diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index 7a0aea3db..af3a4b007 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def distinct(queryset, base):
     return queryset.distinct()
 
 
+# Obtaining manager instances and names from model options differs after 1.10.
 def get_names_and_managers(options):
     if django.VERSION >= (1, 10):
         # Django 1.10 onwards provides a `.managers` property on the Options.
@@ -75,6 +76,18 @@ def get_names_and_managers(options):
     ]
 
 
+# field.rel is deprecated from 1.9 onwards
+def get_remote_field(field, **kwargs):
+    if 'default' in kwargs:
+        if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
+            return getattr(field, 'rel', kwargs['default'])
+        return getattr(field, 'remote_field', kwargs['default'])
+
+    if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
+        return field.rel
+    return field.remote_field
+
+
 # contrib.postgres only supported from 1.8 onwards.
 try:
     from django.contrib.postgres import fields as postgres_fields
diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index 5eb1b3b4c..4f34164c2 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from django.utils.ipv6 import clean_ipv6_address
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from rest_framework import ISO_8601
-from rest_framework.compat import unicode_repr, unicode_to_repr
+from rest_framework.compat import get_remote_field, unicode_repr, unicode_to_repr
 from rest_framework.exceptions import ValidationError
 from rest_framework.settings import api_settings
 from rest_framework.utils import html, humanize_datetime, representation
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ class ModelField(Field):
             self.validators.append(MaxLengthValidator(max_length, message=message))
 
     def to_internal_value(self, data):
-        rel = getattr(self.model_field, 'rel', None)
+        rel = get_remote_field(self.model_field, default=None)
         if rel is not None:
             return rel.to._meta.get_field(rel.field_name).to_python(data)
         return self.model_field.to_python(data)
diff --git a/rest_framework/utils/model_meta.py b/rest_framework/utils/model_meta.py
index c3424a679..e097f5ef6 100644
--- a/rest_framework/utils/model_meta.py
+++ b/rest_framework/utils/model_meta.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import six
 
+from rest_framework.compat import get_remote_field
+
+
 FieldInfo = namedtuple('FieldResult', [
     'pk',  # Model field instance
     'fields',  # Dict of field name -> model field instance
@@ -76,16 +79,19 @@ def get_field_info(model):
 
 def _get_pk(opts):
     pk = opts.pk
-    while pk.rel and pk.rel.parent_link:
+    rel = get_remote_field(pk)
+
+    while rel and rel.parent_link:
         # If model is a child via multi-table inheritance, use parent's pk.
-        pk = pk.rel.to._meta.pk
+        pk = rel.to._meta.pk
+        rel = get_remote_field(pk)
 
     return pk
 
 
 def _get_fields(opts):
     fields = OrderedDict()
-    for field in [field for field in opts.fields if field.serialize and not field.rel]:
+    for field in [field for field in opts.fields if field.serialize and not get_remote_field(field)]:
         fields[field.name] = field
 
     return fields
@@ -100,10 +106,10 @@ def _get_forward_relationships(opts):
     Returns an `OrderedDict` of field names to `RelationInfo`.
     """
     forward_relations = OrderedDict()
-    for field in [field for field in opts.fields if field.serialize and field.rel]:
+    for field in [field for field in opts.fields if field.serialize and get_remote_field(field)]:
         forward_relations[field.name] = RelationInfo(
             model_field=field,
-            related_model=_resolve_model(field.rel.to),
+            related_model=_resolve_model(get_remote_field(field).to),
             to_many=False,
             to_field=_get_to_field(field),
             has_through_model=False
@@ -113,12 +119,12 @@ def _get_forward_relationships(opts):
     for field in [field for field in opts.many_to_many if field.serialize]:
         forward_relations[field.name] = RelationInfo(
             model_field=field,
-            related_model=_resolve_model(field.rel.to),
+            related_model=_resolve_model(get_remote_field(field).to),
             to_many=True,
             # manytomany do not have to_fields
             to_field=None,
             has_through_model=(
-                not field.rel.through._meta.auto_created
+                not get_remote_field(field).through._meta.auto_created
             )
         )
 
@@ -141,7 +147,7 @@ def _get_reverse_relationships(opts):
         reverse_relations[accessor_name] = RelationInfo(
             model_field=None,
             related_model=related,
-            to_many=relation.field.rel.multiple,
+            to_many=get_remote_field(relation.field).multiple,
             to_field=_get_to_field(relation.field),
             has_through_model=False
         )
@@ -158,8 +164,8 @@ def _get_reverse_relationships(opts):
             # manytomany do not have to_fields
             to_field=None,
             has_through_model=(
-                (getattr(relation.field.rel, 'through', None) is not None) and
-                not relation.field.rel.through._meta.auto_created
+                (getattr(get_remote_field(relation.field), 'through', None) is not None) and
+                not get_remote_field(relation.field).through._meta.auto_created
             )
         )