kaitlyn2004

I am arriving in NZ soon and would like to secure some sort of transportation.

A camper/converted camper would be nice, but I'm fine with just about anything besides a small compact car.

I'm definitely a little hesitant to to buy just off the private secondhand market, not exactly knowing what I'm getting and zero after-purchase protection. Who knows if the car was taken care of like a baby or run into the ground with no care. However, it is still an option I'm considering.

It looks like both Avis and Hertz (and probably others?) have pages about 2month+ "rental/lease" options but I cannot find any actual booking/pricing options.

Could any locals or even people who have gone through something like this help shed some light?

number_6

You can buy a lot of car and repairs for the cost of 5.5 months rental. But it will always be a risk, NZ is awash with very low mileage cars imported used from Japan, so they have had a very hard life driving in Tokyo traffic. Renting does eliminate this risk (and the hassles of time lost if repairs are needed) but at a high cost. Camper would cost a lot more, and doesn't really save money but rather allows travel to isolated parts of NZ (where accom could be sold out otherwise).

Mwenenzi

For 5 months I would buy. But depends on your budget and risk aversion. Full comprehensive insurance may be expensive (need to have that)
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars

1000's of Eu backpacker's buy (and sell/dump) cars in NZ.
Do not buy a camper unless in 10 of thousands. The low priced campers have been driven hard for many years by friends of those Eu car buying backpackers. Campers are an open invitation thieves.

As well as the first tier international brand car rental companies, like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Eurocar there locally owned second tier car rentals. Some have on airport depots. Some have new cars. Others can have cars that tend to be ~5 year old (or more) Japanese cars. 10's of thousand of used cars, pickups & trucks are imported into NZ every year from Japan.

http://www.apexrentals.co.nz/
https://www.acerentalcars.co.nz/
https://www.jucy.co.nz/
http://www.rentalcar.co.nz/
http://www.gorentals.co.nz/
https://www.omegarentalcars.com/

Note some rental car companies do not allow you take a car across Cook Strait (North Island to South Island). They get you to drop off in Wellington and pick up a new rental in Picton (or vis versa).

kaitlyn2004

I came across Ezi car rental Wich seemed to have the best rates for rental, though I don't find much about them. I think they are related to a2b which also seems quite small.

The competence coverage you talked about, is that above or legally a must? At least through a rental option, I feel like I'd rather take the $2500(typically) excess over literally paying about that much anyway in their excess reduction costs

number_6

Car insurance is not compulosry in NZ however there is a gov't organization (ACC) which pays for injuries (effectively third party injury insurance); most likely that is funded from the car registration fee. So when you rent a car you do not have to pay for the "collision damage waiver" (note it is not insurance, as car rental companies are prohibited from selling insurance) but some rental companies in NZ are notorious for finding hundreds of dolllars of damage when you return the car (every paint chip or scuffed tire counts). Your major risk is a chipped windshield which is fairly likely on such a long rental if you drive on country roads and that would probably charge NZD 2500 just for the windshield repair (as they also charge for "loss of use" of the car while it is being repaired, generally at $200/day or more). If you buy a car instead of renting, insurance is optional but watch for the registration expiry date as the renewal could be $1000 (something to check).

Mwenenzi

I recently paid the 12month rego for my 2002 NZ car. $99.02 in total, including $37.22 ACC levy. Rego periods are 3, 6 or 12 months. ACC does not pay for damage to cars or property: just your hospital & rehabilitation. Full comprehensive car insurance is costing me about $500 per year, which includes an extra $50 for glass buy out damage (windscreen).

Some web car rental sites are more like consolidators or the same but with different brands/names/price
http://www.a2b-car-rental.co.nz/ They have the same phone numbers as https://www.ezicarrental.co.nz
A few years ago I did rent from A2B for a few months. Was a tax deductible business cost in my situation.

kaitlyn2004

Not sure if the Hatch is best/better option, but looking at Ezi car rental vs aerodrive, Ezi is "guaranteeing" the Corolla Hatch whereas Aero told me it might be:

TOYOTA COROLLA
HYUNDAI I30 ELITE/STANDARD
HYUNDAI i20 CROSS
HOLDEN CRUZ SW
TOYOTA COROLLA SEDAN
HYUNDAI SONATA SEDAN
SSANGYONG TIVOLI

Are any of those worse than the hatch? I'd hate to get an even smaller car which might prove difficult. Aero is basically $1,000 NZD cheaper over the long term rental, which is not insignificant!

Eltham

Once you've completed your Google search on these vehicles, you might find you have your answer. Isn't the internet wonderful?

number_6

Quite a range in car size from Aero, but all except the i20 are bigger than the Corolla Hatch (which is considerably smaller than the Corolla Sedan, fwiw). The i20 is about the same size as the Corolla hatch but worse motor and not as comfy; still not much downside risk with Aero from this description.

kaitlyn2004

Okay thanks for those insights. Doing a quick search the i20 appears to be a disappointing size and especially boot capacity. Even generic car reviews seem disappointed with this car.

codyc1515

Do you mean the car registration or the insurance could be $1000?

Mwenenzi

Refer to post 6. ---> $99.02 for 12 months rego for my car (I spend half my time in NZ)
Part of the rego is a TAC levy. If you have a $200,000 Ferrari rego cost can start to climb.
Do not believe everything you read on the internet

SpannerSpinner

Nope, rego on a $200,000 Ferrari wont be anymore than on a $4000 clunker in the same safety rating group. (there are only 4 groups). Max rego for a petrol powered car is about $160/year, and for the safest group of cars its about half that.

Its higher for diesel powered vehicles since they pay a greater ACC levy with their rego since diesel fuel doesn't have an ACC levy applied at the pump. For diesel powered vehicles watch out for RUC (diesel miles) too, the RUC has to be paid up to what the odometer reads at all times, and this costs $62/1000 kms for diesel passenger cars.