How to rent a car - Frequently asked questions

• Pay at Counter:
  • If you cancel your booking more than 72 hours before your scheduled pickup time, there’s no cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations made 24-72 hours of your scheduled pickup time will incur a 20% fee, and those made within 24 hours - or if you don’t collect the vehicle - will incur a 40% fee.
• Pay Now:
  • Cancellations made more than 48 hours before your scheduled pickup time will incur a 20% fee, and those made between 24 and 48 hours of your scheduled pickup time will incur a 40% fee.
  • No refunds if you cancel your booking within 24 hours before your scheduled pickup time - or if you don’t collect the vehicle.
  • If you modify your booking prior to pickup, a $50 administration fee will be incurred. Should the new daily rate be different from the original prepaid daily rate, the higher rate will apply.
•  The 1.99% Credit/Debit Card payment processing fee for the rental is non-refundable in the event of cancellation or in the event of a no show.

Any card presented should be embossed/printed 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 rent-car@omegarentals.com.  

The cardholder must be named on and sign the rental agreement and be present upon collection of the car rental.
Any credit/debit card payment taken in accordance with rental payments is charged a credit/debit card surcharge of 1.99%.

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$1200 if Omega’s Silver CDW has been selected and NZ$3500 if Bronze is selected.

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$1200 if Omega’s Silver CDW is selected and NZ$3500 if Bronze is selected.

Please note, if you choose to pay the bond by debit card, there will be a payment surcharge of 1.99%. Surcharge charged on the Bond will be refunded only when the Bond Amount is refunded in Full. If a Partial Refund is made on a Bond Refund, the surcharge will not be refunded.

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/printed 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 rent-car@omegarentals.com.  

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/

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 $3500 which cannot be reduced, and you will need to pay a bond of $3500 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, Compact SUV range, Premium SUV range and Premier. You can hire our Premium Budget, Economy Hybrid, Premium Economy, and Premium Elite range and are excluded from purchasing CDW.

Note that if you are 18 or over, on a full licence (or an Australian green P2), the above conditions do not apply.

Omega Rental Cars accepts Digital Drivers' Licences (DDL) forwarded via email from a live app; however, a passport copy or another form of identification will be required with the DDL. We highly recommend that you also have your physical licence while travelling in New Zealand. The driver may be asked to produce a physical licence by the New Zealand Police to prove the DDL is valid.

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.

Our cheap car rental  price includes GST, unlimited KM and standard insurance. Standard insurance has an excess of NZ$3500. We’re proud to be a trusted rental car company offering the cheapest insurance excess waiver rates in New Zealand.

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.

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.

Please note, the credit/debit card surcharges for the rental payments are non-refundable in the event of early return of the vehicle.

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.

Also any credit/debit card payment taken in regards to fees or the administration cost are liable for the credit/debit card surcharge of 1.99%.

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.

All our cars require 91 unleaded petrol, except for our 8-seater iMax model.

Yes we do! Our hybrid vehicles will help you reduce the cost of petrol for your travels. You can find a full list of our hybrid range here. 

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 rent-car@omegarentals.com, and we will get back to you within 24hrs.