New Zealand Driving FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When I book a car, will my credit card be debited?
If I don't pick up a car I’ve booked, will I be charged?
Will there be any other costs not included in the quote?
How old do you have to be to hire a car in NZ?
Which drivers' licences are valid in NZ?
Is this site secure?

 

Travel tips for Aussies visiting New Zealand

Driving in New Zealand
Money/taxes
Tipping
Staying safe in NZ
Public holidays
Time zone

Frequently Asked Questions

When I book a car, will my credit card be debited?
No, it will not. Your credit card details are used to secure your booking, but will only be debited at the time you pick up the vehicle, except DriveNZ who require a 20% deposit upon confirmation of the booking.

 

If I don't pick up a car I’ve booked, will I be charged?
Every car company has a different policy, so it pays to check the terms and conditions of the particular car rental company you are booking with. You can view this by clicking the ‘More information’ button of your selected car. Here is a summary of each car company’s cancellation policy:

Ezy Cancellation Policy:
If a booking is cancelled within the 5 day period before the start of the hire there is no refund of the booking deposit (20% of hire). If the booking is cancelled outside this period there is a full refund of the deposit paid.

Omega Cancellation Policy:
A cancellation penalty of one day’s hire applies if the rental is cancelled within 48 hours of hire or in the case of failure to advise of cancellation.

Drive NZ Cancellation Policy:
If cancelled more than 21 days prior to vehicle pick up: Full refund less $ 150-00.
If cancelled between 7-21 days prior to vehicle pick up: Full refund less deposit.
If cancelled within 7 days prior to vehicle pickup: 50% total rental fee
No show, or early return of vehicle: 100% total rental fee

Avis Cancellation Policy:
In certain cases and with certain rates or car groups, a cancellation fee may apply if an unwanted reservation is not cancelled at least 48 hours prior to the reserved pick-up time or if the customer fails to pick the vehicle up. To avoid this fee, please cancel at least 48 hours in advance.

Thrifty Cancellation Policy:
In the event this booking is cancelled within 48 hours of scheduled pickup or if a booking is not cancelled and the customer does not pick up the vehicle (no-show), the customers credit card will be charged with a cancellation fee equivalent to the first days rental charges should the rental have taken place.

Apex Cancellation Policy:
A cancellation fee of up to 20% applies if the rental is cancelled within 48 hours of the pickup date of the hire, or in the case of failure to advise of cancellation.

Will there be any other costs not included in the quote?
Generally the quotes will include all fees and taxes, however you should take care to read the relevant rental company's Terms and Conditions to confirm all charges and policies. There is a difference between the rental companies as to the insurance cover options - some allow you to waiver the excess by paying a small daily rate. Again, check the Terms and Conditions. If you are unsure of anything or would like help, don't be afraid to ask the rental company as their friendly customer service staff will be happy to help you.

How old do you have to be to hire a car in NZ?
Omega, Ezy and Apex hire cars to licenced drivers aged 18 years and older. Thrifty, Drive NZ and Avis require drivers to be at least 21 years old. Please also check with your car rental company regarding the type of vehicle you are hiring, as some vehicles, such as luxury cars, require you to be 25 years old. You can check this by writing a message in the booking form window, as you are making your enquiry or reservation. Other restrictions may also apply, so always check the terms and conditions of the relevant hire company.

Which drivers' licences are valid in NZ?
You can legally drive for up to 12 months in NZ if you have either a current driver's licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP).

You must carry your licence or permit with you all at all times when driving, otherwise you could be fined. You will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country.

You must make sure your driver's licence is in English, and current. If not in English you should bring an English translation with you, or obtain an IDP. All documents must be originals - no photocopies will be accepted.

Is this site secure?
Yes, this site is secure. The padlock will not display in your browser as the rental companies sites appear within a frame on carhire4aussies.co.nz. If you right click on any rental car booking form and check the page properties you will see that they are secure forms.

 

Driving in New Zealand

Driving in New Zealand is comparable to driving in Australia. The road rules are mostly the same, and of course, you drive on the left hand side of the road.

Generally, however, there are less multi-lane motorways than in Australia - most New Zealand roads are two-way highways without centre barriers to separate opposing traffic, which makes it so important to give the road your full concentration.

When driving in NZ, here are a few things to consider:

Speed limits
Your speed must be limited to 50 km/hour around built up urban areas, 70km/hour (where indicated) in semi-residential/country areas, and 100 km on the open road. The traffic police are fairly strict in enforcing these limits, so it pays to observe the limits, unless you fancy collecting more than just airline tickets.

Travelling distances
Look on a New Zealand map and you may think that next city is just a Sunday drive down the road. This is not always the case. It’s a good idea to allow more time than you think for travelling distances, because the hilly terrain and windy roads, where it’s difficult to pass, can make the journey much longer.

Seatbelts
All passengers, including the driver, must wear seatbelts. Infants under 5 must use an approved child/baby car seat. This is required by law - your car rental company will assist you with these.

Road hazards
Be extra careful on rural roads. Many of them have gravel verges that require slower driving and extra concentration to avoid accidents. And always keep an eye out for cattle crossing the road. Yes, there are plenty of sheep in NZ, and there’s no shortage of cows either.

Also, be particularly alert on central North Island roads (around Taupo, Tongariro, Mt Ruapehu and the desert road), and all South Island roads during winter. Watch out for black ice – you can’t see it, but it is very slippery. Lower your speed and drive cautiously.

International driving licences and permits
In NZ, you can legally drive for up to 12 months if you hold either a current driver's licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Carry your licence or permit with you all at all times when driving, otherwise you could be fined. Naturally, you will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country.

Please make sure your driver's licence is current and in English (if not in English you should bring an English translation with you, or obtain an IDP). All documents must be originals - no photocopies will be accepted.

For further information about driving in New Zealand visit NZ’s Land Transport (ltsa) website.

Money
The currency is the kiwi dollar, which you can convert into Aussie dollars by clicking here.

Departure Tax
Don't forget to save a few kiwi dollars for when you leave New Zealand - there is a departure tax of $NZ25.

GST
Yes, New Zealand does have Goods and Services Tax (GST) too: 12.5% is added to most goods and services. Tax will either be inclusive in the price (as with most retail goods) or, as required by law, a price will be stated and either have alongside it "+GST" or a general written statement will appear such as "Prices are exclusive of GST".

Tipping
It’s not mandatory to tip in New Zealand, but it is becoming more common. New Zealanders often tip around 5-10% of the bill in a restaurant or café if the service has been good. Don’t worry about it too much at breakfast or lunch time, but reward service around evening meals if you choose to do so.

Staying safe in NZ
New Zealand has a great reputation for being a friendly, hospitable and welcoming country. All of this is true. However, unfortunately like all countries there are a few unsavoury characters, so take as much care in New Zealand as you would in any other country. Keep cars locked at all times, keep valuables out of sight, don’t walk alone… don’t do what you wouldn’t do at home.

NZ Public holidays>
Half of New Zealand seems to be on the road around public holidays, so it pays, where possible, to plan your trip to avoid travelling on these days:

1 Jan New Year's Day
6 Feb Waitangi Day
Mar/Apr Easter (dates change each year to include a Friday and a Monday)
25 Apr Anzac Day
1st Mon in June Queen's Birthday
4th Mon in Oct Labour Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

Time zone
There is one time zone throughout the country. NZ time is 2 - 2.5 hours in advance of Australian time depending on the state you are from, and 12 hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Daylight savings: from late October until the end of the first week of Marchm New Zealander’s put their clocks forward one hour to get more daylight hours over summer.