Every Hireace rental comes with 24-hour roadside assistance included at no extra cost, covering mechanical breakdowns, flat tyres and flat batteries across the country, so no matter which vehicle you’ve hired, there’s a dedicated call-out number to ring if something goes wrong on the road.
Rental Car Emergency Roadside Assistance: What’s Actually Covered
Roadside assistance on a rental vehicle typically exists to get you safely moving again after a genuine mechanical fault — not to cover damage caused by driver error, which is usually chargeable separately. On a Hireace hire, roadside cover applies to any vehicle-related breakdown, and it’s included automatically; you don’t need to add it as an optional extra when booking.
It’s worth understanding upfront that “roadside assistance” and “accident cover” are two different things. Roadside assistance deals with the vehicle not starting or running properly; if you’ve been in a collision, that’s handled separately through Hireace’s accident procedure, not the roadside call-out line.
Rental Vehicle 24/7 Breakdown Call-Out Number
If a Hireace vehicle breaks down, the call-out number depends on the vehicle type:
| Vehicle type | Provider | Call-out number |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo vans | New Zealand Roadside Assistance | 09 302 0328 |
| Trucks | New Zealand Roadside Assistance | 09 302 0328 |
| Coaches / Minibuses | New Zealand Roadside Assistance | 09 302 0328 |
When you call, have your vehicle registration plate number ready and be able to describe your location clearly — this is the fastest way to get a provider dispatched to you. If the assigned provider can’t help for any reason, Hireace’s own team is reachable on 0800 00 11 22 as a backup.
Towing Service for Rental Vehicles
If a fault can’t be fixed at the roadside, the vehicle is towed to a safe location or nearest repairer as part of the same call-out. Towing under roadside assistance applies to genuine mechanical breakdowns; non-mechanical issues — like running out of fuel, using the wrong fuel type, or damage from driver error — will likely incur a call-out fee, which is standard across roadside services in NZ, not unique to Hireace.
Why This Matters When Comparing Rental Companies
Not every rental company includes roadside cover as standard, and some charge extra to add it. Because Hireace bundles 24-hour roadside assistance into every hire — vans, trucks, utes and minibuses — across its 24 branches nationwide in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, it’s worth confirming this is genuinely included (not an add-on) when comparing quotes elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hireace include roadside assistance with every rental?
Yes. All Hireace vehicle hires include 24-hour roadside assistance for mechanical breakdowns at no extra cost.
What number do I call if my rental van breaks down?
Call New Zealand Roadside Assistance on 09 302 0328. Have your vehicle registration plate number and location ready when you call.
Are trailers covered by Hireace’s roadside assistance?
Roadside assistance applies to Hireace’s powered vehicles — vans, trucks, utes, minibuses and coaches. If you’re towing a trailer, check with the branch at pickup for what’s covered in a trailer-specific breakdown scenario.
What happens if a Hireace vehicle can’t be fixed at the roadside?
If the fault can’t be resolved on the spot, the provider will tow the vehicle to a safe location or the nearest repairer as part of the same call-out.
