Taupo car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car hire in Taupo

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Economy car
Economy
M
Compact car
Compact
M
Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
Standard car
Standard
M
Full-size car
Full-size
M
Luxury car
Luxury
M
People carrier car
People carrier
M
Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
Commercial car
Commercial
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Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
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KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Taupo

  • Car hires in Taupo provide convenience in exploring at your own pace. Most public transport options in Taupo have fixed schedules; therefore, using a hire car will allow you to move around the city in your own time. You can visit several attractions in the city, including Huka Falls, Craters of the Moon, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and Lake Taupo Scenic Drives, which are hardly accessible by public transport options.
  • The airports in Taupo that you can hire a car from include Napier Hawkes Bay Airport (NPE), about 140 km (87 miles) from Taupo, Hamilton Airport (HLZ), 150 km (93 miles) from Taupo, Tauranga Airport (TRG), approximately 130 km (81 miles) from Taupo City, Rotorua Airport (ROT), roughly 80 km (50 miles) from Taupo, and Taupo Airport (TUO), about 8 km (5 miles) from the city centre. The car hire companies in these airports include Avis, Budget, and Hertz. The car hires in Taupo at these airports are inside the terminal buildings at the Arrivals areas. Ensure you have all the necessary documents, including a driving licence, passport or ID card, and credit card, to hire a car from any of the Taupo car hire agencies at these airports.
  • You will drive your car hire in Taupo on the left-hand side. When driving, ensure you have your seat belt on, as well as every passenger in the car; seat belts are mandatory for occupants in a vehicle in Taupo. Most of the roads in Taupo are well-maintained. However, certain streets may be narrow and winding, especially in rural areas.
  • Taupo experiences mild traffic during rush hours from 07:30 to 09:00 and 16:30 to 18:00 during work commutes. Avoid using the Tongariro streets, State Highway 1, and Lake Terrace roads, which experience heavier traffic during rush hours. Taupo experiences fog early morning and evenings. Ensure you reduce your speed and use fog lights when driving during such hours. You may encounter black ice on the roads when visiting Taupo during cold months, from June to August, which may make the roads very slippery and hazardous; therefore, reduce your speed and be cautious when driving during such seasons.
  • Book your car hire in Taupo at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Intermediate hire cars in Taupo are around 7% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Taupo

  • How much is the price of fuel in Taupo?

    The average price of fuel in Taupo is R113,25 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between R1 359 and R1 812, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Taupo?

    Intermediate (Toyota Corolla or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Taupo.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Taupo?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Taupo?

    An Intermediate car hire in Taupo costs R1 074 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Compact car hire cost in Taupo?

    A Compact car hire in Taupo costs R938 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Full Size car hire cost in Taupo?

    A Full Size car hire in Taupo costs R3 202 per day, on average.

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Taupo?

    When hiring a car from the vehicle hires in Taupo to move around the city, consider hiring a compact SUV or mid-size car as the vehicle is versatile, offers ample space, and is suitable for manoeuvring the city streets. Taupo experiences frequent weather changes, which may affect road conditions at any time, especially in mountainous regions. Hiring a compact SUV will enable you to run through different road conditions, including icy conditions.

  • What’s the speed limit in Taupo?

    The speed limit in Taupo is 50 km/h (30 mph) in urban areas, including local roads and residential areas, 100 km/h (60 mph) on open roads, and 40 km/h (25 mph) in school zones. Check for speed limit signage along the streets, as they may change over time, and some areas may have lower speed limits. The city has speed cameras in various locations, including high-risk areas like school zones and areas prone to accidents. Also, it has police patrols checking for speeding around the city. Ensure you drive within the set speed limits in the city to avoid possible fines.

  • What are the best places to park in Taupo?

    You can either find free car parks or paid parking spaces in Taupo. To save money, consider free car parks, including Lake Terrace, residential streets, Taupo Event Centres, Reid’s Farm Reserve, Spa Park, Taupo Museum and Riverside Park. Paid car parks in the city include Heuheu Street Car Park, Control Gates Car Park, Ferry Road Car Park, Redoubt Street Car Park, and Story Place Car Park. The cost of parking in Taupo ranges from about 1 NZD (0.5 GBP) to 3 NZD (1.5 GBP) per hour for street parking, 2 NZD (1GBP) to 4 NZD (2 GBP) per hour for car parks, and 10 NZD (4.8 GBP) to 20 NZD (10 GBP) for long-term parking, including daily charge or longer.

Taupo car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

EZI

10,0

Wonderful

Read 1 review
Best rated

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

One location in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

Rental Car Kiosk, 1105 Anzac Memorial Drive, Wharewaka

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Sept 2024

Compact

KAYAK
The pickup and drop off of the car were a breeze. Very affordable and convenient location at the airport. The staff were helpful and kind. Will definitely recommend to others.

1 out of 1

Thrifty

4,0

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

2.0

Value for money

4.0

One location in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

1103 Anzac Memorial Dr

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 19:00

Filters

Reviews

4,0 Mediocre

Dougie, Nov 2022

KAYAK
We had to arrange a drop off at a different location - SH1 road was closed to Taupo. Called the call centre and all was sorted. When dropping the vehicle off in Whanganui - They didn't know about this? They rang Taupo branch who also didn't know about this. Was all sorted and drop off made - I still received a call later in the day asking why we didn't return the vehicle to Taupo. Obviously a huge break down in communication at Thrifty. Had to pay a huge $450 relocation cost.

1 out of 1

Hertz

10,0

Wonderful

One location in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

1103 Anzac Memorial Dr

+64 7 378 8056

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 19:00

Filters

No reviews available

Firefly

6,4

Okay

One location in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

Taupo Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Avis

No score available yet

2 locations in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

61 Spa Rd

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Terminal Building

+64 7 378 6305

Monday08:30 - 19:15
Tuesday08:30 - 19:15
Wednesday08:30 - 19:1520:00 - 20:45
Thursday08:30 - 19:15
Friday08:30 - 19:15
Saturday08:30 - 19:15
Sunday17:30 - 19:1512:30 - 13:00

Filters

No reviews available

Budget

No score available yet

2 locations in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

108 Rifle Range Rd

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Terminal Building

+1 866 671 7282

Monday08:30 - 19:15
Tuesday08:30 - 19:15
Wednesday08:30 - 19:15
Thursday08:30 - 19:15
Friday08:30 - 19:15
Saturday08:30 - 19:15
Sunday17:15 - 19:1511:00 - 13:00

Filters

No reviews available

Moto Car Rental

No score available yet

One location in Taupo

Locations in Taupo

Rental Car Kiosk, Terminal Building 1105 Anzac Memorial Drive, Wharewaka Taupo Airport, Taupo 3378

+64 800 656 564

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Taupo

Locations in Taupo

Anzac Memorial Drive

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

4 travellers who hired a car in Taupo gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.6

Car hire locations in or near Taupo

Good to know

Most popular car type

Intermediate

When to book a car hire in Taupo

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

Taupo car hire information

Pick-up locationTaupo
Car types
Hire locations10
Airport locations8

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