer’s own insurance) | Customer declines Kenings’ waivers and takes full liability for the vehicle themselves |
| Standard Cover Waiver | Included in every rental as the base level of protection |
| Super Cover Waiver | Optional upgrade from Standard Cover, lowering the excess payable on damage |
| Tyre and Windscreen Waiver | Optional add-on covering tyre and windscreen damage, which standard cover excludes |
| Hail Damage Waiver | Optional add-on covering damage caused directly by hail |
| Minor Damage Waiver | Optional add-on reducing the cost of minor damage to the vehicle |
| Third Party Waiver, Standard Liability Cover | Optional add-on reducing liability for damage to third-party property or vehicles |
| Third Party Waiver, Super Liability Cover | Optional upgrade reducing third-party liability further than the Standard option |
| Optional Extras | |
| Additional Driver | Charged per extra authorised driver added to the rental agreement |
| Baby Seat | Charged when a baby seat is requested for the rental |
| Child Booster Seat | Charged when a child booster seat is requested for the rental |
| Child Seat | Charged when a child seat is requested for the rental |
| GPS Unit (Satellite Navigation) | Charged per day when a GPS unit is added to the rental |
| Roof Racks | Charged when roof racks are added to the rental |
| General | |
| Document Administration Fee | Applies to every rental agreement |
| Traffic Fine Administration Fee | Charged per traffic fine redirected to the renter’s name |
| Refuelling Service Fee | Charged when Kenings refuels the vehicle because it wasn’t returned at the recorded level |
| Toll Administration Fee | Applies when toll usage during the rental is administered on the customer’s behalf |
| Fuel Card Administration Fee | Charged when a fuel card is issued with the rental |
| Fuel Card Top-Up Fee | Charged each time the fuel card is topped up |
| No Show Fee | Applies to prepaid rentals when the customer doesn’t arrive to collect the vehicle |
| Damage & Claims | |
| Claim Handling Fee | Charged per damage claim processed |
| Assessment Fee | Charged per claim to cover assessing the damage |
| Towing / Storage Fee | Charged per tow, or per day of storage, following an incident |
| Roadside Assistance Call-Out (Negligence) | Charged when a call-out is required due to renter negligence, e.g. running out of fuel or lockout |
| Overdue Fee | |
| Vehicle Recovery Fee | Charged when the vehicle needs to be recovered following an accident, breakdown, or unauthorised travel |
| Skipped Service Penalty | Charged when a scheduled vehicle service is missed during a long-term rental |
| Valet Fee | Charged when the vehicle is returned stained, soiled, or smelling of smoke |
| Lost E-Tag | Charged per toll e-tag lost during the rental |
| Lost Key Tags | Charged per key tag lost during the rental |
| Vehicle Branding Stickers | |
| Police Report Request | Charged when Kenings obtains a police report on the customer’s behalf |
| Delivery & Collection | |
| Delivery / Collection, within business hours | Free within 25km of the branch |
| Delivery / Collection, after hours | Charged when delivery or collection happens outside standard business hours |
| Delivery / Collection, beyond standard radius | Charged per kilometre beyond the free 25km radius |
| Cross-Border & One-Way | |
| Cross-Border Fee | Charged per border crossed, subject to prior approval |
| One-Way Fee | Charged when the vehicle is returned to a different location than where it was collected, confirmed at time of booking |
Timing, inspections and after-hours handovers.
Call your branch before your return time to let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. Rental days are calculated on a strict 24-hour basis with no grace period, so a late return is billed as an extra day. Non-corporate extension rates may differ from the original booked rate.
Yes. Business hours vary by branch, so see your branch’s location page for exact times. After-hours collection or delivery can be arranged on request.
Every rental is inspected before collection and again on return. A pre-rental digital inspection is
completed with a 7-point picture capture, recording the vehicle’s condition, existing damage, the dashboard for mileage and fuel, and all extras on the vehicle. A post-rental digital inspection is completed on return, and the vehicle then goes through our wash bay, where any damage hidden by dirt at drop-off may become visible and will be charged accordingly, as per our Terms and Conditions.
If any new damage is found, the client is required to sign a claim form detailing the damage. If a vehicle is returned without the customer present, or the customer is unable to sign, a Kenings agent will sign the inspection report on their behalf, as per our Terms and Conditions.
For businesses, production crews and drivers who want to own.
Yes — Kenings offers monthly and long-term rentals, as well as full maintenance leases. Mileage allowances are set according to each client’s needs, and vehicle specifications, including a choice of specific vehicles, can be tailored to suit the client. Maintenance options also vary between packages, so the full offering is built around what each client actually needs rather than a single fixed package.
Yes. Kenings services corporate, government, parastatal, film, logistics, mining, NGO, travel agency and tour operator clients, among many other sectors. Each corporate client is assigned a dedicated key account manager. Kenings offers 30, 45, and 60-day credit facility terms, as well as upfront- payment corporate accounts, with rental and leasing options tailored to each corporate’s needs.
Kenings Fleet Services, trading as Kenings Rent to Own, is Kenings’ rent-to-own division. It gives
private individuals, small businesses, and e-hailing drivers (Uber and similar platforms) a path to owning a vehicle, including those who are blacklisted and wouldn’t qualify for traditional vehicle finance. Customers make affordable rental payments on a well-maintained, quality vehicle from Kenings’ fleet, and ownership transfers at the end of the term for a small final payment — a new and accessible way for individuals to own a car.
Green Motion and USave are both international car and van rental brands. Kenings owns the rights to operate both brands across Southern Africa. Green Motion is positioned as a lower-CO2 rental option and offers four rental packages, Basic, Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus, along with drive-n-go and keyless contactless car rental, for both domestic and international bookings.
Yes. Kenings offers vans, bakkies and trucks across a range of packages, from entry-level to
premium. Bakkies are available in single cab and double cab configurations, in both 4×4 and 4×2
drive, including mining-spec vehicles, with or without a nose cone canopy. Panel vans are available in
1-ton and 2-ton sizes. Trucks include 4-ton, 8-ton dropside, 8-ton enclosed, and 8-ton crane options.
This fleet serves courier, logistics, film, events, and transportation companies.
Yes. Kenings offers an Executive Bus, also known as our party bus, seating 16 people and fitted with a table, Wi-Fi, a Rockford sound system, a fridge, and dynamic lighting. It’s available with a chauffeur for golf tours, weddings, team-building events, and group transport, based in Cape Town.
The short version of who we are.
Kenings has been renting cars, vans and trucks in South Africa since 1996, for over 30 years, independently owned and proudly South African.
Yes, Kenings holds a BBBEE Level 1 rating and is a member of SAVRALA (the South African Vehicle
Rental and Leasing Association).
Our promise to our customers is that we will take pride in offering great service in all elements of our business. We want to hear from you!
We specialize in vehicle rental services and make it easy for you to book online and hire vehicles from several locations.
Our vehicle rental services include cars, vans, trucks, and even an Executive bus, depending on your needs. Each of our vehicles is in excellent condition, and ensures safety, and comfort, marking us as a leading provider of vehicle rentals across South Africa.
341 Koeberg Road, Brooklyn, Cape Town, 7441
+27 (0) 21 555 9561
booking@kenings.co.za