Should You Rent a Car or Use a Taxi in Niue?

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Renting a Car in Niue: The Pros and Cons

For a small island, Niue has plenty of choices when it comes to car rental. Not only does the island have six car rental companies, but some of the accommodations also offer the option for guests to rent a car.

Car rental is affordable, costing around NZ$40-$70 per day, while driving distances are short meaning that you won’t need to refuel too often – a good job as fuel was NZ$2.60 per litre at the time of writing! Learn more in How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Niue.

Car rental is utterly convenient in Niue too, with most car rental companies offering pick-up/drop-off at the airport or at any accommodation. Accommodations offering car rental will have it ready for you right on your doorstep.

The one minor inconvenience of renting a car is having to get a Niue Driver’s License, which costs around NZ$22.50. Although you can drive on your overseas driving license when you first arrive in Niue, you are required to purchase a local driver’s license from the Police Station in Alofi during its opening hours.

Information on all of the above can be read in detail in The Guide to Car Hire in Niue.

Pros of Using a Rental Car

• Travel where you want when you want
• It’s the only transport available on the island at all times
• Affordable rental hire rates
• Basic insurance is often included
• Most rental companies will deliver vehicles to the airport or your accommodation free of charge
• Niue is small so you don’t have to fuel up too often

Cons of Using a Rental Car

• Fuel is expensive
• Not as eco-friendly as other transport
• It can be more expensive than using a mix of other transport in Niue.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Using The Taxi in Niue: The Pros and Cons

The alternative to renting a car in Niue is perhaps walking and relying on the island’s one taxi service. The Taxi is an eight-seater vehicle that is available to book over the phone – see how to book in The Guide to Taxis in Niue. There’s not much to say about The Taxi, other than it costs around NZ$2 per kilometre, which is reasonable enough considering driving distances are rather short on the island and costs can be split. See driving distances in Niue here.

However, the obvious issue with using The Taxi is that there’s just one available, so it might not always be available when you need it.

Pros of Using The Taxi

• It can be a cheaper overall transport cost if only using The Taxi for a few short trips
• It’s a way of getting around if you can’t drive
• You don’t need to stress about directions
• The taxi rate can be shared – ideal if staying at an accommodation with lots of guests, like the Matavai, where you can pool together

Cons of Using The Taxi

• Not good value for money if making a lot of trips during your visit
• Can’t be hired for the whole day
• Not always available when you need it.