Rent A Car, Auckland Airport

My experience (feb/mar 2014) with NZ Rent a Car was dramatic. Avoid a lot of frustration and select another company.

- Charged for afterhours pick up, but the tel. number was not answered. After 2 hours delay and help of information and other rental companies at the airport found the location. This after a 12 hr flight. No excuse, no refund.

- Car was very old. Mileage of almost 200.000 KM. After complaint answer was that they only rent old cars. Not mentioned by booking. In that case price is way out.

- Car was covered all over with damages. No report at pickup. Took my own pictures.

- One of the lights was broken at pick up. Was the car checked?

- Car made lot of noise

- No cruise control or other modern features

- GPS was old and working badly

- Car was pulling to the left

- Car was shaking close to 100 km/hr.

- Wipers were old and malfunctioning

- Had to drive premium gasoline. Extra cost 10 CT liter.

- No manual in the car. Not needed they say. All cars are the same.

Positive points:

- Car kept running although bumpy.

- After hours drop of in Christchurch was ok.

Hired later in Australia car with 30.000 km with all modern features for a shorter period for less $ per day.

Do yourself a pleasure and look further.

I rented a car which was old but in good condition, from this company. Except for the engine missing from time to time, it went well. The problem was after I returned it, in fact several days after I returned it and it was cleared of all damage, by the same assistant who inspected it before I drove it away to begin with. Before I accepted it, I walked around the car with the assistant, and she pointed out that she had seen and marked on her sheet all the various small items of damage on it - scratches etc. When I returned it, at 6.00pm in bright daylight, we repeated this exercise together (same assistant) and she cleared me to leave. Unfortunately I wasn't given a copy of the clear report, and didn't ask for it as I was about to fly out of New Zealand and I knew I was finished with the company and all was well. Several days later I received an email that informed me there was a large dent in the right front fender, with a photo of it, and the information that the NZ RentACar had taken $250 out of my credit card account to cover the damage!!!!!! Fortunately I had taken out insurance with $250 excess, or goodness knows how much they would have stolen from my account. MOST unimpressed. I have asked for my money to be recredited to my account, with no success.