Rental FAQs

You can easily book a car with Sunrise Car Rental on our website. Minimum rental period of 3 days and bookings need to be made 3 days in advance. In case of emergency or last minute booking, send us an email and we'll try to arrange a solution if possible.

All bookings are subject to availability and confirmation by us. We reserve the right to refuse any booking at our discretion.

You must provide accurate and complete information when making a booking. You are responsible for any information you provide and must inform us immediately of any changes to that information.

Payment for bookings must be made at the time of booking via the payment methods provided on the website.

The Hirer must pay the amount due at the time of or prior to picking up the Vehicle.

Please note that we do NOT accept cash as a form of payment.

We accept:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Credit cards
• Debit cards

These cards must show the main driver’s name, signature and card number, with the applicable logo. You must bring the physical card with you.

Each Authorised Driver must be at least 21 years of age and hold a licence appropriate for the Vehicle. To hire an electric vehicle (EV), the Hirer and any Authorised Drivers must be at least 25 years of age.​

All Authorised Drivers must hold a current and valid driver’s licence (not a restricted, learner, provisional, or probationary licence) to drive the vehicle and must have held a licence for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to signing the Rental Document. You cannot have been given a disqualification or suspension in New Zealand, as we will be unable to rent you a vehicle.

In New Zealand, the law mandates that a valid foreign driver’s license in a language other than English must be accompanied by either an English translation or an International Driver’s Permit. This translation should be issued by an authorised service or a designated authority. You can check all authorised translators on the official website of the NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority).

The law requires us to sight your licence when you collect your rental car. No photocopies or scanned licenses will be accepted.

Restricted licenses from either NZ or abroad cannot be accepted.

Yes additional drivers are allowed, and must comply to every obligations of authorised drivers and meet all requirements needed to drive legally in New-Zealand. 

Sunrise Car Rental may refuse to allow you or any Additional Driver to drive the vehicle if:

• They do not hold a valid and current driving licence for the entire rental period.
• They have not provided an international driving licence or official translation (if applicable).
• They have driving-related convictions.

If an unauthorised driver operates the vehicle, neither you nor the unauthorised driver will have the benefit of any loss and damage waiver. 

To add an Authorised Driver, you may be required to pay an Additional Driver Fee, and the Additional Driver must provide a valid licence.

• Access your reservation details through the Sunrise Car Rental website via the link “Manage my booking”.
• You can also have access to your booking details on your booking confirmation  e-mail.

• Any amendment to your booking must be approved by Sunrise Car Rental. ​
• If an amendment is approved, the rental rate may be recalculated based on the current rental rate applicable for the vehicle at the time of the amendment. ​
• To manage your booking go to the Sunrise car Rental website, then scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will find a “Manage my Booking” link, click on it.
  You will then need to enter your “Confirmation number” or “PIN Code” that you have received on your e-mail confirmation of booking.
  After you have entered your confirmation number, a page with your Order detail will appear, scroll down the page and click on “Click here to request a cancellation or modification of the order”, once clicked a message box will open you can then write to us what you wish to modify or cancel.

• Cancellations must be made by written notice to Sunrise Car Rental. ​
• If you are unable to proceed with your booking due to unforeseen circumstances (such as illness, travel disruptions, or emergencies), contact the Sunrise Car Rental team as soon as possible. ​ They will work with you to explore alternative solutions, such as rescheduling the booking or providing a partial refund, at their discretion. ​ Supporting documentation may be requested in such cases. ​

Cancellation Fees: ​

• If you provide more than 24 hours’ notice from the scheduled pick-up time, a cancellation fee of 10% of the total rental cost will apply. ​
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time, or if you do not show up, will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the total rental cost. 

Refund Administration Fee: ​

• If any payments have already been made toward the booking, a refund administration fee of 10% or $20, whichever is higher, will apply. ​

You need to collect your vehicle at the place and time chosen during your booking. Your keys will be given by hand, you will also need at your arrival for pick-up to present your valid driver’s license and ID. You will also have to pay a bond of $500 that will be reimburse to you at the end of your hire.

To return your vehicle you should return it at the place, date and time shown on the Rental Document, unless you have informed us of a change prior to the agreed return time and received consent.

Unfortunately, we do not offer any after hours return. However, we can try to arrange this on special request via email if possible. A cumulative $50 fee for pick-ups and drop-offs outside regular hours will incur.

In New Zealand, we drive on the left hand side of the road, so driving in New Zealand can be quite different to driving in your home country.

You can check all needed information about driving in New-Zealand on the official website of the New Zealand Transport Agency (https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode).

Yes, some roads are prohibited such as Ball Hutt Road (Mt Cook), Skippers Road (Queenstown), Ninety Mile Beach (Northland), or Te Paki Stream Bed.

Also be aware that, you must not use the vehicle: 

• On beaches, in sand, or through streams. 
• Through rivers or floodwaters. 
• On fire trails. 
• On snow unless equipped with snow chains. 

There are currently three toll roads in New Zealand – the Northern Gateway Toll Road north of Auckland between Silverdale and Warkworth, and the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road, both in Tauranga. These use electronic toll collection, so you do not need to stop to pay for the toll road. In each case there are alternative, non-tolled roads. For more information on toll roads, see the NZTA site.

To make life easier Sunrise Car Rental handles all toll road payments on your behalf at a fixed rate of $3 per toll which is charged back to your credit card.​

If the breakdown is mechanical and not due to any error or fault by you or any other person (in the opinion of the service provider), the relevant call-out fee will be refunded to you (this includes issues such as engine faults, electrical faults, cooling system issues, or other breakdowns requiring vehicle recovery).

If the breakdown is non-mechanical (for example, running out of fuel or electricity, incorrect fuelling or charging, issues with wheels or tyres, lost keys, keys locked in the Vehicle, or flat batteries due to lights or keys being left on) and you are found to be at fault (in the opinion of the service provider), you will be responsible for the full cost of any relevant call-out fees and all salvage or towing expenses, regardless of the distance. 

If the Vehicle becomes unfit to drive due to a breakdown that was not Your fault, Sunrise Car Rental will refund any rental charges that apply to the period during which the Vehicle could not be used and will arrange for the repair or replacement with another vehicle as soon as practicable.