Mon 28 Dec 2026 → Mon 4 Jan 2027 · 7 nights · NZD · pay on arrival
80Listings
$1,620Median total
$654Cheapest
Snapshot · Mon 11 May 2026
Listings
80
9 suppliers · 8 categories
Median total
$1,620.21
≈ $231 / day
Cheapest
$653.88
Sixt Toyota Corolla Hybrid or similar · $93.41/day
Top end
$2,694.43
Hertz 12 Seat Bus or similar
Spread
4.1×
High ÷ low
§ 01The period7 nights · 2026 Christmas–New Year Week
Wellington Airport car rental prices hit $1,620 median
The 2026 Christmas and New Year week represents one of the busiest travel windows on the New Zealand calendar. Demand for vehicles at Wellington Airport surges as domestic tourists flock to the capital for summer events and family gatherings. Our analysis of 80 available listings for the December 28 to January 4 period reveals a highly active and competitive market.
Renters face a wide spread of pricing, with the median weekly rate sitting at $1,620 across all suppliers. Budget-conscious travellers can find rates as low as $654, while top-tier options climb to $2,694. Entry-level brands like Sixt and Apex consistently offer the lowest average rates, whereas legacy brands such as Hertz, Budget, and Avis anchor the premium pricing tier.
Shoppers should act early if they require specific drivetrains, as the fleet is heavily skewed toward standard petrol or diesel engines with very limited electric options. Five-seat vehicles make up the vast majority of the inventory, so larger groups needing seven or more seats will face a much smaller pool of available cars. Booking a Compact or Standard car remains the most effective way to secure a vehicle without breaking the bank during this peak holiday period.
§01Ranked by avg. pricerange bar · avg tick
$0$300$600$900$1.2k
Sixt undercuts the Wellington market with a $799 average, while Hertz and Budget anchor the top end above $1,986. This $1,206 gap across suppliers highlights massive price variation for identical travel dates.
§02Anatomy of a quoteavg / hire
The base rate makes up 75 percent of a typical $609 average daily cost, with GST adding another 13 percent. Location fees and registration charges add a relatively modest $74 combined per day.
§03Price band by category$200–$1,100 axis
Standard and Compact vehicles offer the best value at average weekly totals of $1,152 and $1,417, respectively. Premium and Fullsize vehicles command a steep premium, easily exceeding $2,100 for the week.
§04Fleet mix80 listings
Drivetrain
Seats
The Wellington fleet is overwhelmingly traditional, with 59 standard internal combustion engine vehicles compared to just 2 electric cars. Five-seat configurations dominate the market, making up 68 of the 80 available listings.
§05Cheapest in each categorytotal / 7 nights · per-day below
Sixt offers the standout Compact rate at $654 for a Toyota Corolla Hybrid, while Apex provides excellent value for both Intermediate and Fullsize categories. Even the Premium tier becomes accessible for just $1,601 through Europcar.