Car Rental in New Zealand
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 01:05 on 2020-03-30. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Contents
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
NZD
Country code
64
Average car rental length
6 days
Economy car rental price
$46.72 / per day
Traffic direction
Left-hand
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h
50 - 62 mi/h
Speed limit within town
30 - 60 km/h
19 - 37 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Why rent a car in New Zealand?
New Zealand is a great place to explore by car. Not only both North Island and South Island are full of cozy cities and stunning natural landmarks, but the highways themselves are an adventure as they offer some of the most picturesque driving routes in the whole world.
Top ways to enter New Zealand
- Auckland Airport: The busiest in New Zealand, it serves its largest city.
- Christchurch Airport: The main airport of South Island.
- Queenstown Airport: This cozy airport mainly serves domestic connections, but also hosts flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in Australia.
- Wellington Airport: Serving the nation’s capital, Wellington Airport is the third busiest in New Zealand.
Top cities and places to visit
- Queenstown: Sometimes called the Adrenaline Capital of the World, Queenstown offers everything from skydiving to snowboarding, skiing, and jet-boating, as well as truly stunning landscapes.
- Auckland: Large and modern, Auckland has a thriving arts and culture scene, and offers easy access to some of New Zealand’s great nature areas.
- Christchurch: Although the city is still recovering from some recent earthquakes, its friendly atmosphere and many museums and galleries make it one of the coziest destinations in New Zealand.
- Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Westland National Park: These two stunning nature areas are for those who are eager to see New Zealand’s dramatic mountain scenery up close.
- Coromandel Peninsula: This coastal area is less than two hour drive away from Auckland, and makes a great place to relax and be in the nature.
Most popular rental car
The most popular rental car in New Zealand is the Nissan Tiida 2009, followed by the Toyota RAV4 and the Fiat Punto.
Most popular types of rental car
Many visitors of New Zealand choose compact and economy rental cars, but fullsize is also very popular, especially among travelers who like to go higher in the mountains and away from the main road network.
Top driving routes
- Auckland - Christchurch (1,553 km / 716 mi) The New Zealand Odyssey, beloved by countless travelers, will nearly take you from end of the land to the other and will let you see New Zealand in all its majestic beauty. If you have time, it’s best to break up this route into at least a week. Of course, this route requires a ferry between Wellington and Picton, where another rental car can be booked if your rental provider does not allow the car to be taken onboard a ferry.
- Christchurch - Queenstown (483 km / 300 mi) This picturesque route can be done in six hours, but why be in a rush when you’ll be passing the southern shores of Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki on the way? A circle through Greymouth might also be worthwile.
- Auckland - Wellington (644 km / 400 mi) The route between the New Zealand’s largest city and the capital will take you across nearly all of the North Island. It is worth stopping to explore the Pureora Forest Park, the Tongariro National Park, and the Akatarawa Forest on the way.
Car Rental Prices
- Station wagons - from $16 per day
- Large cars - from $58 per day
- Medium cars - from $87 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - from $154 per day
- Small cars - from $110 per day
- SUVs - from $85 per day
How can I save money on my rental car?
You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in New Zealand:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting New Zealand is the cheapest in July when renting a car is about 31% cheaper than the yearly average and about 44% cheaper than visiting in February when it’s the height of summer in the southern hemisphere.
Top 14 Most Popular Cities in New Zealand
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Car Rental in Auckland from $9.11 per day
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Car Rental in Christchurch from $10.46 per day
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Car Rental in Queenstown from $12.37 per day
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Car Rental in Wellington from $13.73 per day
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Car Rental in Dunedin from $15.74 per day
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Car Rental in Nelson from $409.12 per day
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Car Rental in Rotorua from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental in Palmerston North from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental in Whangarei from $37.51 per day
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Car Rental in Napier from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental in Invercargill from $17.77 per day
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Car Rental in Tauranga from $38.73 per day
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Car Rental in Blenheim from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental in New Plymouth from $17.77 per day
Top 18 Most Popular Locations in New Zealand
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Car Rental at Auckland Airport from $9.11 per day
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Car Rental at Christchurch Airport from $10.46 per day
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Car Rental at Queenstown Airport from $12.37 per day
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Car Rental in Auckland (Downtown) from $13.89 per day
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Car Rental at Wellington Airport from $13.73 per day
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Car Rental at Dunedin Airport from $15.74 per day
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Car Rental in Christchurch (Downtown) from $59.17 per day
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Car Rental at Nelson Airport from $409.12 per day
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Car Rental at Rotorua Airport from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental at Whangarei Airport from $37.51 per day
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Car Rental at Napier Airport from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental at Invercargill Airport from $17.77 per day
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Car Rental at Tauranga Airport from $38.73 per day
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Car Rental at Blenheim Airport from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental at Palmerston North Airport from $15.84 per day
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Car Rental New Plymouth Airport from $17.77 per day
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Car Rental in Palmerston North (Downtown) from $9.52 per day
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Car Rental in Wellington (Downtown) from $18.43 per day
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in New Zealand?
The cost of renting a car in New Zealand depends on the time of year. This graph compares price changes from month to month in order to find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in New Zealand
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in New Zealand is July — prices start from $26.16 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 39% cheaper than the yearly average and 53% cheaper than renting a car in the month of January (when prices start at $56.03 for a Compact class). This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. The exact price for your trip will depend on the length of your rental and the number of days until your rental period begins. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers.
What’s the average rental length in New Zealand?
The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in October — an average of 9 days. The shortest are in February — an average of 7 days.
Average Rental Length in New Zealand
What’s the most popular time for renting a car in New Zealand?
Discover Cars users search for cars in a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in New Zealand. The most popular month is December, while the least popular is June.
Popularity of Car Rental in New Zealand by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitch Car Rentals | Mazda Demio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Mitsubishi Outlander | 5 | 4 | SUVs |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Mazda 3 | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Toyota Corolla | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Toyota Estima | 4 | 4 | People Carriers/Vans |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Nissan Tiida 2009 | 4 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Toyota RAV4 | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Discount Car Rentals New Zealand | Toyota Corolla | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| Europcar | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 2 | Large cars |
| Go Rentals | MG3 Hatchback | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
Our Customers Reviews
PT
Australia
Mazda 3
March 3, 2020
Need more than a couple of weeks !!!!
RB
Australia
Toyota Corolla
March 3, 2020
Trying to get a rental that is close to the airport. That provide a shuttle to get you to your destination. That are on time and efficient, makes a big difference. I had this experience with Discovery rentals. Thankyou.
PC
United Kingdom
Nissan Tiida 2009
February 28, 2020
did not stay in Auckland. It was a fly fishing trip so i would recommend going to Tongariro for those who want to fly fish.
KI
Japan
Mazda Demio
February 28, 2020
This time I use the car to travell to Rotorua and Themes. It's a really comfortable drive 2 - 3 hours. Though Auckland is now under costruction everywhere, I hope it's gonna have changed greatly by the time my next visit.
MG
Australia
Nissan Tiida
February 23, 2020
Yes, good to rent a car from Christchurch to explore NZ. Great way to see the country. But be sceptical of BRC (bargain rental cars). We opted for GO rentals instead after seeing the poor state of the BRC vehicles and, while more expensive, it made for a much better overall trip.
KM
United States of America (USA)
Mazda Demio
February 23, 2020
I was heading to Northland. Agent was able to provide directions to make the drive through Auckland manageable. Much better than a previous rental company. Once out of Auckland, I can relax and enjoy.
CK
Australia
Nissan Wingroad 2009
February 23, 2020
It’s a pretty place but this trip I didn’t spend any time in Auckland.
HW
New Zealand
Toyota Vitz
February 18, 2020
Great trip, the Civic Theatre was beautiful, the food was great and I loved the Manakau Mall.
DG
Australia
Mazda Demio
January 29, 2020
I visit Christchurch twice a year, as I have family living there. It is a clean, neat city, and easy to navigate. There are several attractions worth visiting - Botanic Gardens, Museum, Art Gallery, several excellent cafes, good central city shopping.
BI
Australia
Toyota Estima 2001
November 26, 2019
traffic is so bad at peak hour, allow ample time for travelling to avoid rushing
GA
New Zealand
Toyota Camry
September 29, 2019
Hi, we rented the car from christchurch.
When first sat in car it was so comfortable & easy to adjust to the keyless start.
Then used it first to drive around christchurch for 3days sightseeing & helping with my sisters wedding, it was so ecconomical that the fuel guage didn’t move off full for 2days.
We drove the car for 6 hours to queenstown & all enjoyed the drive in such comfort.
And used only $80. In fuel to get there & only $80. In fuel to het back to christchurch.
I highly recomend hitch car rentals to everyone.
Thankyou & keep up the good work hitch 👍🏻👏
AB
Australia
Toyota Camry 2007
September 25, 2019
Good value for money, an older car that was in overall good condition other than some exterior scratches and chips which didn’t impact on the overall experience. Will definitely book again for our next trip home.
HB
Australia
Toyota Vitz
August 27, 2019
Great little city, but the roads are poor & have been for a long time .... spend some money Christchurch
CR
New Zealand
Mazda Demio
August 6, 2019
We love NZ so are biased!!!!
RH
United Kingdom
Toyota Vitz
July 17, 2019
We traveled South to Raglan, Kowhia and then Rotorua before driving back North to Warkworth. What we saw of NZ was breathtaking.
JC
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla 5d
June 24, 2019
Dont stress, take your time on the road and stop and enjoy the many views around New Zealand
KM
Australia
Toyota Camry
May 11, 2019
Did 2,808 klms over 20 days and saw a lot of my homeland - North & mainly the South Island.
KD
United States of America (USA)
Toyota RAV4
April 24, 2019
New Zealand is a great driving experience. I think the vehicle you select is important.
LN
New Zealand
Nissan Bluebird Sedan
April 7, 2019
Went to Akaroa very pretty place, Hammer Springs wonderful hot pools.
Only in Christchurch one night
BT
Australia
Nissan Tiida
April 5, 2019
All of South Island fantastic
Top 4 Suppliers in New Zealand in 2020
Aerodrive Car Rental
Mint Rentals
RightCars
+6498879775
8a Aintree Avenue, Airport Oaks
Bargain Rental Cars
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