Frequently Asked Questions

This is where you will find important information you need to know when hiring a rental car with Ezi Car Rental.

• How do I book a rental car with Ezi Car Rental?

  The fastest and easiest way to book is on our website.

  If you prefer, you can email us your booking information at [email protected].

  If you want to talk to someone, you can call us toll free on:

  • 0800 545 000 from New Zealand
  • 1800 129 102 from Australia
  • +64 9 254 4397 from any other international country
• Are Ezi Car Rental’s prices all inclusive?

  Ezi Car Rental has no hidden fees.

  Our prices are in New Zealand dollars (NZD) and include Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 15%, unlimited kilometres and standard third party and public liability cover.

• How do I enter a Promo Code?

  If you have a promo or discount code, you must enter this on the booking widget before you click find my car.

  The daily rate will then be calculated with the discount when you search your booking dates.

  
  
  
• How do I pay for my rental car?

  When booking with Ezi Car Rental, you don’t have to pay anything up front.

  Please note that we do NOT accept cash as a form of payment.

  We accept:

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards

  These cards must show the main driver’s name, signature and card number, with the applicable logo. Cash, prepaid and reloadable debit cards, gift cards, and Travel cards are NOT accepted for payment or to use as a bond for security purposes.

  A credit or debit card transaction fee of 2.2% for Mastercard and Visa and 4% for American Express applies to the total rental charges including GST (but excluding any Airport and Ferry fees and the GST on these fees) where a credit or debit card is used for payment.

  A minimum pre-authorisation of $400* is required as security on all Mastercard and Visa debit and credit card payments. All holds on credit and debit cards funds are released upon return of the rental car if no damage or fees are owing on the hire. It can take up to 7 working days for your bank to operate the release. Please note this is a ‘hold’ on a card meaning it doesn’t show as a transaction on your statement.

  ** Transfercar payment options and Terms and Conditions differ from Ezi, please see the Transfercar website for more details.

• What credit or debit card do I need to bring?

  The credit or debit card you bring with you to pay for your rental booking, must be in the name of the main driver. Only the main renter/driver’s credit or debit card can be put down for security purposes also.

  
  

  * Transfercar payment options and Terms and Conditions differ from Ezi, please see the Transfercar website for more details.

• How do I collect my vehicle?

  Please note that all reservation confirmations contain full vehicle pick up information.

  Click here to find out more about how to collect your Ezi Car Rental vehicle.
• What is Ezi Car Rental’s cancellation policy?

  We keep it easy for you. There is no cancellation fee.

  If you wish to cancel your booking please let us know.

  You can cancel your booking:

  • online by clicking on “Manage Booking” in the upper right corner of the screen. Please note, bookings for car rentals cannot be cancelled online less than 24 hours before pickup and 48 hours before a ferry crossing. If you need to cancel less than 24hrs before the pick up or less than 48 hours before a ferry crossing, please get in touch with us via phone (see below).
  • by phone by calling us on 0800 545 000 for New Zealand and 1800 129 102 for Australia
  • by emailing us on [email protected].

  Ferry booking cancellations:

  Your ferry tickets are fully refundable and changeable up to 24 hours before the crossing.

  To change your sailing, simply contact us with your alternative available sailing. You can change to an equivalent priced sailing free of charge or pay additional costs to upgrade to a more expensive sailing.

• I can’t find my Booking under ‘My Bookings’
  The most common reason people cannot find their booking when using the ‘My Bookings’ online account is that they are entering the Booking Reservation number incorrectly. Please note that the R0ABCD Reservation number is the number zero (0) and NOT the letter O.
• Am I covered in the unlikely event of a breakdown?

  Should you encounter any problems during your hire with us, please call us first on

  0800 545 000 (free from a public telephone).

  Ezi Car Rental can provide you with all the help and assistance you need if anything should go wrong while out on the road.

  All our rates include: 24-hour Roadside Assistance.

  Mechanical problems

  All mechanical breakdowns are covered by Roadside Assistance. This includes engine faults, cooling systems, electrical faults and vehicle recovery.

  Non-Mechanical/Driver at fault

  All call outs diagnosed as a non-mechanical breakdown at the time of the initial call, will incur a call out fee.

  This includes flat batteries (caused by accessories left on such as lights and doors not closed), wheels and tyres, lost keys, if you get locked out of your car or run out of fuel.

• What accessories are available from Ezi Car Rental ?

  The following accessories or extras are available and can either be pre-booked online or purchased at pick up:

  • Infant seat, toddler seat and child booster seats
  • Ski racks (selected South Island locations only)
  • Snow chains (selected South Island locations only)
• How different is driving in New Zealand?

  Driving in New Zealand can be quite different to driving in your home country.

  We work in association with the Safer Journeys programme to make our roads safer and we encourage you to take the time to read the useful information on the Drive Safe website.

  Test your knowledge on the FREE “NZ Driving Quiz” app available on the NZ Road Code website at https://drive.govt.nz/learner-licence/interactive-road-code/.

• Can I request a certain make/model?

  We will note any request for specific vehicle models or body styles and do our best to provide the vehicle you have requested.

  We guarantee makes or models on certain type of vehicles (see Guaranteed Model under vehicle title).

• How old do I have to be to hire with Ezi Car Rental? Is there a maximum age?

  You can hire a car with Ezi Car Rental if you are at least 20 years of age and you hold a current, valid full New Zealand or International Drivers Permit.

  There is no maximum age to hire with us, as long as you licence is valid you can rent an Ezi vehicle.

• Do I take my rental car on the Interislander ferry?

  Yes. Ezi Car Rental makes crossing the Cook Strait easy! You simply keep the same rental car for your whole hire. You save loads of precious holiday time not having to unpack, swap vehicles, carry your luggage across on the ferry and pick up a new car on the other side!

  With Ezi Car Rental, you simply drive onto the Interislander ferry on one side and drive off once arriving at the other side! You can also include your fully flexible Interislander Ferry tickets with your Ezi Car Rental booking – check our incredible rates here.

• Is Ezi Car Rental open on public holidays?

  The majority of Ezi Car Rental branches across the country are open 365 days a year. Please check the individual branch pages for all the details.

  View a full list of our branch operating hours.
• How many drivers can be on the agreement?

  Ezi Car Rental includes one named driver free-of-charge in the base rental car hire cost.

  If you select our Ezi Plus or Ezi Premium cover, the main driver and one additional driver is free.

  Additional drivers will be $5.00 per day for the duration of the hire and can be arranged on arrival.

• How far in advance do I need to book my rental car?

  If you are travelling during the peak travel season in New Zealand (Nov-Apr), we would recommend booking as far in advance as possible to ensure the best rates and choice of vehicles.

  You can however book right up until the day of departure with Ezi Car Rental if it suits, then simply give one of our expert Customer Services Team a call on 0800 545 000 and they will let you know what car categories we have available.

  If you prefer to book online, we would recommend booking at least 3-7 days in advance of your planned pick up date during our Winter and Spring seasons, and as soon as possible for Summer bookings.

  Check out the infographic at the bottom of this page for more information.

• Are there any roads I cannot drive on?

  You can drive Ezi Car Rental cars on any road except:

  • Tasman Valley Road – also known as the Ball Hut access road (Aoraki/Mt Cook)
  • Skippers Canyon Road (Queenstown)
  • Ninety Mile Beach (Northland)
  • Any roads north of Colville on the Coromandel Peninsula

  These roads are not part of normal touring routes and you will not be insured if you drive on these roads, or drive on any beaches or take part in any off road driving at any time during your hire.

• What driving licence do I need to hire with Ezi Car Rental?

  You can rent from Ezi Car Rental with a full, valid and open New Zealand drivers licence only (the green licence). You can not have been given a disqualification or suspension in New Zealand, as we will be unable to rent you a vehicle.

  If your drivers license is not issued from NZ, you must meet the below requirements:

  • you have a current, full and valid overseas licence and an International Driving Permit
  • if your overseas licence is not English, you must have an accurate translation
  • you will need the above documents if you came into New Zealand less than 12 months ago

  If you don’t meet all of these requirements, you must apply for a New Zealand driver licence to drive in New Zealand.

  The law requires us to sight your licence when you collect your rental car. No photocopies or scanned licenses will be accepted.

  Restricted license’s from either NZ or abroad can not be accepted.

  Ezi Car Rental will accept Digital Drivers Licences (DDL). However, if you are visiting from a country/state that operate under a DDL, we strongly recommend that you also have a physical copy of your license while traveling in New Zealand. A driver may be asked to produce a physical copy by the New Zealand Police to prove the DDL is valid.

• Can I use my Australian Digital Drivers License?

  Australian Digital Driver Licences (DDLs) are now accepted at Ezi Car Rental. If you are visiting from a state that operates under a DDL, we strongly recommend that you also have a physical copy of your license while traveling in New Zealand. A driver may be asked to produce a physical copy by the New Zealand Police to prove the DDL is valid.

  NSW – see here for conditions on the DDL and overseas travel.

  SA – see here for conditions on the DDL and overseas travel.

• Will my car have a USB / Bluetooth capabilities?

  At Ezi Car Rental we take pride in offering the best value and as part of that proposition all of our new vehicle fleet are of the highest standard and come complete with all the technology modern vehicles contain. All of our new model fleet vehicles have USB and Bluetooth capabilities.

• Will I get a refund if I return my rental car early?

  Refunds are not given for early returns.

  Your travel insurance provider may cover you if you return your rental car early due to illness or unforeseen changes in your travel plans, so you would need to claim the amount for the unused days from them.

• What is the age/condition of Ezi Car Rental cars?

  We have a a large fleet of rental cars with mostly latest model 2022-2023 vehicles.

  Ezi Car Rental’s small and medium cars offer great value for money for travelers who are budget conscious, but still want a comfortable, late model vehicle with all the benefits. This includes 24 hour Roadside Assistance, unlimited kilometers and unrivaled depot locations.

  You can be assured that all vehicles are meticulously maintained, groomed and of the highest quality.

• Do I have to rent snow chains in Winter?

  Snow chains can be an absolute essential when traveling in New Zealand during the winter months. As a result of motor vehicles being caught without chains in sudden snowfalls over winter in the Queenstown Lakes District and Milford Sound, a bylaw has been introduced.

  The bylaw states, “At the direction of an enforcement officer or authorised officer, the driver of any vehicle may be required to fit snow chains to such vehicle on any road, and no person shall drive, or direct or allow such vehicle to be driven without such snow chains fitted.”

  Please be aware of this bylaw if you are going to be travelling in these areas during the winter period.

  Non-compliance will result in a $150 fine for Queenstown Lakes District and $750 for Milford Sound.

  Snow chains can be added for as little as $13.80 a day, up to a maximum of $55.20 per hire.

• How to fit snow chains the easy way

  This simple video from Ezi shows you how to fit them:

  How to fit snow chains with Ezi Car Rental from Ezi Car Rental on Vimeo.

• Baby and booster seats

  Safety Information on your child’s car seat

  It is a requirement whilst driving in New Zealand that all children under 7 years of age must use an approved child restraint appropriate for their age and size. Children who are 7 years old must be secured in a restraint if one is available in the vehicle. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that any child travelling in the vehicle is correctly using an appropriate child restraint.

  For further information on child seat requirements whilst driving in New Zealand, please visit the official New Zealand Transport Agency website for more details.

  For your convenience, Ezi Car Rental has child safety seats which can be used in either forward-facing or rear facing child safety seats as well as booster seats.

  Child Weight	Child Safety Seat Type
  Infant Seat – Rear Facing 7kg – 13kg. Best suited for infants aged 9 months to 2 years	Toddler Seat – Forward Facing 9kg – 18kg. Best suited for toddlers aged 2 years to 4 years
  Child Booster Seat – Forward Facing 15kg – 36kg. Best suited for children aged 4 years to 7 years	Child Safety Seat (Forward-facing)
  Children 18kg – 36kg (40-80 lbs)	Child Booster Seats

  
  
  

  If you have any questions, please ask one of our friendly branch staff.