Car Rental in Dunedin

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Dunedin, New Zealand
Unable to find any location
Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
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Cheapest car rental rates

Dunedin Airport
Economy
Toyota Yaris or similar
Toyota Yaris
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$27.93 per day
Dunedin Airport
Compact
Hyundai i30 or similar
Hyundai i30
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
$28.86 per day
Dunedin Airport
Intermediate
Toyota Corolla or similar
Toyota Corolla
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Europcar
$32.20 per day
Dunedin Airport
Full-size SUV
Toyota RAV4 or similar
Toyota RAV4
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Ezi Car Rental
$34.68 per day

Most popular car rental deals

Dunedin Airport
Standard SUV
Toyota RAV 4 AWD Hybrid or similar
Toyota RAV 4 AWD Hybrid
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
SIXT
$44.09 per day
Dunedin Airport
Premium SUV
Ford Everest or similar
Ford Everest
  • 7
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Dollar
$47.36 per day
Dunedin Airport
Economy
Suzuki Swift or similar
Suzuki Swift
  • 5
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$28.44 per day
Dunedin Airport
Compact Crossover
Toyota C-HR or similar
Toyota C-HR
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$29.25 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 12:57 PM on 5/18/25. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader, we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (4 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 200k+ total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.

Travel information

Languages
English, Samoan
Currency
NZD
Drive on
Left-hand side
Country code
+64
Average car rental price
$34 per day
Average car rental length
6 days
Speed limit within town
30 - 50 km/h or 19 - 31 mph
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h or 50 - 62 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Rating
9.2 / 10
Average gas price
$1.66 per liter or $6.28 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$1.47 per liter or $5.56 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.68 per liter or $6.36 per gallon

Why rent a car in Dunedin?

Considered remote even by New Zealand’s standards, the capital of the Otago region is often called the southernmost city in the world. Located on the eastern coast of South Island, the city is quite small and accessible but offers a wealth of interesting things to see and do at the same time. Even better, New Zealand’s majestic nature is also only a short drive away with a rental car.

One-way car rentals in Dunedin

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Dunedin and drop off in another city include:

  • From Dunedin to Christchurch - 9 offers from $91.17 per day
  • From Dunedin to Queenstown - 9 offers from $91.17 per day
  • From Dunedin to Auckland - 9 offers from $194.21 per day

Top ways to enter Dunedin

  • Dunedin Airport. With about one million travelers served every year, this relatively small airport offers connections with other large cities in New Zealand, as well as Brisbane in Australia. Located about 25 km (16 miles) west of the city center, the airport can be reached in 25 minutes by car.
  • Queenstown Airport. Serving the adventure tourism capital of New Zealand, Queenstown Airport has flights to many domestic destinations, as well as Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in Australia. Located 270 km (168 miles) northwest of Dunedin, the trip to or from Queenstown takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
  • Christchurch Airport. By far the busiest airport on the South Island, it handles about seven million passengers every year. In addition to flights to domestic and Australian destinations, this airport also offers connections with Fiji, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and the United Arab Emirates. Located some 360 km (224 miles) north of Dunedin, Christchurch Airport can be reached in about 4 hours and 30 minutes, with most of the road taking you right along the coast.

Top sights and activities

  • Baldwin Street. Recognized as the steepest street in the world by the Guinness World Records, Baldwin Street is also one of Dunedin’s main attractions. Whether you choose to comfortably ascend this anomaly in a rental car or go for a seriously taxing climb, this is the quintessential travel experience of Dunedin. You’ll feel like you’ve joined a club once you’re up there.
  • Dunedin Public Art Gallery: Boasting a truly impressive collection, Dunedin’s main art museum displays the works of many important New Zealandic artists and internationally renowned masters like Turner and Monet. Celebrating its 140th birthday in 2024, it is the oldest art gallery in all of the country.
  • Otago Museum. Named after the wider region in which Dunedin is located, this museum is dedicated to the topics of biology, natural history, and ethnography. In addition to countless artifacts relating to the local nature and culture, there is also a wide and fascinating collection of butterfly species from around the world.
  • Tunnel Beach. Tunnel Beach Walk provides spectacular coastal views, including a natural archway bridge. Check out the historic 1870s tunnel to a small but beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs. The walk takes about two hours, and the beach is located around a ten-minute drive away from the center of Dunedin.

Toll roads

All of the toll roads in New Zealand are in the northern part of the North Island, so there are none in or around Dunedin.

The toll roads on the North Island all serve as short bypasses of congested areas. The tolls are therefore quite low. The toll roads use a license plate capturing system with no physical booths. Payment can be made either by having a setup account, by paying online before or within five days of using a toll road, or with cash in some BP and Caltex petrol stations (though a small fee will be added). 

Many rental companies offer some system, with a fee, to pass on toll payments to you without you having to do anything. Of course, it may be better just to pay the toll yourself and save on paying that fee. The toll roads can all be avoided quite easily by avoiding the bypass roads and transiting through the towns (in addition to being able to see more). 

Ideas for day trips

  • Orokonui Eco Sanctuary. Located just half an hour’s drive north of Dunedin center, Orokonui is one of the nicest nature areas in Otago. With a network of paths winding through the region’s famous cloud forest, the center is home to unique native species such as takahē or notornis birds, lizard-like tuataras, and the flightless-but-famous kiwis. You can learn about the Orokonui’s preservation and education projects at the visitor’s center or by joining a tour. 
  • The Catlins. Collectively known as the Catlins, this is the remote, scenic southern part of Otago. Made up of wild beaches and forested hills, it has a large number of walking trails and is also known as the location of a fossilized Jurassic-era forest that’s over 180 million years old. The drive from Dunedin takes slightly over two hours.

Car rental prices in Dunedin

  • Station wagons - from $37 per day
  • Large cars - from $31 per day
  • Medium cars - from $29 per day
  • Vans - from $86 per day
  • Premium cars - from $54 per day
  • Small cars - from $28 per day
  • SUVs - from $29 per day
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.
Learn more about our Editorial Policy.
Fact checked by
Marta Kulesza
This article was reviewed and updated by Marta, who spent the last 17 years living as a digital nomad and traveling the World before settling in a small alpine village in Austria. When it comes down to designing road trips for hiking enthusiasts around the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, the Italian Dolomites, or Norway, she considers herself an expert. When she's not sitting at her computer and editing photos from her last trip, you can find her skiing or hiking with her dog in the mountains.

Top 20 cities near Dunedin

  1. Queenstown from $6.96 per day
    152.1 km / 94.5 miles away
  2. Invercargill from $27.93 per day
    154.7 km / 96.1 miles away
  3. Timaru
    188.8 km / 117.3 miles away
  4. Christchurch from $6.28 per day
    328 km / 203.8 miles away
  5. Westport
    477.1 km / 296.5 miles away
  6. Nelson from $21.39 per day
    568.9 km / 353.5 miles away
  7. Blenheim from $30.22 per day
    572.1 km / 355.5 miles away
  8. Picton from $28.53 per day
    599.9 km / 372.8 miles away
  9. Wellington from $12.09 per day
    631.3 km / 392.3 miles away
  10. Palmerston North from $29.32 per day
    762.1 km / 473.5 miles away
  11. Whanganui from $43.56 per day
    770.4 km / 478.7 miles away
  12. New Plymouth from $24.68 per day
    835.1 km / 518.9 miles away
  13. Napier from $34.25 per day
    901.1 km / 559.9 miles away
  14. Taupo from $39.97 per day
    933.3 km / 579.9 miles away
  15. Rotorua from $35.06 per day
    1,004.6 km / 624.2 miles away
  16. Gisborne from $41.81 per day
    1,029.4 km / 639.6 miles away
  17. Tauranga from $35.06 per day
    1,043.1 km / 648.2 miles away
  18. Auckland from $5.96 per day
    1,062.1 km / 660 miles away
  19. Waiheke Island from $31.96 per day
    1,092.2 km / 678.7 miles away
  20. Kerikeri from $46.84 per day
    1,225.9 km / 761.7 miles away

Top 20 locations near Dunedin

  1. Dunedin Airport from $27.93 per day
  2. Queenstown Airport from $6.96 per day
    152.1 km / 94.5 miles away
  3. Invercargill Airport from $27.93 per day
    154.7 km / 96.1 miles away
  4. Christchurch Airport from $6.28 per day
    328 km / 203.8 miles away
  5. Downtown from $11.86 per day
    328.3 km / 204 miles away
  6. Nelson Airport from $21.39 per day
    568.9 km / 353.5 miles away
  7. Wellington Airport from $15.75 per day
    631.3 km / 392.3 miles away
  8. Downtown from $12.09 per day
    632.7 km / 393.1 miles away
  9. Wellington Inter Island Ferry Terminal from $28.88 per day
    636.2 km / 395.3 miles away
  10. Palmerston North Airport from $29.32 per day
    762.1 km / 473.5 miles away
  11. New Plymouth Airport from $24.68 per day
    835.1 km / 518.9 miles away
  12. Napier Airport from $34.25 per day
    901.1 km / 559.9 miles away
  13. Rotorua Airport from $35.06 per day
    1,004.6 km / 624.2 miles away
  14. Tauranga Airport from $35.06 per day
    1,043.1 km / 648.2 miles away
  15. Auckland Airport from $5.96 per day
    1,062.1 km / 660 miles away
  16. Auckland Onehunga from $11.78 per day
    1,071.1 km / 665.6 miles away
  17. Auckland Henderson from $12.04 per day
    1,071.6 km / 665.9 miles away
  18. Auckland Penrose from $25.17 per day
    1,072.4 km / 666.4 miles away
  19. Auckland East Tamaki from $12.01 per day
    1,072.4 km / 666.4 miles away
  20. Auckland Mount Wellington from $12.33 per day
    1,074.4 km / 667.6 miles away

Map of car rental locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Dunedin?

Car rental prices in Dunedin vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Dunedin
$63.43
January
$62.40
February
$62.73
March
$64.70
April
$38.46
May
$47.27
June
$44.27
July
$42.54
August
$53.39
September
$39.49
October
$57.31
November
$74.73
December
The cheapest month to rent a car in Dunedin is May (when prices average $38.46 per day). This is 29% cheaper than the yearly average and 49% cheaper than renting in December (when prices average $74.73).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Dunedin?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in February, the average renter keeps their car for 9 days, and in May, they keep their car for 5 days.
Average number of rental days in Dunedin
6
January
9
February
9
March
8
April
5
May
6
June
6
July
5
August
5
September
5
October
6
November
5
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Dunedin?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Dunedin is November, and the least popular is June.
Monthly searches in Dunedin by pick-up date relative to the average
85%
January
120%
February
70%
March
100%
April
100%
May
50%
June
90%
July
105%
August
85%
September
115%
October
154%
November
129%
December

Car rental information

Car rental locations 2
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Go Rentals, Ezi Car Rental, Europcar, Thrifty, yesaway
Popular car categories SUVs, Small cars, Medium cars, Large cars
Lowest price $28 per day
Cheapest supplier Alamo

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Ezi Car Rental Ford Puma 5 2 Small cars
Go Rentals Toyota Yaris 5 2 Small cars
Go Rentals Toyota Corolla 5 1 Medium cars
Go Rentals Mitsubishi ASX 5 2 SUVs
yesaway Toyota Vitz 5 2 Small cars
Ezi Car Rental Ford Focus 5 2 Medium cars
Thrifty Kia Seltos 5 2 SUVs
yesaway Toyota RAV4 (2016-2018) 5 2 SUVs
Keddy Kia Stonic 4 2 SUVs
Thrifty Toyota Corolla 4 2 Medium cars

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
10/26/23
Used for local trips with family
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla Sedan
7/9/23
Great beaches and lovely scenery. Lots of nice places to eat. Really need a car to explore all along the peninsula.
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
5/15/23
Work
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla Sedan
3/2/23
Visited sons new flat on Castle street. Bloody awesome experience!
Canada
Hyundai i30
12/4/22
The southeast corner of the South Island of NZ is truly amazing (scenery, birds, sea life, museums, history). We also had incredible weather.
New Zealand
Mitsubishi ASX
1/16/22
Picked car up from Dunedin and drove to Oamaru for a night to visit family. Perfect for long drives and sight seeing.
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
6/24/21
The South Island of New Zealand is spectacular, with great scenery, walks and drives.
New Zealand
Toyota RAV4
6/14/21
Excellent places, beautiful sceneries during daytime good weather. Many safe lookout places on the side of the road for stationary viewing and photo opportunities. But be careful driving at night especially on the zigzag areas because you should be on the low beam most of the time as you don't want to irritate the eyes of the drivers passing through the opposite side and if much of your upper front window in your vehicle is tinted, the more you are restricted in your visibility.
New Zealand
Holden Barina
4/28/19
We had two nights in Dunedin and four in Waikawa in the Catlins. We bloody loved it and having a car is really the only way to see what we did.

Car rental statistics

Highest-rated company
Ezi Car Rental
9.1 / 10
)
Lowest-rated company
yesaway
7.4 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
9
Total rental companies
15
Average daily price
$34.10
Lowest daily price
$27.93
Total cars available
109

Top 15 suppliers in Dunedin in 2025

Ezi Car Rental
Ezi Car Rental
Exceptional 9.1 / 24 reviews
1 location
$31 - $164
Thrifty
Thrifty
Exceptional 9 / 25 reviews
2 locations
$33 - $172
Europcar
Europcar
Very good 8.9 / 22 reviews
1 location
$32 - $43
Ace Rental Cars
Ace Rental Cars
Very good 8.9 / 14 reviews
1 location
$33 - $128
Hertz
Hertz
Very good 8.9 / 27 reviews
2 locations
$41 - $200
Go Rentals
Go Rentals
Very good 8.8 / 37 reviews
1 location
$31 - $41
Alamo
Alamo
Very good 8.7 / 9 reviews
1 location
$28 - $35
Dollar
Dollar
Very good 8.5 / 0 reviews
1 location
$31 - $192
SIXT
SIXT
Very good 8.4 / 0 reviews
1 location
$31 - $86
Budget
Budget
Very good 8.2 / 1 review
1 location
$29 - $77
Routes Car Rental
Routes Car Rental
Average 7.9 / 0 reviews
1 location
$33 - $35
National
National
Average 7.8 / 0 reviews
1 location
$33 - $35
Keddy
Keddy
Average 7.7 / 1 review
1 location
$30 - $37
Firefly
Firefly
Average 7.7 / 0 reviews
2 locations
$30 - $37
yesaway
yesaway
Average 7.4 / 35 reviews
1 location
$30 - $37

Highly recommended by our customers

May 21, 2025
EASY TO USE WEBSITE :-)
Easy to navigate aroind the website and filter your car choices.- plus good choice of cars
Reg
May 21, 2025
First class service
First class service, I had a car for a week without any problems. Well done
Dawid Horczak
May 21, 2025
Very smooth and easy
Very smooth and easy, thank you
Kobi Benita
May 21, 2025
Best rental broker ever! Cheap and professional
I've used them several times and will continue to do it in the future. Today I had a little hiccup with the booking and couldn't get a refund. Carlos helped me promptly and solved my issue with speed, professionality and kindness. Super recommended!
Fabio M.
May 21, 2025
Love south africa
Feels like comming home
Marcel Mons
May 21, 2025
Perfect
Perfect, thak's
Alberto bogliatto
May 21, 2025
everything went great
everything went great
Sicco Bakker
May 21, 2025
good thank you
good thank you
soufiane fquihi
May 21, 2025
Dispute handled very well by discover cars
Rented a car from Goldcar in FCO via discover cars. Goldcar screwed us and didn't let us have the car, we had to rent another vehicle last minute at a huge cost. Although we couldn't reach discover cars CS at the time, I created a dispute which was handled very well by discover cars and we were refunded the original rental cost.
Deniz
May 21, 2025
Great
Ease of use.
customer
May 21, 2025
it was easy easy
it was easy easy
Latif Sakir Ozturk
May 21, 2025
Process of booking was very easy and…
Process of booking was very easy and simple.
Mercè Jiménez Figuerola
May 21, 2025
Easy admin with the booking
Easy admin with the booking
Farfar vid ratten
May 21, 2025
very good
very good, good service
M.Degger
May 21, 2025
Quick and Easy
Quick and Easy
ianbell
May 21, 2025
Quick easy simple excellent choice of…
Quick easy simple excellent choice of vehicles, competitive pricing
mohamed aslam atcha

Dunedin

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