The Cheapest Motorhome & Campervan Rentals in New Zealand 🚐 [2024]

© NZPocketGuide.com

Travellers Autobarn

Travellers Autobarn is a great option for travelling in New Zealand while staying in holiday parks and campsites. With no extra fees for young drivers, Travellers Autobarn is a great choice for drivers of all ages. It is an extra NZ$50 to hire a portable toilet and for your certified self-containment sticker to be valid to be able to freedom camp in New Zealand. Tip: Rentals are usually cheaper when starting in Christchurch with Travellers Autobarn. Plus, check out our review of their “Kuga” campervan.

Speaking of rentals from Christchurch, check out The Best Motorhome & Campervan Rentals in Christchurch!

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Campervans Available

Campervan/station wagon Toyota Estima sleeping 2 people in a tent, and Hitop Toyota Hiace vans sleeping between 3-5 people.

Vehicle age range: 4 to 12 years old.

Free Inclusions

• 10% discount for premium caravan parks
• Access to free campgrounds
• Unlimited kilometres
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, fridge, sink, microwave
• Optional extras also include kitchenware, bedding, child booster seats, multiple drivers and a heater.

Insurance

Free standard cover with NZ$3,000 excess and NZ$3,000 bond to pay. Full cover is also available at an additional NZ$30 per day for no excess or bond to pay.

What Does a Travellers Autobarn Campervan Look Like?

Check the NZ Pocket Guide team touring a Travellers Autobarn campervan in the following video:

© PiwiWiwi

Piwiwiwi Campervans

For an “under the radar” campervan option providing amazing value, consider PiwiWiwi based in Christchurch. There’s no huge branding on the vans but the fitout is super contemporary; updated no more than every four years. Although they’re affordable, you don’t have to pay extra to live like a king, as essentials like a phone holder, an extra blanket (mink blanket, might we add), camping chairs and a coffee plunger are all included. PiwiWiwi are not open year-round, but they are typically open from September to the end of May – which means the kilometre count is also very low compared to other rental vehicles.

Check out PiwiWiwi’s cleverly handcrafted design in this YouTube video and book your campervan rental at piwiwiwi.co.nz.

Pick-up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers are available for Christchurch Airport and the city centre.

Pick-Up/Drop-off Location: Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

High-roof van (Toyota HiAce) which is certified self-contained and sleeps up to three people.

Vehicle age range: 5 to 9 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Up to 3 drivers (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, grill, fridge and sink
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Camping Chairs
• Towels
• Surfer-friendly kit
• Safe box
• First Aid Kit
• Guidebooks and maps
• Access to a free box of food and consumables left by previous hirers

Insurance

Free standard insurance with NZ$2500 excess and NZ$2500 bond or insurance add-ons for NZ$25-$30 per day with less excess and bond to pay.

© Wendekreisen Travel

Wendekreisen Travel

When budgeting for a motorhome or campervan trip around New Zealand, it’s the extra costs that can add up. With Wendekreisen, they eliminate the no one-way fee and RUC (road user charge for diesel) which can save you a huge amount on your cheap campervan rental in New Zealand. Although Wendekreisen is more known for their motorhome rentals, they do offer some ultra-affordable smaller campervans and cars with roof tents worth considering for a budget trip around New Zealand.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers to and from the airport and city are available.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland and Christchurch

Budget Campervans Available

Cars with roof tents (not self-contained), a selection of high roof vans (VW T5, Mazda E, Toyota HiAce, etc.) sleeping up to 2 people, and a selection of motorhomes sleeping 2 to 6 people.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 14 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance (compulsory +NZ$14 a day)
• Roadside assistance
• No one-way fees
• No diesel road user charge (RUC)
• Gas stove, fridge, sink (some come with grills)
• Electric toaster and kettle
• Heaters or diesel heating
• Toilet and shower (smaller vans have an outdoor shower and portable toilet)
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels
• Picnic table and chairs

Insurance

Standard insurance is included with NZ$750 excess for drivers over 25 years old (NZ$1,000 for drivers aged 21 to 24). There is the option to upgrade for less excess at NZ$21-$28 per day.

© Mad Campers

Mad Campers

Kitted up for freedom camping, Mad Campers is a great option for budget travellers in a comfortably small van for driving on New Zealand roads. All of their vans are certified self-contained meaning you can legally freedom camp.

For more “backpacker” style vans, check out The Best Backpacker Campervan Rentals in New Zealand.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers are available in Auckland, however, outside of office hours may incur a transfer charge. Christchurch transfers are subject to availability.

Pick-Up/Drop-off Location: Auckland and Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

Nissan Vanette sleeping up to 2 people and is certified self-contained. Nissan Cube sleeping one person and is certified self-contained.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 12 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Up to 2 drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, fridge and sink
• Portable toilet
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels
• Safe box

Insurance

Free standard insurance with NZ$5,000 excess and NZ$2,500 bond or insurance add-ons for NZ$17.50-$30 per day with less excess and bond to pay.

© Road Runner Rentals

Road Runner Rentals

Road Runner Rentals often has affordable daily rates on their campervan motorhome rental vehicles so are well worth adding to your campervan rental comparison! Note that prices greatly fluctuate with the seasons.

For more affordable comparisons, check out The Best Affordable Campervan Rentals in New Zealand.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers to and from airport and city available.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland and Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

They have a range of Toyota HiAce and Nissan Caravans sleeping up to 2 people, some self-contained. There’s also a range of self-contained Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit motorhomes either 2-berth, 4-berth or 6-berth.

Vehicle age range: 6 to 20 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove fridge and sink
• Microwave (HiAce and motorhomes only)
• Toilet and shower (motorhomes only)
• Portable toilet (campervans only)
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels

Insurance

Standard insurance is included with NZ$4,000 excess/bond for motorhomes and NZ$2,000 excess/bond for campervans (this is NZ$3,000 for 18-21-year-old drivers and NZ$2,500 for 21-25-year-old drivers). Excess can be reduced for NZ$25-$55 per day.

© Budgy Campers

Budgy Campers (Euro Campers)

Budgy Campers is the budget range of motorhomes and RVs under Euro Campers, i.e. the oldest vehicles of their fleet. Nevertheless, all of their motorhomes are highly functional and are certified self-contained. With motorhomes sleeping up to six people, Budgy is well worth considering for a family or group holiday. Note that drivers must be 21 years old or over.

See The Best Family Campervan Rentals in New Zealand for more family-friendly rentals.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers to and from the airport and city are available.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland and Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

A range of fully certified self-contained motorhomes is available sleeping two to six people.

Vehicle age range: 10 to 25 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (21 or 25+ years old, depending on model)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• One-way fee
• Gas stove, grill, microwave, fridge, BBQ and sink
• Solar panels
• Electric or diesel heaters
• Toilet and shower
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels
• Picnic table and chairs
• Maps
• Baby seats available
• DVD player
• GPS

Insurance

Standard insurance is included with NZ$5,000 excess. There is the option to upgrade for less or zero excess on insurance at NZ$25-$45 per day.

© Hippie Campers

Hippie Campers

Hippie Campers certainly plays the part with their hippy-style vans that are small enough to be easy to drive. The campervans have all the basic essentials, however, they are not self-contained so you will need to stay in campsites and holiday parks, rather than enjoy freedom camping. See Where Can You Camp in New Zealand if Your Campervan is Not Self-Contained? for more advice.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland and Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

High-roof Toyota HiAce sleeping up to 3 people.

Vehicle age range: 3 to 17 years old.

Free Inclusions

• 1 driver (18+ years old)
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, sink, fridge and kettle
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels

Insurance

Insurance is included in the rental with a NZ$3,000 bond and NZ$3,000 excess. There are options to reduce the excess and bond to pay for NZ$22 per day.

© Tui Campers

Tui Campers

Tui Campers provides a range of cheap campervan and motorhome hires in New Zealand, from easy-to-drive “sleepervans” to functional motorhomes to even wacky 4WD Ford Rangers with fold-out tents on the side and roof! Their Sleepervans are the most economical, however, with self-containment certification included – a must-pick if you’re backpacking around New Zealand. On the downside, they charge a NZ$20+ Visa/MasterCard fee.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers to and from the airport and city are available.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland and Christchurch (Wellington, Picton, Greymouth, Dunedin, Queenstown and Nelson are also available at an NZ$800 charge).

Budget Campervans Available

Toyota Voxy sleeping up to 2 people and certified self-contained, Toyota HiAces sleeping up to 2 or 5 people and self-contained, Ford Transit sleeping up to 2, 3, 4 or 5 people and self-contained, and Ford Ranger with tents sleeping up to 5 people and self-contained.

Vehicle age range: 9 to 18 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, sink, 12v cooler box or fridge
• Portable or fixed toilet
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels
• Awning
• Road atlas

Insurance

Standard insurance is included with NZ$4,000 excess (NZ$5,000 for drivers aged under 25 years) and the same price bond to pay. There are options to reduce the excess and bond for NZ$25-$45 per day.

© Travellers Autobarn

Escape Campervan Rentals

Escape Campervan Rentals stand out from the crowd with their uniquely artistic-designed campers kitted out for budgeting backpackers. They are a transparent company with their website clearly outlining any additional fees you might have to pay. Note that their cheapest vehicles are not certified self-contained but self-contained vans are available. Also, be aware that automatic transmission vehicles are not a guarantee but you can pay a transmission fee of around NZ$10 per day to guarantee your choice of transmission.

Pick-up and Drop-Off Locations

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland and Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

Nissan Caravans sleeping up to 3 people.

Vehicle age range: 8 to 19 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Solar shower
• Gas stove, sink, cooler box
• Portable toilet (in self-contained vans only)
• Mains-powered heater
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Cleaning equipment
• Guidebook with activity discounts
• New Zealand SIM card
• Snowchains in winter (on request)

Insurance

Free standard insurance with NZ$3,000-$4,000 excess and NZ$3,000 bond. Other insurance options are available at an added NZ$22.50-$30 per day for less excess and bond to pay.

© Wicked Campers

Wicked Campers

Wicked Campers are famous for their spray-painted designs of obscene profanities but they also provide a cheap campervan rental option in New Zealand. However, there are quite a few hidden fees to look out for so we suggest reading their FAQ to really understand what you are being charged for and what’s included in the rental.

For more campervan rentals like Wicked Campers, check out The Best Backpacker Campervan Rentals in New Zealand.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Budget Campervans Available

Toyota Alphard (or something similar) sleeping up to 2 people spray-painted in various designs or no design is available. Campervans are certified self-contained for a fee.

Vehicle age range: 7 to 15 years old.

Free Inclusions

• 1 driver (18+ years old)
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, sink, cooler box
• Kitchenware
• Mattress (no linen)

Insurance

Insurance is mandatory but not included in the daily rate of the rental. Insurance is a mandatory payment of NZ$30-$45 per day for NZ$1,000 excess and a bond to pay if you don’t have a credit card available for imprint.

© BANZ Travel Cars

BANZ Travel Cars

For the budget-conscious traveller, BANZ Travel Cars is a campervan rental company well worth considering thanks to their simple yet effective fleet of two-berth campervans. If you’re road-tripping in New Zealand for a little longer, they also offer excellent long-term campervan rental rates.

For more campers available from Auckland, head to The Best Motorhome &; Campervan Rentals in Auckland.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfer available for Auckland Airport

Pick-up/Drop-off Location: Auckland and Christchurch.

Budget Campervans Available

Self-Contained Toyota HiAce campervans sleeping up to 3 people.

Vehicle age range: 8 to 15 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, sink, fridge and toaster
• Portable toilet
• Handheld outside shower
• Fan heater
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels
• Camping chairs and table
• Cleaning equipment

Insurance

Free comprehensive insurance (windscreens and tyres are covered) with NZ$2,500 excess for 18-21-year-olds, NZ$2,000 for 22-25-year-olds and 25+ $1,500. The bond is the same as excess based on the age of the driver.

© Chilli Rentals

Chilli Rentals

Chilli Rentals has a great selection of budget campervans with modern interiors. They have a few handy free inclusions that are available on request, so be sure to inquire. Part of their wide range is small campercars to comfortable motorhomes that won’t feel too big to handle. They’re a great choice if it’s your first time driving a motorhome or campervan.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Courtesy transfers are available to Auckland Airport.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland.

Budget Campervans Available

Cars with roof tents sleeping up to 3 people, campercars (Toyota Previa or Estima) sleeping up to 2 people, self-contained campervans (Nissan Vanette) sleeping up to 3 people, and self-contained motorhomes (Ford Transit) sleeping up to 3 people.

Vehicle age range: 10 to 20 years old.

Free Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, sink, cooler box or fridge
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Candles, insect repellent (on request)
• Torchlight and batteries
• Camping tables and chairs
• 3-man tent (on request)
• GPS (on request)
• Fuel discount card
• First aid kit (high-vis vest and other safety equipment)

Insurance

Insurance is included in the rental with a NZ$3,000 bond and NZ$3,000 excess. There are options to reduce the excess and bond to pay for NZ$20-$25 per day.

© Jucy

Jucy Rentals

You can’t miss these bright green and purple campervans driving all around New Zealand. The great thing about Jucy Rentals is the variety of budget campervans available from small and easy-to-drive campercars to medium-sized self-contained campervans. Younger drivers can also benefit from the minimum driver age being 18 years old at no extra charge.

For more campervans for young drivers, check out The Best New Zealand Car & Campervan Rentals for Ages 18 to 25.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

A courtesy shuttle is available for airport branches offering airport pick-up and drop-offs.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations: Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Budget Campervans Available

Toyota Estima campercar sleeping 2 people (not self-contained), high rise Toyota HiAce sleeps up to 4 people (self-contained) and a high rise Toyota HiAce (more premium option) sleeping 3 people and self-contained.

Vehicle age range: 2 to 10 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (18+ years old)
• Roadside assistance
• Basic insurance
• Gas stove, fridge, sink
• Portable toilet (included in HiAce)
• Shower and toilet (included in premium HiAce)
• Kitchenware
• Bedding
• Towels
• Cleaning equipment

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$5,000 excess and NZ$5,000 bond. Or insurance add-ons for NZ$40-$55 per day with less excess and less bond to pay. What’s included in the insurance (or more likely, what’s not!) is clearly stated on the Jucy website so be sure to use this to compare with other insurances offered.