South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from $9

Christchurch, New Zealand
26 Mar — 2 Apr
Driver's age: 26-65
Christchurch, New Zealand
Tue 26/3
Noon
Tue 2/4
Noon

What is the cheapest time to rent a car in South Island?

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in South Island and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

January

$77

February

$85

March

$68

April

$64

May

$50

June

$51

July

$64

August

$57

September

$59

October

$54

November

$67

December

$97

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in South Island is May. The most expensive time to rent a car is December. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Popular car types in South Island

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in South Island and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

There are 58 hire agencies servicing South Island. These agencies, altogether, have 80 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in South Island with prices from $9 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 5 car types you can hire in South Island:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

SUV

SUV

People mover

People mover

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Passenger van

Passenger van

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Standard estate car

Standard estate car

Compare available car types for hire in South Island

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in South Island to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Small cars

$46 - $120

All Car Types

$70 - $165

To hire a small car in South Island, you would pay an average price of $66/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a small car in South Island (~$46/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~$120/day). In fact, May is about 32% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a small car saves you 31% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Island small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a medium car in South Island, you would pay an average price of $93/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in South Island (~$60/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~$188/day). In fact, May is about 37% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a medium car saves you 4% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Island medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a large car in South Island, you would pay an average price of $128/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a large car in South Island (~$96/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~$187/day). In fact, October is about 25% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a large car is 25% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a SUV in South Island, you would pay an average price of $99/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in South Island (~$71/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~$174/day). In fact, May is about 29% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a SUV is 3% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Island SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a van in South Island, you would pay an average price of $144/day. July is the cheapest month to hire a van in South Island (~$111/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~$191/day). In fact, July is about 23% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a van is 33% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Island van hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a pickup truck in South Island, you would pay an average price of $146/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a pickup truck in South Island (~$78/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is September (~$224/day). In fact, October is about 47% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a pickup truck hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a pickup truck is 35% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best South Island pickup truck hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a luxury car in South Island, you would pay an average price of $139/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in South Island (~$91/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~$203/day). In fact, May is about 35% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a luxury car is 31% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a convertible in South Island, you would pay an average price of $76/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in South Island (~$103/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is February (~$241/day). In fact, November is about 35% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a convertible hire for South Island. When comparing with other car types available for hire in South Island, hiring a convertible saves you 22% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

Toyota Yaris$9/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris
Kia Picanto$16/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Hyundai Accent Hatch$23/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai Accent Hatch

Top hire agencies in South Island

Explore the leading car hire agencies in South Island known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in South Island. Reviews were last updated on 19 March 2024.

Hertz

9.0
Wonderful
34 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.0

Comfort

9.2

Overall

9.0

Pick-up/drop-off

9.0

Value

9.0

Avis

9.1
Wonderful
20 reviews10 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.6

Comfort

9.6

Overall

9.2

Pick-up/drop-off

9.0

Value

8.8

Ace Rental Cars

8.7
Very Good
12 reviews11 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.2

Comfort

8.8

Overall

8.7

Pick-up/drop-off

8.2

Value

8.4

Apex

8.6
Very Good
9 reviews9 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.6

Comfort

8.5

Overall

8.6

Pick-up/drop-off

8.5

Value

8.4

Thrifty

8.3
Very Good
6 reviews19 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.0

Comfort

9.0

Overall

8.4

Pick-up/drop-off

8.8

Value

7.8

Alamo

8.2
Very Good
5 reviews4 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.7

Overall

7.5

Pick-up/drop-off

7.7

Value

8.5

Go Rentals

5 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Pick-up/drop-off

10.0

Value

8.0

Budget

7.6
Good
10 reviews9 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.8

Comfort

8.4

Overall

7.6

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

8.0

Best South Island car hire deals found

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in South Island. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in South Island with an average daily rate of $85. Data was last updated on 19 March 2024.
Toyota Yaris$9/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris
Kia Picanto$16/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Hyundai i30$18/day
5
M
A/C
Hyundai i30

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in South Island, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 19 March 2024.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in South Island?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $59/day when booking a car hire in South Island. The absolute best deal a user found was for $27/day from Budget, booked on Mar. 17.

  • What car hire company is typically the cheapest in South Island?

    According to our data, users have found the cheapest deals when booking a rental car in South Island from the following companies over the past two weeks: Budget ($9/day), Mode Car & Camper Rentals ($16/day), and Drive NZ ($34/day).

  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in South Island?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Rental Cars 247 (10.0 rating), Bargain Rental Cars (10.0 rating) and Dollar (10.0 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in South Island.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in South Island for a week from New Zealand Discount Car Rentals?

    New Zealand Discount Car Rentals is one of the most popular car hire companies in South Island, offering car hire for around $340 per week on average.

  • How far in advance should I hire a car in South Island for the best price?

    Booking in advance not only ensures a better chance of getting your vehicle of choice, it can save you up to 41% on your car hire. For a below average price in South Island, Cheapflights recommends booking your car hire at least 71 days in advance.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in South Island?

    Yes, cars are available to be hired for an entire month in South Island.

See more FAQs
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