REQUIREMENTS FOR RENTING REQUIREMENTS FOR RENTING

The applicable Terms and Conditions may vary by location. Be sure to check the bottom of your reservation confirmation for the specific Booking Terms and Conditions for that location and reservation.

Please review our standard Budget Rental Terms & Conditions

For New Zealand, the minimum age for rentals is 21 years of age.

Age exceptions may occur where they are part of a separate contractual agreement with Budget.

Drivers must hold a current and valid licence (not being a restricted licence, learner’s) to drive the category of Vehicle for at least 12 consecutive months.

Only those people whose names are recorded on the Rental Agreement can drive an Budget vehicle.

Additional drivers can be added to the Rental Agreement. When collecting the vehicle each driver must be listed on the Rental Agreement and they must each present a full, current, and valid drivers licence at time of collection.

Additional driver forms can be completed at the time of rental or at any Budget location once the rental has started.

Yes, a valid credit card and a current, full, and valid driver's licence in the driver's name are required to rent an Budget vehicle.

Please Note: Budget accepts the following credit/charge cards as credit identification at the time of rental:

• American Express
• Diners Club
• Mastercard
• Visa

Please Note: Debit Cards are accepted provided that the card displays the Visa or Mastercard logo, has been issued by a bank, has the customer's name and card number on the card, and the funds are being debited from a cheque/current account.

Prepaid and Reloadable Debit cards and gift cards, as well as Travel cards and EFTPOS cards are not accepted.

For Budget Commercial vehicles (truck & vans) if you are aged 21-24 years old there are no restrictions on the type of vehicle you can hire, but you must hold a full and valid licence for the class of vehicle being rented.

Yes, please check at time of booking for more information. 

To drive a Budget vehicle in NZ:

(a) Drivers must hold a current and valid licence (not being a restricted licence, learner’s licence) to drive the category of Vehicle for at least 12 consecutive months;

(b) International Driver licences are accepted on “face value” but must be in English, or if not in English, the renter must have an English translation thereof. 

All named additional drivers to must do the same and be listed on the Rental Agreement document or listed as additional drivers attached to the Rental Agreement.

If your driver licence is in any language other than English, it must be accompanied by an approved translation, such as International Driver Permit and be produced at time of renting from Budget.

The translation must be provided by:

• a NZ Transport Agency authorised translation service, or
• a diplomatic representative at a high commission, embassy or consulate, or
• the authority that issued your overseas licence.

The following documents may also be acceptable as a translation:

• an international driving permit – issued in accordance with a United Nations Convention on road traffic
• a translation document issued by a Notary Public Office in China.

For licence translation services, review the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) approved translators list in New Zealand.

A learner, provisional or restricted driver licence is not an accepted licence to rent a vehicle from Budget New Zealand.

Digital Drivers Licences (DDLs) issued by a Verification Authority in an Eligible Country MAY be accepted by the Budget as a valid form of identification for all purposes in which physical driver's licenses are currently accepted, PROVIDED that they meet BUDGETs security and authenticity requirements issued by the issuing Verification Authority (see below).

Eligible Countries

As at the date of this policy, DDLs issued by a Verification Authority in the following countries/states are accepted by the Budget :

(i) Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria); 

(ii) Brazil 

(iii) China 

(iv) Estonia 

(v) India 

(vi) Singapore 

(vii) United States of America (Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and Utah).  

The following countries/states are either exploring, or in the process of developing, DDLs:

(i) New Zealand;

(ii) South Africa;

(iii) United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales); and

(iv) United States of America (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming, Washington DC and Puerto Rico)   

Once the Verification Authority in these countries/states issue DDLs, they will be accepted by the Budget. Budget may at any time, and for any reason, reject a DDL.

BUDGETs Security and Authenticity Requirements 

Budget will not accept a DDL unless it meets the following criteria:

1. DDLs must be issued by a Verification Authority of an Eligible Countries listed above;

2. DDLs must use strong encryption and biometric authentication to ensure their security; 

3. DDLs must be in English or, the customer must carry an accurate English translation;

4. DDL must include a photo of the holder of the DDL; and

5. DDL must include a QR Code, Barcode or similar scannable image allowing access to the DDLs information. 

Budget may reject or accept any DDL that does not meet, at its sole discretion, the requirements set out in this policy. 

Please note, a photo of a physical driver’s licence is NOT regarded as a valid DDL under this policy.

You must present a valid licence appropriate for the vehicle that is to be rented.

All digital licences will be checked live at the time of rental, a screenshot or photo of the licence is not acceptable.

A digital licence does not replace a physical licence and you should still carry your physical card when travelling outside the issuing state or territory.