1. We have no hidden costs in our pricing.
2. For $15 per day or $300 per hire, you can reduce the insurance to zero.
3. We offer basic campervans with dvd players and fridges being optional. Why pay for extra items you don’t need?
4. The majority of our vehicles are plain white - they do not have any painted designs and have no sign writing. We try to not stand out in the crowd.
5. We have $15 vehicles for hire to travel Auckland City, and they’re available every day.
6. We are a family business and have been in the motor vehicle industry since 1936!

A. Yes, the company was originally a gas stand called Britomart Service Station Limited. Click here to see our Certificate of Incorporation.

A: We're a Family Business, and we've had a Lot of Experience. Thomlinson Rentals Ltd has been in the Transport Industry since 1938!

1. Keep it in the family:
   We are a family owned and operated business, and we make a unique team. Within our family, we have the skills to:
   - Carefully select and import vehicles directly from Japan
   - Design and build the camper van interior
   - Service the vehicles
   - Create our own websites with organic listings on Google, Bing and Yahoo
   - Design our own artwork for magazines and travel publications
   - Program our own online bookings and point of sales system
   - Reply to all emails, process bookings and track fleet availibility
   - Meet customers at our office. There's always a family member available.
   - Assist customers on the road via our free phone number, which diverts to our cell phone after hours.
   
   
2. No Sign Writing:
   You may not see any of our vehicles on the road. That's because our vehicles have No Sign Writing. Most our vehicles are plain white, and our customers look like a local driving a van.
   
   We believe in No Sign Writing because our customers feel safer by not standing out in the parking lot .... and it costs a lot of money to paint your fleet Bright Orange, or Green, or with a Bob Marley Portrait.
   
   
3. The Bells and Whistles are Optional:
   Our campervans are designed for the Independant Traveller. Non-essential items like a DVD Player and Fridge Hire are optional extras.
   
   
4. Just the Right Size:
   We have a fleet of approximatly 200 vehicles, which is the perfect size for us to manage. If we expanded the business further, we may require a more complex management structure, and that's simply not our style. Plus it adds extra cost. During the Low Season, we park the vehicles in our own factory, just outside the Auckland City, and in Christchurch, we park vehicles on our Cousin's Farm.
   
   
5. Our Fleet of Camper Vans:
   Each year we sell a select number of vehicles. Then during our quiet season, we visit Tokyo, eat some sushi, check out the latest technology trends, and visit car auctions. We purchase fleet to replace the vehicles we sold earlier in the season. Vehicles in Japan are very economical to purchase once they're five years old. Next we fit out the campervan interior by ourselves. We also select a number of vehicles to paint during the winter months. Upgrading vehicles each year means it's easy to budget for our capital expenditure.
   
   
6. Book Direct with Us:
   We only have a few travel agents which sell our products, and they're New Zealand. We have no overseas agents, which saves us paying commissions. That way customers can book directly with us.
   
   
7. Tech Savy
   We love to embrace new technology; it makes business much more efficient. Our family members have laptops with wireless connections, and our software (which we created) is online. This means it's always up-to-date, and we can work from anywhere. We even take the laptop on holiday with us during the low season and carry on working. That way we get longer holidays - it's a lifestyle choice.
   
   
8. We Like the EasyJet Model
   EasyJet offers cheap seats on airlines, and their price goes up as they fill up the seats. We run our business the same way - book early and save money.
   
   
9. No Hidden Costs:
   All our prices include gst, insurance and unlimited km. You can pay a one off fee to Optional Extras (eg. fridge hire is $60 per hire), and we offer a Zero Insurance Excess a very low rates.

A. We require a NZ$250 deposit to confirm a booking.

A. . Yes you can reserve a one way car or campervan rental between Auckland and Christchurch. One way hires attract a relocation fee of up to $400.

A. You could hire a vehicle from Auckland to Auckland, take the train to Christchurch, and then rent another vehicle for Christchurch to Christchurch. We only count the days you use the vehicle, and then calculate the price as a single hire. This way you only pay for optional extras once or insurance once, plus you get the discounts applicable to long term hires.

A. Yes, you can take all our vehicles on the ferry. We recommend using Bluebridge Ferries for crossing the Cook Strait. They offer the cheapest rates and you can make changes to the sailing date free of charge. As all our vehicles are less than 5.5 metres, select the Private Car category when booking. Book direct at Bluebridge Cook Straight Ferry.

A. If you are planning to travel within the North Island or South Island only, the rate is cheaper. If you would like to travel both island, select All of New Zealand.

A. Our minimum rental period for One Island is 7 days, and for traveling all of New Zealand is 14 days. If you have less time, you can pay for the minimum rental period and return the vehicle early without a refund. The minimum rental period for our $15 cars is one day.

A.You need to be 21 years or over to rent a car and hold a full drivers license.
Hirer’s aged 18 to 20 years old must have held a full license for at least one year.

A. No, there is no extra fee.

A.Our rates include gst (sales tax), insurance, unlimited km and roadside assistance. There are no hidden costs.

A. GST stands for Goods and Services Tax, which is 12.5%. This tax is included in all of our rental rates, therefore you do not need to add this to the prices you see listed on our website. We have no hidden or additional costs.

A. Comprehensive insurance is included in all our prices. If you have an accident, the most you have to pay is $2,000. This is called the insurance excess.

A. Yes, you can purchase the Zero Excess which cost $15 per day or $300 per hire. If you have an accident, you do not have to pay anything. This includes tyre punctures.

A. We accept Credit and Debit Cards or Cash

Visa and MasterCard (2 % surcharge applies):
We accept both Credit and Debit Cards. 2 % surcharge applies to the total cost for Visa and MasterCard.

For select Visa and MasterCard holders, you will be given two options for payment:
1. The actual amount in NZ$; or

2. The amount in your own currency, including any commissions and exchange fees that your credit card company may charge you. This means if you choose your Home Currency option, the amount you see on the receipt becomes the same amount you will see appear on your Credit Card Statement (with no additional fees).

We currently offer this option for Australian Dollar, US Dollar, British Pound, Euro, Hong Kong Dollar, Japanese Yen, Singapore Dollars, Canadian Dollars and South African Rand.

American Express and Diners Card (4.5 % surcharge applies):
Dynamic Currency Choice is not available for American Express or Diners Card holders. 4.5 % surcharge applies to the total cost for American Express and DIners Cards.

Cash:
If using an ATM machine in New Zealand, generally you can withdraw a maximum of $800 per day. If carrying cash to New Zealand, there are plenty of Foreign Exchange offices in Downtown Auckland and in Christchurch, or at the Airport.

A. Yes, All our vehicles are non-smoking.

A. Yes, all our vehicles are petrol, we have no diesel vehicles. There are no additional road user charges for petrol vehicles.

A. Most of our vehicles are automatic transmission. If you would like manual transmission, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to provide you with this.

A. Each campervan has a 240 volt power cable, hanging light, water container, mosquito net, awning and kitchen set.

A. Wash basin, 1 x saucepan, fry pan, sharp knife, fish slice, can opener and two each of the following: dinner plate, bowel, cup, knife, fork, spoon, tea spoon. Additional items for more persons are available on request at no additional charge.

A. We provide 10 movies for free when hiring a DVD player ($60 per hire). We have a selection to choose from, including drama, horror, science fiction, western, romance, family movies, etc.

A. The fridge plugs into the cigarette lighter while the engine is running. It can also run from electricity if staying in a holiday park with the power cable connected. If you are freedom camping, it can be used as a ice box.

A. From the Auckland Office you can travel with Discount Taxis for a flat fare of $35 for the cab. From Christchurch, we recommend you book a Shuttle Bus in advance. We can assist you with this.

A. Sorry, we have no pickup service. We recommend using a Shared Shuttle Bus which will bring you directly to our office. Our Auckland Office is at 19 Great North Road, Auckland City, and our Christchurch Office is at 22 Waller Terrace , Christchurch. Both our offices are within walking distance of the central city.

A. You can use your current driver’s licence from your own country, or an International Driver’s Licence. If your licence is not in English, you should bring an English translation or obtain an International Driving Licence.

A. You must bring your drivers licence and a credit card in your name.

A. Yes, we accept all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Diners Club. There is an additional 2% surcharge for Visa, Mastercard and 4.5 % surcharge for Amex and Diners Cards.

A. Yes - we provide free road maps, guides and directories for Holiday Parks throughout New Zealand. We also have a limited number of free Bed and Breakfast guide books available.

A. In the unfortunate event of a break down, call our free phone number 0n 0800 33 444, or you can call us collect on (09) 376 9935. If the repair is less than $100 (example: interior light), simply fix the item and keep the receipt. We wil refund you the money when you return. We will also refund you for any time you cannot use the vehicle, and if the repair is serious, we will a provide a replacement vehicle.

A. Yes, there are three roads you cannot drive on:

1. Ninety Mile Beach – This is located at the Northern most point of New Zealand. The beach is a registered road as the tour buses drive along it. You can still travel by road to Cape Reinga.
2. Mt Cook Road – You can drive up to the visitors centre of Mt Cook, however you cannot drive beyond it.
3. Skippers Canyon – This is the location of the Pipeline Bungy Jump and you can take a tour bus to access it.
   

A.Yes, you can drive on all public sealed and unsealed roads.

A.You can return the vehicle early; however refunds only apply any days over 50 days, where 7 days notice is given, less one penalty day, and initial 50 days are calculated at rack rates.

A. Yes, we have a 24 hour drop off area in Auckland and Christchurch. Shuttle buses to the airport can be pre-booked for early morning flights, which is a very popular option in Christchurch.

A. Yes, we are always happy for you to extend the hire, subject to the vehicle being available. Any extension is based on the same per day rate as the original booking.

A. We check the amount of petrol when you leave. You are required to return the car with the same amount of fuel. If the vehicle has less fuel, we charge for the difference.

A. You need to take the vehicle through a car wash before returning the vehicle; however you do not need to clean inside the vehicle. Car washes at petrol stations recycle the water which protects the environment. We do not wash any vehicles at our premises. If the vehicle is returned unclean on the outside, we have a $25 car wash fee.

A. Yes, we have a fleet of compact cars which are only used for driving around Auckland City. The price from May until October is $15 per day + 25 cents per km. From November to April the price is $15 per day + 35 cents per km.

A. You can rent a car for only one day, which is 24 hours. Many people are local hirers and rent the car for only a few hours, however they still have to pay $15.

A. It is simply not economical for us to make reservations for a $15 car hire. The cars are available on a first come basis, and most people come after 10 am. It is best to phone us before it gets busy – call our free phone number, 0800 33 4444, between 8 am – 9 am to secure a vehicle.