car rental in new zealand

[Myrna]

Trying to help a relative who needs to rent a car in Auckland for 2 weeks touring around. I have perused the forum but info was a bit dated. They need a small car, old / used car would be OK. Avoid big / expensive car rental companies. Please suggest / recommend good local companies? Thanks.

 

[SYD]

Trying to help a relative who needs to rent a car in Auckland for 2 weeks touring around. I have perused the forum but info was a bit dated. They need a small car, old / used car would be OK. Avoid big / expensive car rental companies. Please suggest / recommend good local companies? Thanks.

Have a look at the various OTAs to see what they’re offering (eg Expedia etc).

As a benchmark, I just rented via AVIS CHC-CHC 1 wk for about A$550 for a compact car - but as a status renter received a significant upgrade.

Also, fuel went from NZ$2.60 to NZ$3.00 p/l in the space of a week and that was only 2 wks ago and has probably gone up more since then! So it was close to A$300 in fuel heading south and back!

 

[Myrna]

Have a look at the various OTAs to see what they’re offering (eg Expedia etc).

As a benchmark, I just rented via AVIS CHC-CHC 1 wk for about A$550 for a compact car - but as a status renter received a significant upgrade.

Also, fuel went from NZ$2.60 to NZ$3.00 p/l in the space of a week and that was only 2 wks ago and has probably gone up more since then! So it was close to A$300 in fuel heading south and back!

Thank you, for replying
Fuel prices are certainly a big expense right now Relatives are not in NZ until September / October, but want to do some planning now. Fingers crossed that things will return to normality by then

 

[TheRealTMA]

Trying to help a relative who needs to rent a car in Auckland for 2 weeks touring around. I have perused the forum but info was a bit dated. They need a small car, old / used car would be OK. Avoid big / expensive car rental companies. Please suggest / recommend good local companies? Thanks.

We rented a polestar EV for 5 days from Hertz from WLG for NZD$327.00. Free charging at various places.

 

[SYD]

We rented a polestar EV for 5 days from Hertz from WLG for NZD$327.00. Free charging at various places.

When was that? That’s getting close to “couldn’t give them away”! But in the current climate, many would be grateful for that upgrade! Not sure I’d push that on the South Island however.

Two years ago, AVIS gave me a hybrid that easily did 1000km per tank - happy with that.

 

[kpc]

Ezi Car Rental – Car Hire in New Zealand

Rent safe, modern cars with Ezi Car Rental. Accessible, affordable, and available across New Zealand. No unexpected charges, flexible bookings. Book now with our local Reservations team.

www.ezicarrental.co.nz

 

[TheRealTMA]

When was that? That’s getting close to “couldn’t give them away”! But in the current climate, many would be grateful for that upgrade! Not sure I’d push that on the South Island however.

Two years ago, AVIS gave me a hybrid that easily did 1000km per tank - happy with that.

March 18th.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I like APEX

 

[markis10]

Whether it’s a local mob or part of a chain, a premium location surcharge will be payable at the airport and some downtown locations as high as 25% of the entire rental, hitting the burbs for pickup can offer significant savings.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Trying to help a relative who needs to rent a car in Auckland for 2 weeks touring around. I have perused the forum but info was a bit dated. They need a small car, old / used car would be OK. Avoid big / expensive car rental companies. Please suggest / recommend good local companies? Thanks.

If wanting to cross Cook Strait (North Island ~ South Island[the mainland]) check carefully if doing a one way hire.
Some will want you want you to swap cars at Wellington ~ Picton. Others will allow and some do not allow.
With one way hire are always surplus of cars at southern depots. Many people drive south and fly north.
Hence (are others) Relocation rental cars, campervans and motorhomes | Transfercar

As well as the international majors, are local car rental companies.
Omega Rentals
https://www.apexrentals.co.nz/
Ezi Rentals Was know as A2B Car Rental
Snap rentals

You may pay a premium to rent from the airport. Renting from a city location may be a lot less, for the small cost of a taxi/uber from the airport to the rental car location.

Other smaller rental companies (alphabetical order)
ARentals Home
Car Hire in New Zealand & Australia | Ace Rental Cars
GO Rentals - Car Rental & Car Hire New Zealand
Car Rental New Zealand - Rent a Car from $49 a day | RaD Car Hire

An others. But avoid the "rent a wreck" very low cost places, with ~10 year old cars.

Some of the lower grade rental car companys can change names.

 

[Myrna]

If wanting to cross Cook Strait (North Island ~ South Island[the mainland]) check carefully if doing a one way hire.
Some will want you want you to swap cars at Wellington ~ Picton. Others will allow and some do not allow.
With one way hire are always surplus of cars at southern depots. Many people drive south and fly north.
Hence (are others) Relocation rental cars, campervans and motorhomes | Transfercar

As well as the international majors, are local car rental companies.
Omega Rentals
https://www.apexrentals.co.nz/
Ezi Rentals Was know as A2B Car Rental
Snap rentals

You may pay a premium to rent from the airport. Renting from a city location may be a lot less, for the small cost of a taxi/uber from the airport to the rental car location.

Other smaller rental companies (alphabetical order)
ARentals Home
Car Hire in New Zealand & Australia | Ace Rental Cars
GO Rentals - Car Rental & Car Hire New Zealand
Car Rental New Zealand - Rent a Car from $49 a day | RaD Car Hire

An others. But avoid the "rent a wreck" very low cost places, with ~10 year old cars.

Some of the lower grade rental car companys can change names.

Thank you, Mwenenzi, and all the other replies. Much appreciated. I will summarise them and email them to the relatives. They have a daughter (moved to Gisborne 18 mos ago), so will visit her and her family a week there, and we have suggested 2 weeks around the North Island. We used our ff points for their flights to AKL (Y+ with QF on the B787) and back to SYD (Y with QF on the A330). They are not flushed with $ - but we are not paying for their accommodation nor car rental. They do not travel outside of Australia so we try to point them in the right direction