car rental in christchurch
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Compare cars in Christchurch from local and international rental companies
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Prices and availability for Christchurch come through our partner networks, EconomyBookings and Discover Cars. Your booking completes on the partner's secure checkout.
Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island, and almost everyone who lands here is on their way somewhere else: the Banks Peninsula and Akaroa, Arthur's Pass to the West Coast, Kaikoura up the coast, or the long run south past Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook and Queenstown. The city itself is flat and easy to drive with a grid of streets and plentiful parking, so you can pick up on arrival without dread. Our partner network compares local and international rental companies at the airport and in the city with live prices.
How it works here
Search here
Pick your dates here, then see live cars and prices on our partner’s site.
Book on the partner’s secure checkout
Confirm the car and your details on our partner network’s checkout and receive your voucher.
Pick up at the desk
Show the voucher and your licence at the desk, settle anything due locally, take the keys.
Renting a car in Christchurch: common questions
Is Christchurch a good place to start a South Island road trip?
Yes, it is the most common starting point. Airport pick-up is straightforward, the roads out of town are open and uncrowded, and you can reach Kaikoura, Akaroa or Tekapo comfortably on the first day. One-way rentals ending in Queenstown are popular, so look for a car that allows a different drop-off point.
Do I need anything special for winter driving?
From roughly June to September the alpine roads to Arthur's Pass, Mount Cook and the ski fields can have snow and ice, and chains may be required on some routes. Pick a car that suits the season and check the conditions shown per car about chains and where the vehicle is allowed. Around the city itself, winter driving is unremarkable.
What licence do I need?
A full driving licence held for at least a year is the usual requirement, and each company sets its own minimum age and young-driver conditions. If your licence is not in the Latin alphabet, bring an International Driving Permit alongside it. The exact conditions for every car are shown before you book.
Is there a deposit, and what about insurance?
Deposit and insurance terms differ between companies in Christchurch, so they are shown per car before you book. You will see what is included, what the excess is, and whether a deposit is held on your card at the desk.
Where does the booking actually happen?
You search from this page and see live cars and prices on our partner’s site. When you choose one, the booking completes on their secure checkout, where you confirm the details and receive your voucher. Show the voucher at the desk on pick-up.
Run a rental company in Christchurch?
If you rent cars in Christchurch and want travellers to book you directly on GetCar, you can list your fleet here. Commission only, no listing fees, you confirm every booking yourself.