The Best New Zealand Car & Campervan Rentals for Ages 18 to 25

© Snap Rentals

Snap Rentals

First on our list of New Zealand car rentals for ages 18 to 25, Snap Rentals is extremely young driver-friendly. The minimum age to hire one of the many vehicles available in their fleet is 18 years old. What’s more, their rates are usually kind to a young person’s budget.

Snap Rentals is also one of the limited car rental companies in New Zealand that hire to drivers with a restricted/provisional license. Check out the latest Snap Rentals deals on Booking.com.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland City (Parnell), Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport and Queenstown Airport.

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

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) or 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!

© Bargain Rental Cars

Bargain Rental Cars

Another awesome car rental company in New Zealand for 18-year-olds and above is Bargain Rental Cars. They offer reasonable prices but bear in mind that it is mandatory for under 25-year-olds to pay a little extra for insurance.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland (city centre, Onehunga, Glenfield, Mount Wellington, Grey Lynn and East Tamaki), Hamilton (Frankton), Wellington (Cuba Street) and Christchurch (Hornby).

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

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!

© NZPocketGuide.com

Travellers Autobarn

If you’re keen on road-tripping around New Zealand in a campervan, Travellers Autobarn is an awesome option. With no extra fees for young drivers, Travellers Autobarn is a great choice for ages 18 and up. 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. Check out our review of their “Kuga” campervan.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch.

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.

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

What Does a Travellers Autobarn Campervan Look Like?

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

© EPIC Campers

EPIC Campers

Hit the road with your partner, best mate or solo in one of the cleverly designed 2-berth campervans of EPIC Campers, a small independent company. Pick up from either Christchurch and Auckland and enjoy the benefits of freedom camping thanks to the campervan’s self-containment certification. Not only do the vans have quality interiors, such as a fold-out kitchenette and manoeuvrable living/sleeping space, but there are thoughtful touches from the USB powerpoints front and back to the coffee plunger! Ah!

For more epic camper options from Auckland, head to The Best Motorhome & Campervan Rentals in Auckland.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland and Christchurch.

Transfers are available from Christchurch Airport for a fee. Parking at their depots is available.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Gas stove, fridge and sink
• Kitchenware
• Kitchen consumables (olive oil, salt, pepper and dishwashing liquid)
• Bedding (including an extra fleece blanket)
• Portable toilet
• Insect nets
• New Zealand SIM card
• Phone holder + USB charger

Insurance

Free standard insurance with NZ$5,000 excess and $3,000 bond or insurance add-ons for NZ$15-$30 per day with less/no excess and bond to pay.

© Ace Rental Cars

Ace Rental Cars

Modern cars, no one-way fees, and available to 18-year-olds and above, Ace Rental Cars is, well, pretty ace! While they are not the cheapest, they have a good reputation for reliable vehicles. If you want quality, check out Ace Rental Cars. Check out the latest Ace Renal Cars deals on Booking.com.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland City, Auckland Airport, Wellington Airport, Picton, Greymouth, Christchurch Airport, Dunedin Airport and Queenstown Airport.

A courtesy shuttle is available to and from airports and airport depots during normal working hours.

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.

© Omega

Omega Rental Cars

Ok, so Omega might not have branding that’s as sexy as other New Zealand car rental companies but they are actually pretty awesome. What we like the most is the fact that they have so many pick-up/drop-off locations around New Zealand and they don’t charge a one-way fee! Oh yeah, and they rent out cars to drivers as young as 18 years old but you probably already guessed that.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland City, Auckland Aiport, Wellington (Pipitea), Wellington Airport, Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch Airport, Queenstown and Queenstown Airport.

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

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 guide book 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.

© Drive NZ Rental Cars

Drive NZ Rental Cars

Drive NZ is not only an affordable rental company but they also offer a price-beat guarantee, making them well worth considering for young drivers. Although there’s a minimal airport surcharge, you are not required to pay a bond (or at least a low bond for some vehicle hires). You will need to supply credit card details, though, so if you don’t have a credit card, maybe check out our advice on How to Hire a Car in New Zealand Without a Credit Card.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland Airport, Waiheke Island, Christchurch Airport and Queenstown.

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

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.

© Escape Campervan Rentals

Escape Campervan Rentals

Escape Campervan Rentals stand out from the crowd with their uniquely artistic-designed campers kitted out for budgeting backpackers. Despite being “cheap”, 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

Auckland and Christchurch.

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.

© Spaceships

Spaceships

Get yourself a sweet little camping vehicle from Spaceships. Offering affordable campercars and people-carrier cars, Spaceships allows you to travel the country while sleeping in your vehicle at campsites (note that they are not certified self-contained so you won’t be able to freedom camp). They are one of the very limited campervan rental companies that hire to drivers that are under 21 years old.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland (Penrose) and Christchurch Airport.

A transfer shuttle is available to and from their depots from the nearby airports and city centres for a fee.

Inclusions

• Multiple drivers (18+ years old)
• Basic insurance
• Roadside assistance
• PDFs of a travel guide e-book, NZ road code and camping information
• Free alterations to bookings

Insurance

Free insurance with NZ$3,000 excess and NZ$3000 bond (reserved on your credit or debit card) or insurance add-ons for NZ$20-$30 per day with less excess and less/no bond.

© Jucy Rentals

Jucy Rentals

Whether you want to travel around New Zealand by car or by campervan, Jucy Rentals will sort you out. Drivers can be a minimum age of 18 years old to hire one of their affordable cars to hi-top campervans. Check out the latest JUCY deals on DiscoverCars.com or Booking.com.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Auckland Airport, Queenstown Airport and Christchurch Airport.

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

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.