New Zealand car rentals

On average a car hire in New Zealand costs $36 per day.

Compact (Ford Focus Wagon or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in New Zealand.

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Yesaway ($19/day), Scotties ($22/day) and Mode Car & Camper Rentals ($30/day).

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in New Zealand are Hertz (8.7, 170 reviews), Avis (8.7, 90 reviews), and Budget (8.6, 102 reviews).

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK. The most popular cities to hire a car in New Zealand are Christchurch (34% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in New Zealand). Auckland (22%) and Queenstown (20%).

On average hiring a car in New Zealand costs $363 per week ($52 per day).

On average a car hire in New Zealand costs $1,556 per month ($52 per day).

In New Zealand, you’ll drive on the left side of the road. Roundabouts go clockwise, and there is an abundance of sheep in the countryside to watch out for. Other than that, driving in New Zealand is much like driving anywhere in Europe or in the United States. Also, there are many winding roads in New Zealand, so be sure to give yourself enough travel time if you’re in a rush.

To legally rent a car in New Zealand, you must be over the age of 21. However, if you’re under the age of 25, many rental car companies will add a surcharge to your reservation. New drivers should also take note that you must have had your license for at least one year when renting in New Zealand. You can rent a car in this country with a valid driver’s license, so there’s no need to get an international driving permit if you don’t already have one.

Getting petrol in New Zealand will cost you over twice what it costs in the United States. The price of a gallon of petrol in New Zealand is around 8.78 NZD (5.70 USD), while the price of petrol in the US is around 2.50 USD per gallon. Credit cards are commonly accepted at petrol stations in New Zealand, so you’ll likely not have to worry about carrying cash to the pump.

The speed limits in New Zealand range from 10 km/h to 110 km/h (6-68 mph), depending on the area you’re in. If you’re in a pedestrian zone, the limit will be 10 km/h (6 mph), with limits increasing the farther you get from pedestrian areas. In some rural areas, you’ll see a circular white sign with a diagonal black line through it. This sign means that the speed in the area is derestricted, and a general 100 km/h (62 mph) limit applies.