What to Do When Returning Your Rental Car to an Airport
Dropping off your rental car at one of New Zealand’s airports? No problem. Here are a few things to keep in mind when returning your rental car:
Tidy the interior. If the rental provider has to do more than a quick vacuum, you’ll likely be charged a cleaning fee, so make sure you take your rubbish with you. A quick tidy of the car’s interior should suffice; you won’t have to wash the exterior unless it gets noticeably dirty.
Refuel the car. Unless your rental agreement states otherwise, you’ll need to return the rental car with a full tank of fuel. If you don’t refuel the car before dropping it off, you will likely be charged refuelling fees at an inflated price per litre.
Adhere to your drop-off time. Not only will you not want to miss your departing flight, but if you are late in returning the rental car, you will be charged at a rate per additional hour. Furthermore, any insurances or extras—like child seats and GPS units—will also be charged at their respective daily rates, even if you’re only late by 30 minutes.
Make sure you have the car rental provider’s direct depot phone number. This way, you can contact them if any problems arise with returning your rental car.
Remember that most of New Zealand’s airports are usually busy, so make sure to allow yourself enough time to not only drive to the airport, but also to complete the drop-off process and make it to your terminal in time for your flight. If you’re returning the rental car at an off-airport location, check to see if the facility offers transportation to the airport. If they don’t, you’ll need to allow even more time to arrange a way to the airport.
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