Hiring a car from AKL

[Kangol]

Next month I'm going to AKL and planning on renting a car, driving it down to WLG (need the car for 3 days) then taking the ferry to Picton to meet with some family in the south island.

I've never rented a car or driven outside of Australia so I have a few questions:

- Do I need an international driver's permit to rent a car? Or is it better to have one anyway just in case?
- Which company is the ideal one to maximise QFF or Le Club Accorhotels points earning?
- I'd also need to be able to rent in AKL and drop off in WLG near the ferry, would most large companies allow for this?

I don't need a large or powerful car, an entry level one will do as long as there is a GPS option available.

Thanks!

 

[lovestotravel]

You don't need an international driver's permit for a car rental in NZ

 

[futaris]

You usually can't take a car between the islands. You can make a multi islands booking. Drop off and pick up on either end.

 

[Andyzx]

Travelling from AKL to WLG is a reasonably easy but long drive; I have done it in a day but didn’t stop other than fuel etc.

International drivers licence are not usually required if you have an Oz drivers licence and it’s readable you will be fine, saw a very amusing situation of mangled watermarked licence pax trying to prove it was them. If you have not held it for 12 months or are a P plate then read the notes on the contract. Age restrictions do apply to some rental agencies.

Avis, budget, etc all have QFF points with them and similar rates unless you have a special deal, check QF NZ version. Some of the cheaper agencies do not have FF points. Get maps, advice etc from the agent they are usually helpful.

Sorry don’t know about Le Club.

One Way rentals are available and common for that trip as generally you cannot take rentals on the Ferry. Check http://www.standbyrelocations.com for NZ. You may find a cheap one way relocation for Akl to WLG with 2-3 days allowance. There are a couple of other similar sites as well.

A large car is not required unless you have pax, anything from a Corolla up is fine. GPS (portable) is usually available at additional charge. Unless you have specific towns or streets to get to, usually the normal road signs and a map (Rental company provided) are sufficient to guide you.

A couple of pieces of advice: Driving in NZ takes longer (by distance) than Oz, slower speeds, winding roads, limited multiple lane highways, sheep, cows, horses etc, its more tiring so take plenty of breaks. Keep an eye on the weather across the desert road (middle of NI) there is no summer and anything from rain to snow is possible as well as 35c hot sunshine even the ocassional ash cloud.... Keep your speed within the general limits (especially entry/exit smaller towns and school zones) the friendly police love Aussies helping to pay the national debt! NB Check on current rules for give way left hand turns as they are changing.Have a good and safe trip, its an interesting drive. If you have a few days go via Tauranga, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay (wine), Martinbrough (more wine) before you get to WLG

 

[richie9x]

The main purpose of the international driver's permit is to provide a certified translational of your license in to many different languages. So there is no point for a IDP in NZ and so the authorities don't need one. You'll need to present your Australian license when you pick up the car.

The big rental car companies will be fine with you dropping off from a different location to the pickup. However they will often charge you an extra fee for this which will be included in your quote.

If you want a cheap car rental try and find a rental car company wanting to do a relocation. Search on google for "rental car relocation". You'll get the rental for very cheap rate, some times free. Typically you have to pay your own fuel, although sometimes they pay for it. Often there is a strict time limit and km limit, but they are usually are flexible enough for a bit of sight seeing on the way. Unfortunately most rental relocation in NZ are from South to North, which is opposite to what you want but you might get lucky.

 

[AdMEL]

Next month I'm going to AKL and planning on renting a car, driving it down to WLG (need the car for 3 days) then taking the ferry to Picton to meet with some family in the south island.

I've never rented a car or driven outside of Australia so I have a few questions:

- Do I need an international driver's permit to rent a car? Or is it better to have one anyway just in case?
- Which company is the ideal one to maximise QFF or Le Club Accorhotels points earning?
- I'd also need to be able to rent in AKL and drop off in WLG near the ferry, would most large companies allow for this?

I don't need a large or powerful car, an entry level one will do as long as there is a GPS option available.

Thanks!

As others have said and a bit extra ...

International driving permit is not required, if your licence is Australian, or in english. I drove in NZ earlier this year and have rented cars 4 times in the US, this year and two years ago, all on my Victorian licence without an international driving permit.

Avis and Budget for QFF points. Don't know about Le Club. Check the NZ Avis website - they often have better deals than the Oz website!

Most companies allow one ways, but some charge a hefty fee for doing so.

Check out comparison sites such as drivenow.com.au or oodles.com.au for comparisons of all the large car rental companies. They give you good info on excess and other charges too.

One final thing - car rental is much more expensive than Oz, often double!

Travelling from AKL to WLG is a reasonably easy but long drive; I have done it in a day but didn’t stop other than fuel etc.

International drivers licence are not usually required if you have an Oz drivers licence and it’s readable you will be fine, saw a very amusing situation of mangled watermarked licence pax trying to prove it was them. If you have not held it for 12 months or are a P plate then read the notes on the contract. Age restrictions do apply to some rental agencies.

Avis, budget, etc all have QFF points with them and similar rates unless you have a special deal, check QF NZ version. Some of the cheaper agencies do not have FF points. Get maps, advice etc from the agent they are usually helpful.

Sorry don’t know about Le Club.

One Way rentals are available and common for that trip as generally you cannot take rentals on the Ferry. Check http://www.standbyrelocations.com for NZ. You may find a cheap one way relocation for Akl to WLG with 2-3 days allowance. There are a couple of other similar sites as well.

A large car is not required unless you have pax, anything from a Corolla up is fine. GPS (portable) is usually available at additional charge. Unless you have specific towns or streets to get to, usually the normal road signs and a map (Rental company provided) are sufficient to guide you.

A couple of pieces of advice: Driving in NZ takes longer (by distance) than Oz, slower speeds, winding roads, limited multiple lane highways, sheep, cows, horses etc, its more tiring so take plenty of breaks. Keep an eye on the weather across the desert road (middle of NI) there is no summer and anything from rain to snow is possible as well as 35c hot sunshine even the ocassional ash cloud.... Keep your speed within the general limits (especially entry/exit smaller towns and school zones) the friendly police love Aussies helping to pay the national debt! NB Check on current rules for give way left hand turns as they are changing.Have a good and safe trip, its an interesting drive. If you have a few days go via Tauranga, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay (wine), Martinbrough (more wine) before you get to WLG

Having recently spent a week driving around the north island, I have to disagree driving in NZ takes longer. Yes, there are more winding roads, but probably not from Auckland to Wellilngton! Also, there is much less traffic than Australia.

Also note that the left hand rule changed earlier this year - there is a thread on here about it. It is now the same as Australia.

 

[tuapekastar]

Previous posts have it covered pretty much. Just will add vroomvroomvroom.com as a comparison/booking site (probably no different from the others recommended) and note that I have had no relocation fees, though rarely pick-up/drop-off at different locations. Anyway, easy to tell by comparing if relocation fees exist. Also worth comparing with booking directly through the hire company - rarely cheaper, but occasionally so. And never needed an International Permit for NZ.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I'll look into the various options and let you know what happens!
Just had a look at the new give way rules - strange to think that people were doing something other than the new rule (which to me seems like normal Australian road rules).

Two of the give way rules have changed | NZ Transport Agency

 

[AdMEL]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I'll look into the various options and let you know what happens!
Just had a look at the new give way rules - strange to think that people were doing something other than the new rule (which to me seems like normal Australian road rules).

Two of the give way rules have changed | NZ Transport Agency

NZ previously had the same quaint give way rule (left turning traffic giving way to right turning traffic) that Victoria had years ago, to keep trams moving better, but changed many year ago because, whilst it was a good idea, caused too much confusion for visitors and probably too many accidents. Not sure why NZ ever had the same rule though!

 

[markis10]

. Not sure why NZ ever had the same rule though!

Same reason I suspect, its just that the trolly buses have replaced the trams, but still have a limited movement away from obstacles.

 

[DC3]

Allow extra time for travelling. You may not need it, but it would be wise to allow for it.

There's some useful information from the NZ Transport Agency, here:

What's different about driving in New Zealand? | NZ Transport Agency

The link advises that:

"... It's easy to underestimate travelling times in New Zealand. Distances may seem short on paper, but New Zealand roads may be narrower than you're used to, cover hilly terrain and vary from motorways (freeways) to unsealed gravel roads....", and

"... If you hold a valid and current overseas driver licence or international driving permit, you can drive for a maximum of 12 months from the date you arrive in New Zealand..."

 

[RB]

I also find rankers.co.nz to be a useful read