Book Budget hire cars in Queenstown

Driver's age: 25-65
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Budget car hire prices in Queenstown

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Small car
Small
M
Medium car
Medium
M
Large car
Large
M
Luxury car
Luxury
M
Commercial car
Commercial
M
Pickup truck car
Pickup truck
M
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular location

Most popular car type

Terminal Building
Small

Top tips for hiring a car from Budget in Queenstown

  • Book Budget car hire in Queenstown to make the ultimate leap in taking control of your holiday by exploring the city and surrounding areas on your schedule and not by other means. You'll avoid the high cost of local taxis and the inconsistent scheduling of public transport. You'll be able to visit places like Coronet Peak, Lake Wakatipu, and Milford Sound without worrying about how to get there or how long to stay. You can also take advantage of the freedom of a hire car to take a road trip to places like Arrowtown, less than an hour's drive away.
  • When you choose to book Budget car hire in Queenstown, you'll be picking a reputable company that's a leader in its field throughout the world. Budget offers possibly the largest and most varied fleet in Queenstown at some of the most affordable prices. The company's commitment to providing a stress-free hiring experience through top-quality car hires and unrivalled customer service makes Budget car hire in Queenstown an ideal choice for many.
  • if you're flying into the city, consider booking Budget car hire at Queenstown International Airport to have the perfect start to your holiday. Not only will you avoid the expensive airport transfers and unreliable public transport services, but you'll also be able to get to the city centre the fastest. Once you land, follow the signposts from inside the Baggage Claim area in the main terminal to close to the Belt 1 luggage belt where you'll find car hire counters like Budget. Booking online will help save you time and money since in-person booking at the airport is much more costly.
  • When choosing Queenstown Budget car hire, be aware that the surrounding highways in Queenstown can be treacherous, with winding roads and tight corners. They're especially dangerous during the icy snow-ridden months. It's important to keep your eye out and drive more slowly along these roads than recommended. You can check the local weather apps to be aware of the conditions you'll be driving in to make sure.

FAQs about hiring a car from Budget in Queenstown

  • Which Budget offices should I be using in Queenstown?

    There are two well-placed Budget offices available in the city, and the one you choose to use will depend on how you arrive in Queenstown. If you're flying in, Queenstown Airport is the ideal location. It's important to book online to avoid the extra fees you'll pay in person. The second option is located close to the heart of the city, at 68 - 70 Stanley Street. Regardless of whether you book from the airport or the office on Stanley Street, you'll have the choice of the same cars. If one branch doesn't have a vehicle you like, the two branches will organise with each other to get you your vehicle.

  • What documents do I need to choose Budget car hire in Queenstown?

    Budget won't hire a car to you unless you're at least 21 years and have held your driving license for a year or more. If you're younger than 25 years old, be prepared to pay an additional surcharge for being a young driver. Remember to bring your confirmation details and reference number, as well as the same credit card used for your online booking. If the credit card used isn't in your name, the card owner must be present when collecting the vehicle. You'll also need a valid driving license written in English and a valid form of ID, preferably a passport.

  • Where can I park my Budget hire car in Queenstown?

    It's typically difficult to find on-street in the city centre, especially free parking. You'll find 10 minutes of free parking at the airport but there isn't much else available in the city. You'll find Pay & Display parking spaces throughout the city centre with various time limits. There are two-hour limits available along Church Street, Earl Street, Marine Parade and Camp Street. Athol Street offers Pay and Display parking with a four-hour limit.

  • What is the most popular car hire from Budget in Queenstown?

    Small hire cars (Toyota Yaris or similar) are the most frequently booked hire car types from Budget in Queenstown.

  • How many car hire locations does Budget have in Queenstown?

    Budget has 2 hire locations in Queenstown. Take a look at our Budget hire location map to find the best car hire near you.

  • Does Budget have a car hire location at the airport: Queenstown Intl airport (ZQN)?

    Yes

  • Does Budget offer shuttle or airport pick-up services from Queenstown Intl airport (ZQN)?

    Yes

Reviews for Budget in Queenstown

Pros

"Staff was cordial, "(in 3750 reviews)
" was extremely nice and friendly!"(in 1394 reviews)
" was extremely friendly and knowledgeable."(in 1394 reviews)

Cons

"The is absolutely atrocious."(in 355 reviews)
" style wasn’t available."(in 3893 reviews)
"The had a very awful smell."(in 3893 reviews)
Overall rating6.6 OkayBased on 10000 reviews
Cleanliness
7.2
Comfort
7.3
Overall
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.7
Value for money
6.6

Recent reviews

Traveller rating
4868
1975
193
1408
137
0
5843
Find reviews that mention:
4.0
Very slow to process, spent over an hour just to pick up a vehicle. Staff was slow, system was slow.Reviewed Dec 9 2025
review fromkayak
2.0
Car smelled like cigarettes. Window button on the passenger side was broken. Car had “low engine oil” light on the entire time.Reviewed Dec 9 2025
review fromkayak
4.0
They called an hour prior to my pickup time to tell me that there were no cars available at that location. I had to Uber to the airport location 30 min away and wait in line for over 30 min for them to send me to the Avis desk. They remade me reservation and everything was great from there on but the inconvenience of it all was really disappointing.Reviewed Dec 8 2025
review fromkayak
4.0
Short staffed and pick up took 1.5 hrs. Too longReviewed Dec 8 2025
review fromkayak
10.0
Smooth from start to finish. Clean, low mileage SUV made my trip comfortable and efficient. Great value for the $ spent. I’ll rent from Budget again!Reviewed Dec 8 2025
review fromkayak
2.0
I never received a confirmation email to pick up the rental car in Tucson.Reviewed Dec 8 2025
review fromkayak
10.0
Staff was great to deal with.Reviewed Dec 7 2025
review fromkayak
8.0
The staff was friendly and welcoming however I rented what it was described as a mid-size SUV and they gave me a compact/small size SUV. They told me that they go by a letter but the website did not state any of that instead it showed Mid-Size. It was disappointing.Reviewed Dec 7 2025
review fromkayak
10.0
Great experience. Heather was amazing.Reviewed Dec 7 2025
review fromkayak
10.0
Verry easy to arrange everything. We wanted a day extra, no problem just one phone call everything was good!Reviewed Dec 6 2025
review fromkayak
4.0
Disappointing. Wait time at counter was almost 45minReviewed Dec 5 2025
review fromkayak
4.0
It was good but they didn't send me the receipt yet.Reviewed Dec 5 2025
review fromkayak

Where can I find Budget hire cars in Queenstown?

Address

Terminal Building

Hours

Monday08:00 - 21:00
Tuesday08:00 - 21:00
Wednesday08:00 - 21:00
Thursday08:00 - 21:00
Friday08:00 - 21:00
Saturday08:00 - 21:00
Sunday08:00 - 21:00

Address

68-70 Stanley St

Hours

Monday08:00 - 21:00
Tuesday08:00 - 21:00
Wednesday08:00 - 21:00
Thursday08:00 - 21:00
Friday08:00 - 21:00
Saturday08:00 - 21:00
Sunday08:00 - 21:00