All you need to know about renting a car in New Zealand

A car rental in the land of kiwis is more or less a necessity and though tourists & travelers rent cars while visiting NZ for a couple of reasons, freedom is one of the major deciding factor. Vacations are all about freedom to make your own schedule & only a car or a van rental gives you the desired freedom to head out wherever & whenever you want without having to worry about time and bus/train schedules.

Though big cities have good public transport, it is not a great choice when planning road trips. For instance the long trip from Christchurch to Queenstown doesn’t have a frequent bus service. Where is the freedom in that, right? A car rental on the other hand, will be your constant companion no matter where you go in NZ, even to the remotest, most gorgeous parts of the country. Although renting a car is simple at New Zealand Cars Rental, here are a few questions compiled to help you find a cheap car hire in New Zealand:

How to book a cheap car rental for my trip in NZ?

Here are a few tips that you can follow to get a hold of a really cheap rental car deal:

Try to book your rental car deal as much in advance as possible
Give preference to deals that offer unlimited miles
Try to book a car for a longer duration of time, if possible
Rent cars at non-airport locations only if there is a free shuttle service available from supplier’s end

How much does it cost to rent a car in NZ?

The cost of the rental deals varies from supplier to supplier & location to location. A lot of factors determine the price, like the car size, the time of the year, the age of the driver, etc.

Usually the price of a rental car in NZ falls in the range – NZ $20 to 45 per day

How old do you have to be to rent a car in New Zealand?

The legal driving age in NZ is 16 years, but most of the car hire companies active in NZ put forth 21 years as the minimum age to rent a car in the country. However, the minimum age limit could be anywhere between 18-25 depending on the supplier and the car type you are renting. It is a common practice among the suppliers to quote different age requirements for different car sizes, for instance, in majority of cases 21 years is the least age restriction for economy and similar vehicles while for vans and luxury rental deals, least age limit are 25 or 27. The suppliers may charge an extra fee from the underage drivers.

Which is the best car rental company in NZ?

All the car rental companies that work with us in New Zealand have great customer reviews.

They offer a reliable and quality car hire service at reasonable prices. We work with international brands like Sixt, Thrifty, Budget Rent-A-Car and Europcar. If you would like to rent a car from a local company, we also have tie-ups with Go rentals and Snap rentals.

What are some of the most popular one way rental trips in NZ?

Many of the rental agencies allow one way car rental trips from North Island to the South Island and vice versa. Almost all of them permit the rental cars to be taken onto ferries; however, the cost of the ferry travel may or may not be included in the deal’s price.

Renting a one-way is simple. All you have to do is use the ‘Different drop-off location?’ option on the search form to select the return point of your choice.

Popular one-way trips in NZ

Auckland to Wellington
Auckland to Christchurch
Christchurch to Rotoura
Christchurch to Queenstown
Christchurch to Picton
Christchurch to Wellington

Best type of car to rent in New Zealand – How to choose?

Consider the type of trip, the number of people, the luggage, the space needed for equipment (if any) etc while deciding the car you want to book. Best for group travelers, the van and minivan rentals offered by our suppliers cover 7, 8, 9, 12 and 15 passenger vehicles like Grand Caravan. SUVs are great for a group of 5-7 people going on longer trips. Luxury & convertibles are prefered by people planning coastal drives.

Economy

Toyata Yaris

Van

Toyata Hiace Commuter

SUVs

Nissan Qashqai

Convertible

Ford Mustang

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

January to March

NZ bustles with activities and to-see things all over the year, as it experiences great weather conditions throughout the year. However, the time period from January to March is considered the best time to visit the country. Here are a few points that might help you plan well:

Make a list of your favorite activities, and check whether they are available or not in the month(s) when you are visiting.
Check whether the driving conditions during your favored season will be manageable or not.
Research the cost and availability of flights, rental cars and accommodations etc in the season of your choice.

More Queries …

What documents do you need to rent a car in NZ?

To rent a car in New Zealand, you need a valid driver’s license. Other than that suppliers usually ask for a payment card, mostly a credit card, and a proof of identity. The complete list of the document that the rental company expects you to bring along is provided by the supplier on the rental voucher.

For how long can I rent a car in New Zealand?

The minimum car hire period is 1 day or 24 hours and the maximum period could be 1 month or 11 months depending on the suppliers you are renting from. Monthly and long-term rentals are quite popular with people on inter-island itineraries; weekend and one day rentals are preferred by the students and business people respectively.

Which is the best place to rent a car in New Zealand?

Queenstown, Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch are the most popular rental points in New Zealand. Though the quality of rental services is good all over the country, their airport locations remain the most popular of all.

How can I find a car rental near me in New Zealand?

Have a look at the list of the locations on our Rental location page. You can also find a rental car location by contacting us through email or phone. Our experts are available 24/7 to help you out!

Car Rental Tips