1. Reservations & Rates
Questions
1-1: What company will my reservation be if I book on this website?
1-2: Do I need to present a credit card at the time of rental?
1-3: Do I need to pay a deposit on my reservation?
1-4: What happens if I want to cancel my booking?
1-5: Is a credit card required when making a reservation?
1-6: When renting in New Zealand, can I take the rental car inter-island across Cook Strait?
1-7: Can I pay with a debit card?
1-8: How can I view, modify, or cancel an upcoming reservation?
1-9: What information will I need to book a vehicle?
1-10: Can I check car rental rates without making a reservation?
1-11: What do I need to bring with me when I rent a vehicle from Apex Car Rentals?
1-12: Why do rates differ?
1-13: Does Apex charge airport fees, port fees, or premium location fees?
1-14: Does Apex charge for additional drivers?
1-15: Do you offer one-way car rentals?
1-16: Does Apex charge a one-way fee if I want to pick up a vehicle at one location and drop it off at another?
1-17: Does Apex Car Rentals charge a card transaction fee on car rentals?
1-18: Does Apex charge booking fees or vehicle registration recovery fees?
1-19: Does Apex charge extra for drivers aged between 21 and 25?
1-20: Do you charge extra for drivers 60 years of age or more?
1-21: Does Apex Car Rentals offer after-hours car rental pickups and drop-offs?
1-22: Does Apex guarantee that there will be no hidden car rental costs?
1-23: Does Apex accept cash payments as security holds on rentals?
1-24: How do toll roads work with Apex Car Rentals?
1-1: What company will my reservation be if I book on this website?
All bookings taken on the Apex Australia website are for Apex Car Rentals in New Zealand or Apex Car Rentals in Australia.
1-2: Do I need to present a credit card at the time of rental?
Yes, you must present a valid and accepted credit card or bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card.
Apex rentals must be secured using a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International credit card or bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card.
If you do not have an accepted credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International) or a bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card you will not be able to rent from Apex.
Apex reserves the right to refuse any card. If you are not sure if your credit/debit card can be used for payment, please contact Apex Reservations for assistance.
1-3: Do I need to pay a deposit on my reservation?
No. Apex Car Rentals does not charge a deposit at the time of reservation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Depending on the payment conditions and type of rental, your credit card may be charged the full amount at time of booking.
1-4: What happens if I want to cancel my booking?
Apex reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee for the following conditions:
- No Cancellation Fee – if cancelled more than 14 days prior to rental start date
- 20% Cancellation Fee (capped at $100) – if cancelled less than 14 days, but more than 24 hours prior to rental start date
- 50% Cancellation Fee (capped at $200) – if cancelled less than 24 hours prior to rental start date or no show
1-5: Is a credit card required when making a reservation?
Yes, when you book through this website you will need to enter either a valid Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International credit card or a bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Apex rentals must be secured using a valid Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International credit card or bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card.
If you do not have an accepted credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International) or a bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card you will not be able to rent from Apex Car Rentals.
Apex Car Rentals reserves the right to refuse any card. If you are not sure if your credit/debit card is valid for payment, please contact Apex Reservations for assistance.
1-6: When renting in New Zealand, can I take the rental car inter-island across Cook Strait?
Yes, you can take your rental car across Cook Strait using either the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry services. If you are planning to travel between the North Island & South Island, you can book your ferry tickets at the same time as you book your rental car. Apex New Zealand Car Rentals may cover the cost of the vehicle ferry ticket depending on the length of rental and the travel period.
1-7: Can I pay with a debit card?
Yes, you can pay for the rental using a bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card, an eftpos debit card, or a non-bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card. However, all rental agreements must be secured by a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International credit card or bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card.
If you do not have an accepted credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International) or a bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card you will not be able to rent from Apex.
1-8: How can I view, modify, or cancel an upcoming reservation?
To modify or cancel an upcoming reservation online, go to our View/Modify/Cancel page and enter the required details.
Alternatively, you can contact the Apex Reservations team for assistance.
1-9: What information will I need to book a vehicle?
You’ll need:
- The pick-up location, date, and time
- The return location, date and time
- The type of vehicle you want to hire
- Your personal contact details
- A valid credit card to be used for the rental.
1-10: Can I check car rental rates without making a reservation?
Yes, you simply need to enter the rental locations, dates, and times to view our latest rates.
1-11: What do I need to bring with me when I rent a vehicle from Apex Car Rentals?
You need bring your current driver licence (and English translation if applicable) and a valid credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China Union Pay, or Union Pay International) or bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your overseas driver licence is not in English, you must carry your original driver licence plus an accurate English translation issued by one of the following:
For rentals in New Zealand:
For rentals in Australia:
1-12: Why do rates differ?
Rates may differ depending on the length of rental and vehicle you select.
1-13: Does Apex charge airport fees, port fees, or premium location fees?
Airport fees and/or port fees are often charged by car rental companies to recoup the cost of having offices at those locations. Apex does not charge airport fees or port fees for rentals in Australia or New Zealand.
1-14: Does Apex charge for additional drivers?
No. Apex does not charge for additional drivers. When you pick up the car at the start of the hire you can add drivers to the rental agreement without incurring any additional charges.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Any additional drivers nominated must have a full driver licence and be present when the vehicle is collected.
1-15: Do you offer one-way car rentals?
Yes, you can rent a car and drive one-way between most of our branch locations, subject to availability. We do not charge fees for one-way rentals.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not allow vehicle movements out of Tasmania and into or out of Western Australia.
1-16: Does Apex charge a one-way fee if I want to pick up a vehicle at one location and drop it off at another?
No. Apex does not charge one-way fees. There is no additional cost when you rent one-way with Apex Car Rentals in New Zealand or Australia.
1-17: Does Apex Car Rentals charge a card transaction fee on car rentals?
No. Apex Car Rentals does not charge card transaction fees.
1-18: Does Apex charge booking fees or vehicle registration recovery fees?
No. Apex does not charge booking fees or vehicle registration recovery fees.
1-19: Does Apex charge extra for drivers aged between 21 and 25?
No. Unlike many companies, Apex Car Rentals does not impose a surcharge for drivers 21 to 25 years of age. Provided you are 21 years of age or older the same rates apply.
Standard Apex driver licence restrictions and Apex Rental Terms & Conditions apply.
1-20: Do you charge extra for drivers 60 years of age or more?
No. Apex does not impose a surcharge for senior drivers.
1-21: Does Apex Car Rentals offer after-hours car rental pickups and drop-offs?
Yes, subject to prior arrangement and agreement. For after-hours pickups, we require full payment of the rental in advance and at least 24 hours notice prior to pick-up. Apex charges an additional fee for after-hours arrangements and airport parking charges may apply. Any car rental with an after-hours pick-up will be charged in full at the time of booking.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some Apex locations do not accept after-hours pick-ups or returns. For more details, please contact Apex Reservations.
1-22: Does Apex guarantee that there will be no hidden car rental costs?
Yes. All our car rental rates include Goods & Services Tax (GST), standard motor vehicle insurance, and 24hr roadside assistance for mechanical breakdowns. The amount quoted at the time of booking is fully transparent and there are no hidden costs or charges.
1-23: Does Apex accept cash payments as security holds on rentals?
No. Apex does not accept cash payments as security holds on rentals. If you are unable to supply a valid credit card or bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card, you will not be able to rent from Apex.
1-24: How do toll roads work with Apex Car Rentals?
Toll Roads for New Zealand rentals:
In the event that Apex New Zealand receives an unpaid toll notice relating to the period the vehicle was on hire, Apex New Zealand will process a statutory declaration stating that the vehicle was on hire and provide name, address, and driver licence details of the hirer. The third party who issues the toll road charge will then forward the infringement notice to the hirer requesting payment. Apex charges the hirer a $10 administration fee for the time taken to process the statutory declaration and transfer of liability notice.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Apex does not pay any toll charges and it is the sole responsibility of the hirer to pay all toll charges incurred during the rental period.
Rental Tip: Save yourself money by paying the toll online the day before travelling on the toll road. This avoids costly administration fees that are levied for unpaid tolls. Please review the NZTA website for payment options.
Toll Roads for Australian rentals:
In Australia, Apex Car Rentals has partnered with Linkt to ensure toll payments are simple and easy to track. Shortly after you have travelled on a toll road, you will receive an email or text message from Linkt about a temporary Linkt Rental Account. This account is set up for you using the details you provided to Apex when booking and signing your rental agreement and will let you view your trips, payment details and statements.
All payments for tolls will be automatically made with the credit or debit card that you provided for your rental vehicle.
For more information about how toll payments are managed, visit our Australian Toll Payments page.