Imoova have relocation deals all across New Zealand where you can get access to vehicles from top rental companies for as little as $1 per day plus booking fee. They have 2 berth campervans going from Christchurch to Auckland, departing by 3rd September. Ferry cost is also free for the vehicle and driver
Also worth checking some vendors that list deals directly, for example:
https://www.omegarentalcars.com/hot-deals/relocations/
I have done a relocation for Wilderness before, One of the flashiest rental campervan companies in the country.
Booking fee is $50
Bond $1000 (refundable)
Holding Deposit $75 (refundable)
Extra day rate $100/day
Excess mileage NZ$0.52 / km
With all of these relocations the insurance they charge a day is a rip off too and bonds are usually crazy.
Domestic travel insurance can often be used to cover rental car excesses at a fraction of the price of rental car insurance excess reductions. It's what I do.
Note that if the car is damaged, the rental car company will immediately charge you / retain an deposit, and you need to claim it back from the insurance company, so you need to be able to have a few thousand dollars on hand if you take this option.
I use to work for Wilderness…the amount of damages was astronomical. One time we had a brand new $200 000 motorhome just off the ship and people reverse it straight into a tree in the first week on the road putting a hole straight through it. 30% come back needing repairs on a good week hence the insurance costs. A wing mirror alone costs $1500.
Wondered how much damage happens. The combination of driving a much larger vehicle to most are used to, and driving in a foreign country (on the other side of the road and signs in a different language for many renters), means I am not surprised.
Did speak to the renters of a flash campervan (one of the THL brands), with the awning ripped off the side when they parked too close to a pole on a cambered road. Thankfully for them, they were in Christchurch were the rental brand had an office, and they had the sense to just leave the van where it was and call for help, which they were waiting for when I spoke with them.
I did a relocation for Wilderness (several years back), and I must say I was surprised how large the vehicle was when I got into the drivers seat for the first time. The one I rented was a 4 birth the largest size without the 90 km/h speed limit. I do a lot of towing with a 15m long rig (and a wide trailer), but it took me a while to get used to the size and visibility of the van. Sticking my head out the drivers window to check things when reversing didn't work, my neck was not long enough.
Does anyone know if domestic travel insurance covers insurance excess on car relocations?
It will depend on the provider. My Kiwibank credit card's domestic travel insurance will.
Yes as long as it's from a licensed rental vehicle provider
No doubt the company doesn't cover the fuel costs.
Sometimes they do, either first tank free (Pick up full and OK to return the car empty), or $ against reciepts.
Go to the homepage, and set search filters to include fuel and set the region to NZ.
Has anyone done this with the ferry included and with a dog? I see some do included ferry for free, but i guess you need to prepay the room where you can have a dog on the ferry? I am looking to book through Omega.
Read my comment below. One was feon having a pet in the vehicle.
And yes. You need to check and book the kennel. Unless you can keep rhe sog inside the vehicle (i.e its a camper with ventilation, water, food).
Beware - some of the companies seem to be very interested in managing to charge you for something.
So far I have heard five or six different people tell nw they werr charged for some bullshit (which sounded genuinely like they were beong screwed over). Three of them have come from a place that rents "sports" cars that the renters only took cause it sounded vaguely fun to drive a car they likely wouldnt buy.
Also look at transfercar.co.nz - more range, and no booking fee