Terms and Conditions
These are the terms every renter agrees to when hiring a vehicle from Tortoise Car Hire. The same terms are signed as part of your Rental Agreement at vehicle pickup.
Rental rates do not include fuel.
Vehicles are provided with a set fuel level and must be returned with the same level, or the shortfall plus a service fee will be charged.
General
"ACH" shall mean Atlas Car Hire cc t/a Tortoise Car Hire of 25 Uil Street, Sedgefield, and AutoHireSA Car Rental of 126 Merriman Street, George.
- We reserve the right to refuse the rental of a vehicle to anyone, when done in the best interest of the renting company or customer.
- We reserve the right to collect a deposit covering the estimated rental charges.
- This vehicle cannot be driven by any person other than the renter(s) listed on the agreement.
- All parking tickets, traffic violations, and toll road charges are the full responsibility of the renter(s).
- The renter will be bound by these terms and conditions, whether or not they were the one driving the vehicle at the time.
Damages and Insurance
Damages shall include the actual expenditure incurred in towing, transporting and storing the vehicle, repairing any physical damage, replacing parts and/or accessories (without any allowance for depreciation), remunerating an expert to assess collision damage and to report thereon, and reimbursing such an expert for any expenses incurred by them. An invoice or quotation produced by ACH is prima facie proof of expenditure.
Windscreen, glass, radios, and tyres are not covered by insurance. The renter is responsible for the full replacement cost.
A standard excess applies to each vehicle in the event of an accident or theft, as specified on your individual Rental Agreement. Some vehicles carry a different excess amount, this will always be confirmed with you before you drive away. Super Insurance is available to reduce your excess liability, ask us for details.
To process a damage or insurance claim, a R450 admin fee applies.
Kilometre Allowance
Every rental includes 200km of free travel per day as standard. The Distance Package can be added at booking for an extra 100km per day. Kilometres driven beyond your allowance are charged at the per-kilometre rate shown on your Rental Agreement.
Deposits and Refunds
A refundable deposit is collected before your rental begins, covering the estimated rental charges and any potential excess liability. We do not require excessive deposit fees. Your deposit is refunded after the vehicle is returned, provided there is no outstanding balance, damage, or unpaid charges to deduct. Deposits are not refunded immediately and may take up to 5 working days to reflect in your account.
One Way Rentals
One way rentals returning to Cape Town or Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) require a minimum rental period of ten (10) days, and a one way fee applies. Please contact us directly to arrange a one way rental.
Cancellations and Amendments
If you need to cancel or amend a confirmed booking, please contact us as soon as possible on 044 343 2991 or 082 874 6245, or log in via My Booking to submit a request. We'll always do our best to accommodate changes where we can.
Payment
We accept cash, EFT, and both debit and credit cards. No credit card is required as a guarantee to secure your booking.
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.