Cheap Car Rental New Zealand Wide
Compare the best New Zealand car rental deals from more than 30 rental brands in 75 locations across NZ. Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar, Omega, Go Rentals, Ezi, Ace & many more. Lowest price guarantee. No booking fees. Instant confirmation.
The Best Car Hire Deals In New Zealand
New Zealand Car Rental
Shopping around for the best car rental deal & visiting one website after another to compare prices can be frustrating. There’s a better way!
Here you'll find the best deals from more than 30 different rental brands at 75 locations across New Zealand.
Rental locations include: Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Nelson, and many more.
But isn't it cheaper to go direct?
You might expect the prices you see here are what you'd pay by going direct, but with an added markup.
The good news is they're not.
In fact, you'll invariably pay less than by booking direct with a rental company.
That's because the rental companies are all here in one place competing for your business. Our comparison engine enables you to instantly compare car rental companies side-by-side. So to win your business, they give us their best prices. Savings that get passed on to you!
And besides saving money, you'll also save time not needing to visit one website after another to compare deals.
Brands you can trust
Unlike some other comparison websites we don't limit your options to only a handful of rental brands. Here you'll find all the well known international brands, plus many independent local brands. That means you get maximum choice and lower prices. Brands include...
There are cars for business, cars for families, and cars for backpackers.
All at incredible prices.
Lowest Price Guarantee
If you find a lower price on an identical vehicle from the same brand and for the same itinerary, we'll beat it. Plus give you a 25% discount off DriveEasy excess cover. Details here.
Our low rates include New Zealand’s mandatory 15% Goods and Services tax. What you see is what you pay. There are no booking charges.
Aside from any deposit requirements when you make your booking, you pay the rental firm directly for your vehicle when you collect it.
Some - but not all - operators require payment of a deposit at the time of booking. Deposit are refundable for cancellations made prior to a defined time. This varies by supplier and is advised at time of booking. For many, it's 72 hours before pickup.
Making your booking is simple and quick. Usually bookings are confirmed instantly. This means you can get on with organising the rest of your trip and not worry about vehicle availability.
And if things need to change, free amendments and free cancellations apply for most cars. We also offer some great deals on car rental insurance if you need this.
No credit card fees. We don't hit you with credit card charges for payments made on this site. Some rental car suppliers may charge a credit card fee for any amounts payable on arrival. These are specified by each rental brand - to view, click the Useful Info link for any vehicle you're interested in on the booking results page.
MatesRates bookings are powered by AirportRentals, one of the world's biggest car rental comparison engines. It's booked over 2.8 million car rentals and hundreds of bookings are made daily.
Great value - thanks. Definitely will recommend you to my friends.
Phil Dwyer
I found your site when my mother needed a rental car for her visit. Easy and quick to use, and she was very happy.
Paula Connor
Great for backpackers like us on a tight budget. Got to do more of the amazing things NZ offers with the money we saved. Awesome!
Tim Brown
Money-Saving Car Rental Tips
Location, location...
Rental car prices rise and fall with seasonal demand and availability. If your timing’s right, you may be able to take advantage of some additional discounts and deals.
Rather than start in one place and end in another, you can save some money if you’re able to return your vehicle to the same depot you picked it up from.
If your trip starts or ends at an airport, compare rental costs in getting a vehicle from an off-airport location. With complimentary shuttle buses to take you to and from the airport, off-airport rental depots can mean substantial savings.
Check for damage
Great — you’ve got your car, adjusted the seat and mirrors, but wait... Before you drive off be sure to double-check the vehicle and ensure the rental company has identified any and all signs of damage. You don’t want to risk being charged for someone else’s scratches and dings after you return your rental car.
Check inside and out and if you see something that’s not already been noted by the rental company, let them know. To be safe, take photos of any pre-existing damage.
Return with a full tank
Stop at a nearby petrol station and fill up before returning your vehicle. This will definitely save you money. Petrol is already expensive enough in New Zealand without having to pay your rental company extra to top up the fuel tank. These charges can be excessive, such as a $2.50 a litre surcharge on top of the fuel cost. Ouch!
If the fuel tank is not showing full when you pick up the car get that noted by the rental firm in the paperwork and it's also prudent to take a photo of the fuel gauge in case of debate when you return the car with the same level of fuel.
Toll roads
Unlike many countries, New Zealand has few toll roads. There are just three - one north of Auckland and two near Tauranga. They're not expensive. But if you overlook paying them it can get costly.
Expect to pay $2.40 to drive the Northern Gateway Toll Road (on State Highway 1, north of Auckland); $2.10 for the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road on State Highway 2 (SH2); and $1.90 for the Takitimu Drive Toll Road that bypasses Tauranga city centre.
All toll roads are electronic, and fees can be paid in advance or up to five days after driving the toll road. Payment can be made online on the NZ Transport Agency website . Alternatively, you can pay at some BP, Caltex and Z petrol stations (a $1.20 transaction fee applies), or by calling 0800 40 20 20 (a $3.70 transaction fee applies).
Late payments attract a $4.90 surcharge, with an additional $40 fine if an infringement notice is issued due to non-payment. On top of any outstanding charges, your rental company will also charge you an additional administration fee of $30 or more for processing the late payment. So not paying a toll charge can get pretty expensive.
If you’re not in a hurry, there are alternative free routes for each of these toll roads.
Watch your speed!
Take your time travelling around our country. There’s plenty to see and speed limits are strictly enforced by police using radar, speed cameras and unmarked patrol cars. Speeding tickets can be expensive, and there are better things to spend your money on.
On the open road you can drive at up to 100 km/h (about 60 mph); in built-up areas, the speed limit is 50 km/h (roughly 30 mph). Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times.
Check out our frequently asked questions section for more information about driving in New Zealand and car rental tips.
Save money on your car rental like thousands of other smart travellers
Just wanted to say thank you. We had a fantastic NZ trip and saved heaps
Cheryl Rhodes
Great to deal with. We got a really good price on a Yaris that was much less than anywhere else. No complaints!
Stu Smith
This made getting around New Zealand so much easier than when I was last here.
Jim Cook