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South Island

Cheap Car Hire in South Island from $8

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car hire in South Island with a pick-up date of 27/6 and drop-off date of 4/7. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
Driver's age: 25-65
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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 21 June 2026.
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There are 86 hire agencies servicing South Island. These agencies, altogether, have 116 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in South Island with prices from $8 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 6 car types you can hire in South Island:

Economy

Economy

$8+

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Compact

Compact

$10+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

$14+

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SUV

SUV

$24+

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People mover

People mover

$53+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

$38+

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Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

$41+

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Premium SUV

Premium SUV

$82+

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Supplier choice

Supplier choice

$9+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

$20+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

$26+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

$30+

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Standard estate car

Standard estate car

$125+

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Best car hire deals found in South Island

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 $34. Data was last updated on 21 June 2026.
Nissan Micra$8/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan Micra
Found 06/20/26
Nissan Micra$10/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan Micra
Found 06/19/26
Hyundai i30$10/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i30
Found 06/21/26

Cheapflights insights for South Island car hires

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in South Island, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in South Island?

To get the best deal on car hire in South Island, book about 80 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around $66, which is about 27% cheaper than the typical rate.

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What is the best car rental company in South Island?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in South Island is Avis (rated 9.2/10 with 10 reviews). Snap Rentals (rated 7.8/10 with 12 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Avis
Avis
9.2
Snap Rentals
Snap Rentals
7.8
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
2.0
Gold Car Rent a Car
Gold Car Rent a Car
0.0

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in South Island?

Planning to hire a car in South Island? June is the cheapest month, costing about $47 per day. In contrast, February is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of $116. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

$99

February

$116

March

$92

April

$72

May

$51

June

$47

July

$56

August

$54

September

$58

October

$54

November

$77

December

$115

What car do most people hire in South Island?

SUV cars (Mitsubishi Outlander, for example) are the most popular in South Island. Compact (Class Compact SUV) and Passenger van (Class Full-size Van) cars are also often chosen by our users when visiting South Island.

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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 21 June 2026.

Avis

9.2
Wonderful
10 reviews•6 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9.4

Comfort

9.6

Overall

9.2

Pick-up/drop-off

9.4

Value

8.9

Snap Rentals

7.8
Good
12 reviews•4 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

7.8

Comfort

8.0

Overall

7.8

Pick-up/drop-off

7.4

Value

7.7

Routes Car & Truck Rentals

4 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

2.0

Comfort

10.0

Overall

2.0

Pick-up/drop-off

2.0

Value

6.0

Gold Car Rent a Car

4 locations
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GO Rent A Car

2 locations
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Maui

2 locations
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Right Cars

4 locations
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Joy Car Rental

1 location
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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 21 June 2026.

  • What is the cheapest hire car found in South Island?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $49/day when booking a car hire in South Island. The absolute best deal a user found was for $14/day from DISCOUNT.QUEBEC , booked on Jun. 13.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in South Island for a week from EZU Car Rental?

    EZU Car Rental is one of the most popular car hire companies in South Island, offering car hire for around $236 per week on average.

  • 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.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in South Island for a month?

    The average cost of a car hire in South Island for a month is $1,013. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Airport car hires in South Island

Hire a car at one of these airports in the South Island area
Christchurch Airport car hire
Queenstown Intl Airport car hire
Dunedin Airport car hire
Blenheim Airport car hire
Timaru Airport car hire

Best Car Hire Deals

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Free cancellation

Plans change – we get it. And that’s why you can search and book car hire on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation