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Compare car hireThis summary is for illustrative purposes only and may not apply to all reservations. We try our best to keep it up to date and relevant, but we can't guarantee that it is accurate or error-free. If you have questions regarding a specific rental, please contact our customer care team.
Europcar accepts AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards and some Mastercard and Visa debit cards to secure the hire car Rental Agreement. Europcar does not accept digital payments or cash for payment for either the rental cost or the security bond.
Europcar does not accept cash, prepaid and reloadable debit cards, gift cards, or travel cards as a form of payment for either the rental cost or the security bond.
Europcar may levy an additional charge for any of the following (though not limited to) cases:
Additional drivers
Snow Cover
Child seats
Additional roadside assistance coverage
Europcar allows additional drivers (for a surcharge per driver per day for the duration of the rental. Note that any additional nominated driver, as with the primary driver, must have a full drivers licence and be present when the vehicle is collected at the beginning of the rental period.
The minimum age for renting a hire car with Europcar is 21 years old and there is a Young Driver surcharge for drivers under the age of 25. Europcar does not impose a surcharge for senior drivers, nor do they specify a maximum age limit.
Europcar allows the carriage of accredited or trained assistance animals for customers. Any other pets or animals are not permitted in Europcar vehicles without written permission.
As with all rentals, additional cleaning fees and an administrative fee may be charged in the event the interior of the vehicle requires unusual or unexpected vacuuming, sanitation or shampooing.
If you cancel your Europcar booking through a no show, or without prior notice, there may be a cancellation charge.
Please order a child seat at the time of your reservation, stating the age of your child so the correct type of child seat can be booked.
Europcar may charge a credit and debit card transaction fee.
In the unfortunate event of an accident:
If there are injured people, contact emergency services first.
Contact Europcar roadside assistance with relevant information including the licence plate, make and model, colour (if known), nature of fault, precise location of vehicle, contact number, and whereabouts of keys.
Prepare a written accident/damage report
Submit the report to Europcar.
Europcar accepts both Australian and New Zealand digital licences, but as a precaution, they recommend that you also carry your physical licence with you to cover any possible issues that may arise with your phone such as a flat battery.
Europcar allows driving in snow only if Snow Cover has been purchased.
To rent a hire car from Europcar, you must have a current and valid full driver licence that the driver has held for at least 12 months.
If you are renting outside of the country your licence was issued in, if your driving licence is not written in the English language and/or the characters cannot be read in the renting country, an International Driving Permit is mandatory.
If your licence is not in English, you must provide a valid translation along with your original licence. A copy of your licence is not acceptable and Europcar does not accept digital licences.
You must not use the vehicle in any of the following (though not restricted to) use cases:
When it is damaged or unsafe
such an extent that you are incapable of having proper control of the vehicle or whilst you have a blood alcohol content or level of drugs exceeding the limit permitted by law;
or interfere with the vehicle’s engine, transmission, braking or suspension systems;
allow the vehicle to be driven or operated in circumstances that constitute an offence;
drive the vehicle whilst your driving licence is cancelled, suspended or subject to any restriction or condition;
commit any wilful, deliberate or criminal act that causes damage or third party loss;
drive the vehicle dangerously or recklessly;
use the vehicle for off-roading, reliability trials, a race, rally or contest, speed testing, driving instruction, to propel or tow another vehicle;
use the vehicle for any illegal purpose;
use the vehicle to carry or transport illegal drugs or substances;
sell, rent, sublet, or dispose of the vehicle to any other person;
use the vehicle for the transport of passengers, goods or property for hire, fare or reward;
use a mobile phone in any manner unless the vehicle is parked;
Europcar vehicles must not be operated off-road, on any beach, river, stream, through flood waters, or any road where the police of governing authority has issued a warning.
You must never take the rental vehicle on Ball Hutt (Mount Cook), Skippers (Queenstown), Macetown (Arrowtown), 90 Mile Beach (Northland), or on the Coromandel Peninsula on any road north of Colville, or the Tapu to Coroglen road (all parts east of Rapaura Gardens).
Smoking is not permitted in a Europcar vehicle. If the vehicle is returned smelling of cigarette / cigar smoke you will be liable for the full cost of cleaning.
Europcar supplies EVs with at least an 80% charge. Renters are expected to return the vehicle charged to at least 80% unless they have purchased the prepaid charging option, in which case this condition is waived.
If you are unsure what fuel to use, please ask the station attendant or contact the Europcar rental location for advice. Unless you have chosen the full tank of fuel option, if you return your vehicle with an empty fuel tank, or with less fuel than it was supplied with you will be charged the cost of the petrol and an administration fee.
Europcar supplies EVs with at least an 80% charge and renters are expected to return the vehicle charged to at least 80% unless they have purchased the prepaid charging option, in which case this condition is waived. If this option has not been selected, and a rental vehicle is returned with a charge of under 80%, a recharging fee will be applied.
Europcar does not pay any infringement notices and it is the sole responsibility of the hirer to pay all fines in relation to infringement notices issued during the rental period.
In the event that Europcar receives an infringement notice for a speeding, parking, or other traffic infringement relating to the period the vehicle was on hire, Europcar charges the hirer an additional administration fee, and will transfer the liability to the driver.
You cannot drive in New Zealand if you only have an International Driving Permit — you must carry a current and valid overseas licence as well as the IDP. If your IDP is not in English you must have it translated.
Europcar rental vehicles are not permitted on the inter-island ferries crossing the Cook Strait. If you’re planning to travel across both islands, you must contact Europcar who will organise for you to return your vehicle at the ferry terminal and pick up a new vehicle upon arrival on the other island.
To pick up an Europcar rental car you need to satisfy both the licence and payment criteria:
You must present a valid and accepted credit card or bank issued Mastercard or Visa debit card (see Accepted Forms of Payment above).
You must meet the licence rules.
For security purposes, the owner of the credit card entered on the payment step when making a booking must be present to collect the vehicle and is required to sign the Rental Agreement.
If you are going to be late to pick up your car, please contact Europcar Reservations or the Europcar rental location as soon as possible.
Europcar rental vehicles are covered by standard motor vehicle insurance; however, an excess may be charged for any loss or damage incurred during the hire period, regardless of fault.
Europcar rental vehicles are covered by standard motor vehicle insurance; however, an excess may be charged for any loss or damage incurred during the hire period, regardless of fault. This excess can be reduced through the purchase of excess reduction products which can reduce the liability or waive it completely. Excess insurance is also available through third party providers such as Prosura.
Contact the Europcar rental location if you wish to extend your rental. In the event of an early return, no refund applies. All hires are counted in 24 hour durations.
Europcar provides 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for breakdown and accidents. If a roadside assistance callout relates to something that is your fault (for example running out of fuel, losing the keys, locking the keys in the vehicle, or if a wheel needs to be changed due to a puncture), there is a callout fee of at least $100 +GST. Additional Roadside Assistance can be purchased at the time of rental to mitigate this charge. For any mechanical breakdowns related to a vehicle fault, there is no charge.
The security deposit is a down payment charged to your credit or debit card for the estimated total rental cost plus $200. Europcar will refund the bond amount upon return of the undamaged vehicle. Cash is not accepted for use as the bond.
Europcar does not pay any toll charges and it is the sole responsibility of the hirer to pay all toll charges incurred during the rental period.
In the event that Europcar receives an unpaid toll notice relating to the period the vehicle was on hire, Europcar will charge the hirer an administration fee and pass the toll liability to the driver.
Europcar levies a Young Driver fee for drivers under the age of 25.
Remember - this summary was prepared for illustrative purposes only - always refer to the rental provider's full rental agreement and terms and conditions for up-to-date and complete details.