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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R260

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 South Island with a pick-up date of 16/7 and drop-off date of 19/7. 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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Popular car types in South Island

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in South Island and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 20 June 2026.
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There are, in total, 116 car hire locations in South Island that are operated by 86 companies. In the past week, small car is the cheapest car type users can hire (cheapest price last found: R260/day). Explore 4 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R272+

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Compact

Compact

R260+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

R747+

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Full-size

Full-size

R1 278+

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SUV

SUV

R659+

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People carrier

People carrier

R1 284+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R3 244+

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Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R1 048+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R497+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R695+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R1 069+

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Best car hire deals found in South Island

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hiredeals in South Island. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect rental option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in South Island with an average daily rate of R892. Data was last updated on 20 June 2026.
Hyundai i10R260/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i10
Found 06/19/26
Kia PicantoR272/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Found 06/19/26
Renault KwidR308/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Kwid
Found 06/19/26

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 80 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R700, which is about 1 318% 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 Avis (rated 9.2/10 with 10 reviews). Snap Rentals (rated 7.8/10 with 12 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Avis
Avis
9.2
Snap Rentals
Snap Rentals
7.8
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
2.0
Gold Car Rent a Car
Gold Car Rent a Car
0.0

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

Planning to hire a car in South Island? June is the cheapest month, costing about R523 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 288. 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 095

February

R1 206

March

R971

April

R761

May

R576

June

R523

July

R716

August

R634

September

R609

October

R572

November

R790

December

R1 288

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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 20 June 2026.

Avis

9,2
Wonderful
10 reviews•8 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,4

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,2

Pick-up/drop-off

9,4

Value

8,9

Snap Rentals

7,8
Good
12 reviews•4 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

7,8

Comfort

8,0

Overall

7,8

Pick-up/drop-off

7,4

Value

7,7

Routes Car & Truck Rentals

7 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

2,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

2,0

Pick-up/drop-off

2,0

Value

6,0

Gold Car Rent a Car

4 locations
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GO Rent A Car

2 locations
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Maui

2 locations
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Right Cars

6 locations
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Joy Car Rental

1 location
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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 20 June 2026.

  • What is the cheapest hire car found in South Island?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R514/day when booking a car hire in South Island. The absolute best deal a user found was for R262/day from EZU Car Rental, booked on Jun. 20.

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

    Mode is one of the most popular car hire companies in South Island, offering car hire for around R12 128 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.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in South Island for a month?

    The average cost of a car hire in South Island for a month is R51 975. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

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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Free Cancellation

Plans change – we get it. And that’s why you can search and book car hire on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation