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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R766

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 18/12 and drop-off date of 8/1. 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 16 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: R766/day). Explore 3 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R766+

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Compact

Compact

R1 052+

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SUV

SUV

R1 589+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R3 212+

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Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

R2 308+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R1 200+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R1 498+

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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:

Renault SanderoR766/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 11/15/25
Volkswagen VentoR983/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Vento
Found 11/14/25
Toyota Corolla QuestR1 052/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 11/14/25

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 560. Data was last updated on 16 November 2025.
Renault SanderoR766/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 11/15/25
Volkswagen VentoR983/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Vento
Found 11/14/25
Toyota Corolla QuestR1 052/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 11/14/25

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 65 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R720, which is about 1 346% 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 keddy by Europcar (rated 10.0/10 with 1 review). EZI (rated 9.7/10 with 6 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

keddy by Europcar
keddy by Europcar
10.0
EZI
EZI
9.7
Avis
Avis
9.2
Dollar
Dollar
9.0

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 R543 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 324. 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 167

February

R1 075

March

R877

April

R850

May

R543

June

R573

July

R799

August

R768

September

R669

October

R655

November

R894

December

R1 324

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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 16 November 2025.

keddy by Europcar

10,0
Wonderful
1 review•7 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

10,0

Pick-up/drop-off

10,0

Value

10,0

EZI

9,7
Wonderful
6 reviews•10 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

9,7

Comfort

9,7

Overall

9,7

Pick-up/drop-off

9,7

Value

9,7

Avis

9,2
Wonderful
10 reviews•8 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,4

Comfort

9,6

Overall

9,2

Pick-up/drop-off

9,4

Value

8,9

Dollar

9,0
Wonderful
3 reviews•8 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

9,0

Pick-up/drop-off

8,7

Value

9,2

Ace Rental Cars

8,6
Very Good
23 reviews•11 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,3

Comfort

8,9

Overall

8,6

Pick-up/drop-off

8,5

Value

8,5

Hertz

8,5
Very Good
23 reviews•15 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,5

Comfort

8,7

Overall

8,5

Pick-up/drop-off

8,6

Value

8,3

Thrifty

8,5
Very Good
10 reviews•19 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,9

Comfort

9,0

Overall

8,5

Pick-up/drop-off

8,8

Value

8,1

Alamo

8,4
Very Good
3 reviews•5 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 16 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 910 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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