New Zealand is an amazingly beautiful country and one of the best ways to enjoy the scenery is by renting a car. However, there are a few things to bear in mind before considering a car rental.  In New Zealand, you drive on the left side of the road as in the UK and a handful of other countries.  This fact alone may discourage many drivers. If it hasn’t, and you are still reading this article, if you do plan to rent a vehicle for New Zealand, be sure to ask for a car with automatic transmission.

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You will also appreciate oncoming vehicles slowing down for you. New Zealand is largely an agricultural country and consequently there are many farm animals on or near the road.  You might want to keep this in mind, especially approaching blind curves lest you encounter a herd of cattle coming out of a curve.

Usually, when you rent a car, the rental agency will give you a pamphlet outlining the basic rules and regulations of the road. If you are not handed this automatically by your car rental agency, ask them for this brochure.  One of the main mistakes that American and Canadian drivers make is to turn left at red lights (the equivalent of turning right at red lights here).  This is illegal in New Zealand and also Australia.

There are a number of car rental agencies that offer vehicles for New Zealand.  Your best bet is to search on the internet and, for better rates and to ensure availability, book prior to your departure.