The cost of a private driver in Cape Town is set by four things: the vehicle, the length of the booking, the distance driven and what is included in the rate. At West Landau rates are per vehicle, never per person, and come in two main shapes: a half day of 5 hours and 100 km inside the metro, and a full day of 10 hours and 250 km that reaches the Winelands, Cape Point and Hermanus. Airport transfers are a fixed fee per zone and per vehicle.
This guide does not quote a number, because the right number depends on your date, your vehicle and your route, and a written quote gives it to you exactly. What it does is explain how the price is built, so you can compare quotes properly and avoid the ones that look cheaper until the extras arrive.
What the cost of a private driver in Cape Town depends on
The vehicle. West Landau runs two models: the Hyundai Staria Luxury, which seats eight passengers plus the driver, and the Hyundai Palisade Elite, which seats six. The guide on choosing between a Staria and a Palisade explains which suits which trip.
The booking type. A half day, a full day, an airport transfer, or several days in a row.
The distance. Each day booking includes a set number of kilometres. Extra distance is billed per km at the rate on the quote.
The time. Each day booking includes a set number of hours. Overtime is billed per hour at the rate on the quote.
The number of vehicles. Parties of nine or more travel in two vehicles, one driver each, quoted as one booking. Five vehicles together move 36 passengers.
Half day, full day and airport transfer rates compared
| Booking | What it covers | What changes the price |
|---|---|---|
| Half day | 5 hours and 100 km inside the Cape Town metro | Overtime per hour, extra km |
| Full day | 10 hours and 250 km, covering the metro, the Winelands, Cape Point and the Whale Route to Hermanus | Overtime per hour, extra km |
| Airport transfer | A fixed fee per zone and per vehicle, with the first 60 minutes after actual touchdown included | Waiting beyond the hour, billed hourly |
| Multi-day | A discounted daily rate, one dedicated driver per vehicle for the whole booking | The number of days, the routes |
| Individually quoted | The Garden Route, overnight itineraries and anything more than about 200 km from Cape Town | Quoted on the itinerary |
A half day suits a Constantia tasting, a city half day or an evening out. A full day suits a Winelands tour or the peninsula loop to Cape Point. The guide on half day or full day bookings works through the common plans.
What is included, and what is not
Every West Landau vehicle comes with the driver, fuel, tolls, Wi-Fi, chilled water and privacy glass, and is detailed between hires. Child seats are fitted before pickup and appear on the quote as their own lines.
Tolls matter more than people expect. Chapman's Peak Drive is a toll road, and a peninsula day often uses it. On an inclusive rate it is already covered.
Not included unless itemised on the quote: entrance fees, wine tastings and venue parking. Those are for your own account. On curated experiences to Cape Point, the Winelands and the Whale Route, the concierge builds the itinerary, the price is per vehicle and a CATHSSETA-accredited tour guide is included. The concierge can book tables, tastings and tee times, and the tastings and meals themselves stay for your own account unless they are itemised on the quote.
A tip is a personal choice, separate from the quote. The guide on how much to tip a driver in South Africa covers the custom.
How to compare quotes from different operators
When you have two or three quotes, line them up on the same terms before you look at the totals.
- Per vehicle or per person. A per-person price can look modest for two people and become expensive for six. A per-vehicle price does the opposite.
- Fuel and tolls. A quote that excludes fuel will be topped up at the end of the day. Ask whether every toll on the route is included.
- Hours and kilometres. A "full day" means different things to different operators. Check the hours and the distance, and what each extra hour and kilometre costs.
- Waiting time on airport transfers. Check how long the driver waits after landing, and whether that is from the scheduled or the actual arrival time.
- The vehicle you will get. Ask for the model, not a category.
- The terms. Check how payment works and the cancellation windows. At West Landau a booking is confirmed on full payment by EFT, cancelling more than 48 hours before pickup is free, half the value is retained within 48 hours and the full value within 24 hours or for a no-show. The booking terms set this out.
The cheapest number on the page is not always the cheapest day. An operator that excludes tolls, counts waiting from the scheduled landing time and charges for every kilometre past a short limit can end up costing more than an inclusive rate.
When a private driver is not the economical choice
For one or two people making a short trip inside the city, an e-hailing car will almost always cost less, and for a quick ride from the Waterfront to the City Bowl it is the right answer. The guide on Uber or a private transfer from the airport makes the same point for arrivals.
The sum changes as the party grows. Because the rate is per vehicle, six people in a Palisade pay the same as two, and the comparison is with three separate cars, three drivers and three arrivals. It also changes when the day involves wine tasting, waiting at several stops or an early start, where one driver for the whole day is simpler than a chain of short trips.
Common questions
Why does the price depend on the vehicle and not the number of people?
Because the costs that drive the price, the driver, the fuel and the time, are the same whether the vehicle carries two people or eight. Pricing per vehicle keeps the quote simple and makes a full vehicle good value.
Are there extra charges after the day?
Only those set out on the quote: overtime per hour and extra distance per km at the quoted rates, and anything you asked to add on the day. Fuel and tolls are already included.
Is a multi-day booking cheaper per day?
Yes. Multi-day and roadshow bookings run at a discounted daily rate, with one dedicated driver per vehicle for the whole booking. The guide to a private driver for several days explains how those bookings are put together.
Can I get a quote for a route outside the normal areas?
Yes. The Garden Route, overnight itineraries and anything more than about 200 km from Cape Town are quoted individually on the itinerary you send.
To get a quote, send the date, the number of people, the pickup address and a rough plan for the day. The concierge replies with a written quote and a booking reference, so you see the full cost before you confirm.