For many Americans, as well as a lot of other travelers around the world, a trip to New Zealand is the trip of a lifetime. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Its geographic isolation has made it a perfect setting to film Hollywood blockbusters that require exotic locations, and the variety of geography and climate, as well as the flora and fauna, make it fascinating for visitors of all types.

One of the best ways to see New Zealand is to rent a car. However, since youve never been there, how do you know how to find the best deal and situation? This article will give you some tips on finding a rental car in New Zealand.

Most of the big, international rental car conglomerates operate in New Zealand. That means companies like Avis, Budget, and Hertz all have multiple offices in-country. This is a benefit in two ways: one, you can make reservations on those companies websites, or by calling them from your home country before you leave. Two, thanks to the free-market economy, competition helps keep prices low.

You will find rental car offices for those companies in most cities in New Zealand. Hertz, for example, has offices in 28 of the biggest cities. And if you know New Zealand, youll know there arent even 28 big cities to begin with.

There are also local companies that will rent you a car. Some of these include Ace Tourist Rentals (Auckland freephone: 0800 502 277), Pegasus Rentals (Auckland 09 358 5757), and Trusty Car Rentals (Christchurch 03 366 6329). Another one, Maui Tours (Auckland freephone: 0800 651 080), specializes in renting recreational vehicles (known as caravans in New Zealand).

Often, the smaller companies will be more willing to work with a traveler on price breaks. Rental cars that are sitting idle in the parking lot are not making anyone any money, but the bigger companies can absorb that idleness better than the smaller companies can, giving them less incentive to make a deal.

Some of the local companies will also offer additional deals. Maui Tours, for example, which has offices in Auckland on the North Island and Christchurch and Queenstown on the South Island, will give you free passage on the Interislander ferry (from Wellington to Picton) with rentals of 10 days or more. You can also find deals on one-way rentals that may include one ferry crossing, as well as transportation to and from the airport.

Renting a car in New Zealand over a longer term, such as a full month, will give you better price breaks than weekly, and especially daily, rentals. That goes for recreational vehicles as well.

And what the heck, as long as youre taking the trip of a lifetime to New Zealand, you may as well stay a month and enjoy it!