Thrifty, Queenstown Airport Car hire

Address
Pick-up
Drop-off
Opening Hours
Deposit policy
Accepted Cards
E-voucher
Age requirements
Driver's License Requirements
Additional Extras
Cross Border
Cross Islands
Distances to Landmarks

Thrifty - Queenstown Airport Information, Car hire Instructions & Policies

Address

Queenstown Airport Queenstown Airport Airport Desk

Telephone

03 442 3532 / 03 442 3532

Pick-up Instructions

The Thrifty - Queenstown Airport car hire location is in terminal

You can walk to the counter of Thrifty - Queenstown Airport car hire.

Car rental counter is concentrated in the vicinity of luggage picking up center in airport hall, you can see the clear signs.

Drop-off Instructions

Please return to Rental Car Park at the airport, you will see "Rental Car Return" sign at the entrance. Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M54PnTBCv2E2ZqdP6

Opening Hours

Days of Week	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Opening hours	08:00 -22:00	08:00 -22:00	08:00 -22:00	08:00 -22:00	08:00 -22:00	08:00 -22:00	08:00 -22:00

Deposit policy

Deposits are depending on which car type your rental car falls into, and can be paid with credit cards (pre-authorization)

Representative Car Models	Deposit Amount(approx.)	Business Days Required for Refund
Applicable to all car types，incl. Compact，Suv，Economy，Mini and others. Pack up ^	USD300-5000	30-60

Accepted Cards

Credit cards issued by the following companies qualify a car hire from this store: Visa, Master

E-voucher

Yes. E-voucher is accepted. Show the digital voucher on your mobile instead of a print-out is good enough.

Age requirements

21 - 99 years old

Young Driver Fee applies at 21 - 24 years old with charge of NZD 17.5 per day approximately.

Driver's License Requirements

The main driver and any additional drivers will need to provide a physical full driving license in their name with no major endorsements. The license should be held for at least 1 year(s).

For foreign renters, you need to bring:

Original driving licence + NZTA Translation

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), a professional organization, certifies driver's license translations specifically intended for self-driving rental vehicles within the New Zealand. Free online NZTA for Japanese driver's license holders: https://www.qeeq.com/nzta-topic

Original driving licence + International Driving Permit (IDP)

Please note that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is only a translation. You must present your original driving licence together with the original IDP at the counter — photocopies or scanned copies are not accepted.

For local renters, you need to bring:

Full Driving License issued in New Zealand

Additional Extras

To be updated

Cross Border

To be updated

Cross Islands

Conditional:

Towards any New Zealand islands, taking rental cars crossing islands is allowed with certain conditions.

Multi-island travel is still possible by making two separate bookings for the whole journey, one for each island. Single bookings that include rentals on both islands is no longer possible. STARTING ON ONE ISLAND, ENDING ON THE OTHER： Make your booking from where you plan to begin and end your journey. Please provide the details of when you plan to cross between the islands in the comments section of your booking including ferry date and time, without this information we are unable to guarantee a vehicle will be available for you. Book your ferry crossing early and check your rental agreement, if your cross-over date has changed call rental company 5 days before your ferry. If we are not advised of changes, we cannot guarantee a vehicle will be available. Vehicles must be returned to the original rental Island and we will charge a relocation fee of up to $1000 NZD + GST if this does not occur. The rental process remains the same if your rental involves travelling on both islands but starting and ending on the same. Please note you will be liable for the ferry cross over costs.

Ferry Transportation: Allowed

Thrifty allows you to bring the rental vehicle on the ferry. However ferry companies may charge you to bring a vehicle across Cook Strait.

Excess

Collision Damage Waiver Excess differs by car model:

NZD 4000-5000 for other car models.

NZD for Niro Plug In,Volkswagen Golf,Mg Zs,Vw T-cross,Cubic Metre Van,Renault Trafic,Toyota Yaris,Special,Toyota Camry,Renaultmegane,Toyota Kluger Hybrid,Hyundai Santa Fe,M5 Ford Mustang,Kia Carnival,Toyota Camry Hybrid,Vw Virtus Tsi 10 Hyundai Hb20s 10 Turbo,Toyota C-hr,Volkswagen T-cross,Q5 Jeep Compass-4wd,Cubic Metre Van,R Toyota Landcruiser Prado-4wd,Ford Ranger-4wd,Hiace 12 Seats,Polestar 2,Mystery Vehicle Commercial,

NZD 5500 for Niro Plug In,

NZD 5500 for Volkswagen Golf,

NZD 5500 for MG ZS,

NZD 5900 for Vw T-cross,

NZD 6001 for Cubic Metre Van,

NZD 6001 for Renault Trafic,

NZD 5500 for Toyota Yaris,

NZD 5500 for Toyota Camry,

NZD for Renaultmegane,

NZD 6001 for Toyota Kluger Hybrid,

NZD 6001 for Hyundai Santa Fe,

NZD 7200 for M5 Ford Mustang,

NZD 6001 for Kia Carnival,

NZD for Toyota Camry Hybrid,

NZD for Vw Virtus Tsi 10 Hyundai Hb20s 10 Turbo,

NZD 5500 for Toyota C-hr,

NZD 5500 for Volkswagen T-cross,

NZD 5500 for Q5 Jeep Compass-4wd,

NZD 6001 for R Toyota Landcruiser Prado-4wd,

NZD 6001 for Ford Ranger-4wd,

NZD 6001 for Hiace 12 Seats,

NZD 6001 for Polestar 2,

NZD for Special,

NZD 5900 for ,

NZD 6900 for ,

Theft Insurance Excess differs by car model:

NZD for Niro Plug In,

NZD for Volkswagen Golf,

NZD for MG ZS,

NZD for Vw T-cross,

NZD for Cubic Metre Van,

NZD for Renault Trafic,

NZD for Toyota Yaris,

NZD for Toyota Camry,

NZD for Renaultmegane,

NZD for Toyota Kluger Hybrid,

NZD for Hyundai Santa Fe,

NZD for M5 Ford Mustang,

NZD for Kia Carnival,

NZD for Toyota Camry Hybrid,

NZD for Vw Virtus Tsi 10 Hyundai Hb20s 10 Turbo,

NZD for Toyota C-hr,

NZD for Volkswagen T-cross,

NZD for Q5 Jeep Compass-4wd,

NZD for R Toyota Landcruiser Prado-4wd,

NZD for Ford Ranger-4wd,

NZD for Hiace 12 Seats,

NZD for Polestar 2,

NZD for Special,

NZD 5900-7900 for other car models.

NZD 5900 for ,

NZD 6900 for ,

Third Party Liability Insurance Excess differs by car model:

NZD 5900-7900 for other car models.

NZD 5500 for Niro Plug In,

NZD 5500 for Volkswagen Golf,

NZD 5500 for MG ZS,

NZD 5900 for Vw T-cross,

NZD 6001 for Cubic Metre Van,

NZD 6001 for Renault Trafic,

NZD 5500 for Toyota Yaris,

NZD 5500 for Toyota Camry,

NZD for Renaultmegane,

NZD 6001 for Toyota Kluger Hybrid,

NZD 6001 for Hyundai Santa Fe,

NZD 7200 for M5 Ford Mustang,

NZD 6001 for Kia Carnival,

NZD for Toyota Camry Hybrid,

NZD for Vw Virtus Tsi 10 Hyundai Hb20s 10 Turbo,

NZD 5500 for Toyota C-hr,

NZD 5500 for Volkswagen T-cross,

NZD 5500 for Q5 Jeep Compass-4wd,

NZD 6001 for R Toyota Landcruiser Prado-4wd,

NZD 6001 for Ford Ranger-4wd,

NZD 6001 for Hiace 12 Seats,

NZD 6001 for Polestar 2,

NZD for Special,

Fuel Policy (what does it mean)

To be updated

Distances to Airports | Railway Stations | Hotels | Other Landmarks

Airports

0.1 km from Queenstown Airport

Hotels

1.2 km from DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown

4.2 km from Oaks Shores

4.9 km from Oaks Club Resort

Other Landmarks

6 km from Shotover River

FIND ME A CHEAP RENTAL

Map view of Thrifty Store Location

coordinates: -45.021798 168.738665

Guest Reviews

Total points： 8.8 / 10 Very good

Vehicle condition: 5.2
Vehicle cleanliness: 5.2
Spaciousness: 5.0
Counter staff: 4.7
Pick-up location: 5.2
Drop-off location: 5.2
Pick-up time: 10-30 mins
Drop-off time: 0-10 mins

Anonymous
Queenstown
8.3 /10 Very good
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
we waited for our car for nearly an hour, we were going to a wedding, and were on a schedule, which is why i booked the car online for ease of pickup. The counter staff were polite but obviously could not speed up the process, it caused us to be rushed and stressed.
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B.Jaishi
Queenstown
9.3 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Car was not ready on time, I waited for about 20 minutes
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Anonymous
Queenstown
10 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
the car i hired was supposed to be a toyota Rav 4 however i always seem to get "the OR Similar vehicle'' in my case a Mitsubish,i when i order in advance i expect to get the vehicle i request. Only Gripe on an otherwise enjoyable experience
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Elaikha Zahar
Queenstown
9.7 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The car’s alignment was bad and we realised it on the 2nd day itself. I called to see if we could change the car. And they told me to call again the next day and the next day. For 3 days straight I called but had to explain the situation to 3 different people and there was no record of me putting the initial request. We went there on the 4th day only to realize we could have easily exchange it if we’ve brought the car in immediately and request for a technical check. This was not mentioned to me from the 1st-3rd call.
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J.Harris
Queenstown
9.7 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Great car and service from the thrifty team. Was very happy
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Anonymous
Queenstown
9.7 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Counter staff for pick up was very good and helpful.
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Rei Nguyen
Queenstown
10 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
It was such a nice car to travel, good services for both pickup and dropoff. The car made us feel comfortable along our road trip. Thank you.
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Alva Arabella
Queenstown
10 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Excellent customer service! They explained everything in great detail!
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Clare Catharine
Queenstown
8 /10 Very good
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Very convenient. Unlike in the US where you choose from a row of similar cars, your car is confirmed early and you are directly handed the keys along with the parking slot number. The only downside was that we arrived half an hour before the scheduled time and were told to wait until the exact time to get the car.
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Ingrid Fox
Queenstown
10 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Satisfied
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Zara Wyat(t)
Queenstown
8 /10 Very good
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Average.
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Marlon William
Queenstown
2 /10 Poor
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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Antonia Susanna
Queenstown
10 /10 Excellent
Reviewed: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Simple and convenient procedures, friendly staff
Read More >