Uber Rideshare then Uber Eats and now Uber Car Rentals

Rideshare app Uber is expanding its New Zealand business with a rental car service. It allows users to compare and book hire cars using their existing Uber app.

Uber Rent can be used to hire a car from more than 300 pick-up locations across the country. The service relies on local car rental companies, including Hertz, Avis and Budget, to provide hundreds of vehicles, from inexpensive to top-end budgets.

The service is already up and running in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. From this week, New Zealand-based users of the Uber app will be able to use it to compare rental options by price, vehicle size and user ratings.

Cars may be booked up to a month in advance of when they are needed. They can also be booked on the day for short term use, or a week or longer.

Payment is made before the car is driven away or you can pay in advance. Just remember to take your driver licence and credit card when uplifting the vehicle.

To book a rental car, you simply open the app and tap the ‘Rental Cars’ icon. Specify the pick up and drop off addresses, and the dates you wish to hire the vehicle. Then compare the options available.