FAQ Christchurch Airport

Looking for rental car deals at Christchurch Airport? Make sure you have a look at our deals page. It’s home to our latest discounts and offers and can help you save on your next hire.

Downloading our app is another great way of having everything you need at your fingertips.

For the latest car rental deals straight to your inbox, make sure you sign up for our newsletter and never miss a deal! It’s the perfect way to secure affordable rental cars in Christchurch.

Our branch hours at our Christchurch Airport branch are:
8am - 5pm Monday to Sunday

If you need to pick up or drop off your vehicle outside these hours, there is an after-hours service which will allow you to do so! Once you’ve confirmed your booking, we’ll email you instructions on how to pick up and drop off your car outside of our branch hours.

If you are running late for a pick up or drop off, please contact our Christchurch branch on +64 3 358 4051, and they will advise you on our after-hours process.

If you are planning on staying in and around Christchurch for a few days once you arrive, then it’s just a short drive from our Christchurch Airport branch to the city which will take around 20-minute depending on traffic. If you’re looking to head off to explore New Zealand’s South Island once you arrive, we provide some handy maps in our branch. You can also speak to our super-friendly team who will be more than happy to point you in the right direction and get you on your way.

When you come to collect your hire car at our Christchurch Airport branch, you’ll need a valid driver’s licence and a credit or debit card for security. A credit card is mandatory if you have selected our Basic insurance option or, in some instances, our Assured insurance option. It must have your name printed on it for verification and the card must be valid until the drop-off date.

We sure do. We can arrange one-way car hires to and from all our locations including Christchurch Airport. There are a couple things you’ll have to consider. We have minimum hire periods in place, and one-way hires are dependent on the time of year and your direction of travel. A relocation fee may also apply.

On occasion, we will make allowances if we need vehicles in other branches. Make sure you keep an eye on our rental car relocation deals for all the latest rental car relocation deals.

For most people flying into Christchurch Airport, our shuttle bus is the easiest way to get to and from the branch whether you are picking up or dropping off your rental car. It’s a short 3-minute drive from the branch to the terminal. If you do want to stretch your legs after a long flight or just to get some fresh air, it’s approximately 2km which should take you around 20 minutes to walk to the branch

Our shuttle service at our Christchurch branch runs during business hours 7 days a week. The easiest way to book our shuttle at Christchurch Airport is through our app. As soon as you land, login to the app and at the touch of a button, we’ll be there to pick you up - simple! If you haven’t downloaded the app, you can also call us at the branch and the team will be right there to pick you up.

The shuttle zone can be found in the following way:
If you arrive at the airport upstairs from a Domestic flight:

• Go down the escalator to the baggage claim.
• Follow the sign to the main check-in area.
• Continue to the end of the hall to the Regional Terminal.
• Exit through Door 2 on your left. The collection point is straight ahead (5 metres).

• Exit through Door 2 on your right. The collection point is straight ahead (5 metres).

• After collecting your baggage, stay inside and turn right and walk past the Long White Cloud Café. Turn left at the escalator following the sign for the Check-in Hall.
• Continue to the end of the hall to the Regional Terminal.
• Exit through Door 2 on your left. The collection point is straight ahead (5 meters). Wait here for the bright pink GO Rentals shuttle to collect you.

Yes, you can also get a shuttle to Christchurch Airport when you return your vehicle. Let one of our team members know you’d like to get a shuttle back to the airport, and they will happily organise it for you.

The cost of hiring a car in Christchurch varies greatly on a number of factors. This includes the chosen vehicle, availability and rental period, as lower rates are available for longer hire periods.

Input your travel dates and other booking information on our Christchurch Airport branch page to get an accurate daily figure.

If you let us know that you need to cancel your booking with more than 24 hours notice from the scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a 10% cancellation fee. All cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time will incur 100% cancellation fee.

If you have already made any payment towards the booking there will be a refund administration fee of 10% or $20; whichever is higher.

No. You can use a debit card to book your GO Rentals vehicle, no problem. There are 2 things to note when you use a debit card rather than a credit card to book with GO Rentals:

• If you pay for your hire online, your debit card will be subject to a non-refundable payment processing fee.
• You will need to reduce your insurance liability to an Assured or Peace of Mind insurance option that does not require a bond deposit. Your card must have the cardholder's name embossed on the front for verification and the cardholder must be the main hirer.

At GO Rentals, we require a bond to be paid on rentals of particular vehicles. The bond is dependent on the vehicle you wish to hire and the insurance option you choose.

At pick-up, we test that pre-authorise the bond amount is in from your credit card. We cannot accept debit cards or cash for this purpose.

After the vehicle is returned, or 45 days from the bond’s authorisation on your card (whichever comes first), the bond amount is released. It generally takes between 5 - 10 business days for the amount to appear in your card again.

If there’s any damage to the vehicle during your rental period, or if we find damage during the check-in process, we will deduct the necessary excess payment from the pre-authorised bond amount.

Yes, there are a number of service stations very nearby our Christchurch Airport branch, including:

• BP – 661 Russley Road (600m away)
• Allied Petroleum - 75 Orchard Road (1.1km away)
• Z Station - 530 Sawyers Arms Road (2.2km away)

You can have multiple drivers on your GO Rentals booking. All drivers must be added to the Rental Agreement upon collection.

All drivers must also have their licences physically sighted in our branch. A charge also applies for additional drivers.

Unfortunately, we do not offer drop-offs or pick-ups from hotels. If you are unable to organise transport to or from our branch, or need special assistance, you can call us at the branch and the team will do their best to accommodate your situation.

We offer after-hours services at all of our branches excluding Auckland City. Once you’ve confirmed your booking, we’ll email through some instructions. If you’re returning to our Christchurch Airport branch, we prefer you return during business hours where possible.

If you are running late, please contact our Christchurch Airport branch at +64 3 358 4051, and we’ll advise you of our after-hours process.

Having a hire car can make your stay in Christchurch significantly more enjoyable. While central Christchurch is quite walkable, it becomes much easier to enjoy the area with a rental car.

Christchurch’s public transport is limited to a bus system. Riding for a bus for a long period is definitely not to everyone’s taste, and the cost of these trips adds up over time.

A rental car also makes it easy to explore the surrounding Canterbury region, including locations like Kaikōura and Lake Tekapo.

No, a 4WD isn’t necessary to have a great time in Christchurch. If you just want to cruise around the city or take some low-key day trips, one of our small cars or SUVs will be perfect for you.

However, you might enjoy using a 4WD to explore nearby, off-road areas such as:

• Witch Hill
• Lake Sumner Forest Park
• Clarence Reserve

It is recommended to carry snow chains when driving in winter, especially if you are heading to nearby ski fields. Snow and ice can build up on the roads in Christchurch and the Canterbury region.

GO Rentals offers snow chains for hire, and they can be fitted to almost all of our vehicles.

When you visit Christchurch, you have plenty of nearby options for hitting the slopes. Some top choices are:

• Mt Hutt: Often considered the best skiing destination in New Zealand, Mt Hutt boasts the country’s longest ski season. It is around 1 hour and 45 minutes from Christchurch.
• Porters Ski Area: Porters Ski Area is just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Christchurch. It also offers accommodation and an acclaimed lodge restaurant.
• Mount Olympus Ski: You can head further afield to this popular remote ski field, which is just over 2 hours out of Christchurch.

In order to rent and drive most GO Rentals cars, you must be at least 21 years of age. However, you must be 25 to rent cars like the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y.

We have no upper age limit to rent a car at Christchurch Airport. You must hold a full, unrestricted driver licence.

For New Zealand residents, provisional drivers licence holders are not allowed to rent vehicles from GO Rentals.

It is legally allowed for holders of provisional driver’s licences from several countries to rent cars in New Zealand. However, GO Rentals does not allow such travellers to rent vehicles, and almost all other rental companies have similar rules in place.

Only New Zealand holders of temporary licences are permitted to hire a vehicle with GO Rentals. Photo identification is required if hiring a vehicle with a New Zealand temporary licence.

You can drive on most full international driver's licences without an international driver's permit. Your foreign licence allows you to drive in New Zealand for 1 year from the date you enter the country, provided you have no suspensions or disqualifications. If your licence is not in English, you must obtain an official English translation and carry both copies with you at all times. For more information, check out our complete guides to driving with licences from the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Germany
• Japan
• Singapore
• United States
• United Kingdom

You can hire a car in Christchurch from GO Rentals with a restricted New Zealand licence. For insurance purposes, you are subject to the conditions of your licence, and you may be liable for any insurance claim resulting from driving outside of these conditions.

Some vehicles require the hirer and driver to be at least 25 years of age and have a clean, full licence.

Unfortunately, holders of restricted international driving licences cannot rent a car with us.

Generally, New Zealand car rental companies are required to offer basic insurance within their car rental fees. The good news is that GO Basic Insurance – included at no extra cost in all our rentals – includes all the coverage you need to drive in New Zealand.

If you’d like even more coverage, we also offer GO Assured and GO Peace of Mind Cover. GO Assured starts at $500 excess, and GO Peace of Mind starts at $0 excess.

All GO Rentals insurance also includes coverage for third-party damage and injuries.

We sure do! With the GO Rentals app, you can access your account and booking information any time you like. It also means you get to skip the queue and enjoy a breezy check-in process. You can also easily request a shuttle as soon as you arrive at the airport.

Head north from Christchurch on State Highway 1. You will quickly find yourself on State Highway 1 when you exit Christchurch Airport via Memorial Avenue.

You can also head south from Christchurch via State Highway 1. You can quickly head south on the Highway when you exit Christchurch Airport via Memorial Avenue.

There is plenty of electric vehicle charging available in Christchurch. Chargers can be found conveniently located in areas such as:

• Orchard Road Carpark
• International Antarctic Centre
• Parklands Library
• Northlands Mall Carpark
• Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Located in the heart of the South Island, it’s perhaps no surprise that the most popular rental cars from our Christchurch Airport branch come from our 4x4 range and include the Toyota Rav4 and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. For shorter term hires, the Toyota Corolla is always a popular vehicle here in New Zealand and the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y are proving to be popular rental cars from all our branches.

If you are hiring a car in Christchurch, there are a number of great options within a short driving distance from the downtown area. Some of the most popular destinations include Queenstown, Dunedin, Nelson, Kaikoura and Akaroa. Find out more about the most popular holiday destinations from Christchurch.