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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island

Driver's age: 25-65
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Cheapflights insights for South Island car hires

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

How far in advance should I hire a car in South Island?

To get the best deal on car hire in South Island, book about 64 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R677, which is about 1 273% cheaper than the typical rate.

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What is the best car rental company in South Island?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in South Island is Dollar (rated 10.0/10). EZI (rated 9.6/10 with 4 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Dollar
Dollar
10.0
EZI
EZI
9.6
Avis
Avis
9.2
Thrifty
Thrifty
8.4

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in South Island?

Planning to hire a car in South Island? May is the cheapest month, costing about R454 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 297. 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 107

February

R1 173

March

R942

April

R801

May

R454

June

R491

July

R797

August

R714

September

R632

October

R615

November

R752

December

R1 297

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Top rental agencies in South Island

Explore the leading car hire agencies in South Island known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in South Island. Reviews were last updated on 8 March 2026.

Dollar

4 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

9,5

Value

9,5

EZI

9,6
Wonderful
4 reviews•5 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

9,6

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,6

Pick-up/drop-off

9,6

Value

9,6

Avis

9,2
Wonderful
9 reviews•5 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

9,4

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,2

Pick-up/drop-off

9,4

Value

8,8

Thrifty

8,4
Very Good
8 reviews•10 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,9

Comfort

9,0

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,7

Value

8,1

Ace Rental Cars

8,4
Very Good
16 reviews•4 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

9,2

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,5

Value

8,5

Apex

8,3
Very Good
11 reviews•4 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,5

Comfort

7,9

Overall

8,3

Pick-up/drop-off

8,6

Value

8,1

New Zealand Discount Car Rentals

8,0
Very Good
19 reviews•3 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,2

Comfort

7,9

Overall

8,0

Pick-up/drop-off

7,9

Value

8,3

Hertz

7,9
Good
21 reviews•8 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

7,8

Comfort

8,1

Overall

7,9

Pick-up/drop-off

8,0

Value

7,6

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in South Island, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 8 March 2026.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in South Island for a week from Budget?

    Budget is one of the most popular car hire companies in South Island, offering car hire for around R5 443 per week on average.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in South Island?

    Yes, cars are available to be hired for an entire month in South Island.

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Airport car hires in South Island

Hire a car at one of these airports in the South Island area
Queenstown Intl Airport car hire
Dunedin Airport car hire
Blenheim Airport car hire
Timaru Airport car hire

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