Renting a car + Driving in New Zealand (Guide + Video)

New Zealand is a road trip paradise. Simply driving around is a pleasure with the wonderful scenery. Below is my guide to help you rent a car in New Zealand and get ready to be driving in New Zealand with video and photos. Don't worry, it is not difficult!

This article may contain affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.

To reassure you that driving in New Zealand is quite easy, check out this short video showing different conditions (it is only missing the traffic jams in the Auckland's suburbs):

• LEFT SIDE - Driving is on the left side of the road so it can be stressful for some people, but it is not that complex. You just have to be careful when getting out of your parking space
• NOT TOO DIFFICULT - New Zealand is not really difficult. Roads are sinuous, especially in North Island but always large enough and in good conditions. My main difficulties were in the vicinity of Auckland.
• TAKE YOUR TIME - The landscapes are beautiful! be careful where you stop, not to block other cars
• ONE LANE BRIDGES - The only thing you could find difficult in the beginning are the one lane bridges. But they are well indicated, with signs to indicate who has priority. And since there is not much traffic, it is very easy.
• TOLLS - There are 3 road sections with tolls in New Zealand. But all of them  can be avoided if you want to. Otherwise you pay online within 5 days.
• ISLANDS - If you are planning a road trip on both islands, make sure your rental companies has offices and shops on both islands. I selected Snap Rentals and actually used their offices on both islands which was great (see their cars and prices)

More details further about all these points in the article.

Where to rent a car in New Zealand

You can rent a car:

• upon arrival at the airports - I chose Snap Rentals at Auckland airport
• At the ferry and cruise ship wharfs
• or from all major town centers

Most major international brands are available in New Zealand. But it also has a lot of good local rental companies. See next section for criteria to consider when choosing.

MY ITINERARY TIP - If you are visiting Auckland, I recommend renting the car after you visit or before, keeping Auckland at one end of your trip, so you don't have to drive and park in the city

OTHER TIP - if you are traveling during peak season (December to February), make sure you book at least 2 months in advance to have choice and good prices (I booked 6 months in advance 🙂 )

Car rental New Zealand - which company?

As you are selecting your rental company, I recommend paying attention to the following criteria:

• Do they have rental offices on both islands? (because if you have an issue, it will be much easier and quicker)
• Do the have good servicing offers? what is their process it case of breakdown (for example Snap Rentals gives you a policy with AAA road assistance)
• Full insurance coverage possible? that might not be a criteria for everyone, but I like the peace of mind and being fully covered for anything happening to the car.
• Does it include unlimited mileage? This is essential, so that you don't worry and go wherever you please.
• Do they have good reviews. Check if the bad reviews were really the companie's fault or people just not taking insurance...
• and of course the price...

I considered all these criteria and selected Snap Rentals. I paid my rental in full (this is not sponsored).

Renting a car in New Zealand - which type of car?

Here are a few recommandations regarding your car selection:

• Roads are generally quite large, so you don't have to worry about hiring a wide car
• Make sure you pick a car with a wide enough trunk space, so that you can have all your luggages hidden there; No need to tempt thieves.
• Choose a car with a good motor: you keep turning and going up and down, so a car that can stay stable is really more enjoyable
• Some points of interest require up to 10km of driving on gravel roads. They are still quite easy and you don't need a 4WD. However note that most rental companies' insurances do not cover offroad driving.

Renting a camper van or Motorhome

New Zealand car rental tips

• Return spot - It is often cheaper to get a rental that you return at the same office. However if you have limited time in New Zealand you may want to pick up in one island and drop on the other. In that case make sure you check the prices for both directions. Most people will pick up in Auckland and drop in Queenstown. So it may be cheaper to pick up in Queenstown and drop off in Auckland, as they will be happy to have someone bring back their car.
• Insurance - no specific insurance to consider. This is pretty standard.
• Cleaning - Most companies give you a big warning that they may charge you with a cleaning if you bring a dirty car. Read the official conditions and they should say that 'normal' cleaning is included. So a little bit of sand should not be a problem but a lot of dirt from driving on gravel roads might be
• Petrol - Bring back your car with the agreed level of fuel in the tank to avoid paying extra
• Photos - Like everywhere you rent a car, it is advised to take photos of scratches upon car pick up and return.
• Trunk - make sure you have the trunk cover before leaving the rental agency. Sometimes they remove it during cleaning... Lesson learnt!

General rules for driving in New Zealand

• Driving is on the left side of the road
• Minimum driving age is 16, but rental companies normally ask for drivers to be older - check out the conditions
• Seatbelts are mandatory for all
• Alcohol limit is 0.05% for drivers above 20 years old
• Recreational drugs are illegal in New Zealand
• Speed limits are well indicate in red circle. They change quite often! 
  
• Normally in urban areas, the limit is 50km/h
• When the road is sinuous, you will have big yellow signs with the recommended speed for the turn. Make sure you slow down!!!
• At roundabouts, you give way to traffic already on the roundabout

License to drive in New Zealand

You must carry a valid driving license from your own country.
If that permit is not in English, then you also need to carry an approved English translation or an international driving permit.

New Zealand road signs

Road signs are very classic. Nothing specific to be aware of. Road signs are easy to understand.

Overtaking in New Zealand

Most roads have a single lane in each direction.
Some have passing lanes regularly.
Otherwise the rules are as follows:

• solid yellow line: you cannot overtake
• no solid yellow line, cars in both directions can overtake
• yellow solid line but not on your side of the roads, you can overtake but not those coming in the other direction
• white dotted line on your side becomes yellow, it means you soon won't be able to overtake

Driving on the left

OK. If you are from a right-driving country, what might worry you the most is driving on the left.
But don't worry, it is actually not that difficult!
I have not seen anyone do big stupid things while driving around New Zealand

The main dangers is when you get out of a parking spot. If there is no car out, you may start driving on the wrong side (I am guilty of that the first day). If that worries you, take a big white sheet and write Keep LEFT on it and place it behind the wheel.

Single lane bridge

The only other thing that I can think of that may worry you are the one lane bridges.
There are many of them all around the country.
They are really well indicated with big text on the road and lots of roadsigns.
Make sure you pay attention to who has priority : the big black arrow has priority to the smaller red arrow.

I strongly recommend the use of a GPS so that you can focus on the roads and on the scenery.

You can find the GPS coordinates of all the best places to see in New Zealand in my eBook:

Sinuous roads

What surprised me the most where the roads in North Islands. They turn and they turn....
You don't stop slowing down, turning and accelerating and slowing down, turning and accelerating... It is due to the landscape with many bumps
South Island also has some sinuous roads, but it also has some very straight roads in the valleys.

Gravel Roads

A few beautiful spots require driving on gravel roads such as

• the Omarama clay cliffs, Wharariki beach, the Cathedral caves, Catlins locations... in South Island
• Te Paki sand dunes, Cape Palliser... in North Island

All the ones I drove were in really good conditions and easy to drive. Just take your time and don't speed to avoid breaking windows with gravel.

Only 2 were more difficult that the others:

• The drive to the cathedral caves car park is quite bumpy.
• The drive in the Northern par of Abel Tasman National park to Totaranui beach, has some big humps and holes plus slopes and turns. I decided to turn around and not go all the way to the beach.

In any case, remember that car rental companies's insurances probably don't cover you if you break down on those roads. Read the details.

Most difficult parts of my drive

I have found driving in New Zealand very easy (and I hate driving...)
The only part that I really really did not like was in the region of Auckland and going West to Piha beach.
First there are always a lot of traffic jams around Auckland. This is not enjoyable after the beautiful open nature areas you have crossed before.
Second, the drive down to Piha beach is narrow and sinuous without many passing bays. But the locals are in a hurry to get home and they get annoyed by you slowing down.

Getting on high speed roads

There are a few high speed roads in the North around Auckland.
There can be traffic lights to get on them.
I am mentioning it because not all countries have those and it can be surprising.
This is to make the flow of traffic fluid.
Every few seconds one car on each lane can go and enter the traffic easily.

Tolls in New Zealand

There are 3 sections of roads in New Zealand with tolls.
There are no tollbooths.
They are well indicated as well as exit if you want to take the detour and avoid paying.
If you go ahead, it takes a picture of your plate number. You just have to

• go online on www.tollroad.govt.nz,
• don't create an account just click on "buy or pay a toll"
• enter your plate number,
•  and pay. It is very easy!

The 3 roads are:

• The Auckland Northern Gateway on road 1 between Auckland and Warkworth - it costs 2.30 NZD per car and saves you 9min compared to the detour
• The Tauranga Eastern Link on Road 2 between Paengaroa and Papampoa - it costs 2 NZD per car and saves you 12min compared to the detour
• The Tauranga Takitimu Drive on road 29, South of Tauranga - it costs 1.80 NZD and saves you 7min compared to the detour

Except the driving jams and locals in a hurry around Auckland, that I already mentioned, driving in New Zealand cities is quite easy.
Most of the roads are quite wide (unless you are in the hilly suburbs of Wellington.
From my experience, I have nothing special to mention (except parking, see at the end of the article).

Pedestrians have priority over cars.

Booking the ferry

If you are planning a road trip on both islands, you will have to book a ferry between Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island).

There are several sailings a day with 2 different operators: Interislander and Blueridge

However you can do the booking only if you have your car's plate number. So you can't do it early.

I recommend you

• bookmark this booking page for now in your favorites - New Zealand ferries
• do the booking the first day after you collect your rental car, once you know the plate number

Getting onboard the ferry

On the day of your ferry ride, make sure you check the time indicated on the ticket. Attention is the the cut time to present yourself (not the beginning boarding time).
As you arrive at the terminal, first go to the bathroom.
Then head to the booth by car and start queueing.
There is no point being first of last. It does not mean you will get out first. Placement of all the vehicles inside a ferry is complicated. You never know where you will be.

So just wait in line and follow the directions of the crews.
Once parked, close your mirrors and you car, and make your way to the living areas. Make sure you take all you need as you may not be able to go back to your car.

• Landscapes - the scenery is stunning, it is hard to stop looking at it... but that means that you don't look at the road. Make sure you alternate drivers, or, if you are alone, make frequent stop to satisfy your love for nature.
• Animals - there can be sheep and wild animals on the roads (especially flightless birds). In areas where it is frequent, you will see danger signs, slow down and pay attention. Do NOT sound your horn.

• Roadwork - There is frequent roadworks happening. And since most roads only have one lane in each direction, it means alternate driving. Roadworks are overall well indicated with signs and speed limits.
• Railway crossings - Approach railway crossings with cautions. On the main roads, they have lights and barriers but on side roads to accommodations for example, they don't. Always slow down on a look in each direction. 

• Cyclists - During the weekends, locals enjoy cycling around. They have the priority. Always slow down and overtake with care.
• Fog - when driving on a mountain pass you may end up in the fog or in the clouds. Slow down and take your time.

Want to see more of NEW ZEALAND?

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