How to rent a car - Frequently asked questions

The minimum age to rent a car in New Zealand with Omega is 18. If you are between 18-20 years of age, you can hire our rentals without incurring a young driver surcharge. However, an insurance excess of $2500 applies, and you are not eligible to purchase CDW (collision damage waiver) to reduce this excess. A $2500 bond is required. If you are 21 or over, the basic insurance excess may be reduced to either $400 or NIL by purchasing our Gold or Silver Insurance Cover (CDW).

The only exception to this is our Today's Deal car category - for this vehicle type only, 18-20-year-old drivers renting a car in New Zealand may purchase CDW to reduce the insurance excess to NIL. In this case, providing the hirer presents a credit card, they will not be required to leave a security deposit.

To hire a specialty vehicle in New Zealand (MPV, SUV, Family SUV, Premium SUV, Luxury SUV, Premium Elite & Premier), you must be 21 years old or over. Drivers must also hold a valid overseas licence, international driving permit or a full New Zealand drivers licence. A restricted (or Australian red P1) licence is not accepted.

Our cheap car rental  price includes GST, unlimited KM and standard insurance. Standard insurance has an excess of NZ$2500. We’re proud to be a trusted rental car company offering the cheapest insurance excess waiver rates in New Zealand.

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If your overseas licence or permit isn't in English, you must also carry an accurate English translation to drive in New Zealand. The translation must be provided by:

• A New Zealand Transport Agency authorised translation service (由NZTA认可的翻译机构), or 或
• A translation document issued by a Notary Public Office in China. (由中国公证处出具的有效驾照翻译公证件)
• A diplomatic representative at a high commission, embassy or consulate, or
• The authority that issued your overseas licence (an International Driving Permit may be acceptable as a translation).
• Note that by law your original licence must also be carried at all times

Note that by law, your original licence must also be carried at all times while driving in New Zealand.

You can find further information by clicking this link:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/new-residents-and-visitors/approved-translators/

Any valid Debit Card (such as Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard or Prepaid Travel Card) is accepted as security when renting a car in New Zealand, provided that Gold CDW is selected. If Silver or Bronze CDW is selected, a debit card bond is required, which may be paid via debit card upon vehicle collection. The bond is NZ$400 if Omega’s Silver CDW is selected and NZ$2500 if Bronze is selected.

If you can supply us with a Credit Card as security but wish to Pay with a Debit Card, no bond is required (although please note that the credit card holder must be named on and sign the rental agreement and be present upon collection of the vehicle). 

Any customer who wishes to rent a car and presents a valid debit card must ensure their name is embossed on the card. This name should match the name of the driver’s licence being presented. Omega Rental Cars reserves the right to refuse any card. For further assistance, or if you are unsure whether your credit/debit card can be used for payment, please email us at [email protected].  

If your rental car experiences a mechanical breakdown, call the AA, and they will send a Service Officer to assist you. If the need for assistance falls in the 'driver error' category - i.e. flat battery, changing punctured tyres, lost keys, locked out of the vehicle, or out of fuel, it is the customer's responsibility to pay the AA prior to their attendance. Call-out fees are between $90 and $165, incl GST, depending on your location in New Zealand.

Yes, of course. However, 48 hours’ notice is required if you would like a refund for the unused days.  Similarly, if you are returning the car rental later than expected (even by a few hours), 48 hours’ notice is required to avoid paying the 'unauthorised late return' rate.

If you give us 48 hours notice that you wish to extend your car hire booking, we'll extend it at the same rate as your current hire. If you drop off your rental car late without giving us any warning, this is called an 'unauthorised late return' and is charged at $25 an hour for up to 4 hours, then $80 per day after that, in addition to your current daily car hire rate.

Yes, you do need to pay for any tolls or traffic infringements incurred while driving in New Zealand. Where possible, it is best to pay them yourself and avoid an infringement notice being sent to us at the car rental company. If Omega receives an infringement notice, we are required to contact the issuer and arrange for the liability to be transferred out of our name and into yours. We charge a $30 administration to cover our processing time. You will then be required to pay the toll fee or traffic infringement along with any penalties to the issuer and pay a $30 admin fee to Omega.

If you are over the age of 18 and on a restricted (or Australian red P1) licence, renting a vehicle from us is possible; however, there are a few conditions.  

1. In all vehicle categories, you have an insurance excess of $2500 which cannot be reduced, and you will need to pay a bond of $2500 on your credit card at the start of your hire. This is then credited to your card upon the safe return of the vehicle and any accessories.

2. You are not eligible to hire our speciality vehicles - the MPV, Luxury SUV, Family SUV and Premier. You can hire our Budget, Premium Budget Hybrid, Economy Hybrid and the Premium Elite range and are excluded from purchasing CDW.

Note that if you are 21 or over, on a full licence (or an Australian green P2), the above conditions do not apply.

NO. These are only valid for driving in your home state - NSW or Queensland, Australia.  You must present your plastic licence when you rent a vehicle in New Zealand.

A cancellation fee of 20% of the total car hire will be incurred if the rental is cancelled 24-72 hours prior to pick up, and a fee of 40% of the total hire will be charged in the event of cancellation within 24 hrs or if you fail to collect the hire car. If bookings are cancelled more than 72 hours prior to pick-up time, then cancellation is free of charge. 

If weather conditions should cause your flight to be rescheduled, please note that your car rental charge will start from the pick-up time and day booked. Please advise us of your new arrival time, if possible, so we can hold your vehicle. If you no longer require the car, please note that our standard cancellation fees will apply.

If weather conditions should cause your flight to be rescheduled, please note that your car rental charge will start from the pick-up time and day booked. Please advise us of your new arrival time, if possible, so we can hold your rental car. If you no longer require the car, please note that our standard cancellation fees will apply.

Any card presented should be embossed in the name of the person hiring the car, and should match the name of the driver's licence being presented. Omega Rental Cars reserves the right to refuse any card.  If you are not sure if your credit/debit card can be used for payment, please contact reservations on [email protected].  

The cardholder must be named on and sign the rental agreement and be present upon collection of the car rental.

A Debit Card (such as Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard or Prepaid Travel Card) is accepted as security when hiring a vehicle in New Zealand, provided that Gold CDW is selected. If Silver or Bronze CDW is selected, a debit card bond is required, which may be paid via debit card upon vehicle collection. The bond is NZ$400 if Omega’s Silver CDW has been selected and NZ$2500 if Bronze is selected.

The car hire period is 24 hrs, and we allow a 1 hr grace period with no additional charge incurred. Once you go over the extra hour, an additional day's hire is incurred. For instance, a hire that is 1 day and 2 hrs in duration becomes a 2-day hire for charging purposes.

We know you don’t want to leave your favourite fur baby at home! You can transport your cats and small dogs in an Omega rental car, provided they are contained in a pet cage. Please return your rental car in a clean condition, free of pet hair and smells, to avoid a cleaning fee.

If we have not answered your question, please ask us at [email protected], and we will get back to you within 24hrs.