Can I rent to own a car if I do not live in Gauteng?
Yes. MadRent has one branch, in Randburg, but the fleet is not restricted to Gauteng. Drivers in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, East London, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Kimberley and George are on our books, along with plenty of smaller towns in between.
The monthly amount is the same wherever you are. It starts at R6,395 and covers:
- The vehicle itself, brand new
- Comprehensive insurance, underwritten by Hollard
- Maintenance and servicing
- Tyres
- A tracking unit
- 24/7 roadside assistance, nationwide
- A courtesy car while yours is booked in
- 3,000 km a month
There is no deposit. A once-off, non-refundable start-up fee applies before delivery, from about R20,000. See exactly what is included.
Do I have to travel to Johannesburg?
Once, to sign. The rental contract is signed face to face at the Randburg showroom. Everything either side of that can happen where you are: the application is online, the vehicle choice is made off the live stock list, and the car itself is delivered to you.
It is worth being straight about this because some providers imply the whole process is remote and then produce a signing requirement late. Ours is a single visit, and you will know the date before you commit to anything.
How does the process actually run?
- Apply online. We assess affordability and stability, not a credit score. Being blacklisted, under debt review or previously declined by a bank does not rule you out.
- Choose your vehicle from what is genuinely on the floor, not a catalogue of things we could order.
- Sign the contract in person in Randburg.
- We confirm a delivery date before you commit. Distance affects timing and we tell you upfront rather than after.
- Handover. The car arrives registered, insured, tracked and serviced.
More detail on how nationwide delivery works.
What happens when the car needs a service?
You do not drive it back to Johannesburg. Servicing and maintenance are arranged at an approved workshop near you and are already inside the monthly amount. Roadside assistance is nationwide and runs 24/7. A courtesy car is included while yours is in.
This is the question almost every out-of-province applicant asks, and it is a fair one. A car that is cheap to rent but expensive to maintain at distance is not actually cheap.
Which vehicles can I choose from?
The whole fleet is available wherever you are. The main categories:
- Bakkies — double cabs and single cabs for work
- SUVs and crossovers — higher driving position, more space
- Family cars and 7-seaters — the school run and everything after it
- Current specials — what is sharpest this month
Is it more expensive outside Johannesburg?
The rental is not. The monthly figure is set by the vehicle, the term and the mileage you choose, not by where you live. Delivery timing varies with distance, which we quote before you sign.
What we will not do is pretend distance is irrelevant. If you are eight hours from Randburg, the signing trip is a real cost in time, and you should factor it in alongside the monthly number.
How does this compare with buying through a bank where you live?
It is not a like-for-like comparison, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. A bank instalment excludes interest over the term, separate insurance, retail-priced servicing and tyres, out-of-warranty repairs, and the resale-value risk you carry at the end. Our figure includes all of that and MadRent carries the depreciation.
Which is cheaper depends on the vehicle, the term and how far you drive. What rent-to-own gives you is cost certainty: one amount, every month, wherever you are.
Frequently asked questions
Do you deliver to my town? Probably. We cover all nine provinces. If you are unsure, phone 010 500 8621 and we will tell you straight rather than string you along.
Do I need a deposit? No. There is a once-off, non-refundable start-up fee instead, from about R20,000 and averaging around R30,000 depending on the vehicle. It is not held against the car and it is not refundable.
Will you check my credit score? We assess affordability and stability. Blacklisted, impaired-credit and debt-review applicants are approved regularly.
Can I see the car before I sign? Yes, and you are welcome to walk the floor in Randburg when you come in to sign.
What if I want to end the agreement? You can return or cancel the vehicle. Buying it at the end of the term is an option, not an obligation.
Is there a mileage limit? 3,000 km a month is included. Anything beyond that is billed separately, so choose a package that matches how you actually drive.
