Massive price increase for car rental in NZ

[UncleScotty]

I'm heading off too AKL in Feb and was looking at Avis car rental. I then noticed a massive price increase. Nearly doubled the cost than when i rented a car back in July '15. The situation is identical, similar car, same amount of days, over a weekend, same pick up/drop off location (AKL airport). I then checked other rental companies and the prices are pretty much the same. Around $500NZD for 4 days. I paid $230NZD six months ago.

So why the sharp increase? Taxes and other surcharges was raised only a little bit, but the base price made a huge jump.

Is there a reason for this massive increase? Its not like the price of a Corolla doubled in NZ...or did it?

Funnily though, i put my country of resident as Germany and its roughly $70NZD cheaper. If i do this, would i be faced with any issues, more importantly in regards to excess claim through travel insurance?

 

[samh004]

Are you seeing the same increase on multiple weekends, or are you perhaps trying to book over a public holiday weekend?

 

[UncleScotty]

Its definitely not a holiday weekend when i'm going. I made sure of that!

However, i did as you suggested and tried different weekends. Possibly a lull period when its not daylight savings because during that period the prices did cut by half. Mystery solved haha

 

[JohnK]

I don't understand why hiring a car in New Zealand has gone up so much in the past few years. Consistently over NZD100 everytime I have looked.

 

[RB]

Maybe reflects the Aussie $ falling against the NZ$

 

[clifford]

Sounds very expensive to me.

Just did a dummy booking on Car Rentals - Australia Rental Car Hire - Avis Australia and it came back with a total of AUD $309.35 for sample dates of 18-22 Feb. So I'm not sure what you are seeing, but I am Avis Preferred if that might make a difference.