Rental Car companies are always needing to move their vehicles between branches around the country.
You can return one of these rental cars for them for free (sometimes the rental is free and you pay petrol, sometimes they give you 50% off the rental, sometimes it’s totally free)
If I’ve missed any on the following list, let me know in the comments below.
List of Rental Cars Needing Relocation
- www.Thrifty.co.nz
Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Picton, Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargil, Greymouth - www.QualityRental.co.nz
Auckland, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch - www.RoadTripRentals.co.nz
Christchurch, Greymouth - www.NZRentalCar.co.nz
Christchurch, Greymouth, Wellington, Auckland, Queenstown - www.OmegaRentalCars.co.nz
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Picton, Queenstown - www.AceRentals.co.nz
Auckland, Picton, Christchurch, Queenstown, Greymouth, Dunedin - www.Maui.co.nz [Campervans]
Join the database and they’ll email you when they need you - www.Avis.co.nz
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Picton - www.Budget.co.nz
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Picton, Queenstown - www.RentalCar.co.nz
Christchurch, Greymouth
Websites that list many rental cars from many brands needing relocation
If you are thinking of creating a aggregator website to list all rental cars needing returning from lots of different rental car companies, think again. You won’t get rich.
There are only 2 in New Zealand, and one has been abandoned.
- www.TransferCar.co.nz
Aggregates lots of rental car companies on one website. According to this 2008 article they can do 300 a month. Espen from TransferCar tells us the quietest months for free movements is December/January and other months can offer many more options. - www.RelocationCarHire.co.nz
Also suppose to aggregate lots of rental car companies but it’s been abandoned. Totally empty.
Need to go one way from the North Island to the South Island in a rental car? Bad luck
Did you know you can’t hire a rental car one-way across the inter island ferries?
For example, if you are traveling from the South Island to the North Island you have to leave your rental car in Picton, jump on the ferry with all your gear and pick up another rental car in Wellington! Stink.
It must be because carrying a car across on the ferry is so expensive, so most people would rather save the $400 and go on the ferry as foot traffic.
available to drive a car from christchurch to picton and from wellington to auckland from 19 of march
available to drive car or campervan from Ch-ch to Hamilton (or Auckland if preferred) from 18th March am
Am available to drive car or campavan from Auckland 25/3/11 to Wellington 28/3/11
Available to drive vehicle/camper/light truck from Auckland to Wellington week beginning 4th April.
Is there a re-locatable vehicle available from Picton – CHCH on the 28th of April 2011??
Any relocation from auckland to wellington or chritchurch or queesntown. Pick up on 21 April evening
Is there a re-locatable vehicle available from Wellington-Auckland (from 21st to 23rd April) or from Auckland to Wellington (from 23rd to 25th)?
Can drive a car/campervan/motorhome asap (april 22nd) from auckland to wellington or christchurch. Please let me know!
available to drive a car from chch to greymouth on the 21st may 2011.am
Available to relocate car from Wellington – Auckland 2 or 3rd May
I am available to drive a vehicle from wgtn to auckland friday 19/08/2011 and drive one back 21/8/2011.
able to drive from nelson to christchurch on 22/9/11
Available to drive a car one way Hamilton Airport to Auckland Airport 24th September.
Cheers
Jules
Hi Sheldon,
Came across you list. Nice and seems to be quite representable for the NZ car relocation market!
In terms of the number of vehicles we move it is very season dependant. Low season gives less vehicles to move around the country. But also extreme high season (late dec/ early jan) shows almost no cars on our site as the rental car companies don’t have any cars to move..
So take another look at our site http://www.transfercar.co.nz – currently there are about 40 free cars and campers up there, and they shift all the time!
-Espen
Thanks for that info Espen!
Any time! You provide a good list. Feel free to be in touch if there is anything else we can shed a light on.
Thanks for this list first time I’ve come across this – hope it takes off. Our company Yourway Car Rentals (www.yourwaycarrental.co.nz) has been doing relocations from Christchurch to Auckland as of late.
Hi Rose, do you have a webpage for that? I can’t find it…
I am available to drive a vehicle from Nelson to Christchurch 28th or 29th of October and Christchurch to Nelson 30th or 31st November 2011.
am available to drive a car or camper from christchurch to auckland as of 5/11/2011 to the 7/11
Hi there Rental car people. Any Cars needed to be return on the 10 november from hamilton back to auckland. Let me know, There’s a coffe and food Tab at the cafe i own in hamilton in it for ya. Wifey has the car. And thought ill give this a go. Cheers.