Find Rentals
Insights
Agencies
FAQs
South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island

Driver's age: 25-65
Here’s why our users search for rental cars through Cheapflights

Price trackingHolding out for a great deal? Get notified when prices are reduced.

Customized resultsFilter by rental agency, car type, price range and more.

Unlimited free useSearch as many times as you want with no hidden charges or fees.

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 61 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R685, which is about 1 265% cheaper than the typical rate.

Find deals

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
Avis
Avis
9.4
Dollar
Dollar
8.8

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 R515 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 282. 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 066

March

R882

April

R862

May

R515

June

R531

July

R771

August

R735

September

R646

October

R630

November

R856

December

R1 282

Find deals

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 18 January 2026.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

10,0
Wonderful
1 review•4 locations
Check prices
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

Avis

9,4
Wonderful
9 reviews•7 locations
Check prices
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
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

8,8

Pick-up/drop-off

8,5

Value

9,1

EZI

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

Cleanliness

8,7

Comfort

8,7

Overall

8,7

Pick-up/drop-off

8,7

Value

8,7

Thrifty

8,5
Very Good
10 reviews•12 locations
Check prices
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
Check prices
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 18 January 2026.

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

    Snap Rentals is one of the most popular car hire companies in South Island, offering car hire for around R4 217 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

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

Best Car Hire Deals

We make it easy and fast to find and compare deals from 70,000+ car hire locations and hundreds of agencies.

No surprises

Prices shown to you will be final, without any hidden charges or fees.

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