Overseas visitors

Not confident driving on the left? Hire a driver instead of a car

New Zealand drives on the left, in right-hand-drive cars, on two-lane roads that wind more than the map suggests. If that is not what you do at home, the first day is the risky one.

Get an instant fixed price +64 22 101 1022

Side of the road: Left, in right-hand-drive vehicles
Typical roads: Two lanes, winding, one-lane bridges in places
Our alternative: Fixed-price private car with a local driver
Licence needed: None — you are a passenger

The problem with hiring a car here

The hard part is not the open road, it is everything else: roundabouts taken from the other side, indicator and wiper stalks reversed, turning across traffic, and judging the left edge of a car you have never driven.

Add jet lag after a long-haul flight and an unfamiliar automatic, and the first hour out of the airport is when most visitors have their near miss.

What a private driver changes

A private driver removes the whole problem for the legs that matter — the airport run after landing, the long intercity stretches, and any drive in the dark or in rain.

You can still hire a car later in the trip, once you are rested and the roads feel normal. Plenty of our customers do exactly that: driver for the first days, rental afterwards.

When hiring a car is genuinely the better choice

If you are confident, staying a week or more in one region and want to explore on impulse, a rental is the cheaper and more flexible choice.

We would rather tell you that than sell you a trip that does not suit. Most visitors end up doing both: a driver for the long or awkward legs, a hire car for the days spent pottering around one area.

What you get with us

A private vehicle for your party only, a fixed total agreed before you travel, and a local driver who knows the road. no meter pricing, no fuel receipts and no depot hours.

Fixed price confirmed at booking — traffic and weather do not change it
Door-to-door pickup and drop-off at the exact addresses you give us
Free child and booster seats, and vehicles sized for real luggage
Flight tracking with waiting time included on airport pickups
Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with a GST receipt emailed automatically

Frequently asked questions

Is a private driver more expensive than hiring a car?

For a single long leg, often no — once you add the daily rate, fuel, insurance excess reduction, one-way drop-off fee and parking, the numbers get close. For a week of daily short trips in one area, a hire car is usually cheaper, and we will say so.

Can I use a driver for part of my trip and hire a car for the rest?

Yes, and it is a common plan. Take a driver for the arrival day and the long intercity legs, then pick up a rental once you are rested and staying in one region.

Do you drive anywhere in New Zealand?

Yes. We run point-to-point transfers between towns across both islands, plus day trips and multi-day travel with the same driver. Long-distance and cross-island trips are confirmed by us before payment is taken.

Is the price per person?

No — it is for the whole vehicle. Four people pay the same as one, which is what usually makes a private car competitive against per-seat fares.

What about luggage, skis, golf clubs or a bike?

Tell us what you are carrying at the time of booking and we send a vehicle that fits it properly. There is no luggage surcharge.

Can I book a driver for a whole day rather than a single trip?

Yes. Hourly hire covers a car and driver for a day that starts and finishes in the same town, and our day-trip bookings cover sightseeing days that travel further afield.

Keep reading

Travel times, options and pricing on this page were last checked on 1 January 1970.

Private cab vs shuttle, bus, taxi, ride-share or rental car in New Zealand

NZ Intercity Cabs is a pre-booked private transfer — one vehicle for your party at a fixed price, not a shared shuttle seat and not a scheduled bus. Here is how each option actually compares, including the times another one is the better buy.

Comparison of private transfers, shared shuttles, coaches, metered taxis, ride-share apps and rental cars
What matters	NZ Intercity Cabspre-booked private cab / transfer	Shared shuttleper-seat door-to-door van	Coach or busscheduled depot to depot	Metered taxirank or phone hail	Ride-share appUber, Ola, Zoomy	Rental caryou drive yourself
What you pay
How the price is set	One fixed price for the whole vehicle, agreed in writing before you travel.	Per seat, so the cost multiplies with each extra traveller.	Per seat, cheapest of all on main-trunk routes booked early.	Meter runs on distance and time — the final figure is unknown until you arrive.	App estimate that can move with surge, demand and re-routing.	Daily hire plus fuel, insurance excess, one-way drop fees and parking.
Peak, night and holiday pricing	Your fare is locked in the moment you pay, whatever the traffic does on the day.	Usually a flat seat price, but early and late departures can be limited or sold out.	Fares rise as the bus fills; cheap seats disappear on holiday weekends.	Late-night, holiday and airport surcharges are common on top of the meter.	Surge is most likely exactly when you need it — bad weather, events, flight banks.	Peak-season daily rates and airport counter fees apply, plus after-hours pickup charges.
What's already included	Driver, vehicle, fuel, road user charges, motorway tolls, child seats and wait grace.	The seat only; oversized bags or extra stops are often charged separately.	The seat and a luggage allowance; anything beyond it is extra or refused.	Fare only — luggage, airport access and card fees can be added.	Fare only; tolls, cleaning and waiting fees are billed afterwards.	Car only. Fuel, tolls, insurance reduction and parking are all on you.
Value as the group grows	One price split across up to 4 in a car, 6 in a people-mover or 11 in the 12-seater.	Seat price × people; a family of four often pays more than our whole car.	Still the cheapest for a group, if the timetable and depots suit you.	Same car, but the meter keeps ticking through traffic and detours.	Groups with luggage frequently need two cars, doubling the fare.	Good value for a group, provided someone is willing to drive the whole way.
Time and route
Who else is in the vehicle	Only your party. We never pool bookings.	Strangers, whose addresses set the route order.	A full coach, with scheduled stops at towns you may not need.	Your party only.	Your party only, unless you choose a pooled fare.	Your party only.
Departure time	The exact minute you choose, 24 hours a day, including 3am starts.	A pickup window, not a time — usually 15 to 45 minutes wide.	Fixed timetable; on many rural routes that means one service a day.	Now, if a car is free. Advance bookings vary by operator.	Now, if a driver accepts. Long intercity jobs are often declined.	Whenever you like, once the counter is open and paperwork is done.
Route taken	Direct, with stops added only because you asked for them.	Indirect: every other passenger drop-off is on your journey.	The published route between depots, plus rest stops.	Direct, though the meter rewards traffic and long ways round.	Direct, subject to the app routing and driver acceptance.	Yours to choose, if you are confident on unfamiliar NZ roads.
Door to door?	Yes — your street address, hotel lobby, ward door or wharf gate at both ends.	Yes, but after other addresses are served.	No. Depot to depot, so you still need transport at each end.	Yes, within the operator’s local area.	Yes, in the cities where drivers are active.	Yes, plus finding and paying for parking at the other end.
Stops, detours and sightseeing	Add photo stops, lunch or an extra pickup — the same trip can be booked as a private tour.	Not possible; the run is set by the other bookings.	Only the scheduled rest stops.	Possible, but every waiting minute is on the meter.	One or two stops in-app; long waits are not supported.	Complete freedom, at the cost of doing all the driving.
On the day
Flight, ferry and cruise delays	We track your arrival and adjust. 60 minutes wait grace on international arrivals.	You may be moved to a later run if you miss your allocated window.	Miss the bus and you wait for the next scheduled service.	Fine at a rank, but the queue at 6am or after a big arrival can be long.	Availability at airports and small towns drops sharply outside peak hours.	After-hours returns and late pickups depend on the depot’s opening hours.
Who is driving	A named, P-endorsed local driver confirmed before the day, briefed on your trip.	A company driver, allocated on the day.	A professional coach driver you never deal with directly.	Whoever is next on the rank.	The nearest app driver, known only once the job is accepted.	You — after a long-haul flight, on the left, often in the dark or rain.
Luggage, gear and child seats	Bags, golf clubs, skis and bikes by arrangement; child seats supplied free on request.	Standard bags only; extra items may be refused or surcharged.	Hold allowance per ticket, with size and weight limits.	Whatever fits the car that turns up; child seats rarely available.	Boot space is a lottery; car-seat options are limited in New Zealand.	Whatever fits, once you have hired and fitted the seats yourself.
Long-distance comfort	Hybrid or EV cabin, coffee and comfort stops planned in on runs over three hours.	Full van, limited legroom, stop-start progress.	Comfortable, but fixed seating and set breaks.	Fine for short hops; few operators take long intercity work.	Drivers commonly cancel multi-hour trips mid-booking.	Rest breaks are your responsibility — fatigue is the real cost on a five-hour drive.
Booking and admin
Confirmation before the day	Written quote, booking reference and driver details ahead of travel.	Booking confirmation with a pickup window.	A ticket for a numbered service.	Nothing until a car appears.	Driver and vehicle appear only at dispatch.	Reservation confirmation, then counter queues and paperwork.
Business receipts and invoicing	GST receipt, monthly invoicing and account billing for corporate travel.	Standard per-seat receipt.	Standard ticket receipt.	Printed or emailed docket, quality varies.	Automatic app receipt.	Hire agreement plus separate fuel and toll charges to reconcile.
Changes and cancellations	Terms shown before you pay, with a real person to call if plans move.	Advance notice required; late changes usually forfeit the seat.	Depends on fare type; the cheapest tickets are non-refundable.	No commitment either way.	Cancellation fees after a short grace period.	Free cancellation is common, but one-way and early-return fees are not.

What you pay

How the price is set

NZ Intercity Cabs: One fixed price for the whole vehicle, agreed in writing before you travel.

Shared shuttle: Per seat, so the cost multiplies with each extra traveller.
Coach or bus: Per seat, cheapest of all on main-trunk routes booked early.
Metered taxi: Meter runs on distance and time — the final figure is unknown until you arrive.
Ride-share app: App estimate that can move with surge, demand and re-routing.
Rental car: Daily hire plus fuel, insurance excess, one-way drop fees and parking.

What you pay

Peak, night and holiday pricing

NZ Intercity Cabs: Your fare is locked in the moment you pay, whatever the traffic does on the day.

Shared shuttle: Usually a flat seat price, but early and late departures can be limited or sold out.
Coach or bus: Fares rise as the bus fills; cheap seats disappear on holiday weekends.
Metered taxi: Late-night, holiday and airport surcharges are common on top of the meter.
Ride-share app: Surge is most likely exactly when you need it — bad weather, events, flight banks.
Rental car: Peak-season daily rates and airport counter fees apply, plus after-hours pickup charges.

What you pay

What's already included

NZ Intercity Cabs: Driver, vehicle, fuel, road user charges, motorway tolls, child seats and wait grace.

Shared shuttle: The seat only; oversized bags or extra stops are often charged separately.
Coach or bus: The seat and a luggage allowance; anything beyond it is extra or refused.
Metered taxi: Fare only — luggage, airport access and card fees can be added.
Ride-share app: Fare only; tolls, cleaning and waiting fees are billed afterwards.
Rental car: Car only. Fuel, tolls, insurance reduction and parking are all on you.

What you pay

Value as the group grows

NZ Intercity Cabs: One price split across up to 4 in a car, 6 in a people-mover or 11 in the 12-seater.

Shared shuttle: Seat price × people; a family of four often pays more than our whole car.
Coach or bus: Still the cheapest for a group, if the timetable and depots suit you.
Metered taxi: Same car, but the meter keeps ticking through traffic and detours.
Ride-share app: Groups with luggage frequently need two cars, doubling the fare.
Rental car: Good value for a group, provided someone is willing to drive the whole way.

Time and route

Who else is in the vehicle

NZ Intercity Cabs: Only your party. We never pool bookings.

Shared shuttle: Strangers, whose addresses set the route order.
Coach or bus: A full coach, with scheduled stops at towns you may not need.
Metered taxi: Your party only.
Ride-share app: Your party only, unless you choose a pooled fare.
Rental car: Your party only.

Time and route

Departure time

NZ Intercity Cabs: The exact minute you choose, 24 hours a day, including 3am starts.

Shared shuttle: A pickup window, not a time — usually 15 to 45 minutes wide.
Coach or bus: Fixed timetable; on many rural routes that means one service a day.
Metered taxi: Now, if a car is free. Advance bookings vary by operator.
Ride-share app: Now, if a driver accepts. Long intercity jobs are often declined.
Rental car: Whenever you like, once the counter is open and paperwork is done.

Time and route

Route taken

NZ Intercity Cabs: Direct, with stops added only because you asked for them.

Shared shuttle: Indirect: every other passenger drop-off is on your journey.
Coach or bus: The published route between depots, plus rest stops.
Metered taxi: Direct, though the meter rewards traffic and long ways round.
Ride-share app: Direct, subject to the app routing and driver acceptance.
Rental car: Yours to choose, if you are confident on unfamiliar NZ roads.

Time and route

Door to door?

NZ Intercity Cabs: Yes — your street address, hotel lobby, ward door or wharf gate at both ends.

Shared shuttle: Yes, but after other addresses are served.
Coach or bus: No. Depot to depot, so you still need transport at each end.
Metered taxi: Yes, within the operator’s local area.
Ride-share app: Yes, in the cities where drivers are active.
Rental car: Yes, plus finding and paying for parking at the other end.

Time and route

Stops, detours and sightseeing

NZ Intercity Cabs: Add photo stops, lunch or an extra pickup — the same trip can be booked as a private tour.

Shared shuttle: Not possible; the run is set by the other bookings.
Coach or bus: Only the scheduled rest stops.
Metered taxi: Possible, but every waiting minute is on the meter.
Ride-share app: One or two stops in-app; long waits are not supported.
Rental car: Complete freedom, at the cost of doing all the driving.

On the day

Flight, ferry and cruise delays

NZ Intercity Cabs: We track your arrival and adjust. 60 minutes wait grace on international arrivals.

Shared shuttle: You may be moved to a later run if you miss your allocated window.
Coach or bus: Miss the bus and you wait for the next scheduled service.
Metered taxi: Fine at a rank, but the queue at 6am or after a big arrival can be long.
Ride-share app: Availability at airports and small towns drops sharply outside peak hours.
Rental car: After-hours returns and late pickups depend on the depot’s opening hours.

On the day

Who is driving

NZ Intercity Cabs: A named, P-endorsed local driver confirmed before the day, briefed on your trip.

Shared shuttle: A company driver, allocated on the day.
Coach or bus: A professional coach driver you never deal with directly.
Metered taxi: Whoever is next on the rank.
Ride-share app: The nearest app driver, known only once the job is accepted.
Rental car: You — after a long-haul flight, on the left, often in the dark or rain.

On the day

Luggage, gear and child seats

NZ Intercity Cabs: Bags, golf clubs, skis and bikes by arrangement; child seats supplied free on request.

Shared shuttle: Standard bags only; extra items may be refused or surcharged.
Coach or bus: Hold allowance per ticket, with size and weight limits.
Metered taxi: Whatever fits the car that turns up; child seats rarely available.
Ride-share app: Boot space is a lottery; car-seat options are limited in New Zealand.
Rental car: Whatever fits, once you have hired and fitted the seats yourself.

On the day

Long-distance comfort

NZ Intercity Cabs: Hybrid or EV cabin, coffee and comfort stops planned in on runs over three hours.

Shared shuttle: Full van, limited legroom, stop-start progress.
Coach or bus: Comfortable, but fixed seating and set breaks.
Metered taxi: Fine for short hops; few operators take long intercity work.
Ride-share app: Drivers commonly cancel multi-hour trips mid-booking.
Rental car: Rest breaks are your responsibility — fatigue is the real cost on a five-hour drive.

Booking and admin

Confirmation before the day

NZ Intercity Cabs: Written quote, booking reference and driver details ahead of travel.

Shared shuttle: Booking confirmation with a pickup window.
Coach or bus: A ticket for a numbered service.
Metered taxi: Nothing until a car appears.
Ride-share app: Driver and vehicle appear only at dispatch.
Rental car: Reservation confirmation, then counter queues and paperwork.

Booking and admin

Business receipts and invoicing

NZ Intercity Cabs: GST receipt, monthly invoicing and account billing for corporate travel.

Shared shuttle: Standard per-seat receipt.
Coach or bus: Standard ticket receipt.
Metered taxi: Printed or emailed docket, quality varies.
Ride-share app: Automatic app receipt.
Rental car: Hire agreement plus separate fuel and toll charges to reconcile.

Booking and admin

Changes and cancellations

NZ Intercity Cabs: Terms shown before you pay, with a real person to call if plans move.

Shared shuttle: Advance notice required; late changes usually forfeit the seat.
Coach or bus: Depends on fare type; the cheapest tickets are non-refundable.
Metered taxi: No commitment either way.
Ride-share app: Cancellation fees after a short grace period.
Rental car: Free cancellation is common, but one-way and early-return fees are not.

When another option is the better choice

We would rather you booked the right trip than the wrong one with us.

Shared shuttle: You are travelling solo on a light budget and do not mind a wide pickup window and a few detours.
Coach or bus: You are one or two people on a main-trunk route, the timetable suits you, and you booked early for the cheapest seat.
Metered taxi: You need a car right now for a short hop across town and have not planned ahead.
Ride-share app: You are inside a big city at a normal hour with light luggage and no fixed deadline.
Rental car: You want the car for several days of independent exploring, not just the journey between two places.

Everything else — early flights, cruise all-aboard times, families and groups, rural addresses, hospital appointments, business travel and long intercity runs — is what we are built for. Get a fixed price or read how our private shuttle service works.

Other services we provide

NZ Intercity Cabs is more than a point-to-point taxi. The same drivers and vehicles handle every kind of pre-booked journey across New Zealand, all at a fixed price agreed before you travel.

Intercity & long-distance transfers
Fixed-price private cars between any two New Zealand towns, including Auckland to Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga, Whangārei and Wellington.
Airport transfers
Flight-tracked airport pickups and departures for Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch airports with meet-and-greet on request.
Day trips & private tours
A driver and car for the whole day — Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua geothermal parks, Waiheke, Coromandel and the Bay of Islands.
Corporate & business travel
Executive transfers, client roadshows and monthly invoicing with GST receipts for company accounts.
Cruise ship transfers
Ports of Auckland and Tauranga pickups timed to berthing and all-aboard calls, including shore-excursion day hire.
Hospital & medical appointment transport
Non-emergency, door-to-door rides to hospitals and clinics with help at both ends and a driver who waits.
Event, stadium & wedding transport
Match days, concerts, weddings and functions with drop-off close to the gates and a pre-agreed pickup point afterwards.
Group travel & people-mover vans
Up to 6 passengers with luggage, plus multi-vehicle fleets for larger parties, ski gear, golf clubs and school groups.
Hourly car & driver hire
From $80 per hour (standard car), $110 premium, $120 for a 7 seater SUV or small van and $180 for a 12 seater large van, with 40 km included per hour and a 3-hour minimum. Pickups outside Auckland and Christchurch are $95, $130, $145 and $215 per hour. A driver travel charge is added to your quote when no vehicle is based near your pickup point. Hourly hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town — it is designed for local running around, meetings, shopping, weddings and events within one town. For a one-way trip between towns, or a journey that ends somewhere else, book an intercity transfer or a day trip instead, which is priced for the distance and includes the driver's return leg. Get an hourly quote.

Not sure which service fits? Tell us your plan and we'll quote the right option, or see how booking works. Ready now? Book a transfer online.