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New Zealand

Cheap Car Rentals in New Zealand from $9

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 New Zealand with a pick-up date of 22/6 and drop-off date of 29/6. 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: 26-65
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New Zealand car rentals in 2025

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in New Zealand. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 15 June 2025.

Most popular company

EZU Car Rental

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

$43

Cheapest price per day

$9

Popular car types in New Zealand

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in New Zealand and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 15 June 2025.

There are currently 824 hire locations operating in New Zealand spread across 96 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in New Zealand is small car at $9 a day. Below are all the 5 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

SUV

SUV

People mover

People mover

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Compare car rental deals in New Zealand by type

Here are the best New Zealand small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best New Zealand medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best New Zealand SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best New Zealand van hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best New Zealand pickup truck hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Hyundai i20$9/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i20
Suzuki Swift$9/day
2
M
A/C
Suzuki Swift
MG 3$9/day
4
M
A/C
MG 3

Best car rental deals found in New Zealand

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in New Zealand. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in New Zealand with an average daily rate of $32. Data was last updated on 15 June 2025.
Take a peek at some options we've found for car rentals in New Zealand, including locations near Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch. If these deals don't appeal to you, check back very soon as they are being updated frequently.
Hyundai i20$9/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i20
Suzuki Swift$9/day
2
M
A/C
Suzuki Swift
MG 3$9/day
4
M
A/C
MG 3

Cheapflights insights for New Zealand car rentals

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in New Zealand, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in New Zealand?

To get the best deal on car hire in New Zealand, book about 7 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around $83, which is about 57% cheaper than the typical rate.

What is the cheapest car hire company in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, the most affordable car hire company right now is Autounion Car Rental, offering prices from just $6.15/day over the past two weeks. Another budget-friendly choice is New Zealand Discount Car Rentals, with rates starting at $9.13/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in New Zealand?

The cheapest month to hire a car in New Zealand is August, when you can expect to pay $65/day on average. The most expensive month to hire a car in New Zealand is December ($125/day on average). The average daily car hire price for each month is shown below. Keep in mind that prices will vary based on availability, when you book, and the type of car you hire.

January

$101

February

$106

March

$92

April

$95

May

$68

June

$72

July

$72

August

$65

September

$66

October

$77

November

$97

December

$125

What car do most people hire in New Zealand?

SUV cars (Kia Sportage, for example) are the most popular in New Zealand. Intermediate (Kia Sportage) and Compact (Kia Sportage) cars are also often chosen by our users when visiting New Zealand.

Which car hire company has the most locations in New Zealand?

Thrifty has 66 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in New Zealand at 59.

What are the car rental prices for popular cities in New Zealand?

Discover the price range for hiring a car in popular cities across New Zealand, helping you budget and make informed decisions for your upcoming travel. There are 247 pickup locations in New Zealand to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 15 June 2025.

If you're looking for the best car rental deals in New Zealand, start with Auckland, where rates average $8/day. You can also find good prices in Christchurch ($11/day), Queenstown ($17/day), and Blenheim ($33/day).

Top rental agencies in New Zealand

Explore the leading car hire agencies in New Zealand known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in New Zealand. Reviews were last updated on 15 June 2025.
Choose from the top rental car agencies available in New Zealand, including locations near Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch. Helpful information on each car rental agency is available, including reviews, pricing, pickup location, and more.

Apex

8.4
Very Good
42 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Overall

8.4

Pick-up/drop-off

8.6

Value

8.4

Ace Rental Cars

8.3
Very Good
37 reviews19 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.3

Comfort

8.7

Overall

8.3

Pick-up/drop-off

8.0

Value

8.2

Hertz

8.1
Very Good
51 reviews59 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.5

Comfort

8.5

Overall

8.1

Pick-up/drop-off

8.3

Value

7.9

Budget

8.0
Very Good
35 reviews24 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.2

Comfort

8.9

Overall

8.0

Pick-up/drop-off

7.3

Value

7.7

Europcar

6.1
Okay
36 reviews13 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Overall

6.1

Pick-up/drop-off

6.6

Value

6.3

Avis

9.5
Wonderful
21 reviews22 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.6

Comfort

9.8

Overall

9.5

Pick-up/drop-off

9.6

Value

8.9

EZI

9.3
Wonderful
17 reviews29 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.3

Comfort

9.3

Overall

9.3

Pick-up/drop-off

9.0

Value

9.2

Thrifty

8.2
Very Good
24 reviews66 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.5

Comfort

8.7

Overall

8.2

Pick-up/drop-off

8.2

Value

8.1

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in New Zealand, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 15 June 2025.
  • What is the most popular car hire provider in New Zealand?

    When hiring a car in New Zealand, the most popular provider of hire cars among Cheapflights users is EZU Car Rental, and with prices around $28/day, it’s easy to understand why. The most popular car type from EZU Car Rental is COMPACT, which starts as low as $10/day.

  • What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in New Zealand?

    At $20/day, the cheapest car rental price in New Zealand was found in Mangere. On average, Lower Hutt has the cheapest daily rental car price ($33/day), which is 59% below average price for cities in New Zealand.

  • What side of the road do you drive on in New Zealand?

    Cars travel on the left side of the road in New Zealand.

Car rentals by fuel type in New Zealand

Browse car rentals by fuel type in New Zealand. Currently, Hybrid cars are the cheapest to rent in New Zealand. Deals were last updated on 15 June 2025.

Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in New Zealand. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Hybrid being the cheapest ($5+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Free cancellation

Plans change — we get it. And that’s why you can search and book car hire on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation