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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R310

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 20/11 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 15 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: R310/day). Explore 4 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R310+

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Compact

Compact

R326+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

R1 419+

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Full-size

Full-size

R1 571+

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SUV

SUV

R1 579+

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People carrier

People carrier

R2 090+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 488+

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Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

R2 311+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R835+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R1 500+

View Deal

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 medium 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 SanderoR310/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 11/13/25
Honda JazzR326/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz
Found 11/13/25
Toyota Corolla QuestR393/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 11/13/25

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 385. Data was last updated on 15 November 2025.
Renault SanderoR310/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 11/13/25
Honda JazzR326/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz
Found 11/13/25
Toyota Corolla QuestR393/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Found 11/13/25

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 R721, which is about 1 343% 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 EZI (rated 9.7/10 with 5 reviews). Avis (rated 9.4/10 with 9 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

EZI
EZI
9.7
Avis
Avis
9.4
Dollar
Dollar
8.6
Thrifty
Thrifty
8.4

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 R540 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 340. 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 179

February

R1 076

March

R878

April

R848

May

R540

June

R578

July

R800

August

R776

September

R670

October

R656

November

R909

December

R1 340

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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 15 November 2025.

EZI

9,7
Wonderful
5 reviews•6 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,7

Comfort

9,7

Overall

9,7

Pick-up/drop-off

9,7

Value

9,7

Avis

9,4
Wonderful
9 reviews•5 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

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

Cleanliness

10,0

Comfort

10,0

Overall

8,6

Pick-up/drop-off

8,3

Value

9,0

Thrifty

8,4
Very Good
8 reviews•12 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,9

Comfort

9,0

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,7

Value

8,1

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

Ace Rental Cars

8,4
Very Good
19 reviews•5 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9,2

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,5

Value

8,4

Hertz

8,3
Very Good
19 reviews•9 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8,3

Comfort

8,5

Overall

8,3

Pick-up/drop-off

8,4

Value

8,1

Apex

8,3
Very Good
13 reviews•5 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

8,5

Comfort

8,0

Overall

8,3

Pick-up/drop-off

8,6

Value

8,1

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 15 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 914 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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