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Younger drivers looking to rent a hire car in New Zealand may have some extra regulations and costs to be aware of.
Wondering what kind of age restrictions apply to car rental in New Zealand? Although each rental provider is slightly different in their rules and exceptions, there are some general age requirements that apply to most rental providers. These requirements include:
You must be 18 or older to rent a vehicle
If you are under 25, you may be subject to additional fees and restrictions
If you are over 75, you may need to provide a medical certificate
You must hold a full, unrestricted driver licence
If you are under the age of 25, you may have to pay a Young Driver Surcharge, which is a daily fee applied by the rental provider. You may also be restricted to certain vehicle types. Surcharge amounts and specific restrictions will vary between rental providers, so it’s best to check the important information before booking.
Some rental providers will ask drivers over the age of 75 to provide a medical certificate confirming they are fit to drive. If you wish to know whether this applies to you, we suggest reaching out to the depot you will be collecting your rental car from.
Some rental providers will rent their vehicles to drivers aged 18 and older, though many providers do require drivers to be at least 21 years old.
As a general rule, car rental providers will not rent their vehicles to learner or provisional drivers. The person listed as the driver must possess a full, unrestricted licence along with anyone nominated as an additional driver. However, because every rental provider is different, we suggest contacting your prospective pick-up location ahead of time to confirm their requirements.
If you are at least 21 years old and have held a full, unrestricted licence for more than 12 months, you will generally be approved by the following rental providers:
Some of these providers may also allow drivers under 21 to rent with them.
Every provider has their own conditions and exceptions, so we recommend doing some research and contacting your prospective provider if you’re under the age of 25. And remember, an additional young driver surcharge may apply if you’re under 25 years old.
You cannot circumvent the additional fees by booking the rental in an older driver’s name.
All drivers must be registered regardless of who signs the agreement
If an unregistered driver is involved in an accident, they will not be covered and all insurances are null and void. Make sure you register all potential drivers.
If you need help in booking your rental, or would like to discuss your options, feel free to contact us.
Important InformationUnsure if you are classified as a young driver?
If you’re under 25 years of age, you may have to pay a young driver surcharge. Keep in mind that even if you do fit the age requirements to rent a car, you still need to hold a full, unrestricted driver licence. Some car rental companies require you to have held a valid driver licence for a year. Check the rental provider’s terms and conditions, or call our customer care team for more information.
