Centurion is in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng. First Car Rental operates branches nationally, including at the major airports.
The excess is the number that matters, not the daily rate. A standard rental leaves you liable for a substantial excess on damage, and the waiver sold at the counter reduces it. Compare the excess before comparing the price.
Photograph the vehicle at collection and at return, including the fuel gauge and the odometer. Damage disputes are decided on evidence of the condition at handover, and the photographs are that evidence.
This page covers how to contact First Car Rental in South Africa. The details below were taken from the official First Car Rental contact page rather than from any third-party directory.
ContactDetails.co.za is an independent directory. We are not First Car Rental and cannot act on your behalf. Everything on this page is a routing aid so you reach the right official channel quickly.
First Car Rental contact numbers
These routes were verified against the official First Car Rental contact page on 23 August 2026. Contact numbers do change, so confirm on the official page before relying on one for anything urgent.
| What it is for | Contact |
|---|---|
| Call centre, South Africa | 0861 178 227 |
| Call centre from outside South Africa | +27 11 230 9999 |
| 24 hour roadside assistance | 0860 888 911 |
| Roadside assistance direct line | +27 82 771 6842 |
| Roadside assistance alternate | +27 82 771 6891 |
| Consumer Goods and Services Ombud | 0860 000 272 |
| CGSO WhatsApp | 081 335 3005 |
The excess is the number that matters on a rental, not the daily rate. A standard rental leaves you liable for a substantial excess on damage, and the waiver sold at the counter reduces it. Photograph the vehicle on collection and on return, including the fuel gauge and the odometer, because damage disputes are decided on evidence of condition at handover.
Self-service options before you call
- Check the official site at firstcarrental.co.za, which carries the current contact details and any online enquiry form.
- WhatsApp on 081 335 3005, which works over wifi and leaves you a written record.
- Calling outside peak times. Monday mornings and the hour after 17:00 are usually the worst for South African contact centres.
What to have ready before you call
- A clear one line summary of what you need resolved.
- Your account, order or reference number if you already have one.
- The identity document or account holder details, since most South African providers verify who you are before discussing an account.
- Dates, amounts and any error message exactly as it appeared.
- A pen and paper for the reference number. Ask for one every time, because without it a follow up call starts from nothing.
Modifications, roadworthiness and the law
- Window tint has a legal minimum light transmission. South African regulations set it, and a vehicle that fails on tint fails its roadworthy test. Ask for the specification in writing and keep it with the vehicle papers.
- A towbar must match the vehicle’s rated towing capacity. Fitting one that exceeds it is a safety problem and an insurance argument waiting to happen.
- Roof loads are rated. A roof rack does not increase what the roof can carry, and exceeding the rating affects handling and cover.
- Lighting changes are regulated. Auxiliary lamps, colour and placement are all governed by the road traffic regulations, and non-compliant lighting is a fine as well as a roadworthy failure.
- Structural or engine changes must be recorded. Changes that alter the vehicle’s description can require re-registration, and an unrecorded change complicates a sale later.
A roadworthy certificate is required when a vehicle changes ownership, and the test is done at a registered testing station. A modification that will fail it is cheaper to know about before you buy it than at resale.
Complaints and escalation
If a first call does not resolve the matter, escalate through the business’s own management first, in writing. Unresolved motor complaints go to the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa on 010 590 8378, free of charge.
Keep a short written log of each contact: the date, the channel you used, the name of the agent and the reference number. Most motor industry complaint processes ask for exactly that history, and having it ready is usually the difference between a fast resolution and starting over.
Avoiding fake First Car Rental contact numbers
Contact details for well known South African brands are a common target for impersonation. Numbers that look official appear in search ads, social media replies and cloned websites, and the person answering is not First Car Rental.
- Reach First Car Rental through the official site at firstcarrental.co.za rather than through a number in a search advert or a social media reply.
- First Car Rental will never ask you for your full card number, PIN, CVV, online banking password or a one time PIN. Nobody legitimate needs those to help you.
- Treat any caller who creates urgency, asks you to install remote access software, or asks you to move money to a safe account as fraudulent, and end the call.
- If you are unsure whether a call was genuine, hang up and dial the official number yourself rather than calling back a number the caller gave you.
Related contact pages
Frequently asked questions
What is the First Car Rental contact number?
The routes are listed in the table above, with what each one is for. The main route is 0861 178 227. Confirm it on firstcarrental.co.za before relying on it, since numbers are changed from time to time.
How do I know a First Car Rental number is genuine?
Check it against the official site at firstcarrental.co.za. A number that only appears in a search advert, a social media reply or a third-party directory should not be trusted for anything involving your account, your money or your identity document.
What should I do if nobody resolves my query?
Ask for the complaint reference and the escalation path on your first call, then follow the escalation route described above. Keep the dates, agent names and reference numbers, because every formal complaint process will ask for them.
Can ContactDetails.co.za resolve this for me?
No. We are an independent directory, not First Car Rental, and we have no access to your account. Everything here is a routing aid so that you reach the correct official channel with the right information in hand.
Is there a cost to calling these numbers?
South African 0860 and 0861 numbers are charged at a share-call or standard rate depending on your provider, and 0800 numbers are toll free from a landline. Calls from a mobile are billed at your own operator’s rate, so check your plan if cost matters.
Contact routes on this page were checked against the official First Car Rental source on 23 August 2026. If you find a detail that has changed, the official source is always the authority.