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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R233

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 31/8 and drop-off date of 4/9. 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 10 August 2026.
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There are, in total, 118 car hire locations in South Island that are operated by 88 companies. In the past week, small car is the cheapest car type users can hire (cheapest price last found: R233/day). Explore 2 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R233+

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Compact

Compact

R249+

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Full-size

Full-size

R2 101+

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SUV

SUV

R631+

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People carrier

People carrier

R668+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R484+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R765+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R815+

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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 R486. Data was last updated on 10 August 2026.
Renault KwidR233/day
Renault Kwid
Found 08/10/26
Toyota Corolla QuestR249/day
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 08/10/26
Renault SanderoR254/day
Renault Sandero
Found 08/10/26

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 8 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R691, which is about 1 307% 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 Bargain Rental Cars (rated 10.0/10 with 1 review). Hao Car Rentals Limited (rated 10.0/10 with 1 review) is also highly rated by our users.

Bargain Rental Cars
Bargain Rental Cars
10.0
Hao Car Rentals Limited
Hao Car Rentals Limited
10.0
Avis
Avis
9.2
Rental Cars 247
Rental Cars 247
9.2

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 R485 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 278. 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 080

February

R1 173

March

R946

April

R744

May

R566

June

R485

July

R683

August

R635

September

R615

October

R558

November

R772

December

R1 278

What car do most people hire in South Island?

SUV cars (Class Compact SUV, for example) are the most popular in South Island. Intermediate (Class Intermediate Car) and Compact (Toyota Corolla) cars are also often chosen by our users when visiting South Island.

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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 10 August 2026.

Bargain Rental Cars

10,0
Wonderful
1 review•3 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

8,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

10,0

Hao Car Rentals Limited

10,0
Wonderful
1 review•2 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

10,0

Avis

9,2
Wonderful
10 reviews•9 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,4

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,2

Pick-up/drop-off

9,4

Value

8,9

Rental Cars 247

9,2
Wonderful
7 reviews•2 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,2

Comfort

9,2

Overall

9,2

Pick-up/drop-off

9,2

Value

9,0

JUCY

8,0
Very Good
4 reviews•3 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

7,4

Comfort

7,7

Overall

8,0

Pick-up/drop-off

7,4

Value

7,7

New Zealand Discount Car Rentals

8,0
Very Good
19 reviews•3 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,2

Comfort

7,9

Overall

8,0

Pick-up/drop-off

7,9

Value

8,3

National

4 locations
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NZZU

2 locations
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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 10 August 2026.

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

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R507/day when booking a car hire in South Island. The absolute best deal a user found was for R259/day from EZU Car Rental, booked on Aug. 8.

  • 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 R11 914 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 060. 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