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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 8 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R686, which is about 1 314% 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 Thrifty (rated 10.0/10 with 3 reviews). Dollar (rated 10.0/10) is also highly rated by our users.

Thrifty
Thrifty
10.0
Dollar
Dollar
10.0
Europcar
Europcar
10.0
Ace Rental Cars
Ace Rental Cars
9.3

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 R464 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 261. 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 097

February

R1 183

March

R970

April

R776

May

R464

June

R485

July

R740

August

R641

September

R612

October

R583

November

R752

December

R1 261

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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 7 May 2026.

Thrifty

10,0
Wonderful
3 reviews•5 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

9,2

Dollar

3 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

9,0

Value

9,0

Europcar

10,0
Wonderful
3 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,6

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

10,0

Ace Rental Cars

9,3
Wonderful
8 reviews•4 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,8

Comfort

9,1

Overall

9,3

Pick-up/drop-off

9,1

Value

9,1

Avis

9,1
Wonderful
6 reviews•3 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,4

Comfort

9,7

Overall

9,1

Pick-up/drop-off

9,4

Value

8,5

EZI

9,0
Wonderful
1 review•2 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,0

Comfort

9,0

Overall

9,0

Pick-up/drop-off

9,0

Value

9,0

Hertz

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

Cleanliness

8,8

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,8

Pick-up/drop-off

8,6

Value

8,1

New Zealand Discount Car Rentals

8,6
Very Good
12 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,7

Comfort

8,4

Overall

8,6

Pick-up/drop-off

8,3

Value

8,6

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 7 May 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 R274/day from EZU Car Rental, booked on Apr. 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 106 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 882. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

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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