How to Get a Cheaper Car Rental in Niue
Stretch those dollars a little further in Niue by saving money on car rental! With rental cars being just about the only way to travel around Niue, you have no cheaper public transport options available to you. With that in mind, we’ve put together some tips to save money on car rental in Niue.
Before we get into how to save money on a car rental in Niue, bookmark the Niue Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Niue Cost? for its full budget overview, as well as The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Niue for more advice.
1. Rent for Seven Days, Pay for Six
This is the most popular car rental deal you will find in Niue: “Pay for six days and you will get an additional day for free” or something similar. Even if a car rental company is not advertising this deal, make sure you bring it up, as many of Niue’s car rental companies are happy to negotiate long-term rentals if it means getting your business.
© NiuePocketGuide.com2. Or Just Rent a Car for Fewer Days
While having a rental car for your entire stay in Niue is super convenient, note that you can go a few days without a car if you’re looking to save money. Bearing in mind that many accommodations offer free airport transfers and car rental companies are willing to drop off vehicles at your accommodation free of charge, it might make more sense to just hire a car for three or four days, for instance, to explore the island on those days. Just make sure you are staying in accommodation in Alofi or a village with plenty to do while you don’t have a car!
(c) niuepocketguide.com3. Choose a Small Car
Niue has an ultra-affordable range of budget cars, which are usually small and fit four to five people. Small cars have the lowest daily rates of NZ$50-$60 per day while premium cars are around NZ$85-$125 per day. While small cars might have smaller engines, this doesn’t impact the cost of fuel too significantly bearing in mind that driving distances are quite short in Niue (and they tend to use less fuel than bigger bulky vehicles). Compare the cost of rental cars in How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Niue?
(c) niuepocketguide.com4. Look Out for Low Season Deals
The low season in Niue is between November and April when you can find deals on Niue’s accommodations, as well as some of Niue’s car rentals! Car rental companies have been known to do 15% off the rental rate on some of their larger vehicles during the quieter season. Even if a low-season deal isn’t advertised, it doesn’t hurt to ask. See more benefits for travelling in the low season in the 10 Reasons to Travel in the Low Season in Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com5. Book Early if Travelling in the High Season
On the flip side, if you’re planning on travelling to Niue in the high season (June to October) and moreover during the whale season (July to September), make sure that you book your car rental as soon as you can. Not only do the best value cars go first, but all of Niue’s rental cars can be booked up in the high season. You don’t want to be left with the most expensive car rental vehicles or nothing at all!
(c) Mike Bhana - Niue Tourism6. Compare Niue’s Car Rental Companies
This might seem like an obvious one but don’t just go with the first car rental company you see. With a bit of research, you can find the best deal for you. Niue has around seven car rental companies, as well as accommodations offering their own cars to rent (more on that in point #9), some of which we compare in The 7 Best Car Rentals in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com7. Travel with Friends
Hiring a car just for yourself isn’t particularly good for the planet or your wallet. When it comes to car rental, the more the merrier! That way, you can split the cost of renting a car and enjoy a much cheaper holiday in Niue. Invite some friends to travel to Niue with you. For more planet-saving and money-saving tips like this, head to the 26 Ways to Travel More Sustainably in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com8. Go Through the Car Inspection Thoroughly
Make sure you go through the car inspection thoroughly when picking up your rental vehicle. That way, you shouldn’t receive a nasty fee for damages you didn’t cause just because it was accidentally missed during the car inspection. Some of Niue’s car rentals are pretty old so will have some wear and tear. Don’t be shy about pointing out all of the dents and tiny scratches to the car rental staff while doing the inspection to make sure they jot them down on the car rental paperwork.
(c) niuepocketguide.com9. See if Your Accommodation Includes Car Rental
That’s right, some accommodations in Niue actually offer a rental car, either for a fee similar to the car rental companies or, as is the case for most accommodations offering this service, for free! Compare these accommodations in the 5 Accommodations in Niue with Car Rental.
© NiuePocketGuide.com10. Return the Car with a Full Tank of Fuel
Like most car rental companies around the world, Niue’s car rental companies will charge you a fee for returning the car with less than a full tank of gas, as well as the cost of the additional fuel added. Refuelling fees range from NZ$15 to $50! Niue only has one fuel station, which you can read up about in The Gas Station in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comMore Ways to Save Money on Car Rental in Niue
That’s it for our tips on ways to save money on car rental in Niue. For more car rental tips, take a look at these:
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, take a look at The Guide to Car Hire in Niue.
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