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Rental Guide New Zealand

Our rental guide may answer your possible questions for planning your holiday with a motorhome in New Zealand. In addition to many information about renting a motorhome, you can also find specific instructions, tips and legal regulations for an unforgettable motorhome holiday in New Zealand.

Use our convenient price comparison page to calculate a motorhome hire in New Zealand. For your further questions you are welcome to contact us personally.

Multiple Hires

If you're planning to book two or more motorhomes with the same rental partner you may be eligible for additional discounts. Each rental company provides individual offers. We will be happy to inform you of any potential discounts. Unfortunately discounts when booking multiple families or groups travelling at the same time are not provided by the rental company.

Long Term Rentals

It is not possible to get a quote for rentals longer than 99 days on our website. Should you wish to rent for more than 99 days please contact us and we will be more than happy to provide you with an individual quote.

One Way Rentals

A one-way fee may be applicable if you intend to return the motorhome to a different depot than where it was collected from, e.g. renting from Auckland and returning the vehicle to Christchurch. The pick-up and drop-off location must be specified when submitting the booking. Spontaneous changes can only be made in consultation with the rental partner and high fees may be applied.

Guaranteed Vehicle Model or Category

Even though all vehicles have similar equipment and layout, small differences in vehicle design may exist. All measurements and size indications are approximate values and are based on the information provided to us by the rental company.

The rental company will make every effort to ensure that the booked vehicle model is provided. However, it reserves the right, to provide either a vehicle of the same or a higher value without upgrade costs if the model booked is not available due to unforeseen circumstances.

Price

The prices on our website are regularly refreshed and our Special Offers are kept up to date.
However, it may happen on rare occasions that you cannot calculate your trip online. This is usually only the case when you are planning your trip very far in advance. It may be that we have not yet received the new rates from the rental company. Should you face any issues calculating your hire please phone us and we will check this for you and let you know when you can expect the new rates to be available online.

Vehicle Availability

Our website functions as a travel brochure. It is not linked directly with the rental partners and therefore you can only view prices and not the availability. We will check availability for you upon receipt of your booking request. Upon confirmation of your booking by your chosen rental partner the vehicle will be firmly booked for you and you will receive your booking confirmation. Should the rental partner not be able to confirm the desired vehicle, we will contact you and discuss any alternatives with you. In general the more short-term the booking is made the more difficult it is to find a suitable motorhome available.

Credit Card - Deposit - Credit Card Fee

When collecting the motorhome you are required to leave a security deposit. The level of deposit required varies between rental companies and will depend on the package booked. The deposit is usually required to be paid by credit card. Details of the deposit can be found in the rental agreement and with some rental companies a credit card fee may apply.

Local Taxes

All costs covered by the agreement with Motorhome Bookers include taxes. However fees paid directly to the depot on collection, for example should you choose to rent a GPS Navigation system, do not include sales tax and this is to be added on to the costs.

For all vehicles that run on diesel, the Road User Charge Recovery Fee also needs to be paid locally when you drop off your vehicle. The cost is calculated depending on the vehicle size and how many kilometres you have driven during your rental.

Additional Drivers

Additional drivers can be registered at pick-up time. Anyone wanting to drive the motorhome must have their details entered in the rental agreement and be present with a valid driving license and passport. In some instances additional fees may be charged. Please see the rental conditions for more details.

Transfers

Some of our rental partners offer transfers. Detailed information can be found in the rental information under the heading "Pick up / Drop off". We are happy to help you with the choice of hotels. We advise you to call the rental station at the latest on the day of pick-up to confirm the transfer time.

Min / Max Age of Drivers

The minimum age for drivers is 21 years old; each driver must have held their licences for a minimum of 1 year (2 years with Apollo and Cheapa Campa.)

Mighty Campers offer drivers aged 18 and over the opportunity to rent a small vehicle, these currently include their Jackpot and Double Down.

JUCY will also allow drivers aged 18 and over to rent with them.

Driving License

A valid national driving license is accepted and sufficient to rent in Australia and New Zealand. Should your license not be in English, an international driver's license or, alternatively, a certified translation is imperative. The EU driving license, outside of the UK, is not issued in English and therefore will not be accepted alone. Equally an international license is only accepted in conjunction with a valid national driving license.

Collection Duration

Please allow enough time for you to collect the motorhome. We suggest that you do not plan too much on the first day of your hire. By the time you pick-up the vehicle, make yourself at home in it and buy your groceries the afternoon will normally be well under way. For detailed information about pick-up and drop-off times please refer to the 'Important rental info' for the rental company in question.

A staff member will go through the motorhome or a video will be shown to explain the functions. We recommend that you go through the vehicle from the outside as well as inside and inspect it for any possible damage before leaving the depot. If you do not use a transfer, we recommend you call the station on the morning of the collection and arrange a time for the pick-up.

Addresses and locations of the rental stations

The rental stations are generally close to the international airports. If no transfer is provided, we recommend taking a taxi to the rental depot. The location of each rental location and the distance to the airport can be viewed on our website by clicking on the preferred rental company then selecting the heading "Rental Depots"

Luggage and Storage options

Since storage can often be limited in motorhomes, we recommend taking hold all travel bags and backpacks rather than hard suitcases. Some rental stations are happy to provide space to store your luggage during the hire. We are happy to clarify this prior to your arrival. It is not possible to store luggage for a one-way rental.

Time difference – Vehicle Collection on flight arrival day

It is possible to collect the vehicle directly on the day of your arrival. We ask you to note the opening times of the stations. If you arrive after 14:00 hours, the probability is very high that you will not have enough time for the motorhome acquisition. Unless your return flight departs after 12 noon, we recommend that you return the vehicle one day in advance.

Parking at the rental stations

Unfortunately, there is no general parking available at the depots. If necessary, we will be happy to clarify this for you individually.

Equipment

All rental partners will provide the vehicle equipment such as bedding, towels, dishes, etc. Unless otherwise advised these items are usually included in the rental fees. Please note that Cheapa Campas do not include personal kits, containing bedding in their base rates. We advise you to check the equipment for completeness on collection.

Additional Extras

Depending on the rental company many additional extras are available for hire from the depots such as camping tables and chairs and GPS Navigation systems etc. We recommend reserving these in advance to ensure that they are available in sufficient numbers for you. Payment is due at pick-up.

Bike and Bike Rack Hire

Bicycle hire is not possible in New Zealand.

Surfboard Racks

It is unfortunately not possible to rent or install racks for surf boards/canoes or kayaks.

CD/MP3 Connections

All motorhomes are equipped with CD Player and Radio. Some vehicles already offer MP3 ports. However, since this varies depending on the rental partner and the vehicle model, it is unfortunately not possible to guarantee MP3 / AUX ports. However, we will happily pass your request to the rental company and were possible, they will adhere to meet your request.

All Jucy motorhomes offer MP3 / AUX ports.

Telephone Cards

We recommend you purchase a local SIM card with credit before your rental. All rental partners provide local phone numbers should you need to contact them during your rental however this can be expensive to call from an international phone.

Smoking and Pets

Smoking is prohibited in principle with all rental companies. Should you violate this rule you will be subject to large fines.

Transportation of pets is not allowed. The only exceptions are for guide dogs. Please inform us with your booking about breed and size of the dog. In this instance we will need to request permission from the rental partner. Should the rental partner not permit you to take your service dog then we will cancel the booking free of charge on request. As a renter, you will be responsible for the cleaning of the vehicle as well as any damage caused. Please note that due to allergies no animal hair may be left in the vehicle when the motorhome is returned, otherwise, high cleaning costs can be incurred.

Televisions

Some motorhome models are equipped with a TV so you can watch films on the go. These will not work whilst driving and require an appropriate power connection such as on the camp site.

Power inside the vehicles

All motorhomes are equipped with a 12v connector in the driver’s cab which can be used to charge phones and GPS navigation devices etc. Depending on the vehicle size it will be equipped with several 110v power points. An adaptor plug will be needed to use the power sockets. Please note that the power sockets can only be used when connected to a power source such as in a camp ground.

The only exception is JUCY Campervans, the Cabana, which do not have any power sockets.

Power Supplies

Unfortunately, the vehicles do not offer generators. It is therefore recommended to use a parking space with appropriate power supply (Hook-Up or Full Hook-Up).

Wild Camping

With exceptions it is generally allowed in New Zealand to free or wild camp. Please note that in certain regions you are only permitted to wild camp in motorhomes that are certified as “Self Contained" means that the vehicle contains a waste water tank and no waste water can run into the countryside.

Not all motorhomes with a shower and toilet are classed as self-contained.
You will also be required to show a "Self Contained Vehicle" sticker to wild camp. If you need a vehicle that is reported as "Self Contained", we kindly ask you to inform us in time.

Campgrounds

You have the opportunity to book many campsites online. If you are traveling in the summer months or during holidays, we strongly advise to reserve your parking space in advance.
New Zealand has a dense network of good campsites. Prices vary depending on the equipment and infrastructure. Here is a list of websites if you like to reserve places in advance:

Ferries

If you plan to take your car onto a ferry, we advise you to make a reservation as early as possible.
We advise not to book the ferry crossing on the same day of your vehicle pick-up. Should there be a delay in the acquisition, there is a risk that you miss your ferry.
www.interislander.co.nz www.bluebridge.co.nz

Night Driving

Driving in the twilight hours and at night is strongly discouraged as there is a higher risk of accidents due to the significant amount of nocturnal animals. With some rental partners it is forbidden to drive at night as the insurance may not cover accidents.

Road Conditions

Most roads in New Zealand are well developed. 2WD vehicles generally have to be driven on paved roads. The only exceptions are the access roads to campsites, provided these do not exceed a certain length.

Left Hand Driving

You drive on the left lane in New Zealand. Many features will be the same for British renters however this will be very different for many people of other nationalities. We are happy to send you further information regarding driving in New Zealand on your request.

Breakdowns and Accidents

If you have a breakdown, accident or a mechanical defect for example with the refrigerator, you must call the rental company on all occasions. For this purpose a contact number will be provided. Should you have an accident in the motorhome you must notify the police.

Consumption – Fuel – Petrol Prices

To get an understanding of current fuel prices please visit www.aa.co.nz/cars/maintenance/fuel-prices-and-types/

Understandably fuel prices suffer constant price fluctuations.

If you drive long distances through desolate landscapes, it is advisable to fill the tank up at every gas station possible.

Fines

All rental companies reserve the right to charge you a service fee for parking tickets and fines, these often take a while to process and can be charged long after returning the motorhome. You will often see this called a handling fee, the actual ticket will be provided directly by the relevant authority charged.