Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most car-hire firms suggest (or insist) that you don't take their vehicles between islands on
the Cook Strait ferries. Instead, you leave your car at either Wellington or Picton terminal and
pick up another car once you've crossed the strait. This saves you paying to transport a
vehicle on the ferry, and is a pain-free exercise.
International rental companies
The big multinational companies have offices in most ma-
jor cities, towns and airports. Firms sometimes offer one-way rentals (eg collect a car in
Auckland, leave it in Wellington), but there are often restrictions and fees. On the other
hand, an operator in Christchurch may need to get a vehicle back to Auckland and will offer
an amazing one-way deal (sometimes free!).
The major companies offer a choice of either unlimited kilometres, or 100km (or so) per
day free, plus so many cents per subsequent kilometre. Daily rates in main cities typically
start at around $45 per day for a compact, late-model, Japanese car, and around $75 for
medium-sized cars (including GST, unlimited kilometres and insurance).
Avis
( 0800 655 111, 09-526-2847;
www.avis.co.nz
)
Budget
( 0800 283 438, 09-529 7784;
www.budget.co.nz
)
Europcar
( 0800 800 115;
www.europcar.co.nz
)
Hertz
( 0800 654 321, 03-358 6789;
www.hertz.co.nz
)
Thrifty
( 0800 737 070, 03-359 2721;
www.thrifty.co.nz
)
Local rental companies
Local rental firms dapple the
Yellow Pages
(
www.yellow.co.nz
).
These are almost always cheaper than the big boys − sometimes half the price − but the
cheap rates may come with restrictions: vehicles are often older, and with less formality
sometimes comes a less protective legal structure for renters.
Rentals from local firms start at around $30 per day for the most compact option. It's obvi-
ously cheaper if you rent for a week or more, and there are often low-season and weekend
discounts.
Affordable independent operators with national networks include the following:
a2b Car Rentals
( 0800 545 000;
www.a2b-carrentals.co.nz
)
Ace Rental Cars
( 0800 502 277, 09-303 3112;
www.acerentalcars.co.nz
)
Apex Rentals
( 0800 939 597, 03-379 6897;
www.apexrentals.co.nz
)
Go Rentals
( 0800 467 368, 09-525 7321;
www.gorentals.co.nz
)
Jucy Rentals
( 0800 399 736, 09-374 4360;
www.jucy.co.nz
)
Omega Rental Cars
( 0800 525 210, 09-377 5573;
www.omegarentalcars.com
)
