Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) is included in most Avis New Zealand rentals. LDW limits the renters responsibility for loss or damage to the Avis vehicle to the standard excess amount.

Optional Extras

Excess Reduction (ER), available online, or Zero Excess, available at counter in participating locations, are optional coverages that further reduces the standard excess. Please click here for further information.

Avis accepted cards include; Visa, MasterCard, American Express and an Avis Charge Card. At the start of your rental, a physical credit and or a debit card must be presented. Your card must show your name, signature and card number, with applicable logo. The cardholder must be the renter and present when collecting the vehicle.

Avis does not accept, bank cards worded cardholder, nor accepts prepaid or reloadable store value cards, travel money cards and EFTPOS cards. Avis also does not accept cards presented on phones/watches and doesn't allow contactless payment methods such as pay-wave.

At the end of the rental, some Avis locations will accept a prepaid or reloadable stored value card as a final form of payment.

Please Note: Credit card and or debit cards are subject to a card transaction fee of 2.53% for Visa and MasterCard and American Express 3.57% (including GST) at time of pick-up and payment.

Avis New Zealand may require a customer renting a vehicle to complete a Rental Qualification Form and provide additional identification as it deems necessary or appropriate or in accordance with applicable law. Please see Rental Qualification Policy.

Please see Credit Card Policies

The Driver must (i) hold a full and valid driving licence appropriate for the vehicle class while they are using the vehicle. (not being a learner’s, provisional or Pink licence) and (ii) have an International Driving Permit (IDP) or official translation (if licence is not in Roman alphabet).

New Zealand issued Pink licences will state the words Limited, Alcohol Interlock or Zero Alcohol Limit on them. Avis will not rent to a Pink licenced customer.
An International Driving Permit is not a stand-alone document and this must be carried with your valid domestic driving licence for it to be valid.

Chinese licences are acceptable as long as they are also accompanied with a full English translation from an approved translator. This also includes a notary translation done in China.

Public liability insurance is in accordance with the insurance laws of the country.  Customer may inquire at the time of rental for additional information of the benefits, conditions and acceptance.

Note: Some credit cards provide insurance coverage, with certain limitations, as a benefit of using the card to rent vehicles.  The customer is advised to contact the card issuer before the rental.  Any waiver must be discussed directly with the location upon arrival.

All additional drivers must meet the same minimum age & drivers licence requirements as the main renter. Each Additional Driver may be charged a daily fee.

For further information, view our Additional Driver policy here.

Extensions or late returns result in additional charges.

The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 21 years of age. A Young Driver Surcharge may apply.

You may cancel your booking at any time by calling reservations or managing your booking online.

For Pay Now reservations, depending on when you cancel, you may be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.

• If you need to cancel at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled pick-up time, you will be refunded the pre-paid amount less a cancellation fee of up to $86.25 NZD.
• If you need to cancel within 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time, you will be refunded the pre-paid amount less a cancellation fee of up to $172.50 NZD.
• If the value of the reservation is less than the cancellation fee, you will not be charged any further amount and will not be entitled to any refund.
• If you fail to cancel your reservation prior to the pick-up time and do not collect the vehicle on the pick-up date, a no show fee of the entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.
• Amounts indicated above are inclusive of GST.
• For 'Pay at Counter' reservations, no cancellation and or no show fee applies

COVID-19 Cancellation Waiver: Until 19 December 2021, we are offering free cancellation on Pay Now Rentals when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance of rental collection.

• You may change your booking (whether a Pay Now or Pay at Counter booking) any time before the day you are due to pick-up the vehicle by calling reservations or managing your booking online (if available). We will send you a revised booking confirmation email confirming your new booking details. For Pay Now reservations, the additional amount to be paid will be charged at time of rental pick up.
• For Pay Now reservations, if you return the vehicle before the original return date (early return), you will not be refunded any portion of your payment. This does not detract from your rights as a consumer under applicable consumer protection legislation, including the New Zealand Consumer Law.
• Modifying or returning your vehicle to a different location, changing the dates or the rental duration, will result in the reservation being recalculated at the new daily rates and any applicable one way fees or other charges may apply.

Customers wishing to travel between the North and South Islands are not permitted to take Avis rental vehicles on the Inter-island ferries across Cook Strait. To allow for this type of inter-island travel Avis has a special rental system called a Multi-Island Hire which creates one continuous rental. If you require a Multi-Island Hire, the following rental conditions apply:

• A minimum rental of 3 consecutive days is required on each island, with a minimum total of 6 days across both islands. If this requirement is not met the rental will be charged as two separate hires.
• If you are traveling more than once between the two islands, the third (and subsequent) rental period has no minimum length of rental requirement.
• The rental can start and finish at any Avis location in New Zealand (subject to vehicle availability).
• You can cross between the two islands using the Picton Ferry Terminal and the Wellington Ferry Terminal, or you can fly into cities where Avis is located. Note: this policy only applies if you are traveling to the other island, not to a location within the same island.
• A maximum of 5 hours is allowed between the drop off of the vehicle in one island and the pick-up of the next vehicle.
• A minimum of 72 hours' notice is required of the customer's intention to cross between the islands if a crossover booking has not been previously made. If notice is not given, we cannot guarantee a vehicle will be available on the other side.

It is important to note that no Avis vehicle is allowed to cross Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. Any customer taking a vehicle across on an Inter-island ferry will not be covered by insurance for any damage occurred to the vehicle. If you collect a car in one island and leave the vehicle in the other island location without Avis authorisation, you will face an automatic relocation fee of NZ$450.00 plus GST. Further information and details may be found here.

At the start of your rental, a pre-authorisation will be placed on your credit/debit card for the total estimated rental charges.
A pre-authorisation holds an amount of money on your credit/debit card. Once a pre-authorisation has been held, you will not be able to use that money. You must have sufficient funds to cover the total estimated rental charges and the card be in your name.
At the end of your rental, the final payment amount will be processed and if applicable, the unused portion of the pre-authorisation will be released. Depending on your bank, the money is usually released within 7-10 working days. Avis will not be held responsible for any overdraft fees.
Customers who prepay or who use the Pay Now option, an additional pre-authorisation of up to $200 at time of pick up will apply.

The collection, use, disclosure and retention of your information, including your personal information, provided to us in connection with payment for our services and products, or participation in our programs, whether directly by you or on your behalf through a payment service, is subject our Privacy Notice located on our website or in the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement and the Privacy Act 1993.

The vehicle rental price is calculated based on your requested start and end dates and times, the rental location(s), the amount of time you rent for and the type of vehicle you request.

During the year, Avis offer discounted relocation rates. Relocation rates can range from $1.00 to $30.00 NZD per day.
While Avis will endeavour to provide you the vehicle group selected, you may be required to drive another vehicle due to operational requirements.
Changes to returning the vehicle to a different location other than what you select will result in the reservation being recalculated at the prevailing daily rate which will be significantly higher than the advertised price. 
Any applicable one way fee or other charges will apply.

Unless stated otherwise, the price also includes all costs you must pay - for example, GST and any Airport or Wharf fees.

Avis New Zealand may require a customer renting a vehicle to complete a Rental Qualification Form and provide additional identification as it deems necessary or appropriate or in accordance with applicable law. For further information and to download the form please click here.  https://www.avis.com.nz/en/rental-qualification-policy

Vehicles are not permitted to leave New Zealand.