Car Rental in New Zealand

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. Find out more about some of these scenic routes on the South Island.

If you want to know more about renting a car in New Zealand, don't miss our complete guide.

Top ways to enter New Zealand

• Auckland Airport: The busiest in New Zealand, Auckland Airport serves its largest city. A port of entry for a very large number of foreign visitors, the airport has flights to and from such faraway destinations as China, Qatar, Chile, and the United States.
• Christchurch Airport: Serving the city of the same name, this is the main airport on the South Island. In addition to domestic connections, the airport also has flights to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Dubai, Los Angeles, and other destinations.
• Queenstown Airport: Serving the popular adventure sports destination, Queenstown Airport handles close to five million passengers annually and provides connections with domestic destinations, as well as the largest cities in Australia.
• Wellington Airport: Serving the national capital near the southern tip of the North Island, Wellington Airport has flights by more than 10 airlines, connecting the city with Australia, Fiji, and many local destinations.

Top cities and places to visit

• Auckland. By far the largest city in the country, Auckland is also New Zealand’s main arts and entertainment hub. In addition to a lively cultural and nightlife scene, the city’s landmarks include the Auckland Art Gallery, Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, and the Stardome Observatory which shares its location with archaeological Māori sites.
• Queenstown. Sometimes called the adrenaline capital of the world, Queenstown is the best place from which to dive right into the great Kiwi outdoors. Situated between the eastern coast of Lake Wakatipu and some truly spectacular mountains, it offers some of the best snowboarding, bungy jumping, and paragliding in the world.
• Wellington. Although not as popular with tourists as either the larger Auckland in the far north or the mountain meccas of the South Island, the capital of New Zealand can be a surprisingly fun place to visit. Located right on the southern edge of the North Island and thus providing a link between both, it is known for attractions such as the National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa and the National Tattoo Museum, both of which provide insight into the Maōri and wider Polynesian roots of the land.
• Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Situated around New Zealand’s highest peak and the rest of the Southern Alps, this spectacular national park has some of the most scenic drives in the country, as well as a vast network of hiking trails for everyone from beginners to seasoned hikers and climbers. Both Queenstown and Christchurch are about a four-hour drive away.
• Fiordland National Park. With glacier-carved fjords, enchanted forests, and snowcapped mountains, Fiordland National Park is one of the most beautiful and most visited areas in New Zealand, with Milford Sound leading as the most popular destination.
• Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Situated on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, the wetland Tai Poutini National Park is most renowned for its two glaciers: Franz Josef and Fox.

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.

Driver's license requirements

• New Zealand recognizes valid foreign driver’s licenses from around the world if they are printed in a Latin alphabet and if you’re visiting on a trip that’s shorter than 12 months. If you’re residing in New Zealand permanently, you need to obtain a local driver’s license.
• If your driver’s license is printed in another alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
• Even if you have an IDP, you need to also carry your original driver’s license as you might be asked to show both.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car providers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car provider and car category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

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

Here are just some of the top driving routes. Find more routes and full itineraries in this guide to New Zealand road trips.

• The Coromandel Peninsula. A large and distinct region of the North Island, the Coromandel Peninsula is a fun place to explore, especially with your own ride. In addition to a beautiful coastline and many cozy beach towns, the area is also known for its thermal springs, the Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, and Coromandel Forest Park. The drive from Auckland takes only about two hours.
• Christchurch. Continuing to recover from the 2011 earthquake, Christchurch (or Ōtautahi) is one of the nicest and most atmospheric places in New Zealand. The city is known for its well-preserved architecture and many notable buildings, cultural institutions like the Air Force Museum, and many gardens and public green spaces. A gateway to the South Pole, Christchurch is also home to the impressive International Arctic Center where visitors are made to feel like they are a part of a polar expedition.
• Dunedin. The southernmost large city of New Zealand is a place that draws travelers by its remoteness, but also interesting history – the city has a strong Scottish heritage and its name derives from the Scots language. In addition to many varied historical and cultural landmarks, as well as lovely urban beaches, Dunedin provides a connection to a number of stunning nature areas, not least the Royal Albatross Center that’s only about a 30-minute drive to the west.
• Southland. Vast, very sparsely populated, and dramatically beautiful, the southern part of New Zealand is the right place for an off-the-beaten-path road trip. The region is notable for its glaciers, fjords, and highland lakes; the southernmost city in Oceania, Invercargill; and distinct culture and cuisine that’s centered around oysters. Southland is also great for seeing Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights (the best season is the coldest time of the year, roughly from April to September). Invercargill is only a two-hour trip south of Queenstown and a tad farther from Dunedin.

Car rental prices in New Zealand

• Small cars - from $17 per day
• SUVs - from $29 per day
• Medium cars - from $17 per day
• Large cars - from $19 per day
• Station wagons - from $37 per day
• Vans - from $37 per day
• Premium cars - from $40 per day
• Convertibles - from $72 per day

Money-saving and other tips

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.