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Home »New Zealand Rental Cars »The Right Rental Car for You

The Right Rental Car for You

If you want to book a rental car online for a self-drive vacation in New Zealand, you probably want to receive the best value for your dollar possible. However, it's always wise to look beyond price because a cheap rental car may not be the right rental for you.

Choosing the Right Rental Car for You

Getting a ‘bargain basement’ rental car may not give you the peace of mind you need to thoroughly enjoy your driving vacation. Here are a few things to think about before you book your car rental.

Safety – Every rental car provided by a professional and reputable car hire company should be safe and well-serviced. In New Zealand, all cars on the road are required to have an up-to-date Warrant of Fitness (WoF).
Servicing – Rental cars run up a high mileage, so should be serviced regularly. You can check with the rental car company as to what their servicing policy is. Some companies may have their own in-house mechanics.
Reliability – See what other people have said about your rental car company. If the company is reliable and professional, they may publish testimonials online on their own Web site. If they have provided a ‘less than first class service’, you may well see a few negative comments online elsewhere.
On Road Service – Check to see what service or assistance is offered if your rental car does have problems or breaks down en route. Generally a freephone number and 24/7 breakdown assistance is provided.
No Hidden Extras – A good car rental company will be upfront about their contract with you. They may offer extras such as GPS navigation, car seats, ski racks, snow chains, after hours drop off and ticket booking for the inter-island ferry at little or no extra cost to you. They will also clearly state what is covered by the insurance policy they offer. Comprehensive insurance may be offered for free, but check what the excess liability is.
Expectations – Typically you get what you pay for and there are usually several tiers of car rental available. A typical selection of cars from a rental car company may look something like this:

Budget Conscious – Economy rental cars such as 2-door hatchbacks and backpacker / basic sedan cars.
Mid-Tier – Touring sized sedans or station wagons.
Top End – Executive (high-spec) sedans, 4WD or people movers.

Finally, check whether your rental is a manual or automatic drive and if it's big enough. You need a car that you can drive easily and that's big enough for you, your passengers and your luggage.