Car Hire in New Zealand – Enjoy the great landscapes

To rent a car legally in New Zealand driver’s need to be a minimum of 21 years of age and have held a valid driving licence for at least a year. This is different to other countries which normally require driver’s to be a minimum of 18 years of age, with anyone under 26 years of age incurring a young driver fee. In New Zealand the young driver surcharge fee applies to anyone between 21 and 24 years of age. If this is your first car hire, we recommend reading all the age requirements in effect for the country. Click on the info button during the booking process for more information or read your vouchers terms and conditions.

Yes – domestic one-way car hire in New Zealand is permitted although a fee is charged for this benefit. The vehicle is not allowed to travel internationally and travelling between islands is dependant on the car hire supplier chosen and the rental duration. Keddy, Hertz and Europcar, do not allow inter-island travel. A minimum of three rental days per island is also required. If you are looking to explore both island with these suppliers, you will be required to leave the vehicle at the ferry port and book and collect another vehicle once you reach the other island. You must inform us and the supplier of your desire to transfer islands.

Yes – a credit card is required to collect your car hire at most car rental suppliers in New Zealand. Sixt and Hertz are the only two suppliers that will accept a debit card. The numbers on the card must be embossed and raised. Only Visa and Mastercard debit cards are accepted and cannot be EFTPOS. All cards must be in the main driver’s name and contain enough funds for a deposit. Some suppliers of car rental in New Zealand require more than one card. This normally applies to luxury car categories. Consult your vouchers terms and conditions or the info button during the booking process for credit cards and deposits amounts.

Driving in New Zealand is safe and like all other first-world countries with similar road rules and regulations. In urban areas the speed limit is 30 m/ph, whilst on motorways it is 68 m/ph. Although, at some locations the speed limits are lowered to 50 m/ph or lower – especially when entering a Limited Speed Zone (LSZ). Due to the country’s varying weather, it is important to always adapt your speed to the road conditions. Winter periods and driving on the South Island can sometimes bring up challenging conditions, we therefore recommend hiring snow chains, or looking for an offer with free winter tyres.

Drink driving is strict in the country, with the limit being 50mg per 100ml of blood. Anyone under the age of 20 must not have a trace of alcohol in their blood whilst driving. Seatbelts are mandatory and a child car seat is also compulsory for children. Mobile phone usage is not permitted whilst driving expect with a hands-free kit. Many roads outside of build up areas are mountainous, narrow and windy. There are very few motorways in the country, with many being standard two-way traffic roads - gravel roads are also very common. Make sure you put out the triangle and wear your Hi-Viz jacket if you breakdown and inform both the car rental supplier and Auto Europe. Roads are at their busiest between December and April.

Yes, there are tolls in operation in New Zealand. These are clearly marked, and alternative routes are also well sign posted. Tolls in the country vary between $1.80 to $2.30 and can be paid either in cash or by bank card. E-tolls are in operation and the Northern Gateway toll road was one of the first electronical toll roads in the country. Along with the Northern Gateway toll, two further tolls exist – the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road. These are all located on the northern island. For further information consult the New Zealand government toll website.

Our basic rental rates already include the legally required insurance cover for the country. This car hire coverage incorporates Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection (TP) and Liability Insurance – with or without excess. These basic insurances do not cover every eventuality or all damage. We therefore encourage all our customers to consider taking out the Full Damage & Theft Protectio Cover. This added cover, will give you extra peace-of-mind. For a small fee, you’ll have cover for damage to mirrors, the roof and much more. To find out more click on the info button or refer to your voucher’s terms and conditions.

Local suppliers may try and offer their own insurance covers. This is totally optional, and you do not need to sign up to them. Auto Europe does not recommend, sell or profit from any local insurances. No refund is offered from our part, should the local insurance be deemed unnecessary afterwards. Local insurance types include Roadside Assistance, Breakdown Cover, Travel Insurance, Personal Effects Coverage and more. Consult the vehicle hire coverage section to find out more.

Yes, a UK driving licence is accepted in New Zealand. The driver must have held the driving licence for at least a year. Generally, you will need to be at least 21 years of age to hire a car in the country. Your home driving licence must be in English, if it isn’t, then an International Driving Permit is required. This must accompany your actual driving licence. A record of all endorsements must also be provided to the car rental supplier. This can either be done in print-out form, no older than 21 days, or via an online code that will give the supplier access to your record. Please consult the DVLA changes section to find out more.

Yes – to share in the joy of driving many suppliers allow for additional drivers to be added to the original booking. Often there are regular free additional driver offers which are location specific. Any additional drivers must be named on the rental and must provide the exact same paperwork as the main driver. Failure to declare any additional drivers means that any incidents that occur will be the sole responsibility of the main driver. It is therefore important to inform both the car hire supplier and Auto Europe when you choose a car hire in New Zealand.

Yes – there currently exists restrictions in certain zones, roads and on certain types of roads. It is not permitted to drive on unpaved roads and must stay to paved roads always. 4x4 vehicles are permitted on certain unpaved surfaces but these must be local, state or government maintained. Driving is not permitted on Ball Hutt, Skippers Road, 90-MileBeach, and on all roads north of Colville on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Other restricted roads and areas include, Tapu to Coroglen Road, east of Rapaura Gardens, 309 Road from Coromandel to Kairnarama and Blackjack Road. On the southern island between the hours of 22h00 to 06h00 from the 1st April until the 30th October, driving is not permitted. State Highway 6, The Milford Road, The West Coast Road and Wanaka, Arthur’s Pass. Furthermore, no cars are allowed on beaches, to drive through streams, rivers, dams, flood waters or any other restricted areas as stated by the local police authority.

The cost of renting a car in New Zealand can fluctuate due to various factors, such as your chosen destination, the category of the vehicle, the pick-up date, the duration of the rental, and, of course, the prevailing demand. To discover the most advantageous deals, utilize the Auto Europe Booking Engine. Simply input your desired pick-up and drop-off dates and times in New Zealand, along with your selected destination. You will then be able to explore different vehicle categories and effortlessly compare all available offers from our car rental partners worldwide. This enables you to secure the perfect vehicle at a competitive rate for your journey to New Zealand. To maximize your savings, consider signing up as a Member and/or subscribing to our Newsletter.