The Best Car Rental Companies in Christchurch 🚗 [2023]

Bargain Rental Cars – The Best Cheap Christchurch Car Rental

Bargain Rental Cars is all about competitive prices. Not only are their rates super affordable but they are one of the very few best car rentals in Christchurch with a “best price guarantee”. They have several convenient pick-up and drop-off locations. Plus, they also accept young drivers.

However, be aware of the location fee for all airport locations, which is a little higher than usual at around NZ$30 – but with their low rental rates, they are still likely to be one of your more affordable car rental options. Finally, we also list Bargain Rental Cars among The Best Car Rental Companies in New Zealand, so be sure to check out this comparison too.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

A courtesy shuttle is available for airport pick-ups and drop-offs.

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch (Hornby).
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland (city centre, Onehunga, Glenfield, Mount Wellington, Grey Lynn and East Tamaki), Hamilton (Frankton) and Wellington (Cuba Street).

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, scooters, van/people carriers, trucks and trailers.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 18 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance (for drivers over 25 years old)
• Roadside assistance

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,500 excess for a 25+-year-old driver or a mandatory NZ$15 per day insurance with NZ$3,500 excess for an 18-24-year-old driver. Alternatively, there are insurance add-ons for NZ$10-$19 per day with less excess and bond to pay. A NZ$250 bond is only payable if you cannot supply credit card details. Windscreen liability with no excess can be added for around NZ$5 a day.

Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Snap Rentals – The Best Christchurch Car Rental for Young Drivers

Snap Rentals is an extremely budget-friendly car rental company, especially for young drivers with insurance costs being the same for drivers of any age – they feature in The Best New Zealand Car & Campervan Rentals for Ages 18 to 25. Snap Rentals are also one of the limited car rental companies in Christchurch that hire to drivers with a restricted license. Check out the latest Snap Rentals deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

A courtesy shuttle is available for airport branches offering airport pick-ups and drop-offs. They also do accommodation shuttle pick-ups and drop-offs for airport locations.

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland City (Parnell), Auckland Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, 4WD/ute and people carriers.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 14 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance

Insurance

Free insurance is included in the rental with NZ$2,000 excess and NZ$2,000 bond (cash or credit card). Alternatively, get an insurance add-on for NZ$16-$24 per day for NZ$0 to $200 excess and bond to pay. There is also insurance available for restricted or P Plate licenses.

Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Ace Rentals – The Best Family Christchurch Car Rental

With a fleet of new and late-model vehicles, Ace Rental Cars has cars that are more likely to be reliable and fuel-efficient. With plenty of drop-off locations, this car rental company allows you to be more flexible. There is a premium location fee for airport depots but this is minimal.

Note also that Ace Rental Cars’ do not permit their vehicles to cross between the North Island and South Island, so separate bookings will need to be made to/from their Picton or Wellington branches if travelling on both islands.

We also list Ace Rental Cars as one of The Best Family Car Rentals in New Zealand.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

Courtesy shuttle available to and from the Christchurch Airport between 7:30 am and 6:30 pm. Outside of these hours incurs a fee.

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland City, Auckland Airport, Wellington Airport, Picton, Greymouth, Dunedin Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, 4WD, people carriers and campervans.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 8 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance

Insurance

Free insurance with up to NZ$2,500 excess depending on the vehicle and NZ$750 bond to pay or insurance add-ons for NZ$20-$27 per day with less excess and no bond to pay. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Enterprise – The Best Christchurch Airport Car Rental

With a check-in counter at the Arrivals area of Christchurch Airport and your rental car just a short walk away from the terminal building, getting on the road with Enterprise couldn’t be easier. The trusted international car rental brand is worth considering for familiarity, as well as the ease of pick-up and drop-off from Christchurch Airport. Check out the latest Enterprise deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland Airport, Wellington Airport, Nelson Airport, Dunedin Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, SUVs, 4WD, station wagons, people carriers and EVs.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 8 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance

Insurance

Free loss or damage liability insurance is included with all rentals with NZ$3,400-$5,000 excess depending on the vehicle. Collision damage waiver and tyre and windshield protection are available for a more comprehensive insurance policy plus reduced excess amounts for an additional daily fee of NZ$14-$40.

Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Yes Rentals – The Fastest Christchurch Car Rental for Pick-up and Drop-off

An effortless transition from airport to road awaits when renting with Yes Rentals. The Christchurch car rental company offers free transfers between the airport and their depot, while check-in is available online to speed up the process. Also boasting free cancellations, Yes Rentals is a peace-of-mind option if your travel plans are a bit iffy.

Pick-up and Drop-Off Locations

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

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, hybrids, AWDs, SUVs and vans/people carriers.

Vehicle age range: 5 to 17 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• 24/7 helpline
• Free cancellation
• Free travel guide

Insurance

Free collision waiver damage and theft waiver insurance with NZ$4,900 excess, third-party liability protection with an excess of NZ$4,000, and window and tyre insurance with NZ$2,900 excess. Insurance add-ons are available with less or no excess to pay. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Budget Rent A Car – The Best Christchurch Car Rental for Locations

Boasting around 35 locations across New Zealand, Budget Rent A Car‘s main enticement is the flexibility to pick up and drop off vehicles almost anywhere! Despite the price of vehicles not being as “budget” as the name implies, nor with as many inclusions as other rental companies in Christchurch, they maintain an up-to-date fleet including hybrids, as well as offer locations ideal for a more flexible road trip from Christchurch. Check out the latest Budget deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-Off Locations

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch City (Downtown and Sheffield Crescent) and Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland Airport, Auckland Downtown, Auckland Penrose, Auckland North Shore, Blenheim Airport, Dunedin Airport, Dunedin Downtown, Gisborne Airport, Greymouth Railway Station, Hamilton Airport, Hamilton Downtown, Hokitika Airport, Invercargill Airport, Kerikeri Airport, Napier Airport, Nelson Airport, New Plymouth Airport, Palmerston North Airport, Queenstown Airport, Queenstown Downtown, Rotorua Airport, Taupo Airport, Taupo Downtown, Tauranga Airport, Wellington Airport, Wellington Downtown, Petone Lower Hutt and Whangarei Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, hybrids, SUVs, utes and vans.

Vehicle age range: 2 to 10 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (21+ years old) + 1 free additional driver if they are the main driver’s spouse and over 25 years old
• Basic insurance

Insurance

Free loss or damage liability insurance is included with all rentals with NZ$4,000-$5,000 excess depending on the vehicle. Excess reduction or zero excess is available for an additional daily fee of NZ$30-$50. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Omega Rental Cars – The Best Christchurch Car Rental for Inclusions

With so many pick-up and drop-off locations and no one-way charges, Omega is a rental car company well worth considering if you plan to start and end your trip on different islands. What’s more, the possibility of changing rental vehicles in Wellington and Picton to reduce ferry costs is appealing.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland City, Auckland Aiport, Wellington (Pipitea), Wellington Airport, Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Queenstown and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, SUVs, 4WDs and people movers.

Vehicle age range: 3 to 11 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• One-way hire available
• Option to leave a vehicle at Wellington/Picton and pick up another vehicle after the ferry crossing to reduce the cost of the ferry
• Basic insurance
• Maps and guidebook with activity discounts
• Free seats for children
• Postcard and pen

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,500 excess and a NZ$2,000 bond for 21+-year-old drivers. Different conditions apply to 18-20-year-old drivers or drivers with a restricted license. Insurance add-ons for drivers over 21 years old of NZ$25-$28 per day with either no excess or  NZ$400 excess.

Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained! Plus, learn more about age restrictions in Age Restrictions When Renting a Vehicle in New Zealand.

Hitch – The Best Budget Christchurch Car Rental

Given the right season, Hitch offers some extremely affordable cars. Their budget range might have some older vehicles, as expected, but they are low mileage making for a more reliable journey.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, SUVs and vans/people movers.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 10 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,000 excess and NZ$1,000 bond by way of credit card or insurance add-ons for NZ$10-$17.50 per day with less excess. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Apex Car Rentals – The Best Christchurch Car Rental for One-Way Trips

For ultimate flexibility, Apex Car Rentals has a huge number of depots around the country with no extra costs for one-way trips. Their fleet is large and modern for a more premium experience on a budget. It’s also possible to hire vehicles without a credit card but with a debit card if you prefer.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch City (Kilmore Street) and Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland City Centre (Victoria Street West), Auckland Airport, Blenheim Airport, Greymouth, Napier Airport, Nelson Airport, Nelson City, Picton Ferry Terminal, Queenstown Airport, Queenstown, Wellington (Victoria Street) and Wellington Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons and 4WD and van/people carriers.

Vehicle age range: 3 to 7 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance (call-out fee applies)
• Free one-way rental available

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,000 excess or insurance add-ons for NZ$17-$27 per day to reduce the excess. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Drive NZ Rental Cars

– The Best Christchurch Car Rental for Affordability

Drive NZ is not only an affordable rental company but also offers a price-beat guarantee. They provide a great range of cars from new to older models. There’s a minimal airport surcharge but no/minimal bond to pay. However, you will need to supply credit card details.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

A courtesy shuttle is available between the airport and the rental depot.

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland Airport, Waiheke Island and Queenstown.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, 4WDs, convertibles, people carriers and campervans.

Vehicle age range: 1 to 15 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Free cancellation (more than 21 days prior to hire date)
• Brochures and maps

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,000 excess or insurance add-ons for NZ$14-$19 per day with less excess. No bond is paid but credit card details are taken. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Christchurch Car Hire – The Best Independent Christchurch Car Rental

Christchurch Car Hire offers affordable car rentals with the option for one-way hire at an additional cost. They have a huge range of vehicles in the budget category. Note that unlimited kilometres only apply on rentals over three days.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

A courtesy shuttle is available for airport branches between 8 am and 6 pm offering airport pick-ups and drop-offs.

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Dunedin City, Dunedin Airport, Greymouth, Nelson, Picton, Queenstown and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, 4WDs, station wagons, vans/people movers, and minibuses.

Vehicle age range: 5 to 10 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (21+ years old)
• Roadside assistance
• Basic insurance
• Maps

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,000 excess for a 25+-year-old driver or NZ$2,500 excess for a 21-24-year-old driver or NZ$3,000 if under 21 years old. Or insurance add-ons for NZ$12.50-$20 per day with less excess to pay. A bond is also required.

Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained! Plus, learn more about age restrictions in Age Restrictions When Renting a Vehicle in New Zealand

Abell Rentals – The Best Christchurch Minibus Rental

Abell Rentals, who are also Letz Rent a Car, have a wide range of rental vehicles including minibuses. They offer competitive base prices on their rentals. Note that there is a shuttle fee should you want to get picked up or dropped off from the airport.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

Christchurch pick-up locations: Christchurch (Riccarton) and Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, convertibles, people carriers, minibuses and trucks.

Vehicle age range: 1 to 10 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Brochures and maps
• Luggage storage

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$3,500 excess. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

ANZED Rentals – The Best Christchurch Car Rental for Families

With a great range of budget vehicles available for rent, ANZED Rentals is well worth considering for an affordable trip around New Zealand. Plus, they have quite a generous offering of inclusions with your rental. The free phone rental is a good addition but it goes without saying that you will need to pay for the credit you use on the phone.

NZED Rentals also features in The Best Family Car Rentals in New Zealand.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

Courtesy shuttle available within Christchurch (accommodations, airport, etc.) to and from the rental depot.

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch (Burnside)
Drop-off location: Christchurch, Picton and Queenstown.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, sedans, 4WDs, people movers and classic convertibles.

Vehicle age range: 1 to 12 years old.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Mobile phone rental
• Brochures and maps
• Briefing on New Zealand road rules
• Option for free baby/child seats

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,000 excess for over 25-year-old drivers or more for drivers under 25 years old. Or insurance add-ons for NZ$10 per day with less excess and bond to pay. Glass cover is available for an additional daily fee.

Need an explanation of  how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

JUCY Rentals – The Best Christchurch Car Rental for Small Cars and People Movers

With a low minimum age and a great range of budget options, Jucy Rentals are worth considering for a budget trip around New Zealand. Be aware that they do charge a “premium location fee” for the Christchurch Airport, however, this fee is minimal.

Learn more about their campervan fleet in The Best Motorhome & Campervan Rentals in Christchurch.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

Christchurch pick-up location: Christchurch Airport.
Drop-off locations: Christchurch, Auckland Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Vehicles Available

Small cars, people movers, campercars and campervans.

Vehicle age range: 3 to 150 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (18+ years old)
• Roadside assistance
• Basic insurance
• Activity discounts

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,500 excess and NZ$2,500 bond. Or insurance add-ons for NZ$20-$25 per day with less excess and less bond to pay. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!