Plenty of trips around New Zealand only go one way. You might be driving the length of the North Island on holiday, moving to a new city for work, chasing seasonal work from the orchards to the ski fields, or heading home to see family. When you won't be driving back, one-way car hire is the usual answer.

It works, but it's rarely cheap. On top of the daily rate, most rental companies charge a one-way fee to cover the cost of getting the vehicle back, and that fee tends to climb when the trip crosses Cook Strait.

If your plans have a little give in them, there's a cheaper way to make the same trip. This guide puts one-way car hire and vehicle relocations side by side: what each one costs, what you trade away, and when each option makes more sense.

THE BASICS

What is one-way car hire?

One-way car hire, also called one-way car rental, means collecting a vehicle in one place and returning it somewhere else, such as picking up in Auckland and dropping off in Wellington. You choose the vehicle class, both locations and the length of the hire.

The rental company is then left with a car at the wrong branch. To cover the cost of bringing it back, most companies add a one-way fee, sometimes called a drop fee. You'll normally see it in the quote when you book, and the further apart the two locations are, the higher it usually is.

COST

How much does one-way car hire cost in New Zealand?

Two things make up most of the price of a one-way hire: the daily rate and the one-way fee.

• Daily rate. Each rental company sets its own, and it moves with the vehicle type, the season and how early you book. As a rough guide, expect about $50 to $200 a day for a car and about $200 to $500 a day for a campervan, with prices peaking over summer and the school holidays.
• One-way fee (drop fee). This is typically around $300, and more on long trips or trips between the islands. On a short hire it can cost more than the hire itself. Some companies skip the separate fee and charge a higher daily rate instead.

On a popular route like Auckland to Wellington, the one-way part can add a few hundred dollars to the total, even for a small car. Campervans follow the same pattern: expect a few hundred dollars for a trip within one island, and more for longer trips such as Auckland to Christchurch or Queenstown. A relocation has no one-way fee at all.

When a relocation is the better choice

A relocation is hard to beat when:

• Your dates can move. Deals appear when vehicles need moving, so a few spare days in your plans open up far more options.
• You only need to go one way. A holiday road trip between two cities, a move to a new city, the drive to your next seasonal job or a trip to see family.
• You want a campervan or motorhome on a budget. A campervan relocation covers your transport and a bed for $1 a day or free, with no one-way fee.
• You can plan as you go. New deals are published daily, so if you're flexible you can link several relocations together as they come up and turn them into a bigger trip around the country.

When one-way car hire makes more sense

A relocation doesn't suit every trip. Standard one-way car hire is the better fit when:

• Your dates are fixed, such as for a wedding, an event or a flight you’ve already booked.
• You need a specific vehicle, such as a seven-seater or a 4WD for a gravel road.
• You need to book well ahead. Standard hire can be booked many months in advance. Most relocations are listed a few weeks before pickup, and few appear more than two months ahead.
• Nothing is listed on your route, which can happen between smaller towns.

If you go with a standard one-way hire, compare the one-way fee between companies, not just the daily rate. It can change the total more than the rate does.