Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Hire Car from AKL: Any way around $30 airport fine

I am looking to hire a car from AKL airport later this year and am finding the cost for a basic car incredibly expensive. Most quotes I have obtained online have been over $110 for a 18 hour hire. Believe it or not, the cheapest rates I have found are via AA.com (http://aav12.aavacations.com/Consumer/carSearchHome.do).

The main culprit seems to be a $30 airport levy impose on rental from AKL.

Does anyone have any experience in ways to cutting the cost of car hire from this airport?

A few years ago we had a QF Holidays fly-drive package to AUK that included a Toyota Echo or Yaris from Maui. Their office is definitely off-airport, if this helps.

I rent from EZY Rental (http://ezy.co.nz) who have an AKL office. The only $30 NZ fee I see on their site is for pick up / drop off when their office is closed.

EZY does require a 3 day min, but if you pick up / drop off during regular hours, you can still get their low end car for 3 days at $75 NZ all-in and just return it early after 18 hours.

Thanks, the airfare is already purchased so fly-drive is out.

I only want the car from ~6pm 'til 10am the next day, so although ezy-rentals seems like a good option if you need a car for a few days, 3 day rentals are out. (+ there's $30 tacked on if pickup is after 5pm)

Europcar appears to apply $5.55 surcharge

Thanks K/F, I got $8.11 surcharge. But $82 is a lot less than the $109 I was getting.

Do europecar have parking bays at the airport or do they bus you to/from?

Ah so surcharge is proportional to base rental. When I did dummy total came to NZ$56 - with a Daihatsu.

I can't recall. They have a "shop" below the carpark opposite domestic terminal (maybe by international too?).

I need to transport 3 people with carry-on; not sure the Daihatsu would comfortably cope.

I'll check it out when I am back there in a few weeks. :)

Try . Not sure if they do a 1-2 day hire. They pick up at the airport and take you to their [url=http://www.a2brentals.co.nz/contact-us.html#map]depot (]A2B rentals[/url) off airport. Are you arriving - departing during normal business hours ?

This site (http://www.standbycars.com.au/Default.aspx) (standbycars.com.au) can have good rates

The Airport fee will be going the price gouging airport owners

Thanks K/F, I got $8.11 surcharge. But $82 is a lot less than the $109 I was getting.

Do europecar have parking bays at the airport or do they bus you to/from?... I can't recall. They have a "shop" below the carpark opposite domestic terminal (maybe by international too?)....
I'll check it out when I am back there in a few weeks. :)Note to Self: check this out tomorrow.

Go to the following...
http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com/

You should be able to get a car with p/u and return to AKL for an overnight for about $90 NZD all incl of fees, etc.

Europcar appears to apply $5.55 surcharge

Thanks K/F, I got $8.11 surcharge. But $82 is a lot less than the $109 I was getting.

Do europecar have parking bays at the airport or do they bus you to/from?Well the Europcar surcharge has gone up to a Flat $25! :eek:

Still less than the other companies, but it's back to the drawing board. :(

Thanks all for your suggestions.