Vehicles can be hired and returned to our branch offices between 8.00am and 5.30pm, 7 days per week every day except Christmas Day. Outside of these times we offer an afterhours service for vehicle collections and returns. Please contact us for more information or refer to our Locations pages

One way vehicle hires are generally available except during periods where we are heavily booked, and a one way hire could impact other customer reservations. At times a minimum rental period and a one way fee may apply. Any additional fees while be included in your quote or reservation.

If you are travelling between the North & South Island and returning your rental car to your original collection location then you may take your rental vehicle on the ferry. If you are returning your rental vehicle to a different location then you may also take your rental vehicle on the ferry however a one way fee may apply. Any one way fees will show on your quote or reservation. The cost of the Cook Strait Ferry including the rental vehicle is not included in you rental.

As a 100% New Zealand owned rental car company, Orange Car Rentals aims to be flexible and offer customers solutions to fit in with their travel plans. While we only have 4 rental car collection locations, we can offer our customers the option of returning their rental vehicle to the following additional locations: Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Queenstown, and Dunedin. Rental Car drop offs to these locations is subject to availability and a one way fee may apply. For more information please contact us.

We offer a complimentary collection and drop off service in our shuttle van from any accommodation within 5km of our depot or by arrangement. This service is only available during our operating hours. Please be aware that during peak periods there may be a delay of 10 to 15 minutes before we send our shuttle to you.

We offer arrangements for collecting and returning vehicles after hours by prior arrangement and an additional fee may apply. At Orange Rental Cars Auckland and Christchurch we utilise 24 hour park and ride services which are located just a few km from our offices and the airport. For more information please refer to our Locations pages or contact us.

To make a reservation you will need to provide a minimal amount of information including your name, date of birth (for rental car insurance purposes), telephone number, email, and credit card details. Before hiring a car we will also need your address, and the drivers licence details of all drivers. Your licence must be in English, or alternatively we can accept International Licences, and certified English translations of overseas licences. The easiest way to arrange a quote or to make a reservation is by using our online booking and quote tool. Alternatively you can make a request via email or telephone during office hours.

The minimum age to rent a car from Orange Car Rentals is 18 years providing that you hold a valid driving licence. Please be aware that the insurance excess for drivers under 25 years is higher. For more information please contact us or refer to our terms and conditions.

To rent a car from Orange Car Rentals you must hold a valid driving licence from your own country which covers the vehicle you intend to hire. A full New Zealand licence will allow you to drive most rental vehicles in our fleet from cars through to 12 Seat Minibuses. For overseas drivers we recommend an International Licence which should be obtained before you arrive in New Zealand.

Driving conditions in some parts of New Zealand can be quite different to anywhere else in the world. Our roads and motorways can be steeper, narrower and with more bends than in other countries which all adds to driving times between towns and cities. At Orange Car Rentals we promote safe driving and urge all overseas drivers to take the time to read our Safe Driving Tips for Overseas Drivers before driving. The best advise that we can offer is to slow down and enjoy your time exploring New Zealand and always remember to keep on the left hand side of the road.

When you make a reservation with Orange Car Rentals your credit card details are recorded in our secure credit card vault. Unless requested, we will not charge your credit card until the day of your car hire. On the day of you hire full payment must be made before you commence your rental commences. At Orange Car Rentals we accept major credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express), EFTPOS, cash, and purchase orders from account holders and pre-approved companies, clubs & associations, schools and tertiary institutions. We do not accept personal cheques or any form of travellers cheque.

We can accept a cash bond by arrangement however as well as full payment for the car hire, we will also require an amount which covers the full rental vehicle insurance excess. Where a credit card is not provided as security we may also require additional proof of address.

All prices quoted on our booking and quoting system are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include GST (Goods & Services Tax). For rental car bookings of 4 days or more we offer unlimited kilometres. All rates regardless of the length of car hire include 24 hour roadside assistance, and standard rental vehicle insurance. For customers requiring collection or drop off from accommodation within 5km of our offices we offer a complimentary shuttle service. For collection and drop off at the airport, and airport fee may apply. Vehicle hires and returns outside office hours will incur a service fee which includes a shuttle bus ride to and from the airport. One way fees may apply to hires where the vehicle is not being returned to its original location. A small credit card surcharge will apply to payments made by credit card.

We work on a 24 hour period where we have a minimum chargeable period of 24 hours. After 24 hours of car hire an additional day is added to the hire period. For example a rental vehicle collected at 8am and returned at 8am the following day would be calculated as a 1 day car hire. A rental vehicle collected at 8am and returned at 4pm the following day would be calculated as a 2 day car hire.

Vehicles hired from Orange Car Rentals will be provided with a full tank of fuel. The cost of fuel during the rental period is the responsibility of the customer and therefore vehicles should be returned full of fuel. For vehicles returned without being refuelled we will charge the cost of the fuel plus a refueling service charge.

Yes. We do offer a late pick up service by prior arrangement. An additional fee may apply for after hours service. For further detail refer to the information on each of our location pages.

We have a charge of $1 per day for additional drivers, however this fee will not be charged if the reduced insurance excess option is selected.

Orange Car Rentals offers a range of accessories including: GPS Units, Baby Seats, Booster Seats, Snow Chains, Ski Racks, Camping Kits, Cooler Boxes, Bike Racks, and other items.

Vehicles may be returned prior to the return date stated on your rental agreement. If you need to return your vehicle early for any reason we do not provide a refund for any unused days, however we may provide a credit which can be used for a future vehicle hire. If travelling to New Zealand from overseas we recommend purchasing travel insurance which covers the cost of any unexpected event or emergency. Rental periods may be extended subject to vehicle availability. If you need to extend your rental car hire please contact Orange Car Rentals.

We have a limited number of rental vehicles fitted with towbars The majority of these vehicles are Minibuses & People Movers which may require luggage trailers. Generally we do not provide vehicles for towing without obtaining information about the load requiring towing.

Vehicle safety and performance is key to Orange Car Rentals and we have various systems and processes in place for checking and maintaining our rental vehicle fleet. Every 6 months our vehicles are subject to a COF (Certificate Of Fitness) Inspection. The inspections are carried out by independent accredited vehicle testing centres which work to a government administered set of standards which cover many aspects of vehicle safety systems. Following a successful inspection, the rental vehicle is issued with a 6 month certificate. Any vehicles which do not pass the inspection process must be repaired and re-inspected before operating as a rental car. At Orange Car Rentals we also carry out our own inspection every 7,500 – 15,000km. During this process we service the vehicle and pay close attention to key safety components such as tyres and brakes. Our policy is to replace any brake pads with greater than 50% wear even though these brakes have quite a few thousand kms of useful life. We also closely check shock absorbers, and the engine, transmission, and cooling system for any sign of wear or damage. Our final vehicle checking process occurs when each rental car is cleaned between hire periods. At this stage we make a final check of the tyres, windscreen, wipers, lights, oil, coolant, and any panel damage. Any issues are noted and referred back to our Managers and Mechanics.

Fortunately the majority of vehicle issues are minor and include failed batteries (normally due to a light or switch being left on), punctured tyres, lost keys, or some other driver error and can be dealt with quickly. Very occasionally a vehicle may experience a more serious issue which requires a mechanical call out. As part of our service your rental vehicle is covered by a 24 hour breakdown and roadside service. Should you experience a mechanical issue with your rental vehicle we will take the following steps to try to get you moving again as soon as possible:

The first step is to contact our roadside service provider as soon as soon as possible and notify them of the issue and the location of your rental car. A Technician will be sent to diagnose the problem and make a repair if possible. If the problem with your rental car cannot be rectified immediately then it may be towed to the nearest service centre.
If the fault with the vehicle is minor, or if the vehicle can be repaired quickly then you will need to wait while repairs are carried out. We appreciate that this may cause a delay in travel plans however this is always a risk when driving any vehicle.

For any vehicle that requires major repairs or for delays of more than 24 hours in sourcing parts for your rental vehicle, our goal would be to source a replacement vehicle from our nearest Orange Car Rentals branch.

Should a breakdown occur is a remote location and a replacement vehicle is not available within a viable distance, it may be necessary for us to transport you via public transport to the nearest location where a vehicle can be provided.

If for any reason we are unable to source a replacement rental vehicle the only option may be for your rental agreement to be cancelled with the remaining hire period refunded. We would only offer this option once all other alternatives have been explored.

Please be aware that any roadside assistance callouts which are not the result of a fault with the vehicle will be at the hirer’s expense. Orange Car Rentals or any of our staff or owners are not liable for any loss incurred by the hirer due to a vehicle breakdown. We highly recommend that all overseas visitors purchase travel insurance which provides cover in the event of accidents or other unexpected delays or disruptions.

If you are involved in an accident or witness an accident where emergency assistance is required you should immediately phone 111.

With all other accidents please contact Orange Car Rentals and provide us with full details. One of our staff will be able to help you and guide you with what can be done. It is important that you gather as much information as possible including the details of any other vehicle or driver involved. Taking photos is always useful.

For drivers aged 25 years plus the standard insurance excess is $2,000 plus GST.

Please refer to our terms and conditions or contact us for more information

Yes. Orange Car Rentals offers various options for reducing your liability. The cost to reduce your liability depends on your age and the length of your car rental. A quote can be obtained via our online booking and quote tool or you can contact us.

If you need to cancel your rental car reservation for any reason please contact us as soon as possible. We may be able to change your reservation to another date or location or help you rearrange your travel plans. If a reservation is cancelled with sufficient notice there may be a cancellation fee of up to 10% of the value of the hire. Last minute cancellations and ‘no shows’ will incur a higher fee as per our terms and conditions.

We offer both options at competitive rates. For a quote and information please contact Orange Car Rentals.