The easiest way to book rental cars in New Zealand

4.8

From 105,424 total reviews

4,189,412

Bookings & counting

2001

Trusted since

Great value rental cars from New Zealand most trusted car hire providers

Why you need a hire car in New Zealand

With a near-unsurpassed beauty spread across its north and south islands, New Zealand sometimes feels like is has been designed for the perfect road trip. Regardless of if you’re after a short holiday exploring the North Island, or are planning an expansive trip taking in wonders including the wondrous Milford Sound, New Zealand delivers.

When it comes to picking the right rental car for your road trip, VroomVroomVroom is here to help make your decision as easy as possible. From a compact car ideal for inner-city hops to an SUV perfect for driving right across New Zealand’s beautiful islands, we’ll help you find the right vehicle at the right price — and the whole process can take as little as two minutes.

Rental tips for hiring a car in New Zealand

If you’ve rented a car elsewhere in the world, renting a car in New Zealand isn’t that different, but there are a few points to keep in mind. Here’s ten of the important ones.

In New Zealand you drive on the left side of the road.
If your licence is not in English, you will need an International driving licence.
In some cases renters are not permitted to drive their rental vehicle past the snow line in alpine areas without first purchasing additional cover. Please check with your provider beforehand.
It is compulsory to wear a seatbelt while driving in New Zealand. This rule applies to both the driver and passengers and fines for non-compliance can be high. Children under the age of seven must use a child seat.
In most cases you need to be at least 18 years old and have a full, unrestricted, licence to rent a car in New Zealand. Drivers under the age of 25 may be charged a surcharge to hire a car. Drivers over the age of 75 may require a medical certificate.
Speed limits vary across the country, ranging from 40 km/h in suburban areas to 110 km/h on major highways. Speed limits are strictly enforced and fines for exceeding limits are high. If you are fined for speeding in a rental car, you will be liable for the fine.
Rental cars in New Zealand come with insurance, but in the case of damage or if your rental vehicle is stolen, you’ll be liable for an excess which generally ranges from A$3,350 to $9,000.
Using a mobile phone while driving — or even when the vehicle is stationary — is illegal across New Zealand. Your phone must be mounted in a dock or another hands-free manner.
Driving a hire car under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offence in New Zealand. The legal limit is a blood alcohol level of 0.05 and penalties for breaking this limit can result in heavy fines and/or the loss of your licence.
You are not permitted to take a rental vehicle off-road in New Zealand, and there are certain areas within the country with specific driving restrictions. If you are unsure, please check with our customer care team.

Where in New Zealand would you like to rent a car?

You can rent a hire car from locations across New Zealand — even picking up your car on one island and dropping it off on the other — and VroomVroomVroom allows you to search for a rental car from dozens of destinations right across the country. An important note to keep in mind is that not all companies allow their vehicle to be taken between the islands, so if you’re planning an inter-island road trip, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.

North Island

South Island

Other countries

If you’re planning on continuing your holiday in another country after your New Zealand road trip, VroomVroomVroom is here to help. We offer our same world-class services for car hire in the following countries:

YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY

Here’s what VroomVroomVroom customers think

Our overall rating

(4.8/5 from 105,424 reviews)

28 Nov 2025
user friendly
allan b.
Booked: Mitsubishi Outlander or similar
Auckland Airport
27 Nov 2025
To good, to easy.
leonard l.
Booked: Toyota Corolla Hatch or similar
Christchurch Airport
26 Nov 2025
Very easy and straightforward, good selection of cars.
claire p.
Booked: Ford Puma Hybrid or similar
Blenheim Airport
25 Nov 2025
so far so good, easy website
barry d.
Booked: Toyota Yaris or similar
Wellington International Airport
24 Nov 2025
Very easy. Great rates
paul a.
Booked: Toyota Yaris or similar
Wellington International Airport
21 Nov 2025
First time booking with you and all went smoothly.
mark m.
Booked: Ford Puma Hybrid or similar
Auckland Airport Domestic
19 Nov 2025
Not totally happy. Request was for a Toyota Corolla or similar, as these are good cars. We went with East Coast Rentals. They said a Corolla was not available. We were given a Cherry (a red one). I walked around the ECR lot and found only one Corolla (a hybrid), amongst 80 cars. I don't think that they run petrol Corollas. Do not advertise them. VVV quoted 1 X$12 for an extra driver, while ECR added $60. We challenged them. ECR said that it might be on VVV website , but ECR have updated their website (?? isn't this automatic administrative?) ECR backed down immediately, which makes me think that it was opportunistic at 6.30 pm and we wanted to get going. The front line staff were great. After 12 days the Cherry went well, which means it was a lot better than the MG3 that we had as a Corolla or similar from another car rental company. We will be back, but a bit more wary and selective. Regards
neal v.
Booked: Mitsubishi Eclipse or similar
Queenstown Airport
18 Nov 2025
I love using vroomvroom.nz
dorothy a.
Booked: Ford Puma Hybrid or similar
Auckland Airport International
18 Nov 2025
Very quick and easy,good prices
fiona f.
Booked: Ford Puma Hybrid or similar
Auckland Airport Domestic
17 Nov 2025
Very simple to book
giovanni c.
Booked: Toyota Rav4 AWD
Auckland Airport International