Get a great deal on Thrifty rental vehicles

Thrifty has a selection of depots in New Zealand. Please see below for the number of depots on each island. North Island (51)

Thrifty has one of the broadest ranges of family-friendly vehicles in New Zealand, offering everything from compact cars and sedans through to pickups and commercial vehicles. Fullsize Sport, Economy Car, Premium Passenger Van, Compact Car, Standard Commercial Van/Truck, Fullsize Commercial Van/Truck, Premium SUV, Premium Pick up (double cab) 4 door, Standard Car, Standard Elite Sport, Fullsize Passenger Van, Intermediate Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Compact Commercial Van/Truck, Luxury Elite Passenger Van, Standard Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Intermediate SUV, Fullsize SUV, Compact SUV

The per-day rates of some rental cars may fall if you book for a longer rental period. Prices often change around daily, three-day, five-day and seven-day periods. Also, note that the selection of rental cars available in Thrifty may be more limited if you are looking for a long-term car rental, so it’s best to compare a few different booking durations first.

Thrifty accepts AMEX, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards for vehicle payments with Thrifty. Cash payments accepted only upon the return of your rental vehicle and only at certain rental locations, so again, please check this beforehand.

Thrifty reserves an amount on your credit card of an amount at least equal to the estimated charges plus a security bond (also known as a security deposit or deposit hold). This deposit amount can vary depending on the vehicle type, mode of payment, and rental location. This deposit pre-authorisation is refunded from your card (pending any additional charges) upon the return of your rental vehicle, however it can take three to seven business days to appear on your statement — the length of this delay is dependent on your bank.

To rent a hire car from Thrifty, any driver needs to be at least 18 years old. Their age policy also requires that drivers aged under 25 need to pay a young driver fee, and may be restricted to a limited range of vehicles. Additional drivers under the age of 25 can be added to the Rental Agreement, but they will also be subject to the under 25 fee.

Any unrestricted driving licence will satisfy Thrifty’s driving licence requirements. Learner permits and provisional licences are not accepted for vehicle hire, and if your licence isn’t printed in English, you’ll need to present an International Driving Permit (IDP). Digital licences are not accepted and the name on the licence must match the name on the Rental Agreement.

Yes, Thrifty allows additional drivers, however they are subject to the same regulations as the primary driver, and are limited to the number of passengers the vehicle is legally licensed to carry. There is a daily additional driver fee for each driver added to the Rental Agreement. For further information, including the specific fee per additional driver per day, please see the “Important Information” section for details specific to your rental vehicle.

Yes. Basic cover is included in the rental quote, but should the vehicle be stolen or damaged in an accident, or a third-party loss occurs, you’ll be liable to pay for any damage charges up to the Rental Vehicle Excess amount as per your Thrifty rental agreement. The excess refers to the amount renters are liable for before the basic cover applies and the amount of this excess can vary depending on the type of vehicle, the age of the renter, and a number of other variables. Thrifty offers additional damage waiver coverage, also known as a damage waiver, including Ultimate Protection and Premium Protection, both for an additional daily cost, and these can reduce your damage excess charge, but be sure to read through your detailed Rental Agreement to see what damage is and is not covered, and also for more information regarding the cost of excess reduction cover. Prosura is another option to consider if you are looking for comprehensive excess reduction coverage.

Yes. Thrifty will provide complimentary roadside assistance for any mechanical-based defects that are inherent to the vehicle. However, for issues which aren’t strictly mechanical—you’ll be charged a call-out fee along with any associated costs.

If you use a toll road in a Thrifty hire car, you will be charged for the toll and an administrative charge for the tolls. Thrifty offers an add-on product which includes all toll charges under a single flat daily fee. For details on Thrifty’s toll fees, please refer to the “Important Information” button related to the specific vehicle you are considering.

In cases where you do not have unlimited kilometres, if a kilometre limit on driving distance applies to your Thrifty hire car, the daily kilometre allowance will be shown on your Rental Agreement. If you drive in excess of this daily allowance, a charge may apply for the additional distance.

Some Thrifty locations allow the purchase of pre-paid fuel, meaning you can return the vehicle without a full tank of petrol, though note there is no refund for unused fuel. Otherwise, if you return your hire car to Thrifty without a full tank of fuel you may be charged a premium rate to refill the petrol tank. The most cost effective approach is to fill the hire car fuel tank yourself, at your own cost, before returning it.

If your hire car rental period is yet to commence, you can modify your booking within the VroomVroomVroom app or by contacting our customer care team to make the required changes. If you have already collected your Thrifty hire car, you’ll need to contact the depot you collected the vehicle from to request an extra day — or whatever extension period is desired. Bear in mind that any change to the rental period — regardless of if it is before you have collected the car or after — may alter the total cost of your hire car. Any changes will be subject to the specific cancellation policy associated with your rental car. If you need to cancel your booking, if you paid a deposit at the time of your booking with Thrifty through VroomVroomVroom, then you need to give at least 48 hours notice of your cancellation in order to receive a refund.

The Terms and Conditions of renting a vehicle supplied by Thrifty can vary depending on the exact vehicle hired, the age of the driver, the length of the hire period, and a number of other conditions. As such, the exact Terms and Conditions related to an individual vehicle rental can vary from one customer to another and one type of vehicle to another. Once you select a vehicle you are interested in on VroomVroomVroom, you can click on the prominent “Important Information” button to read our guideline to rental terms related to the vehicle which you should be aware of. Later in the booking flow are the detailed Terms and Conditions which you will need to read and accept before finalising your booking. Upon arrival you will also be required to sign a Rental Agreement that outlines the specific Terms and Conditions for your rental.