The Best Car Rental Companies in Queenstown 🚗 [2023]

GO Rentals – The Best All-Rounder Queenstown Car Rental

GO Rentals has a large fleet of rental cars in all the major arrival cities in New Zealand. Their modern fleet means less chance of a breakdown, however, should it happen, roadside assistance is included in every rental. The Queenstown car rental company also offers hundreds of discounts on activities around the country.

What’s more, GO Rentals is one of the first car rental companies in New Zealand to offer EV rentals – find out more about How to Travel Around New Zealand in an Electric Car. Note that there is a premium location fee for airport depots but this is minimal. Check out the latest Go 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-up and drop-offs.

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

Vehicles Available

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

Vehicle age range: 0 to 4 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (21+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• GO Play discount card (discounts on 200+ activities, restaurants and accommodations).

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$2,500 excess and NZ$2,500 bond. Or insurance add-ons for NZ$22-$29 per day with less excess and bond to pay. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

Snap Rentals – The Best Cheap Queenstown Car Rental

Snap Rentals is extremely budget-friendly, 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 rentals in Queenstown 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.

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

Vehicles Available

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

Vehicle age range: 0 to 14 years old.

Inclusions

• 1 driver (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 Rental Cars – The Best Queenstown Car Rental for Families

With a fleet of new and late-model vehicles, Ace Rentals has cars that are more likely to be reliable and fuel-efficient. With plenty of drop-off locations, this 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. At least this saves you on ferry fess. 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 Queenstown Airport between 8 am and 8:30 pm.

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

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons, 4WDs, people movers 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!

Omega Rental Cars – The Best Queenstown Car Rental for Inclusions

With so many pick-up and drop-off locations with no one-way charges, Omega is 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.

You’ll also find Omega Rental Cars listed in The Best Car Rental Companies in New Zealand.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

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

Ezi Car Rental – The Best Queenstown Car Rental for New Vehicles

With a fleet of 1,800 vehicles, there are plenty of options with Ezi Car Rental. Most of the models are late models, with the exception of a few, so if you are looking for reliability then Ezi is for you! As a good all-rounder, Ezi easily makes it into our comparison of the best car rentals in Queenstown. Check out the latest Ezi Car Rentals deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

The Ezi Car Rental kiosk is located inside the airport.

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

Vehicles Available

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

Vehicle age range: 0 to 3 years old.

Inclusions

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

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$3,000 excess or insurance add-ons for NZ$26-$28 per day with less or no excess. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

SIXT – The Best Queenstown Car Rental for Luxury Vehicles

If you want to make luxury part of your getaway from Queenstown then set your sights on SIXT. With supercars among their upscale fleet of European, Japanese and American brands, their vehicles are certainly chosen to impress. If that seems a little much for your road trip, however, high-end compact cars, SUVs, EVs and people movers will still do the trick in style. Download their app so you can open your vehicle electronically with your phone for extra pizazz! Check out the latest SIXT deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

A courtesy shuttle is available to and from the airport and rental depots.

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

Vehicles Available

Small cars (VW Sharan), medium cars (Toyota Corolla Hatch), EVs (Audi e-tron), SUVs (VW T-Roc), people-movers (Hyundai Staria) and supercars (McLaren GT, Porsche, Jaguar and Land Rover).

Vehicle age range: 0 to 2 years old.

Inclusions

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

Insurance

Free Loss Damage Waiver insurance with NZ$3,000-$4,000 excess plus third-party insurance. The option to reduce the excess amount comes at a daily fee of approximately NZ$35-$75. Need an explanation of how rental car insurance works? Check our guide, New Zealand Rental Car Insurance: Explained!

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

An effortless transition from airport to road awaits when renting with Yes Rentals. The Queenstown 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.

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

Apex Car Rentals – The Best Queenstown 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.

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

Vehicles Available

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

Vehicle age range: 3 to 7 years old.

Inclusions

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

Hitch – The Best Budget Queenstown Car Rental

Given the right season, Hitch offers some extremely affordable cars, which is why we consider them one of the best car rentals in Queenstown. 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.

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

Budget Rent A Car – The Best Queenstown 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 Queenstown, they maintain an up-to-date fleet including hybrids, as well as offer locations ideal for a more flexible road trip from Queenstown. Check out the latest Budget deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-Off Locations

Queenstown pick-up location: Queenstown Downtown (Stanley Street) and Queenstown Airport.
Drop-off locations: Queenstown, Auckland Airport, Auckland Downtown, Auckland Penrose, Auckland North Shore, Blenheim Airport, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch Downtown, Christchurch Sheffield Crescent, 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, 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!

Alamo (Redspot Car Rentals) – The Best Queenstown Airport Car Rental

The Australian-based company, Alamo, has a fleet of Kia, Toyota and Mitsubishi cars available to rent from Queenstown Airport. They have a convenient rental depot within walking distance of the airport. However, there are a number of restrictions to renting a car with Alamo that are worth knowing about:

• There is a young driver surcharge that applies at NZ$13 per day for drivers between 21-24 years old and you must have held your license for at least one year
• They charge an airport surcharge of around NZ$45, which is much higher than the usual
• You are not permitted to take rental cars above the snow line in winter, so their vehicles are not suitable for driving to the Queenstown ski fields.

Check out the latest Alamo Rentals deals on DiscoverCars.com or RentalCars.com.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, station wagons and people movers.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 6 years old.

Inclusions

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

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$4,600 excess or insurance add-ons for NZ$40-$48 per day with less excess and bond to pay (the excess can only be reduced to NZ$340 for drivers aged 21-24 years old). Roadside assistance and tire/windshield cover are an additional daily rate.

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

JUCY Rentals – The Best Queenstown 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 Queenstown Airport. However, this fee is minimal.

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

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations

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

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

Vehicles Available

Small cars, large cars, 4WDs, vans/people movers, and campercars and campervans.

Vehicle age range: 0 to 10 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!