Top 5 best scooter rentals in Johannesburg

Johannesburg rewards the traveller who's willing to cover ground. Swing past Constitution Hill in the morning, then cross the Nelson Mandela Bridge into Newtown before the day heats up, and you'll already have seen more of the city than most visitors manage in a week of taxis and tour buses. With a scooter under you, Jozi stops being a city you pass through between hotel and museum and becomes one you actually ride — weaving between the CBD's high-rises, out to Soweto's street life, and up into the leafy northern suburbs, all at your own pace.

This is a sprawling, traffic-choked metro, and that's exactly why a scooter makes sense here. The distances between the CBD, Soweto, Melville and Sandton are real, and Johannesburg's arterial roads back up hard at peak times. A scooter slips through that congestion and parks anywhere with no fuss, saving you the hours a car or minibus taxi would burn. It suits confident riders who stick to main roads and plan their day around daylight, given the city's uneven walkability after dark.

Top 10 things to see in Johannesburg by scooter

1. Constitution Hill — a former prison turned museum and home of the Constitutional Court, an easy central ride from most inner-city pickup points.
2. Nelson Mandela Bridge — the cable-stayed landmark linking Braamfontein and Newtown, a quick and photogenic city-centre ride.
3. Vilakazi Street, Soweto — the only street to have housed two Nobel laureates, lined with cafés, the Mandela House museum and plenty of street life to cruise past.
4. Hector Pieterson Memorial, Soweto — a short hop from Vilakazi Street and a key stop on the same loop.
5. Apartheid Museum — a must-see history stop south of the centre, easily reached by road from the CBD.
6. Gold Reef City — a mining-heritage theme park south of town, good for a fun destination ride with a real change of scenery.
7. 7th Street, Melville — the bar and restaurant strip in this leafy northern suburb, popular for an evening run.
8. Zoo Lake — a park and lake near Parkview and Saxonwold, perfect for a relaxed loop and a coffee stop.
9. Johannesburg Botanical Garden, Emmarentia — rose gardens and open lawns right next to Zoo Lake, easy to fold into the same ride.
10. Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton — the city's business and shopping hub, a natural northbound destination if you're based downtown.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Johannesburg?

South Africa requires a motorcycle licence to ride a scooter — code A1 covers smaller-capacity machines, code A unrestricted ones, and a plain car licence (code B) won't do. Bring your International Driving Permit along with your home licence, and expect to be 21 or older. A deposit is standard practice, usually held on a credit card in your name.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Johannesburg?

Expect ZAR 100–130 per day in low season, rising to ZAR 150–200 in high season, with premium models running ZAR 220–350 per day.

• Prices climb during the dry winter months of June to September, peak safari and tourist season, and again over the December–January festive holidays.
• You'll find the cheapest rates from February to May and in October and November, the quieter shoulder and rainy-season months.

When to book a rental scooter in Johannesburg?

If you're chasing the best price, aim for February to May or October to November, when demand — and rates — are lowest. Booking ahead matters most around June to September and the December–January holidays, when both scooters and good prices get harder to find.

Local traffic rules in Johannesburg

South Africa drives on the left, so overtake on the right. Helmets are compulsory for every rider and passenger, no exceptions. Stick to 60 km/h in town, 100 km/h on rural roads and 120 km/h on freeways unless signs say otherwise. The blood alcohol limit is a strict 0.05 g/100 ml, and roadblocks are common, so it's not worth the risk. One local habit worth knowing: slower vehicles often pull onto the paved shoulder — the "yellow lane" — to let faster traffic through. It's widely practised but legally grey, so treat that shoulder with caution rather than relying on it.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!