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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R252

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 24/7 and drop-off date of 31/7. 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 18 July 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: R252/day). Explore 3 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R252+

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Compact

Compact

R291+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

R428+

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Full-size

Full-size

R2 756+

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SUV

SUV

R926+

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People carrier

People carrier

R1 881+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 741+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R659+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R1 062+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R1 080+

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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 R884. Data was last updated on 18 July 2026.
Volkswagen VentoR252/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Vento
Found 07/17/26
Toyota Corolla QuestR291/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 07/17/26
Audi A3R428/day
5
4
M
A/C
Audi A3
Found 07/17/26

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 8 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R668, which is about 1 254% 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 Avis (rated 9.4/10 with 10 reviews). Snap Rentals (rated 7.8/10 with 12 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Avis
Avis
9.4
Snap Rentals
Snap Rentals
7.8
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
2.0
Gold Car Rent a Car
Gold Car Rent a Car
0.0

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 R499 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 307. 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 101

February

R1 208

March

R965

April

R763

May

R577

June

R499

July

R717

August

R655

September

R606

October

R561

November

R787

December

R1 307

What car do most people hire in South Island?

SUV cars (Class Compact SUV, for example) are the most popular in South Island. Compact (Class Compact SUV) 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 18 July 2026.

Avis

9,4
Wonderful
10 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

Snap Rentals

7,8
Good
12 reviews•4 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

7,8

Comfort

8,0

Overall

7,8

Pick-up/drop-off

7,4

Value

7,7

Routes Car & Truck Rentals

3 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

2,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

2,0

Pick-up/drop-off

2,0

Value

6,0

Gold Car Rent a Car

4 locations
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GO Rent A Car

2 locations
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Maui

2 locations
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Right Cars

4 locations
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Joy Car Rental

1 location
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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 18 July 2026.

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

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R520/day when booking a car hire in South Island. The absolute best deal a user found was for R290/day from EZU Car Rental, booked on Jul. 11.

  • 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 R3 679 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 R15 769. 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

Best Car Hire Deals

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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