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Car Rental in New Zealand

New Zealand is a road-trip country - the scenery is the drive, and a rental car (or campervan) is how you do it. Two things to plan around: you drive on the left, and the winding roads take far longer than the map suggests. Here's what it costs and how to drive it well.

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By Sophie4 min readPublished
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The road to Milford Sound heading toward snow-capped mountains
Photo: Marian Predescu · CC0

In Brief

Is it worth renting a car in New Zealand?

Absolutely - New Zealand is built for self-drive, and a car or campervan is the best way to see it. Rates start around $15/day for a small car (more in the December-February summer peak). Two things to plan for: you drive on the left, and the roads are winding and often single-carriageway, so distances take much longer than they look - budget extra time and don't over-pack the itinerary. Automatics are widely available. If you're combining both islands, you can hire a car on each and take the ferry as a foot passenger, which is usually cheaper than taking a car across.

Key takeaways

  • From about $15/day for a small car; campervans cost more but include lodging.
  • You drive on the left; automatics are widely available.
  • Journeys take longer than the map says - roads are winding and slow.
  • Crossing between islands: often cheaper to rent a car on each than ferry one.

$15/day

economy class, before extras

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How much does car rental cost in New Zealand?

Rough daily prices by car type. Rates rise in peak season - book early for the best deal.

Car typePrice / dayGood to know
Small / economy$15-45/dayGreat value and easy to park; fine for couples touring one island.
Intermediate / SUV$40-90/dayMore comfort and boot space for long South Island drives.
2-berth campervan$70-150/dayCar and bed in one - hugely popular; book months ahead for summer.
4+ berth motorhome$120-250/dayFor families; combine with the country's excellent holiday-park network.

Transmission: Automatics are widely available alongside manuals - little price difference either way.

Driving in New Zealand: what to know

  • Drive on the left

    New Zealand drives on the left, driver on the right of the car. Take it easy for the first hour, and remember to give way correctly at intersections and the many roundabouts.

  • Allow far more time than the map

    Roads are scenic but winding, largely two-lane, and there are almost no motorways outside the big cities. A '200km' drive can take four hours with hills, bends and photo stops - plan shorter days than you think.

  • One-lane bridges are everywhere

    Rural roads have many single-lane bridges; a sign shows who gives way (the smaller arrow yields). Slow down, look ahead, and don't stop on the bridge.

  • Fuel up in towns

    Petrol stations thin out in remote areas (the West Coast, Fiordland, the far south), so top up whenever you pass through a town rather than running low between them.

  • Two islands, two cars

    The Cook Strait ferry charges a lot to carry a vehicle. It's usually cheaper to drop your car in Wellington, cross as a foot passenger, and pick up a fresh rental in Picton for the South Island - confirm one-way and cross-island rules when booking.

Best drives in New Zealand

The routes worth renting a car for - see our road trips guide for more.

  • The South Island loop

    Christchurch - Lake Tekapo - Mount Cook - Queenstown - the West Coast glaciers: the classic 7-10 day drive.

  • The road to Milford Sound, New Zealand

    The road to Milford Sound

    One of the world's great drives, from Te Anau through Fiordland to the fjord.

  • Auckland → Bay of Islands

    An easy Northland run to beaches, coastal towns and Māori history.

  • Queenstown → Wanaka (Crown Range), New Zealand

    Queenstown → Wanaka (Crown Range)

    New Zealand's highest sealed road, with the Cardrona valley and big alpine views.

Best time to visit New Zealand

Car rental in New Zealand: FAQ

The questions travelers ask most before renting a car here.

Small cars start around $15/day and rise toward $45 in the December-February summer peak; intermediate cars and SUVs run $40-90. Campervans are $70-150/day for a 2-berth and $120-250 for a family motorhome, but they roll your accommodation in. Book months ahead for the summer and for campervans specifically, which sell out. Automatics cost about the same as manuals here.

The main adjustments are driving on the left and the winding, slow roads - both very manageable, but they mean journeys take longer than the distance suggests. Watch for one-lane bridges, gravel side roads, and changeable mountain weather on passes like the Crown Range and the road to Milford. Plan shorter driving days than you'd expect and you'll enjoy it enormously.

A campervan combines transport and accommodation and suits flexible, outdoorsy trips using the country's excellent holiday-park and freedom-camping network - but it's pricier per day, slower on hills, and needs booking far ahead. A regular car plus hotels/motels is cheaper, faster and easier to park, and better if you like a comfy bed each night. Many first-timers pick a car for the South Island loop.

You don't have to. Carrying a vehicle on the Cook Strait ferry is expensive, so the common approach is to drop your rental in Wellington, cross as a foot passenger, and collect a new rental in Picton for the South Island. Confirm the one-way and cross-island terms with the rental company when you book, as policies vary.

December-February is peak summer - best weather, longest days, but highest prices and campervans sold out, so book well ahead. The March-April and October-November shoulders offer great driving, thinner traffic and lower rates. Winter suits the South Island ski roads but brings snow on the alpine passes. See our best-time-to-visit New Zealand guide for the month-by-month view.

Continue Planning Your Trip

Photo credits (2)

Photos via Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licences.

  • The road to Milford Sound: Michal Klajban - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
  • Queenstown → Wanaka (Crown Range): Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada - CC BY 2.0 · source