VEHICLE RENTAL IN NEW ZEALAND

Renting a car or camper van is very popular in New Zealand. In fact, some people say the cross-country drives are the highlight of their entire trip! Yes, it can be pricier than taking buses across the island, but you have total autonomy over your travel route and you do not have to worry about missing any buses. The convenience and flexibility far outweigh the costs in my opinion. You can rent many different types of vehicles, but below I compare the three most popular - a car/four-door sedan, a 2-person camper van, and a 4-person camper van.

Car/Four-Door Sedan:

This is the cheapest option of the three; I rented the least expensive car through JUCY for 20 days (2005 Nissan Tilda). Since I rented the most cost-effective car, I also got the insurance package with the most coverage to hedge my bets. Over 20 days, I drove about 3,200 kilometers (~2,000 miles) and below are what my expenses came out to be:

Rental Car: $440 NZD ($22 NZD/day) or $320 USD ($16 USD/day)
Insurance: $540 NZD ($27 NZD/day) or $390 USD ($19.50 USD/day)
Gas/Petrol: $440 NZD ($22 NZD/day) or $320 USD ($16 USD/day)
Total: $1,420 NZD ($71 NZD/day) or $1,030 USD ($51.50 USD/day)

Small Camper Van:

JUCY also has camper vans for hire. The smaller models, such as the JUCY Cabana, can sleep two people (the seats convert into a double bed) and are equipped with a stove (or gas cooker), refrigerator, sink, kitchenware, and more. This model is not self-contained (you must hook up in a campground to get access to running water), but it does come with unlimited miles/kilometers. The below prices are based on the numbers I used when renting a car above (20 days, full insurance coverage, and 3,200 kilometers driven).

Rental Camper Van: $2,400 NZD ($120 NZD/day) or $1,735 USD ($87 USD/day)
Insurance: $900 NZD ($45 NZD/day) or $650 USD ($32.50 USD/day)
Gas/Petrol: $1,000 NZD ($50 NZD/day) or $725 USD ($36 USD/day)
Total: $4,300 NZD ($215 NZD/day) or $3,110 USD ($155.50 USD/day)

Large Camper Van:

This model is called the JUCY Condo and can sleep up to 4 people. It comes with the same fixings as the small camper van in addition to a toilet. This model is self-contained, meaning that the vehicle can function without having to hook up to anything overnight; there are toilet and water containers that hold water and waste. This model, too, has unlimited miles/kilometers. Again, the below prices are based on the numbers I used when renting a car above (20 days, full insurance coverage, and 3,200 kilometers driven).

Rental Camper Van: $3,860 NZD ($193 NZD/day) or $2,790 USD ($139.50 USD/day)
Insurance: $1,100 NZD ($55 NZD/day) or $795 USD ($40 USD/day)
Gas/Petrol: $1,000 NZD ($50 NZD/day) or $725 USD ($36 USD/day)
Total: $5,960 NZD ($298 NZD/day) or $4,310 USD ($215.50 USD/day)

Conclusion:

While these numbers may seem a bit high, keep in mind that a) purchasing the full insurance package is not mandatory and b) if you do not rent a vehicle, you still have to pay for bus transportation. Using that logic, I calculated how much I would have spent on bus tickets had I traveled the same route by bus that I did by car. Below is the price comparison:

Intercity Buses: 44 hours spent commuting; $800 NZD spent
Car Rental (without insurance): 28 hours spent commuting; $880 NZD spent
Car Rental (with insurance): 28 hours spent commuting; $1,420 NZD spent

The above numbers further cement my recommendation to rent a car. While the cheapest option is to take the bus, it is only marginally cheaper than renting a car without insurance. And while I think you should purchase the insurance, this is still a noteworthy realization. When comparing the rental car with insurance to the bus, renting a car is $620 NZD (~$400 USD) more expensive. It is also 16 less hours of commuting and with a car, you have full autonomy over your travel route. You can pull over to hike wherever you want; there are many trailheads across the country and many of them are not accessible via public transportation. Taking taxis to trailheads will certainly add up. You can also stop to take pictures whenever you want and, believe me, this is a big win. These reasons are why I believe the extra investment is well worth it. With buses, you are at the mercy of rigid schedules and limited ticket availability, both of which can be real hassles especially during high tourist season. You also do not have the ability to visit certain locations (i.e. Castle Hill and the Catlins). To make a case for renting a camper van, over those same 20 days, I spent $680 NZD in total (or $34/night) on lodging. While it does not eat up the entire price difference between a small camper van and a rental car, it certainly makes a dent! All of this is to say I would rent a vehicle again in a heartbeat. The ability to see the beauty of New Zealand at your own pace is a priceless luxury. Don’t believe me? See for yourself!

Notes:

Prices updated in January 2021.
There is not pricing for the JUCY Chaser above but it is a 3-person camper van that comes with a shower - it is the most expensive option of the four.
Download Gaspy. This app will show you the nearest petrol stations with prices updated daily.
Petrol, or gas, is very expensive on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island - especially near Fox Glacier/Franz Josef and in Wanaka. Fill up before you visit those areas if possible. Filling up in larger cities will generally be your best bet (Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, etc.).