New Zealand Car Rentals FAQ

Before you book your rental car with USAVE Car & Truck Rentals, feel free to look through some more information about our car rentals service:

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Your car rental rates are extremely competitive – are there any hidden costs?
No, our rates include GST and insurance. For car rentals of 2-days or more we also offer unlimited kms, so you know exactly how much your rental will cost when you book it. As an independent, New Zealand family run company we are able to offer cheaper car rentals than some of the large national brands.

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Can USAVE provide one-way car rentals?
Yes, we provide one-way car rentals between our depots in Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin.

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What are the licence requirements to hire a USAVE vehicle?
All drivers must hold a full licence. An International Driver’s Permit is required by law in New Zealand if the licence is not in English.

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What are the age requirements to hire a USAVE vehicle?
Minimum driver age for our car rentals is 20 years. There is no maximum age.

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Are all vehicles air-conditioned?
Yes, all rental vehicles have air-conditioning for comfortable travel.

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Does USAVE require any bond to hire a vehicle?
Yes, a NZ$500.00 bond is required for all hires and is refundable on completion of the hire. This may be either a cash deposit or signed credit card voucher (Visa debit cards are accepted and can be used for our bond payment of NZ$500.00). All 12-seat minibus hires require a credit card for our security bond.

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Does USAVE provide pick up and drop off from accommodation?
Yes, we provide courtesy pick up and drop off to hotels and motels local to our depots in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin (not available in Palmerston North).

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What is the cost of the Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW) options and are they recommended?
Third party insurance is not compulsory in New Zealand so we recommend the Collision Damage Waiver option for total peace of mind. The CDW on our rental cars is NZ$12.00 per day (or NZ$15.00 per day for less than 4-day rentals) and for 4WD and People movers this is NZ$15.00 per day (or NZ$20.00 per day for less than 4-day rentals) and reduces the insurance excess (deductible) liability to NZ$0, which also covers the windscreen. Not all New Zealand car rental companies offer a zero liability option. We also have excess reduction options for vans and minibuses (refer to our terms and conditions for full details).

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Can I hire a vehicle from USAVE out of business hours?
Yes, we have an after hours service available for our depots at Auckland Airport and Christchurch (Airport). We provide documentation for pre-signing – please contact us for full details.

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Does USAVE charge for additional drivers?
No, there is no charge for additional drivers as we prefer you to have the option to share the driving. Simply bring your driving license with you when you pick up your car rental to be registered as an additional driver.

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What type of mechanical breakdown assistance is provided?
USAVE provides a nationwide toll free number for FREE roadside assistance 7.00am – 9.00pm , 7-days.

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Can we take our rental vehicle on the Interisland ferry services?
Yes, our vehicles are insured while on the Interisland ferry. We are an authorised booking agent for the Interisland ferry and provide a free booking service.

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What is your cancellation policy?
Our booking deposit is non-refundable in the event of cancellation but is transferable to another hire within 12-months.

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What happens if I need to shorten the rental period?
There are no refunds provided for early returns.

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What is the procedure for extending the rental period?
You can call us on our nationwide toll free number to have an extension authorised, subject to vehicle availability.

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How long have USAVE been in the rental car business?
We have been in the rental industry for over 15 years.

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What New Zealand affiliations does USAVE belong to?
USAVE is a fully paid member of the Tourism Industry Association and Rental Vehicle Association.

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Does USAVE have any overseas affiliations?
Yes, our Australian affiliate is Network Rentals with over 60 franchises throughout Australia.

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Does USAVE offer In-Car GPS navigation units?
Yes, we offer quality Garmin GPS navigation units for hire in any class of vehicle.

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Does USAVE offer diesel powered vehicles?
 Our standard vehicles all feature petrol engines but our commercial vans and trucks have petrol or diesel powered engines.

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Budget New Zealand rental cars and great Kiwi service from Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin.

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