Hire Terms & Conditions
1. Parties & Definitions
“We”, “us”, “our” means Sunny Nelson Car Hire, trading name of Ray Rennie Automotive Ltd, 371 Waimea West Road, Brightwater, Nelson 7022. “You”, “the renter” means the person named on the booking. “The vehicle” means the car or vehicle hired under this agreement.
2. Booking & Payment
2.1 The full hire amount is charged at the time of booking via Stripe Payments NZ. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
2.2 A NZ$500 refundable security bond is pre-authorised on your card at pickup. The bond is released within 5 business days of return, subject to the vehicle being returned undamaged with a full tank.
2.3 Prices include 15% GST and are in New Zealand dollars (NZD).
3. Identity & Driver Verification
3.1 We sight your physical driver’s licence (or NZ digital equivalent) at pickup. Paper printouts and screenshots are not accepted.
3.2 International licence holders: licences not in English must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP).
4. Driver Requirements
4.1 All drivers must be 21 years or older with a full driver’s licence held for at least 12 months.
4.2 Drivers under 25 incur a Young Driver Fee of $15/day.
4.3 All drivers must be named on the booking. Additional named drivers cost $15/day, maximum 2 additional drivers.
5. Use of Vehicle
5.1 The vehicle may only be used for lawful private purposes within New Zealand.
5.2 The vehicle MUST NOT be driven on:
- Skippers Canyon Road, Skippers Saddle, or any 4WD-only roads
- Beaches, riverbeds, or off-road areas
- Ninety Mile Beach
- Any road designated unsuitable by the vehicle’s insurance schedule
5.3 Smoking and pets are not permitted in any vehicle. Cleaning fee of $200 applies if breached.
6. Pickup & Return
6.1 Standard pickup hours: 8am–6pm, 7 days, at our Brightwater Depot.
6.2 Nelson Airport pickup is available with a $50 surcharge (auto-applied at checkout if Airport pickup is selected).
6.3 After-hours pickup (6pm–8am) is available with $50 surcharge by prior arrangement.
6.4 The vehicle must be returned with a full tank. A refuel fee of $80 plus the cost of fuel applies otherwise.
7. Insurance & Excess
7.1 Comprehensive insurance is included in every daily rate, covering accidental damage and third-party liability.
7.2 Standard insurance excess is NZ$1,500. You can reduce this to $500 with our Reduced Excess Insurance option ($25/day).
7.3 The renter is liable for the excess in the event of damage attributable to them.
7.4 Insurance does not cover: damage from breach of these terms (e.g. driving on excluded roads); damage from impaired driving; intentional damage; loss of keys (replacement charged at cost).
8. Cancellation Policy
8.1 Free cancellation up to 7 days before pickup — full refund.
8.2 Cancellation 7 days to 48 hours before pickup — 50% refund.
8.3 Cancellation within 48 hours of pickup — no refund.
8.4 No-shows forfeit the full booking amount.
9. Jurisdiction
9.1 This agreement is governed by the laws of New Zealand.
9.2 Any disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.
9.3 Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986 apply where applicable.
10. Privacy
10.1 Your personal information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
11. Acceptance
By making a booking on this website, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these Hire Terms & Conditions in full.
Sunny Nelson Car Hire is a trading name of Ray Rennie Automotive Ltd. 371 Waimea West Road, Brightwater, Nelson 7022, New Zealand. GST registered. Contact: [email protected] · +64 3 544 5000