Inter-Island Ferry Service
Car Rental Company Policies

INTERISLANDER operate daily ferry services across Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton. The 92km journey takes 3 hours and 45 minutes with breathe-taking scenery as you enter Marlborough Sounds and pass through Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound down to Picton.

Car rental suppliers have varying policies on their vehicles and use of the ferry service. In some instances this includes costly relocation fees and insurance coverage being suspended. The following summarises these policies. Whilst every effort is undertaken to ensure that this is accurate and current we strongly suggest that you check with your rental provider when picking up your vehicle as to the terms and conditions regarding inter-island car rental.

HERTZ do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry and substantial fees apply where vehicles are returned on a different island. With branches located at both the ferry wharf in Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island it's easy to leave your car at one and collect at the other. This saves you the cost and hassle of transporting your car between the islands.

To use this service:

• Make a single booking through DriveNow
• Hertz require a minimum 3 day rental on the first leg of your rental
• Second vehicle must be collected within 5 hours of dropping of the first (ferry time is 3.45 hours)
• $30 (ex GST) Ferry Terminal fee applies
• Hertz require a minimum of 48 hours notice

Please note that Premium Wagon, 4 Wheel Drive, People Movers and Luxury car classes require one booking per island.

Advise Hertz when picking up your vehicle about when you intend to travel on the ferry (or call them 48 hours in advance of your ferry crossing).

AVIS do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance. Should a vehicle be picked up in one island and dropped off on the other a minimum relocation fee of NZ$450 will be applied.

Avis operate a special rental system known as "Multi-island Hire". This allows for a single rental booking with the same rate covering 2 vehicles one on each island.

To use this service:

• Make a single booking through DriveNow
• Avis require a minimum 3 day rental on each island (6 day rental in total)
• Minimum 5 day rental on each island is required for Toyota Previa People Mover Vans
• Must use Ferry between Wellington & Picton or fly between Christchurch & Rotorua
• Second vehicle must be collected within 5 hours of dropping of the first (ferry time is 3.45 hours)
• $30 (ex GST) Ferry Terminal fee applies
• Avis require a minimum of 72 hours notice if a cross-over booking has not been made

If you intend to travel more than once between the 2 Islands the third leg of your journey can be of any duration as long as the first 2 legs meet the 6 (or 10) day minimum requirement.

If you cannot meet the Multi-island Hire requirements then 2 separate rental bookings with separate rates will be required.

Talk with the AVIS team when you pick up your vehicle about your inter-island travel plans.

EUROPCAR do not allow their vehicles to be transported across on the ferry and apply relocation fees of NZD$350 plus GST where a vehicle is returned on a different island. Europcar have branches at the Ferry Terminal in Wellington and Picton to allow you to drop off and pick up your new vehicle. Two separate bookings are required - one to cover each segment of your journey.

THRIFTY do not allow their vehicles to be transported across on the ferry. Two separate bookings are required. In Wellington the Thrifty office at the Ferry Terminal is staffed to meet all pre-booked customers. In Picton Thrifty will meet all pre-booked customers arriving on scheduled ferry services between 8.00am and 6.000pm. Picton Arrivals outside these hours are on a request basis and an additional fee will apply.

JUICY do allow their vehicles to be taken onboard the Inter-Island Ferry services at no extra charge. Note that Juicy does not have branches at either the Wellington or Picton Ferry Terminals.

APOLLO do allow their vehicles to be taken onboard the Inter-Island Ferry services. Note that Apollo does not have branches in either Wellington or Picton.

NETWORK RENTALS - ARF RENTAL CARS do allow their vehicles to be taken onboard the Inter-Island Ferry services at no extra charge. Note that Network Rentals - ARF Rental Cars does not have branches at either the Wellington or Picton Ferry Terminals.

ABOUT NEW ZEALAND RENTAL CARS do not permit their vehicles to be taken onboard the Inter-Island Ferry. Two bookings are required for each Island segment of your journey.

Picton

• Pick up: A staff member with name-board will meet you in the Ferry Terminal baggage area and transport you to the Picton car depot.
• Drop off 8.00am - 6.00pm: Return vehicle to Picton depot and a staff member will transfer you to the Ferry Terminal, Railway Station or local hotel.
• Drop off 6.00pm - 8.00am: Ensure you have pre-arranged for after hours drop-off. Check in your luggage at the Ferry Terminal and then leave the vehicle (refuelled) at the About New Zealand Picton Depot (1 minute from Ferry Terminal). About NZ staff will advise on cr key drop off procedure. Note that you are responsible for any loss or damage to the vehicle until About New Zealand staff have checked it in the next day.

Wellington

• Pick up: A staff member with name-board will meet you at the Ferry Terminal exit doors and transport you to the Wellington car depot.
• Drop off (8.00am - 6.00pm) Return vehicle to Wellington About New Zealand depot (5 mins from Ferry) and a staff member will transfer you to the Ferry Terminal.