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Using our form, you can request quotes online from our partners for your travel in New Zealand.
Once you have entered your travel details, you’ll have to enter your email address to create a login.
You’ll get fast online quotes from top campervan companies, you can view those quotes from your dashboard and book online directly.
You will also receive personalised quotes from owner operators directly by email.
Campervan rates (rental days) are calculated on a calendar day basis.
Usually the first and last day of your rental, irrespective of the times of collection and return, are calculated as rental days.
This is because the vehicles cannot be rented on the same day as they need to be cleaned, maintained and checked.
The standard insurance is always included in your quotes but the standard insurance does not cover liability. For more information about insurance options (see below).
All prices are in NZD.
The GST is always included.
Some fees are not included, but it will be specified as clearly as possible in the quotes you receive. Generally these fees are payable upon pick up at the agency.
Each rental campervan company is different, some fees have to be paid at the agency upon pick up of the vehicle like:
-One way hire fee
-Location fee
-Living equipment
As a rule, the options that are proposed by the campervan rental companies can also be paid upon pick up if you decide to take them at the last minute like:
-GPS, table and chairs, snow chains...
The 3% credit card fee that we charge for every credit card transaction, covers the processing and transaction fee, that we pay to the credit card companies.
Even though this fee can get as high as 4% for international transactions, at Rankers we have decided to be fair and limit this cost to 3%.
All booking deposits are non refundable, you are locking in a great price with the Rankers discount. You need to make sure of your travel arrangements prior to paying the deposit, this is part of the reason we recommend travel insurance.
We are happy to change travel dates, subject to availability, when required. These changes can incur costs with variations/possible increases in daily rates and cancellation costs, if reducing the period of rental.
If you decide to cancel your booking, the included deposit is non-refundable. Depending on the operator, certain cancellation charges will apply.
The remaining balance of your hire is to be paid 45 days prior to pickup. You will receive a reminder email from us a few weeks before its due.
You can pay the balance via bank transfer, or by credit card. If you pay by credit card you will be charged a 3% processing fee.
Choosing an insurance is an important part of the booking process.
We strongly advise you to take an insurance option, other than the standard insurance included with the rental, when you hire a campervan in New Zealand. If stay with the standard insurance and you have an accident, or if someone else damages the campervan, you’ll have to cover the excess, which is usually several thousand dollars. The good news is, when you take the excess coverage insurance, you generally won’t have to pay any bond, the rental company will only take an imprint of your credit card.
Some people think that if you take out travel insurance, you are covered for your campervan rental. This may not be true, so you need to read the fine print of your travel insurance policy very carefully. Most travel insurance policies cover illness, trip cancellation, delays, loss/damage of possessions/travel documents and personal liability/accidents. They generally don’t cover motor vehicles, or if they do, they may not cover a heavy campervan. If you want some insurance advice, we can help.
Vehicle liability (excess) is the maximum dollar amount (cost) per accident that the hirer is responsible for, should there be an accident. This includes damage to the rental vehicle and any third party property. The liability will vary according to the type of vehicles and the rental company, it can range from NZ$2000 to NZ$7500.
If you stay with the included standard insurance only, you will need to pay a bond (excess) to the campervan company, at the start of your hire. This covers the liability (cost) of any damage to your campervan.
This liability bond is refunded once your campervan has been returned, undamaged.
Be aware that most campervan rental companies will actually deduct the amount (which can be quite substantial) from your credit card. If you have a credit limit on your card, this can mean you have no money left for your campervan holiday! There’s also the risk of losing money on the exchange rate once the bond is refunded to you.
The good news is that when you take the excess coverage insurance (which covers liability), you won’t need to pay a bond and the campervan rental companies will only take an imprint of your card and won’t deduct any money from your account.
Campervan rental companies include ‘standard’ insurance with your rental. This means that you're covered for accidental damage to the motorhome and public liability, as long as you're not negligent or irresponsible. Being covered still means you are responsible for the cost of replacement or repair up to the excess. For example if the 'standard' insurance has an excess of $7500, you will be paying for the cost of any damage upto that $7,500.
Note that some companies deduct the excess amount from your credit card at the start of your trip and refund it at the end. Make sure you have enough funds available on your card to cover the excess as well as provide funds during your holiday. Also, be aware that you may lose out on the exchange rate when the excess is refunded.
Excess Coverage is insurance with reduced or no excess to be paid. Most companies will give you a couple of options to reduce or remove the excess amount to pay. This lower excess or no excess is replaced with a daily rate. This means when the campervan is damaged, you will either pay nothing or upto the reduced excess, depending on your chosen insurance plan.
As well as considering rental prices when you’re deciding who to book with, make sure you check out their insurance options, as they vary between companies.
Many campervan rental company websites will have a grid which summarises their different insurance policies so you can see what’s included and what’s not. As a rule when you take the Full Excess Coverage insurance you won’t have to pay any bond and the rental company will only take an imprint of your credit card.
Road User Charges (known as RUC's) is a Government charge for diesel vehicles.
The RUC's you pay is relative to the amount of kilometres you travel, and is payable at the end of your hire.
This fee is between $6.22 per 100km and $6.62 per 100km (depending on vehicle size).
You can view the government website Road User Charge rates here.
Most campervans are equipped with a dual battery system, so you can always start the engine, even if the second battery is flat.
The battery can be charged while driving long distance, or if you plug-in the vehicle at a serviced campground.
The second battery will be used for the fridge, the water pump and the lights.
Unless you are connected up to power at a serviced campsite, you won't be able to use appliances that need a lot of power, such as a portable fan heater or the microwave, or any appliances plugged in the DC outlet.
If you want to stay mainly in freedom / DOC campsites, we recommend you hire a campervan equipped with solar panels. Solar panels will help you maintain the battery.
The water is heated by gas, and the kitchen is usually equipped with a gas cooker. The heater for the rear compartment runs on diesel.
A self-contained vehicle has a certified toilet on board.
To meet the requirements for Self Containment Regulation NZS 5465, and the right to display the certification sticker, the vehicle must have:
- Fresh water supply: 4L per person a day
- A sink Toilet: 1L per person a day
- Holding tank: 4L per person a day, and monitored if capacity is less than the fresh water tank
- An evacuation hose
- A sealable refuse container with lid.
When it comes to the disposing of your waste, both your black water (contents from the toilet cassette) and grey water (water from the shower and sink), should be emptied every 2-3 days. It is vital this is done in a safe and environmentally friendly way, to protect us all. Most holiday parks have dump stations available to their guests and some towns have free dump stations.
The number of seats with seatbelts lets you know how many people can stay in a campervan. The number of people traveling in the campervan can not be more than the number of seat belts. This is the law in NZ.
Each campervan has a recommended sleeping capacity, (the number of people that are allowed to sleep in it).
The number of seat belts may differ from the sleeping capacity. This means you cannot rely on the sleeping capacity to know how many people are allowed to stay in the campervan. If you arrive to collect the campervan, with more people than seatbelts, the company will not let you take it.
Consider who is travelling, and request a campervan which has the appropriate bedding configuration. 2 couples may have different bedding requirements to a family, or a group of single friends. The space you need will also depend on the needs of the individual travellers (and how much luggage they have!). If you’re a family with young kids, it may be a good idea to request a campervan with two separate living and sleeping areas, at opposite ends of the campervan.
For most campervan companies, the minimum rental period is 5 days for a round trip and 7 days for a one-way trip. However, the minimum period for one-way rentals is often extended during the peak summer season and holidays. This period ranges from 10 to 21 days, depending on the rental company.
As well as staying in the campervan, you’re going to have to drive it! Do you need an automatic transmission or manual? Would you prefer a large powerful rig or one that’s small and easy to park?
How old is the campervan and has it been well maintained? You don't really want to deal with mechanical failures on your holiday!
Think about what type of holiday you want then choose the campervan with the facilities to match. Do you want to stay in Serviced Campgrounds or Freedom Camp/DOC campsites or a bit of both? DOC (The Department of Conservation) is a government body that provides and maintains hundreds of campsites in beautiful natural areas around NZ. The ammenities are basic.
If you’re intending to camp at powered sites in camping grounds or holiday parks every night, you’ll be able to use appliances such as microwaves and electric heaters. You won't need an onboard bathroom either.
Save money at campgrounds and holiday parks with the Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass.
To be allowed to stay in most DOC and Freedom Campsites, you'll need to have a Certified Self-Contained vehicle.
You’ll also need decent kitchen and bathroom facilities onboard, as well as a diesel or gas heater (if you’re travelling in the cooler months).
Get the official DOC Conservation Campsite Pass to support conservation and experience the natural beauty of New Zealand.
Avoid camping fines, make sure where you know where you are allowed to freedom camp. Use our Respect map, the only official map that’s approved by every Council Representative in NZ!
Download our free application, Camping NZ, so you can find all the best camping spots, even offline.
New Zealand is as beautiful in the winter as any other season, especially around the mountains. If you want to travel in winter, you’ll need to keep warm. Make sure you choose a vehicle that’s fully insulated and has heating. Unless you’re planning to stay in camping grounds and plug an electric heater into power every night, you’ll need gas or diesel heating. A drying room in the vehicle can also be very handy, particularly if you’re planning on going skiing or surfing (or playing in the rain). You may also want to check with the rental company if they recommend snow-chains. Some rental companies don't hire over the winter.
To use the diesel heater in a campervan, the house (auxiliary) battery must have a minimum of 11.5 volts for ignition, otherwise your campervan won't start! You also need to make sure the fuel tank is more than a quarter full.
Generally it will take 1L of diesel to heat your motorhome for 4 hours, to a moderate temperature.
New Zealand still has some unsealed roads in remote areas. This means the road is generally single lane, has loose stones, bumps, and mud or dust, (depending on the weather). It can take some pracitce to drive safely and build your confidence. Some roads are too windy or steep for campervans and these are usually sign-posted. Many campervan companies restrict access to some roads – the most common ones to be restricted are: Skippers Canyon Road near Queenstown, Ball Hut Road at Mt Cook, north of Colville on the Coromandel Peninsula, and Ninety Mile Beach in Northland. If you’re planning to visit these or any other remote areas, make sure you choose a campervan rental company that allows you to take your campervan there.
Unless you have lots of time and can afford unexpected mishaps, it’s a good idea to make sure your campervan rental company provides 24 hour on-road assistance and a helpline, in case you have any problems. This means you have someone to contact if you have any mechanical problems with your vehicle on the road, or if you have any questions about how to operate the campervan itself.
Not all New Zealand campervan companies are created equal when it comes to equipment! Some include everything you need such as towels and linen, kitchen equipment and cooking utensils. While others will charge extra for these. Also consider add-ons like child or baby seats, picnic tables, GPS systems, wifi and bike racks. If you need them, tell your rental company, to make sure they are provided.