New Zealand is one of the most expensive places in the world to hire a car. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand is one of the most expensive places in the world to hire a car. Photo / Getty Images
International tourists planning a long-anticipated New Zealand roady may have to break their budget as new data reveals we have some of the highest car rental prices in the world.
Analysis from UK-based comparison website Confused.com shows that Aotearoa sits at the top of a list of 58 countries for automobile rentals.
Research showed that a week's car rental and fuel in New Zealand adds up to an eye-watering $1840.97.
New Zealand was only beaten to the top most expensive nation by Iceland, where a week's self-drive averages $2023.70. A steep exchange rate and a lack of public transport makes the North Atlantic country notoriously expensive.
There wasn't much separating poll position for "most expensive road trip" with Iceland and Aotearoa well ahead of the pack. Argentina, Jamaica and Israel were the closest competitors, with a week's rental averaging between $1564.92 and $1115.86 per week.
Car rental in Bangkok won't break the bank, as Thailand is revealed to have the best value rentals. Photo / Unsplash, Markus Winkler
In Thailand, you can get a week's car hire for $241, and some change back. Two months driving in Thailand works cheaper than a week driving out of Reykjavik.
Azerbaijan and Lebanon are also among the cheapest rental destinations, at $305.21 and $357.70, although not high up on the international tourism lists. Azerbaijan recently went to war with its neighbour over the Nagorno-Karabakh and MFAT continues to advise against non-essential travel to both countries. The US however, is remarkably affordable compared to New Zealand.
The States were ranked 16th most expensive, costing just $884.52 a week to rent a car - or under half of the cost in New Zealand.
Maybe it's time to revisit those plans for an American road trip, to coast along the Pacific or head inland on Route 66.
A week's car hire in America is half as expensive as New Zealand. Photo / Mick Haupst, Unsplash
"If you're planning to hire a car abroad it's important to do your research beforehand and be prepared," said Alex Kindred of Confused.com.
"You may need documents such as an International Driving Permit. And of course, you'll need car insurance wherever you're looking to rent a vehicle."
New Zealand's Rental Vehicle association said that the methodology behind the study was "questionable" and that better deals were available around the country.
Confused.com based its research on an average across five motor vehicle categories -from hatchback to vans - hired from Wellington and averaged from two searches, six months apart.
The average price was given as $1,707.45 with a single tank of fuel calculated at $117.42, with fuel prices from the beginning of February.
RVA chief Exec Ben McFadgen said that - even with the current surge on petrol prices - he was not able to replicate the high costs quoted by Confused for a week's rent. The lower quotes were around $300, said McFadgen.
"There is an undersupply at the moment due to supply chain problems," he said.
The national fleet of around 50,000 rental cars not able to replace cars, which could lead to a bump in rental prices around the country - especially when international tourists return.
The 10 most expensive places to hire a car
1. Iceland - $2,023 2. New Zealand - $1,840 3. Argentina - $1,564 4. Jamaica - $1,230 5. Israel - $1,115 6. Japan - $1,092 7. Switzerland - $989 8. Morocco - $981 9. Austria - $972 10. Ireland - $960 *average prices per week
