Choosing a Car Rental Company for Your New Zealand Road Trip
The rental company you pick shapes your whole trip. It decides whether you can drive across Cook Strait, how much a one-way drop-off costs, and what happens if you take a gravel road to a trailhead. Cheap headline rates can hide a lot.
So we’ve sorted the main car rental companies in New Zealand by what actually matters on a road trip: customer satisfaction, ferry rules, one-way flexibility and network. We haven’t rented from every company, and policies change, so treat this as a shortlist and confirm the details before you book. Planning a longer trip? Our self-drive tours and itinerary ideas show where the roads lead.
How We Picked These Car Rental Companies
We started with customer satisfaction. Canstar Blue’s 2022 hire car ratings rate New Zealand hire car companies on value for money, customer service, vehicle availability, booking process and transparency of fees. Then we checked each company’s own policies on Cook Strait ferries, one-way hires and locations. Ratings come from 2022, the most recent results we could confirm, so they’re a guide rather than a guarantee.
New Zealand Car Rental Companies at a Glance
| Company | Known for | Cook Strait ferry |
|---|---|---|
| GO Rentals | Canstar Blue’s most satisfied customers winner in 2022 | Company says every car can cross |
| Apex Car Rentals | Christchurch-born, one of the largest local firms | Check the policy, has a Picton branch |
| Ezi Car Rental | Operating since 1998, four-star Canstar rating | Check the policy |
| Omega Rental Cars | Four-star Canstar rating, ferry deals | Offers ferry deals for its cars |
| Budget | International brand, four-star Canstar rating | Check the policy |
| Hertz, Avis and Thrifty | Big international names, airport convenience | Hertz swaps cars at the ferry; Thrifty has depots at both terminals |
| Europcar | International brand, four-star Canstar rating | Not allowed, return it at the ferry terminal |
| Jucy | Budget cars and campervans since 2001 | Check the policy |
The Best Car Rental Companies for a New Zealand Road Trip
GO Rentals: Best for a One-Way North to South Island Trip
Canstar Blue named GO Rentals its Most Satisfied Customers winner for hire cars in 2022, and it also topped the 2018 results. The company says you can take any of its cars on the Cook Strait ferry, which means you can keep one vehicle from Auckland to Queenstown without a swap. Basic insurance, unlimited kilometres and 24/7 roadside assistance come with every hire, according to GO Rentals. One-way rentals depend on peak seasons and availability, and a minimum hire period and one-way fee may apply, so check before you commit.
Apex Car Rentals: Best for South Island Roads
Apex grew from a small Christchurch start into one of the country’s largest rental companies. Canstar Blue also gave it its Most Satisfied Customers award four years in a row up to 2017, and the company kept a four-star rating in 2022. It has a branch at the Interislander terminal in Picton, which suits anyone arriving by ferry. Pair it with our best South Island tourist attractions list.
Ezi Car Rental: Best for Value From a Local Company
Ezi has rented cars since 1998 and calls itself one of New Zealand’s largest rental operators. Canstar Blue gave it four stars overall in 2022, and it placed second to GO Rentals on the rankings that year. A solid pick if you want a local company without paying premium-brand prices. Confirm the ferry policy if you’re crossing between islands.
Omega Rental Cars: Best for Ferry Flexibility
Omega earned four stars from Canstar Blue in 2022 and offers special ferry deals for its own vehicles, so you can take an Omega car across Cook Strait or swap cars at the terminals instead. You’ll also find its desk at Christchurch Airport, where more than 20 rental companies compete for your booking. Compare the cost of the ferry fare against a swap before you decide.
Budget: Best Familiar International Brand
Budget belongs to Avis Budget Group and sits among the best-known rental brands in the world. It earned four stars from Canstar Blue in 2022, and it’s a good option when you want a familiar name, a wide choice of vehicles and branches across both islands. Check ferry rules when you book.
Hertz, Avis and Thrifty: Best for Airport Convenience
The big international names have branches in the major cities and airports. Avis also advertises one-way deals. Hertz asks you to leave your vehicle at its Picton or Wellington ferry location and pick up another car after crossing, and Thrifty has depots right at the Interislander terminals in both cities. Auckland Airport licenses its rental companies to operate at the terminals or in the surrounding area, so confirm whether you’ll collect your keys at the airport or ride a shuttle. See our guide to getting from Auckland Airport.
Europcar: Good Coverage, but Plan for the Ferry
Europcar earned four stars from Canstar Blue in 2022. Its vehicles aren’t permitted on the Cook Strait ferries, so you’ll return the car to its Wellington or Picton ferry terminal depot and collect another on the other side. That works well if you plan for it, and it can save the cost of a ferry ticket for the car.
Jucy: Best for Budget Travellers
Jucy started in Auckland in 2001, and its green-and-purple vehicles are easy to spot. Expect a lower price and a simpler car. Read the excess and the gravel-road rules carefully, because budget rentals can leave more risk with you. Prefer sleeping in your vehicle? Compare options on our campervan rental guide.
Can You Take a Rental Car on the Cook Strait Ferry?
Sometimes. It depends on the company. Interislander and Bluebridge both carry rental vehicles, but many rental companies don’t allow their cars on board, or only allow them if you return to the same island. The crossing between Wellington and Picton takes about three and a half hours.
Companies that ban the ferry usually run a swap instead. You return your car at the terminal, ride the ferry as a foot passenger and pick up a new car on the other side. It’s a smooth system, and it can be cheaper than paying for a vehicle ferry ticket. Just book both cars through the same company so the one-way fees stay low. Heading to Picton afterwards? Our Marlborough Sounds guide covers what to do at the top of the South Island.
What to Check Before You Book a Rental Car in New Zealand
- Insurance and excess. Find out what’s included and how much you pay if something goes wrong. A low daily rate with a high excess can cost more in the end.
- Gravel roads. DOC reminds rental drivers to check whether they’re insured on unsealed roads. Many scenic campsites and trailheads sit at the end of gravel. Our guide to DOC campsites in New Zealand flags which roads are sealed and which aren’t.
- One-way fees. Picking up in Auckland and dropping in Queenstown usually costs extra, and availability changes with the season.
- Pick-up location. On-airport counters save time. Off-airport companies often offer a better price but need a shuttle.
- Your licence. Visitors can drive on an overseas car licence for 18 months. If your licence isn’t in English, you also need an accurate English translation or an international driving permit, and you must carry your original licence. Check the NZ Transport Agency’s visitor driving page for details.
- Extras. Child seats, roof racks and snow chains are usually extra, so book them early.
New to driving here? Read our driving in New Zealand guide before you pick up the keys, and browse our list of scenic drives for inspiration.
Car or Campervan for Your New Zealand Road Trip?
A car gives you speed and lower costs. A campervan gives you a bed and a kitchen, and it can save on accommodation. If you’re weighing the two, our motorhome holidays page explains the trade-offs, and our 13-day campervan itinerary shows how a trip comes together. Not sure when to go? Check our best time to visit New Zealand guide.
Car Rental in New Zealand: Your Questions Answered
Which is the best car rental company in New Zealand?
There’s no single winner for every trip. GO Rentals took Canstar Blue’s top satisfaction award in 2022, and Ezi, Omega, Apex, Europcar and Budget each earned four stars. Choose based on your route, ferry plans and budget.
Can I take a rental car on the Cook Strait ferry?
Only if your rental company allows it. GO Rentals says all its cars can cross, Omega offers ferry deals for its vehicles, and Europcar doesn’t allow its cars on the ferry. Hertz asks you to swap cars at the terminals. Always confirm before you book.
Do I need an international driving permit in New Zealand?
Only if your licence isn’t in English. In that case you need an accurate English translation or an international driving permit, and you must also carry your original licence. Visitors can drive on an overseas car licence for up to 18 months from their last arrival date.
Is it cheaper to rent from a local company?
Often, but not always. Local companies can save you money, though prices and service vary, and some have older fleets. Compare the excess, the fleet age and the gravel-road rules alongside the daily rate.
Should I rent at the airport?
On-airport pick-up is convenient, especially after a long flight. Off-airport companies can be cheaper, but you’ll need a shuttle, so allow extra time.
Plan Your New Zealand Road Trip With NZ Tourism Tours
Want help with the route, the car and the bookings? Ask our team to build a custom itinerary that fits your dates, or browse our self-drive tours for ready-made routes you can drive at your own pace.
