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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from R498

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 7/4 and drop-off date of 16/4. 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 6 February 2026.
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There are, in total, 106 car hire locations in South Island that are operated by 78 companies. In the past week, small car is the cheapest car type users can hire (cheapest price last found: R498/day). Explore 4 car types currently offered from South Island hire providers:

Economy

Economy

R498+

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Compact

Compact

R498+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

R1 875+

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Full-size

Full-size

R1 346+

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SUV

SUV

R785+

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People carrier

People carrier

R1 791+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 267+

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Passenger van

Passenger van

R1 006+

View Deal
Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R704+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R897+

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:

Hyundai i10R498/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i10
Found 02/05/26
Kia PicantoR498/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Found 02/05/26
Renault SanderoR524/day
4
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 02/05/26

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 6 hire car agencies in South Island with an average daily rate of R868. Data was last updated on 6 February 2026.
Hyundai i10R498/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i10
Found 02/05/26
Kia PicantoR498/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Found 02/05/26
Renault SanderoR524/day
4
M
A/C
Renault Sandero
Found 02/05/26

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 80 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around R634, which is about 1 211% 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 0.0/10). Budget (rated 0.0/10) is also highly rated by our users.

Avis
Avis
0.0
Budget
Budget
0.0
Hertz
Hertz
0.0
Thrifty
Thrifty
0.0

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 R444 per day. In contrast, December is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of R1 260. 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 083

February

R1 034

March

R836

April

R792

May

R444

June

R501

July

R780

August

R699

September

R622

October

R602

November

R727

December

R1 260

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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 6 car hire companies in South Island. Reviews were last updated on 6 February 2026.

Avis

1 location
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Budget

1 location
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Hertz

2 locations
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Thrifty

2 locations
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keddy by Europcar

1 location
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Sunnycars

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 6 February 2026.

  • 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 R19 686 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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Free Cancellation

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