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New Zealand

Cheap Car Hire in New Zealand from R236

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car hire in New Zealand with a pick-up date of 15/12 and drop-off date of 22/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
Driver's age: 25-65
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New Zealand car hires in 2025

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in New Zealand. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 10 December 2025.

Most popular company

Best Car Rentals

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

R464

Cheapest price per day

R236
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Popular car types in New Zealand

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in New Zealand and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 10 December 2025.
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small car is the cheapest car type you can hire in New Zealand this past week from 854 hire locations out of 104 hire agencies. Prices for a New Zealand small car hire start from R236/day. Check out available deals for 3 car types currently offered at listed car hire agencies here:

Economy

Economy

R237+

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Compact

Compact

R236+

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Full-size

Full-size

R1 676+

View Deal
SUV

SUV

R834+

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People carrier

People carrier

R1 172+

View Deal
Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 218+

View Deal
Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

R1 982+

View Deal
Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R478+

View Deal

Compare car hire deals in New Zealand by type

Here are the best New Zealand small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best New Zealand SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Honda JazzR236/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz
Found 12/08/25
Kia RioR237/day
2
4
M
A/C
Kia Rio
Found 12/08/25
Toyota YarisR259/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris
Found 12/08/25

Best car hire deals found in New Zealand

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hiredeals in New Zealand. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect rental option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in New Zealand with an average daily rate of R792. Data was last updated on 10 December 2025.
Honda JazzR236/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz
Found 12/08/25
Kia RioR237/day
2
4
M
A/C
Kia Rio
Found 12/08/25
Toyota YarisR259/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris
Found 12/08/25

Cheapflights insights for New Zealand car hires

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in New Zealand, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in New Zealand?

Book your car hire in New Zealand 65 days before your pickup date to maximise your savings. Car hire prices are around R693/day on average when booked 65 days ahead, which saves you 1 285% off the average price.

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What is the cheapest car hire company in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, the most affordable car hire company right now is Mode, offering prices from just R280,37/day over the past two weeks. Another budget-friendly choice is EZU Car Rental, with rates starting at R342,41/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in New Zealand?

Planning to hire a car in New Zealand? May is the cheapest month, costing about R599 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 268. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

R1 121

February

R1 071

March

R940

April

R953

May

R599

June

R710

July

R704

August

R682

September

R649

October

R696

November

R822

December

R1 268

What car do most people hire in New Zealand?

SUV cars (Kia Stonic or similar) are the most popular option for those visiting New Zealand. Compact cars (Class Compact Car or similar) are also a popular choice, followed by Intermediate cars (Mitsubishi Outlander or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in New Zealand?

Thrifty has 63 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in New Zealand at 60.

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Top rental agencies in New Zealand

Explore the leading car hire agencies in New Zealand known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in New Zealand. Reviews were last updated on 10 December 2025.

Ace Rental Cars

8,4
Very Good
39 reviews•19 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,2

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,2

Value

8,3

Apex

8,4
Very Good
42 reviews•16 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,7

Comfort

8,4

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,6

Value

8,4

Budget

8,2
Very Good
40 reviews•21 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,1

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,2

Pick-up/drop-off

8,0

Value

8,2

Hertz

8,2
Very Good
52 reviews•60 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,5

Comfort

8,5

Overall

8,2

Pick-up/drop-off

8,3

Value

8,0

Europcar

7,2
Good
39 reviews•13 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,7

Comfort

8,7

Overall

7,2

Pick-up/drop-off

7,6

Value

7,4

Avis

9,5
Wonderful
22 reviews•21 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,4

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,5

Pick-up/drop-off

9,3

Value

8,9

EZI

9,2
Wonderful
19 reviews•28 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,3

Comfort

9,3

Overall

9,2

Pick-up/drop-off

8,9

Value

9,0

Thrifty

8,2
Very Good
26 reviews•63 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,4

Comfort

8,5

Overall

8,2

Pick-up/drop-off

8,1

Value

8,0

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in New Zealand, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 10 December 2025.

  • What is the most popular car hire provider in New Zealand?

    The most popular car hire company at New Zealand is Mode. With prices on ECONOMY starting at R280/day about 65% more people book with Mode than other companies in the country.

  • What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in New Zealand?

    At R464/day, it is 0% cheaper on average to rent a car in Queenstown than any other city in New Zealand. The cheapest price found in New Zealand was for R351/day in Queenstown.

  • What side of the road do you drive on in New Zealand?

    In New Zealand, drivers are expected to drive on the left side of the road.

Car hires by fuel type in New Zealand

Browse car hires by fuel type in New Zealand. Currently, Hybrid cars are the cheapest to rent in New Zealand. Deals were last updated on 10 December 2025.
All deals

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in New Zealand. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Hybrid being the cheapest (R15+).

Electric

Electric

R74+

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Hybrid

Hybrid

R15+

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Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

R19+

View Deal

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