europcar car rental in auckland

Car rental in Auckland

 

Discover locations in Auckland

Rent a car in Auckland with Europcar

Located in the North Island, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city. Auckland caters for each and every type of traveller and is geographically blessed with abundant natural beauty, punctuated by volcanic mountains, sea and fertile farmland.

While Auckland is 650 kilometres from the capital Wellington, there are numerous scenic road day trips in the area to keep you busy. Vineyards, wildlife parks, thermal springs, rainforest are just a flavour of what is around and choosing car hire in Auckland can help you see them all.

The Europcar car rental experience in Auckland

Auckland has two Europcar stations, one at Auckland Hamilton Airport, located 20 minutes from the city centre, and another station situated in the heart of Auckland city centre.

Choose car hire in Auckland which best suits what you want to do. Maybe you’re staying in the city centre and only need a economy car hire. The zippy Holden Spark is a popular choice for small groups. More people? There is the Holden Trax, Mazda 3 GLX or the Ford Mondeo. If you are planning a road trip or driving to areas with rocky terrain, take a look at the 4X4 car hire options from the Europcar fleet.

Hire a van in Auckland if you are moving around more people or heavy loads. From 12-seater vans to truck hire there are plenty of options with Europcar.

In Auckland, you can pick up and drop off your car hire at different stations - giving you more flexibility to your trip. If you need your hire car for a day, week or month, long-term and short-term car hire is possible with us. 

Driving in Auckland

To drive and rent a car in New Zealand, you need a valid driver’s licence from your country, or an international driving permit (IDP). If your licence is not in English, you should bring a translation of it or get an IDP.

Like Australia and the UK, cars drive on the left and speed is measured in kilometres per hour.

Cars driving on motorways in New Zealand can go a maximum of 100 km/h. On rural roads the speed is usually 70/80 km/. In urban areas the speed limit is generally 60 km/h, lowering to 40 km/h near schools and 30 km/h in city centres.

There are 3 tolls in New Zealand: the Northern Gateway Toll Road north of Auckland, and the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road. These tolls range from $1.80-2.30 for cars. You can pay for tolls in several ways: via a Pay&Go system where you buy up to 10 tolls in advance or top-up with enough money to pay your tolls. Either way, you will need to set up an account online in advance of your trip.

Outside of the main cities, there are few motorways in New Zealand. Roads are often hilly, narrow and winding. These types of roads mean journey lengths can be longer than they seem on the map.

Parking in Auckland is Pay and Display and applies 8am to 10pm, daily. There are two zones where you must pay according to meter indications. There are no time limits for parking in Auckland, and free parking for the first 10 minutes if you are not stopping for long. Outside of the centre (CBD) paid parking is enforced Monday to Saturday between 8am and 10pm unless otherwise stated. There are also several off-street parking options if you are looking for longer parking. 

Discover Auckland and surroundings by car

The lush surroundings make for a variety of exciting day trips by car. Matakana, under an hour from Auckland, has river valleys, beaches and vineyards to explore. Slightly closer to the city, Puhoi holds immensely scenic countryside for hiking or kayaking.

Two hours (including the ferry crossing) in the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke Island is made for exploring. Treks, wine tasting, bush walking and ziplining - there is much to fill a day with before heading back to Auckland for supper.

Onwards by car there you can visit Hunua Ranges (50 kilometres) bush ranges with waterfalls and incredible vistas: just 40 min drive from Auckland's centre, take a ramble in the 16,000 hectares of native forest and coastline in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. Don’t miss the town of Matamata (165 kilometres), home to the Hobbiton film set from Lord of the Rings.

Things to see in Auckland

The largest city in New Zealand has attractions to prove it, there is a huge variety of things to do and see - in the centre or a quick car trip away. But you do not have to go far to see some natural wonders, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill offer exceptional views in the heart of town. Culture vultures are not forgotten either. The Auckland Museum, Auckland Art Gallery and the Wallace Arts Centre are all national institutions. Eating ranges from sophisticated restaurants owned by TV chefs to unique world dining options. In the city in the spring? Make sure you hit the Pasifika Festival, a Polynesian party in Western Springs Park around March.

We are proud to be European leaders in car rental. To find out more about the Europcar car hire experience, be sure to visit our car rental page!

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Good to know

Car hire at Auckland is made easy with Europcar.

Friendly service, new cars and low prices are part of our every day offer. Whether you are hiring a car for business or pleasure, or you need a car or van, Europcar has the right hire car at Auckland for you.

Europcar is looking forward to serving you at its car hire branch: Auckland. Remember to always bring your driving license, valid credit card and additional proof of identity (such as a passport if you are hiring abroad).

Europcar’s Green Programme: At Europcar, we understand the environmental impact of car hire. That’s why we have wholeheartedly embraced a sustainable development programme and are proud to be the first car hire company at Auckland with certified commitments.