Driving with care is the highest priority. Especially when you are visiting from a country that drives on the right-hand side of the road, concentration is required to stay safe.

 

To ensure your trip is a safe and memorable one, here are 10 most important things to remember:

• Keep LEFT! We drive on the left-hand side of the road.

• Always wear your seat belt. Everyone in your vehicle must wear a seatbelt, and children must be secured in an approved child seat. We can rent child seats to you if you didn’t bring your own.

• Keep to the speed limit and always stop at STOP signs.

• Always slow down to observe recommended speeds around bends and check for oncoming traffic on one-lane bridges.

• Overtake other vehicles only when it’s safe to do so. Use passing lanes whenever possible, and never cross a solid yellow line on your side of the centre line.

• Stay well-rested. Plan to drive for only 1 – 2 hours at a time, and take regular breaks during your journey to stretch your legs.

• Drive to the conditions. You’ll need to reduce your speed if it’s raining, icy, snowing, windy or if you’re in a roadwork’s area. Ask your accommodation provider if in doubt.

• Use your GPS to estimate driving times while planning your journey. Driving in New Zealand can often take longer than expected due to our winding roads.

• Do not drink and drive. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime in New Zealand and strictly enforced by police, with severe penalties for offenders.

• It’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in New Zealand. If you need to make a call or send a text, pull over at a rest area or in a safe place.

 

Visit the Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) website for a full Driving in New Zealand multilingual guide.

Included in your rental is breakdown cover through AA Roadside Assistance. You can call them on freephone 0800 734 543 for all mechanical issues.

 

Cover includes:

• Roadside mechanical failure assistance

• Tow to the nearest place of repair or safety

 

If the issue is not able to be immediately resolved, please contact us on 09 979 7670 to discuss options.

AA Roadside Assistance can also help you with non-mechanical problems but for these, you will need to pay for the call-out fee.

 

This applies to things like:

• Flat tyres

• Flat battery (if caused by lights or ignition left on)

• Keys lost or locked in the vehicle

• Out of fuel

Please email us at [email protected] to extend, shorten or request other changes to your reservation. Note that changes to your booking may affect the hire rate and are subject to availability.

Registered drivers only. Only listed drivers who have signed the rental agreement and supplied a copy of their driver’s licence can drive the vehicle. Anyone driving Mode vehicles without their valid licence listed on the rental contract is not covered by the Mode insurance policy.

 

Fuel policy. Rental vehicles must be returned with the same fuel level as pick-up time. In the general, it is full to full fuel policy.

 

Return cars clean. For the health and safety of our staff, all our rental cars must be returned clean. Please take out all your rubbish and dispose accordingly. If you do not have time to do so prior to dropping off, please do so while in the branch, before boarding the airport shuttle.

To start off, check out this video tutorial on how to fit 'Easy Fit' snow chains. Ensure your chains are tight, and there are no loose ends that can flap and damage the vehicle. If you think you will need to use snow chains, practice fitting somewhere dry and flat first.

 

Driving with snow chains:

• Steer away from the hard stuff – Only use chains when there is actual need.

• Drive to the conditions - Travel no faster than 20km/h.

• Keep it steady - Try to keep the vehicle moving without spinning the wheels.

• Brake gently - Start softly and only apply more pressure as the vehicle starts to slow.

• Brake on the straight - Before turning into a corner. Take the corner at a safe speed and start to accelerate again when the vehicle is straight again.

• Accelerate steadily - If you feel the vehicle start to wheel spin, ease back the pressure on the accelerator pedal until you feel the tyres start to grip again.

• Increase your following distance - Your vehicle will take longer to stop on a slippery surface like snow or ice.

• Deep snow - If you get stuck in deep snow, use a shovel to clear the snow around the vehicle and create a track for the tyres to move through. You’ll get better traction once you’re on ground with less snow covering.

• After use – Clean your chains and allow them to dry before placing them back in the bag. Excessively dirty/uncleaned snow chains may incur cleaning fees.

 

Most frequently travelled roads/state highways are cleared of snow regularly. For many of the alpine passes, the New Zealand Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) will require chains to be carried if bad weather is forecasted. It is better to be safe – if you do not need to be somewhere urgently, err on the side of caution and delay your travel if possible.

 

For ski road conditions, please check with the relevant ski resort. Most ski-fields offer a chain fitting service at reasonable prices – this is a great option to ensure safety and avoid damage to the vehicle if you have never used chains before. Remember – as hirer, you are liable for any damage caused by or to chains due to incorrect fitting.

 

For more information regarding road conditions, please check NZTA Journey Planner.