| New Zealand Car Rental | | | | needs and budgets. |
| If you're visiting New Zealand a rental car is one of the | | | | What Sort of Driving Licenses are Required in New |
| best ways to get around. New Zealand is a small | | | | Zealand? |
| country but has the astounding geographic diversity of | | | | You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 |
| a major continent squeezed into its small size. For | | | | months if you have either a current driver's license |
| example, within 3- 4 hours drive of Auckland, New | | | | from your home country, or an International Driving |
| Zealand's biggest city, are sub-tropical beaches, | | | | Permit. |
| volcanic mountains with ski fields, boiling mud pools, | | | | Most car rental companies require drivers to be over |
| ancient forests, unspoiled trout fishing rivers and world | | | | the age of 25 and to have held a full license for at |
| class golf courses. | | | | least 3 years. Some firms will rent vehicles to younger |
| Having a rental car gives you the freedom and | | | | drivers. For example, A2B Car Rentals rents vehicles |
| flexibility to go where you want and when you want. | | | | to drivers who are 20 or older and hold a full driver's |
| Driving in New Zealand | | | | license. At the manager's discretion, a holder of a |
| For most overseas visitors driving in New Zealand is a | | | | license for less than three years is acceptable but |
| breeze because, compared to what they are used to, | | | | may incur a higher insurance excess. |
| there is surprisingly little traffic on the roads - especially | | | | Make sure your overseas driver's license is current. If |
| in the South Island. Whilst New Zealand is about the | | | | your license is not in English, you should bring an English |
| size of UK its population is only 4 million - UK by | | | | translation with you or obtain an International Driving |
| comparison has over 60 million. | | | | Permit. Contact your local automobile club for further |
| Another difference is the limited number of motorways | | | | details about obtaining a translation or an International |
| and freeways. Roads are generally only 2-laned and | | | | Driving Permit. |
| frequently windy due to the ever changing landscape. | | | | In New Zealand it's a legal requirement that all drivers, |
| In New Zealand we drive on the left, as in UK. If you're | | | | including overseas visitors, must carry their license or |
| from America or another country that drives on the | | | | permit when driving. Naturally you will only be able to |
| right then you might feel apprehensive about having to | | | | drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to |
| drive on the "wrong side of the road". Don't be - it's | | | | drive in your home country. |
| straight-forward and tens of thousands of foreign | | | | What are New Zealand's Road Rules? |
| visitors happily do it every year. | | | | Here's a brief over-view. You can get more details the |
| New Zealanders typically show a little less | | | | NZ Government Land Transport Authority website ( |
| consideration to other drivers than is seen in UK, | | | | · In New Zealand, all vehicles drive on the left-hand |
| Australian, and the US where more cars on the road | | | | side of the road as in UK. |
| force people to be more considerate. Having said that, | | | | · When turning left, give way (or yield) to traffic |
| don't be put off - driving in New Zealand is nothing like | | | | crossing or approaching from your right |
| the harrowing experience of driving in Italy or parts of | | | | · When the traffic light is red, you must stop |
| Asia! | | | | · Speed limits are strictly enforced by police using |
| New Zealand Car Rental Firms | | | | radar, speed cameras and un-marked patrol cars. |
| New Zealand car rental firms range from the familiar | | | | Fines for speeding can be expensive |
| multi-national big brands through to small local car rental | | | | · The speed limit on the open road is 100 km/h |
| firms. The advantage of the big name rental firms is | | | | (approx 60 mph) |
| they can be found throughout New Zealand and offer | | | | · In built up areas the speed limit is 50 km/h. |
| the biggest and newest range of rental vehicles. The | | | | (approx 30 mph) |
| disadvantage is that generally they're the most | | | | · Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at |
| expensive and often have lots of hidden costs. | | | | all times |
| At the other end of the scale are the small local | | | | In Summary |
| operators who typically have older rental cars. Whilst | | | | If you're planning to visit New Zealand a rental car is |
| you may not end up driving this year's latest model the | | | | one of the best options, especially for independent |
| advantage is that the smaller car rental firms can be | | | | travelers who want to experience everything New |
| substantially cheaper, so leaving you more money to | | | | Zealand has to offer. A rental car gives you the |
| spend on the many exciting attractions New Zealand | | | | freedom and flexibility to go where you want and |
| offers. Between these extremes you'll find a wide | | | | when you want to enjoy this wonderful country. |
| range of NZ car rental firms catering to different | | | | |