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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R231

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 23/11 and drop-off date of 27/11. 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 5 November 2025.
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There are, in total, 101 car hire locations in South Island that are operated by 73 companies. In the past week, small car is the cheapest car type users can hire (cheapest price last found: R231/day). Explore 3 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R259+

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Compact

Compact

R231+

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Full-size

Full-size

R2 335+

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SUV

SUV

R1 836+

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People carrier

People carrier

R2 015+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 252+

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Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

R2 372+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R678+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R999+

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Compare car hire deals in South Island by type

Here are the best South Island small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best South Island SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Nissan MicraR231/day
4
M
A/C
Nissan Micra
Found 11/03/25
Volkswagen VentoR259/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Vento
Found 11/03/25
Toyota Corolla QuestR264/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 11/03/25

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 R1 428. Data was last updated on 5 November 2025.
Nissan MicraR231/day
4
M
A/C
Nissan Micra
Found 11/03/25
Volkswagen VentoR259/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Vento
Found 11/03/25
Toyota Corolla QuestR264/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 11/03/25

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 R729, which is about 1 360% 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 Enterprise Rent-A-Car (rated 10.0/10 with 1 review). keddy by Europcar (rated 10.0/10 with 1 review) is also highly rated by our users.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
10.0
keddy by Europcar
keddy by Europcar
10.0
EZI
EZI
9.6
Avis
Avis
9.4

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 R551 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 364. 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 193

February

R1 102

March

R896

April

R861

May

R551

June

R586

July

R816

August

R792

September

R687

October

R677

November

R907

December

R1 364

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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 5 November 2025.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

10,0
Wonderful
1 review•4 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

10,0

keddy by Europcar

10,0
Wonderful
1 review•5 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

10,0

EZI

9,6
Wonderful
3 reviews•7 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,6

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,6

Pick-up/drop-off

9,6

Value

9,6

Avis

9,4
Wonderful
9 reviews•7 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,6

Comfort

9,8

Overall

9,4

Pick-up/drop-off

9,6

Value

9,0

Dollar

8,8
Very Good
2 reviews•6 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

8,8

Pick-up/drop-off

8,5

Value

9,1

Thrifty

8,5
Very Good
10 reviews•12 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,9

Comfort

9,0

Overall

8,5

Pick-up/drop-off

8,8

Value

8,1

Apex

8,5
Very Good
15 reviews•7 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,6

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,5

Pick-up/drop-off

8,8

Value

8,2

Alamo

8,4
Very Good
3 reviews•4 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,4

Comfort

8,4

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,4

Value

8,4

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 5 November 2025.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in South Island for a week from New Zealand Discount Car Rentals?

    New Zealand Discount Car Rentals is one of the most popular car hire companies in South Island, offering car hire for around R2 974 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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