Fast. Easy. Off the plane and away!

We’re right inside the terminal, so you won’t lose a moment. (And we can deliver to any city address, too!)

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YOU DESERVE THE BEST

We create happy customers

We make car hire fast and easy at New Plymouth Airport Rental Cars, with good cars at great prices. We work hard to get it right for you. After all, we’ve been serving locals and visitors for over 18 years.

Location

We’re located right inside the New Plymouth Airport terminal.
No shuttle, no delay.

Value

You don’t have to pay fancy prices to hire one of our later model rental cars.

Choice

Our cars are economical, clean, and regularly maintained. We’ll have one to suit your needs.

Check available cars for your dates, now.

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COMPLETE RENTAL SERVICE

Just like the big guys. Only better.

You'll find New Plymouth Airport Rental Cars inside the airport terminal at New Plymouth

Options available

  • GPS
  • Child seats and boosters
  • Eight-seater people movers
  • Lease and long-term hire
  • Contactless after-hours pick-up
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Start planning your visit to New Plymouth!

Book your vehicle and prepare to enjoy the best of Taranaki.

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Questions about car hire at New Plymouth Airport?

We’re right at the airport. Just get your bag and get in the car. In fact, if we were any closer to the runway, you’d need permission to take-off!

(Coming from town? We have another airport location at 147a Airport Drive.)

You must be over 20 years of age to hire a vehicle, and have had a full drivers licence for at least three years.

Yes, we do need a credit card or a Mastercard/Visa debit card in the Hirer’s name before you pick up your vehicle.
We don’t take a bond as such — instead, we simply place a hold/authorisation on your card for the rental amount plus $200 (to cover things like fuel, extra kms, fees, etc.) before you hit the road. For security reasons, we do not accept mobile payment methods (such as Apple Pay or Google Pay), cash, prepaid or reloadable debit cards, gift cards, Revolut credit cards, Wise cards, or travel cards for either payment or pre-authorisation.

👉 Just so you know: We’ll set your insurance excess or liability before you pick up the car.
The $200 security hold is separate — if there’s any accident or damage, you’ll be responsible for up to the full excess amount as outlined in your rental agreement.

🚗 Rental Car Example (with Timeframes)

🔹 Step 1: Pre-Authorisation

  • You’re renting a car for 2 days.
  • The rental fee is $150 total.
  • Before you pick up the car, we place a $350 hold on your Visa/Mastercard debit or credit card ($150 rental + $200 security buffer).
  • This hold covers the rental, plus a little extra just in case — like fuel top-ups, late returns, or minor damage.
  • Remember: this is just a hold, not a charge!

🔐 So, $350 of your available limit is temporarily “Held”, but you’re not actually charged.

🔹 Step 2: Returning the Car

  • You bring the car back on time, with a full tank, and no dramas.
  • We charge your card the agreed $150 rental fee.
  • The $200 security hold is released.

⏱️ When will the $200 be back?

  • It depends on your bank or card provider.
  • Usually, it takes 1 to 7 business days for the hold to fully clear.
  • Some banks are super quick (1–2 days), but others can be a bit slower.

💳 Good to know:
The $200 was never actually charged to you — it was just “frozen” for a little while and then released. No refund needed — it simply becomes available again.

Yes, we accept any country or state-issued drivers licence. (If it’s not in English, you’ll need an official translation.) Or you can use an International Drivers Licence.

For now, it’s no. We haven’t found an insurance company who’ll take the risk.

Yes. If you’re over 21, with a full drivers licence for three years or more, you can reduce your insurance risk with a small daily fee. Learn more on our booking page.

You’ll need a valid, full drivers licence in English, or with a certified translation. You must have this with you (the law in New Zealand) You need a credit card, or a debit card with available funds to cover the rental. We accept Visa, MasterCard or Amex. The rental agreement must be in the name of the cardholder.

Sorry, no animals. Some of our customers may have asthma, or pet allergies, so we keep our cars fresh and clean. And it’s a mission to get rid of dog hair! If you carry animals in our car, we’ll charge you a cleaning fee.

Of course! Please don’t be tempted to smoke in one of our cars, because we’ll charge a $100 fee to restore it to smoke-free condition.

Sorry, no. Our insurers don’t allow it because the risk of damage to the car, and injury to you, is much higher if you’re not on the road. (You could also forfeit your insurance cover.)

Sure, provided we don’t have another booking for your vehicle. Contact us with your new dates.

Oh dear! Let’s hope you don’t but, if you’re unlucky, you need to let us know as soon as possible. And please ask for a Police report, because it helps our insurance claim. Note: if the accident is your fault, we can’t guarantee to replace the vehicle.

We know plans can change, so there’s no charge if you cancel more than 7 days before your rental starts. If it’s less than 7 days the cancellation fee is 50% of the rental.

Not if you bring the vehicle back with a full tank. You’ll get it with a full tank so, if you bring it back full, you’ll have paid for all the fuel you used. Of course, if it’s not full when you return it, we’ll need to fill it and charge you for the fuel, plus a filling charge.

No, we’re a 100% locally-owned and operated family business in New Plymouth. However, we’re happy to recommend Pacific Auto Rentals in Tauranga and Kiwi Car Hire at Auckland airport.

Reserve the car you want, today.

It’ll be ready-to-go at the airport, when you get here.

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