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Taupo car hire

Driver's age: 26-65
Fri 3/5
Fri 10/5

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Taupo car hire information

Pick-up locationTaupo
Car types
Hire locations10
Airport locations8

Cheap car hire in Taupo

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Mini
Economy
Compact
Intermediate
Standard
Full-size
Luxury
People carrier
Passenger van
SUV
Commercial
Pick-up truck

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
  • Economy car hire in Taupo are around 33% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about car hire in Taupo

  • How much is the price of fuel in Taupo?

    The average price of fuel in Taupo is £5.42 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £65 and £87, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Taupo?

    Economy (Suzuki Swift 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 Economy car hire cost in Taupo?

    An Economy car hire in Taupo costs £33 per day, on average.

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

    A Standard car hire in Taupo costs £50 per day, on average.

  • What is the most popular car hire location in Taupo?

    In Taupo, cars are most frequently hired at Avis 61 Spa Rd (1 miles from city centre).

  • Should I get insurance when hiring a car in Taupo?

    Most car hire providers in Taupo offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car hire in Taupo, check out KAYAK's car hire insurance guide.

  • 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 hire reviews and directory

Thrifty

4.0

Mediocre

1 review

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 - 19:30
Tuesday08:00 - 19:30
Wednesday08:00 - 19:30
Thursday08:00 - 19:30
Friday08:00 - 19:30
Saturday08:00 - 19:30
Sunday08:00 - 19:30

Filters

Reviews

4.0 Mediocre

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

2 reviews
Best rated

One location in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

1103 Anzac Memorial Dr

+64 7 378 8056

Monday08:00 - 19:30
Tuesday08:00 - 19:30
Wednesday08:00 - 19:30
Thursday08:00 - 19:30
Friday08:00 - 19:30
Saturday08:00 - 19:30
Sunday08:00 - 19:30

Filters

No reviews available

EZI

8.7

Very Good

No reviews available

One location in Taupo

Show locations

Locations in Taupo

Rental Car Kiosk, 1105 Anzac Memorial Drive, Wharewaka

Monday08:00 - 19:30
Tuesday08:00 - 19:30
Wednesday08:00 - 19:30
Thursday08:00 - 19:30
Friday08:00 - 19:30
Saturday08:00 - 19:30
Sunday08:00 - 19:30

Filters

No reviews available

Firefly

8.2

Very Good

No reviews available

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 - 19:30
Tuesday08:00 - 19:30
Wednesday08:00 - 19:30
Thursday08:00 - 19:30
Friday08:00 - 19:30
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Terminal Building

Monday08:30 - 19:15
Tuesday08:30 - 19:15
Wednesday20:00 - 20:4508:30 - 19:15
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 - 19:30
Tuesday08:00 - 19:30
Wednesday08:00 - 19:30
Thursday08:00 - 19:30
Friday08:00 - 19:30
Saturday08:00 - 19:30
Sunday08:00 - 19:30

Terminal Building

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

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

May 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

Great experience and a great help, definitely rent from these folks!

1 out of 0

Moto Car Rental

No score available yet

One location in Taupo

Show locations

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

3 travellers who hired a car in Taupo gave the car agency they used an average rating of 8.3

Car hire locations in or near Taupo

Good to know

Most popular car type

Economy

When to book a car hire in Taupo

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

Car hire insurance in Taupo

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) & Theft Protection Waiver

Some Taupo car providers already include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection Waiver into the hire price but not all of them. We recommend being aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Taupo.

Deductible

Keep in mind that car hire insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your hire. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a non-deductible option to your Taupo car hire.