Some rental agencies are absorbing the loss of business - caused by flooding across the South Island

Around 80 rental vehicles were abandoned in Franz Josef on the West Coast - with more than 300 tourists opting to helicopter out before the roads reopened.

There are reports of cars abandoned in South Canterbury and Wanaka as well.

Jucy Rentals chief operations officer Dan Alpe says it's a nuisance to have cars stuck during the busy Christmas period.

But he says there's not much they can do about freak weather events like this.