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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R249

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 6/8 and drop-off date of 13/8. 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 1 August 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: R249/day). Explore 3 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R249+

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Compact

Compact

R279+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

R474+

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Full-size

Full-size

R1 857+

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SUV

SUV

R614+

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People carrier

People carrier

R1 341+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R2 581+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R460+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R490+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R773+

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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 R625. Data was last updated on 1 August 2026.
Renault KwidR249/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Kwid
Found 07/30/26
Renault ClioR269/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Clio
Found 07/30/26
Renault SanderoR279/day
4
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 07/30/26

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 R686, which is about 1 290% 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 R500 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 305. 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 099

February

R1 198

March

R967

April

R760

May

R578

June

R500

July

R719

August

R657

September

R624

October

R566

November

R797

December

R1 305

What car do most people hire in South Island?

SUV cars (Class Compact SUV, for example) are the most popular in South Island. Compact (Toyota Corolla) and Standard (Subaru Forester) 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 1 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 1 August 2026.

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

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R503/day when booking a car hire in South Island. The absolute best deal a user found was for R296/day from EZU Car Rental, booked on Jul. 25.

  • 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 173 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 R52 170. 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