Absolutely! Buy comprehensive insurance! Even if you're an experienced driver in your home country, do not underestimate the unpredictability of New Zealand roads. Especially in the South Island, there are numerous roundabouts instead of traffic lights, which means you have to check in four directions simultaneously. Some places may have pedestrians that you need to give way to. We approached roundabouts very cautiously as it's easy for a car to appear out of nowhere. If you're slow, locals might honk at you. Local drivers are quite aggressive (at least to us who are unfamiliar with the roads). We once entered a roundabout with no cars in sight, but suddenly a fast-moving truck appeared as soon as we entered. We braked hard, but it wasn't enough, and we collided. After leaving the roundabout, we pulled over and the truck stopped behind us. The driver checked if we were alright, took some photos, and noted down our rental company and my name before leaving. We were about an hour away from Christchurch in a rather remote town, so we didn't contact the police as it's rumored they don't handle such cases well. Since we had insurance, we just moved on. What I want to share is: First, definitely get comprehensive insurance. Second, if something goes wrong, as long as everyone is fine, don't let it ruin your trip. Just keep driving safely; insurance will cover it. Third, it’s best to have two people watching the road while driving; it's too much for one person alone and accidents are more likely. Fourth, roundabouts are more dangerous than mountain roads. On the North Island, there’s also a higher chance of getting fined for violations (which can be quite costly).