Online booking advance and pickup balance options
When you book through 4Drive South Africa, you pay a booking advance online by card. We do not accept cash payments online. The advance secures your reservation and confirms your pickup date and location. The remaining balance is paid when you collect the vehicle, according to the instructions in your voucher.
Your voucher specifies the total amount, the advance already paid, and the balance due at pickup. It also lists the payment methods accepted by the rental company supplying your vehicle. These methods vary by vehicle, not by class or location, so check your confirmation email carefully before you travel.
The rental agreement is signed at the counter or delivery point. At that stage, the local rental company may place a refundable hold on a card if the vehicle requires one. This hold is separate from the balance payment and covers potential damage or traffic fines during your hire period.
We accept major international cards for the online booking advance. All transactions are processed in South African Rand (ZAR), and your bank will convert the amount to your home currency at their prevailing exchange rate.
The balance payment method depends on the specific vehicle you have booked. Some vehicles allow you to pay the balance with a debit card or in cash. Others may require a credit card. Your voucher states clearly which methods the rental company accepts for your vehicle.
If you plan to pay the balance in cash, carry enough South African Rand notes to cover the amount shown in your voucher. ATMs are available at major airports and city centres, including CPT Cape Town International and Johannesburg OR Tambo. Currency exchange counters operate at both airports, though rates can be less favourable than bank ATMs.
Debit cards are widely accepted for balance payments where permitted. Make sure your card has a sufficient daily spending limit, especially if the vehicle also requires a refundable hold. Some travellers confuse the balance payment with the deposit hold, but these are two separate transactions processed at different times.
Many vehicles on our platform carry a "no deposit" or "no credit card" label. These labels mean that the rental company will not place a hold on your card when you collect the vehicle. This feature is independent of the collision damage waiver or excess reduction options you may choose.
Vehicles with no credit card requirement usually accept debit cards or cash for the balance payment at pickup. The specific payment methods allowed are always listed in the vehicle details during booking and confirmed in your voucher. Requirements are set per vehicle, not per class, so a compact car and an SUV in the same city may have different rules.
If you do not have a credit card and the vehicle you want requires one, consider raising the daily limit on your debit card. Contact your bank before you travel to request a temporary increase. This allows the rental company to place the hold on your debit card if needed, provided your account balance covers both the balance payment and the hold amount.
If the vehicle you book requires a refundable hold, the rental company places that hold on a card at pickup. The hold is not a charge. It reserves an amount on your card to cover damage, missing fuel, toll fees or traffic fines that may occur during your hire period.
When you return the vehicle without incident, the rental company releases the hold. The timeframe for the hold to disappear from your account depends on your card issuer and typically ranges from a few days to two weeks. Your voucher and the rental agreement you sign at pickup specify the hold amount and the estimated release time.
Disputes about damage assessments or unexpected charges are handled directly with the rental company that issued your vehicle. Their contact details are printed on your voucher and rental agreement. 4Drive South Africa does not control the release of holds, as we do not hold or process these funds.
Cancellation terms for your booking are displayed during the reservation process and printed in your voucher. Many bookings include free cancellation up to a specified time before pickup. If you cancel within this window, we refund the advance you paid online.
Refunds are processed to the same card you used for the booking advance. Processing times depend on your card issuer and usually take between five and ten business days from the date we initiate the refund. You receive an email confirmation once the refund has been submitted.
If you cancel outside the free cancellation window, cancellation charges may apply according to the terms shown at the time of booking. For questions about your specific booking terms, visit our FAQ page or email us at [email protected].
All card payments on 4drivesouthafrica.com are processed through a secure payment gateway that encrypts your card details during transmission. We do not store your full card number, CVV code or expiry date on our servers. Only your bank and the payment processor have access to this information.
Your booking confirmation and voucher contain no sensitive card data. They show only the advance amount paid and the balance due at pickup. The local rental company does not see the card you used for the online advance unless you choose to use the same card for the balance or deposit hold at their counter.
If you notice an unfamiliar charge on your card statement after booking with us, contact us immediately at [email protected]. Include your booking reference number and a description of the charge. We are available Monday to Sunday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, GMT+2, at our office in Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa.
No. We do not accept cash payments online. The booking advance must be paid by Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card when you complete your reservation on our website.
No. Payment requirements vary by vehicle. Some accept debit cards or cash for the balance, and many have no deposit hold at all. Your voucher states the exact methods accepted for your specific vehicle.
If your vehicle requires a deposit hold, the rental company releases it after you return the vehicle without incident. Release times depend on your card issuer and are specified in your voucher and rental agreement. Expect between a few days and two weeks.
All payments are processed in South African Rand (ZAR). Your card issuer converts the amount to your home currency and may apply a foreign transaction fee depending on your account terms.
Contact your bank before you travel and ask for a temporary increase in your daily spending or transaction limit. Explain that you need to cover both a balance payment and a refundable hold. Your bank can adjust limits remotely or issue a letter confirming the higher limit.
For further details on our booking process, visit our FAQ or read our full terms and conditions. If you have questions about a specific reservation, email us at [email protected] or visit our contact page.