KAYAK’s insights & trends for South Island car hire
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in South Island with confidence.
How far in advance should you book car hire in South Island?
You should book your car hire in South Island around 8 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the most popular rental car in South Island?
Hires in the SUV category (Nissan X-Trail or similar) are the most popular option in South Island, costing 44 €/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as 37 €/day.
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in South Island?
The cheapest month to hire a car in South Island is June at an average cost of 34 €/day. February is the most expensive month to hire a car in South Island when prices are 99 €/day on average, which tends to be 84% above the yearly average hire price for South Island.
South Island car rental price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right rental car in South Island by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
8 € - 48 €
All Car Types
31 € - 80 €
How much does it cost to hire a small car in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire a medium car in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire a large car in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire an SUV in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire a van in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire a pickup truck in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in South Island?
How much does it cost to hire a convertible in South Island?
Small car hire in South Island typically costs around 21 € per day. The best time to book is May, when prices average 8 € per day, which is about 62% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 59% cheaper than the average car hire in South Island, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car hire in South Island typically costs around 53 € per day. The best time to book is May, when prices average 31 € per day, which is about 42% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 4% more expensive than the average car hire in South Island, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car hire in South Island typically costs around 76 € per day. The best time to book is May, when prices average 44 € per day, which is about 43% less than the yearly average. Large cars are typically 33% more expensive than the average car hire in South Island but offer more comfort for longer trips.
SUV hire in South Island typically costs around 49 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 30 € per day, which is about 39% less than the yearly average. SUVs can be 4% cheaper than the average car hire in South Island, providing extra space and capability for groups or road trips at a reasonable price.
Van hire in South Island typically costs around 81 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 50 € per day, which is about 39% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 38% more expensive than the average car hire in South Island but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck hire in South Island typically costs around 68 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 42 € per day, which is about 39% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are typically 25% more expensive than the average car hire in South Island but are ideal for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car hire in South Island typically costs around 83 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 46 € per day, which is about 45% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 39% more expensive than the average car hire in South Island but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible hire in South Island typically costs around 62 € per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average 30 € per day, which is about 52% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are typically 18% more expensive than the average car hire in South Island but are perfect for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular agency
Most popular car type
Average price
Good deal
Ace Rental Cars
Small
41 €/day
33 €/day
Top tips for hiring a car in South Island
When driving in South Island, ensure you keep within the speed limit set by the law. Like other towns in New Zealand, maintain 20 km/h (12 mph) when approaching and passing a school bus, 40 km/h (25 mph) in residential areas, and maintain 80 km/h (50 mph) when driving on limited-access urban arterial roads, winding rural roads, and rural access roads. However, as you hit the motorways and expressways, you can drive as high as 110 km/h (68 mph).
As you drive on rural roads in South Island, keep in mind that some of them can be narrow and winding. It is thus not surprising to find bridges or single-track roads only wide enough to allow passage for one car. Therefore, keep an eye on signs indicating winding roads and narrow streets, particularly when overtaking. Also, bear in mind that vehicles closest to the bridge, or those going uphill, have the right of way.
The New Zealand seatbelt law requires that every car be equipped with front and back seatbelts. To this end, every car occupant must wear a seatbelt, whether sitting at the front or back. Furthermore, kids aged seven or younger must be strapped in an approved child-restraint device when traveling in vans or cars. Usually, car rental companies provide this child restraint equipment at a small fee.
It is critical to consider your needs before setting out to hire Southland Island car rentals. Typically, your budget and the destinations you want to visit are the most likely determinants of the type of car you will rent. A compact car is recommended if you will be confined within the town center where roads are smooth. However, if you plan to venture outdoors in rural areas, consider a pickup truck or a 4X4 SUV.
25% of our users found a car hire in South Island for 33 € or less
Small rental cars in South Island are around 49% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in South Island
How much does it cost to rent a car in South Island?
On average a rental car in South Island costs 41 € per day.
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in South Island are Christchurch (45% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in South Island), Nelson (5%) and Picton (3%).
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in South Island?
On average a rental car in South Island costs 288 € per week (41 € per day).
How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in South Island?
On average a rental car in South Island costs 1.236 € per month (41 € per day).
Should I rent a car in South Island?
You won’t regret renting a car when visiting South Island. Besides the flexibility it offers when exploring the hidden gems on your bucket list, South Island car rentals offer comfort and privacy when touring the area. With fixed routes and specific departure schedules, public transportation in this area is restrictive, as you cannot conveniently move around to experience the beautiful parts of the town. In addition, car rentals have different types of cars in their fleet, and you will have several options based on your needs. If you are here for a few days, you will find South Island car rentals cheaper than taxis. Lastly, car rentals are also cheaper if you are traveling with your friends or family.
What is driving like in South Island?
Traffic laws in South Island are the same as those in other parts of New Zealand. The steering wheel is on the right, and people drive on the left. The roads are narrower, steeper, and more winding than expected. There are few motorways; the roads are mostly two-way, with one lane in each direction. South Island implements strict Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) laws where drivers aged 20 or younger should have 0% BAC. For those aged 21 or older, you must not drive if your BAC is greater than 0.05%, lest you incur heavy fines. Remember, there’s a special category of vehicles that have the right of way, particularly emergency vehicles with flashing lights, and school buses.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in South Island?
You need to be 18 years old to rent a car in South Island. However, the age may vary depending on the company and vehicle category, with some South Island car rentals applying a surcharge policy to renters below 25, and the fees are paid at the counter. You also need a valid driving license from your home country, which you must have held for at least a year. It is important to remember that an International Driving Permit is only permissible when presented with a valid driver’s license. You can pay for your rental via debit, credit cards, or cash (New Zealand Dollars only).
Car rental directory
Thrifty car hire locations in South Island
22 Locations
Hertz car hire locations in South Island
19 Locations
Sunnycars car hire locations in South Island
18 Locations
Firefly car hire locations in South Island
15 Locations
Avis car hire locations in South Island
14 Locations
Budget car hire locations in South Island
12 Locations
Ace Rental Cars car hire locations in South Island
11 Locations
EZI car hire locations in South Island
11 Locations
Apex car hire locations in South Island
10 Locations
Moto Car Rental car hire locations in South Island
9 Locations
keddy by Europcar car hire locations in South Island
KAYAK and its partners wish to use cookies or similar technologies to store and/or access information on and about your device and process personal data such as your IP address, device identifiers etc., in order to improve your experience on the site, to analyse navigation, to offer and measure personalised advertising, and to facilitate sharing on social networks. We also allow the use of third-party cookies (including those from our advertising partners) on our sites.
By clicking 'Accept', you consent to your data being processed by 0 vendors on this web site for the purposes described in this notice. You can review the vendors and their individual processing purposes on the .
To review individual processing purposes and cookie categories, please click ’Select individual purposes’. You can review your choices and withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the ’Privacy Preferences’ link in the page side navigation.
