The trip cost depends on the vehicle you choose, the rental duration, insurance, and optional extras like delivery or add-ons. When looking at your trip cost in the checkout or trip page, we'll show you each item as a separate charge. For items charged daily, the total will reflect the daily price multiplied by the number of rental days.
Trip fee
Your trip fee is calculated by multiplying the vehicle’s daily rate by the number of days you’re booking. Long-trip discounts and promotional discounts are apply exclusively to this fee.
Long trip discount: If a Host offers a long trip discount, it will only apply to the trip cost.
Promotional discounts: Promotional discounts, such as welcome or referral credits, will also be applied exclusively to your trip cost.
Tarlen Admin fees
Tarlen charges a flat admin fee of R99, applied automatically at checkout, to cover the administrative costs of managing your trip. Tarlen reserves the right to alter or remove this fee at any time.
Insurance cover
Tarlen provides insurance cover to help reduce your liability when you rent cars from Host on the platform. Most Host use Tarlen's insurance, but more experienced Hosts have their own commercial coverage, which also protects against accidents, damages, or theft.
When booking with Tarlen's insurance cover, the basic cover is mandatory and cannot be declined. But you also have a choice to opt for Tarlen's super cover.
Your insurance cost eventually comes down to the car you book and the level of liability cover you're willing to take.
Delivery fee
This is a one-time fee charged by the Host to deliver your rental at the start of the trip and pick it up at the end. This fee doesn’t apply if you’re picking up the rental directly from the Host’s location.
Extras
These cost are for optional additions to your trip that some Hosts offers. These additions could include anything from child seats and GPS to beach gear and coolers.
Young driver's fee
We charge a Young driver's fee of R75/day if you're between the ages of 21 - 25yrs. Guests under 21 are presently not allowed to book a car on Tarlen. But this stipulation might be changing soon.
Additional Mileage charges
Additional mileage charge is applied to your invoice when you exceed the "Included Mileage" on your trip. Your charges are calculated per Km on your excess mileage.
Avoid this charge by staying within the included mileage or booking a vehicle with unlimited mileage. For more details, See the planning for your trip page.
Security Deposit
A deposit is applied to your account when you book a car on Tarlen. It will be automatically refunded 72 hours after your trip ends, granted there are no outstanding reimbursement requests or damage reports from the Host. If there are any issues, we’ll hold the deposit until it has been resolved.
Refuelling charges
It's your responsibility to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel or battery charge it had at the start of your trip. If not, the Host will submit a reimbursement request for the fuel or charge top-up. Additionally, your Host may add a convenience fee of up to R150, on top of the fuel or charge top-up cost.
Paying for your trip
Tarlen accepts credit cards and debit cards.
Credit cards
Tarlen accepts credit cards from all major financial institution. The credit card must be in the renter’s name.
Debit cards
Tarlen accepts debit cards from major financial institution including Mastercard and Visa. The debit card must be in the renter’s name.
Learn more about our cancellation and refund policies