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USA traveler renting car in New Zealand. What's the best car insurance?

My wife and I are traveling to New Zealand this September and renting a car for 2-weeks. We found out that our USA car insurance does not cover automobiles in New Zealand. I also checked American Express (my credit card) and they too do not offer any type of coverage in New Zealand. We are renting our car from Hertz but the insurance through them is super expensive.

As you are from the US, you'll need to deal with a company that also operates in the US in case there are any ongoing repercussions should you have a claim. You could perhaps arrange it with your usual insurance broker, but a policy drwn up in the States, won't allow for New Zealnd conditions.
The easiest option therefore is to take the insurance offered by the car rental company. It will be concise and straightforward.
But, make sure you read it through prior to signing it, and cross out, question, or replace any clauses that will unfairly disadvantage you.
Be aware that the insurance will not cover you on some roads, eg: Ball Hut Rd, Rainbow Road, Skippers Road, Milford Road, any beach (most of which are designated public roads), the Russell Coast Road, and a few others - they are listed on the policy.
Most companies likewise do not allow their cars to travel on roads that are not a sealed surface.
There are cheaper car rental companies than the big three. However the big three companies (in general) are the only ones that offer new cars, that is cars with no more than 50 000km on the clock. At that milage those cars are then on-sold to the other companies who may run them up to 200 000 km.
Check out the yellow pages listing for rental cars. See www.yellow.co.nz

Have fun, drive carefully (All the other people on the road are idiots) and keep left - you'll be right.

croydon american express travel office and kanoo foreign exchange near croydon tramlink