Big Boys Comparison Sites We’ve Reviewed

For your information, these are the popular sites we’ve researched and reviewed to find the best of the best for comparing the live prices of Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty and Europcar for Australia:

• AustralianCarHire.com
• AustTravel.com.au
• AutoEurope.com
• Carhire.com.au
• Carrentals.co.uk
• DirectFlights.com.au
• Discovery-CarHire.com.au
• DiyCarHire.com.au
• * DriveNow.com.au
• EasyCar.com
• EasyTerra.com
• EzHireCar.com.au
• HolidayAutos.com.au
• Kemwel.com.au
• LastMinute.com.au
• NovaCarHire.com
• * Oodles.com
• RentNewCars.com.au
• Transhire.com
• TravelJigsaw.com.au
• TravelSupermarket.com
• WebCarHire.com.au
• * Vroomvroomvroom.com.au
• ZoomToGo.com

* Our Top Picks

Amongst other factors, the few most important selection criteria for these Top Picks are:

• Lowest Prices/Best Value
• Ease of Site Navigation, Car Search, Price Comparison and Booking
• No Hidden Fees
• No Deposit Required to Place a Booking
• No Credit Card Details Required to Place a Booking

Alpha Car Hire Discount Voucher

Print out the Alpha Car Hire voucher below and take it with you when you pick up your Brisbane car rental for some extra savings.

Car Hire Fees: What To Expect

Plan your budget with these indicative final prices for a basic Australian car rental from the Big Boys (Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty, or Europcar).

• 3-day Car Hire
• Smallest Auto (Hatchback) $205 = $70/day
• Full-sized Auto (Sedan) $240 = $80/day

• 7-day Car Hire
• Smallest Auto (Hatchback) A$370 = $55/day
• Full-sized Auto (Sedan) A$429 = $60/day

Read more

Brisbane City – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

Similar to renting from Brisbane Airport, there are savings to be made with going with the independent companies within Brisbane City. The best value company for you will largely depend on the duration of your rental and the number of kilometres you require to be included in the standard rate. Read more

Brisbane Airport – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

Brisbane airport’s Premium Location Fee is a fixed 10.7%. Therefore, opting to go with one of the independent companies who are located just off-site will increase your chances of finding a bargain. These are the best value companies we uncovered. Bargain Wheels comparison site is a great starting place for both new and used cars. East Coast Car Rentals in general offers the best deals particularly for car hires 4 days or longer. For shorter term hires, there are several more worth comparing depending on your mileage requirements:

Bargain Wheels Go To Site

Independent companies comparison site. New and used cars

Bargain Wheels aggregates prices across about nine off-site Brisbane Airport independent car hire companies for you to compare. They include used cars which if you are comfortable to accept will be noticeably cheaper.

Always read the Rental and Supplier information provided to ensure you know the exact terms and conditions of the rental, including the standard mileage and insurance excess. As the cars can be from any of a number of companies, we recommend you call Bargain Wheels for exact pickup instructions and location. Note that in the preliminary search results, the daily rates listed are often subject to further fees and you will have to click through in order to obtain the final price.

If you intend to hire your car from East Coast Car Rentals (see ECCR below) for 3 days or under, booking through Bargain Wheels can be cheaper.

East Coast Car Rentals Go To Site

Great value for all car sizes with unlimited km’s

Considering the included unlimited km’s, East Coast Car Rentals is (or very close to) the best value Brisbane company across all the car models including the Economy Toyota Yaris manual hatch, Compact Nissan Tiida auto hatch, Intermediate Toyota Corolla sedan and Toyota Tarago Van. Their Standard Toyota Camry’s are 2005-2007 models. They come with A$3000 damage liability that can be reduced to A$200 for A$13.20/day or less. Located off-site, they offer a courtesy shuttle service to take you to their depot from the airport. Your credit card details are required to make the booking but will not be charged until you pick up the car.

If you intend to hire for 3 days or under and decide to go with ECCR, you might want to check Bargain Wheels to see if booking via them can save you a little extra (perhaps about $10). See more information on Bargain Wheels above.

Alpha Car Hire Go To Site

Cheap for Economy up to SUVs, 3 days or less with 500km/day

With 500km’s included per day, Alpha may be cheapest for the 4WD Hyundai Tuscon SUV (although not allowed off-road). With what in practice is almost equivalent to unlimited km’s, for any rentals 3 days or under, you will likely find the best prices across the range from the Economy manual to the SUV. Anything beyond 500km is charged at 27.5 cents/km. Alpha includes a default standard collision damage liability of A$2750. Extending your coverage with them to lower this to A$330 will require you to fork out A$16.50/day, getting less the longer you rent.

Note that Alpha charges an administrative fee of A$220 in addition to the Damage Liability in the event of damages and A$99 for any traffic infringements you incur.

If you decide to book with them, use this voucher for A$10 off any 3-day or more car hire, or A$20 off for 14 days or more.

Airport Rent-A-Car Go To Site

Cheap from Economy up to Full-sized Cars and Vans, 3 days or less, if only 200km/day required

Particularly in the months where 10% discounts are offered, Airport Rent-a-Car is another value alternative company for short-term Brisbane Airport rentals but only if 200km/day is adequate for you. Exceeding this amount, they charge 25 cents/extra km. Standard A$2750 collision damage liability is included. A further A$16/day reduces this liability to A$550. Courtesy transfers to/from the airport are provided.

Abel Rent-a-Car Go To Site

Best value for shorter distance car rentals, 3 days or less with 100km/day

If you do not require more than 100km/day (A$0.30/extra km), Abel probably has the best price across all the car hire size categories for 3 day rentals or less. Being located a few minutes off-site, they offer free transfers to and from the Brisbane airport.

Note: However, Abel like ECCR has also had its share of bad publicity in the Courier News for ripping off customers over dubious damage claims as recent as April 2008 (read the article here). Misunderstanding or otherwise, you decide how to interpret this information. If you need the extra peace of mind, you could opt to protect yourself with some form of insurance (Abel charges A$20/day or less to drop the standard collision damage liability on a regular car from A$3300 to A$330 but you can look for cheaper external alternatives e.g. travel insurance that covers car hire). Be also aware they charge an additional A$250 administrative fee in the event of damages to the vehicle, and a A$99 fee if you incur any traffic infringements during the rental period.

Perth Airport – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

If you are hiring a car for 3 or more days, you can find better deals than the Big Boys (Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty or Europcar) with one of the following independent companies. Bayswater Car Rental in particular offers outstanding value. Below are their summaries and key highlights but always ensure you check their precise current terms and conditions before booking.

Bayswater Car Rental… a.k.a. No Birds Go To Site

Our #1 pick. Toyota Corolla Hatch & Sedan only. Excess reduction included free. Unlimited km’s

They only carry automatic Toyota Corolla hatches (compact) and sedans (mid-sized) but on those, you’ll find unbeatable prices for rentals 3 days or longer. Their Perth airport depot is located off-site at Bayswater so you’ll have to take a taxi which will cost you approximately A$15 to get there (or back). Yet even after incorporating this extra A$30 charge, they still offer the best value, including an already reduced standard Collision Damage Liability of only A$300 (the Big Boys have a standard CDL of A$2750-3300 and will charge you a whopping A$24-26.40/day to lower it to A$330).

They also provide the option of returning the car to the airport though at an extra A$50 charge. If you only need a small or mid-sized car, look no further. Note that you can only pickup your car during their opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-noon, closed Sundays and public holidays.

Bargain Wheels Go To Site

For larger cars, can be cheaper than Big Boys. Either 120km/day or unlimited

For larger sizes like Standard Toyota Camry and above that Bayswater does not carry, give Bargain Wheels a check. Their standard inclusion is only 120km/day (23 cents/extra km) but keep a lookout particularly for specials where they include unlimited km’s in their quoted price. It can save you some dollars as compared to the Big Boys of Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar or Thrifty.

The exact rental details can vary so read the Supplier and Rental Information provided on Bargain Wheels for each car hire option to ensure you fully understand the terms and conditions.

Perth City – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

For car hires under 3 days or standard-sized cars and larger, you’ll find the Big Boys of Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty and Europcar offer decent prices (read more on comparing these companies here). For longer rentals or smaller cars, we strongly recommend having a look at the best two independent companies serving the Perth city, particularly Bayswater Car Rental. As always, while we provide the key highlights, do ensure you find out their latest terms and conditions.

Bayswater Car Rental… a.k.a. No Birds Go To Site

Best value. Toyota Corolla Hatch & Sedan only. Excess reduction included free. Unlimited km’s

The clear winner for best value and lowest prices, this is the company to go for if you’re happy with a Toyota Corolla hatch (compact) or sedan (mid-sized). Not only are their 3 day or more car hires with unlimited km’s cheaper than anyone else, but they also come with a reduced Collision Damage Liability of only A$300. All other companies have a CDL commonly around A$2750 and then charge you between A$12-26/day extra to drop it down.

Besides their Perth city depot, they have two others – one just to the west of the city in Subiaco and another further out in south-west Fremantle. Note that you can only pickup your car during their opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-noon, Sun 9am-11:30am (Perth depot only), closed on public holidays. Excellent value.

Bargain Wheels Go To Site

Check for standard-sized cars and larger. Either 120km/day or unlimited

If the cars offered by Bayswater are too small, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz or Thrifty are hard to beat. However, Bargain Wheels can sometimes bag you lower prices especially when there are offers extending the typical 120km/day inclusion to unlimited km’s. Naturally if 120km/day is adequate for you, all the more you should check their rates.

We do suggest you compare the Big Boys’ prices to the ones you find here since if the savings are marginal, you may want to stick with the known brands instead.

Each booking has links to Supplier and Rental information. Be sure to go through them so you can ascertain what value you are really getting from their prices.

Gold Coast Airport – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

At the Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta), our analysis reveals the following best of the independent car hire companies. Their off-site location will save you at least 11% Airport Fees than if you went with the Big Boys located on-site. If you still want to stick with them, see our recommendation on the best site for comparing Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar.

East Coast Car Rentals Go To Site

Cheap car hires with unlimited km’s. Likely best for hires 5 days or more

East Coast Car Rentals has probably the best prices you’ll find for Gold Coast car hires, and even more so for hires 7 days and longer. Not only are their rates one of the lowest in absolute terms, they are also inclusive of unlimited km’s. They offer free shuttles to and from the Coolangatta Airport to their depot nearby.

For car rentals under a week, booking with ECCR via a third party site Bargain Wheels can actually work out cheaper. See Bargain Wheels below.

Airport Rent-A-Car Go To Site

Cheaper than Big Boys. Possible value during discount months. 250km/day

Airport Rent-a-Car doesn’t always have the lowest prices compared to the other independents but is still worth a check particularly during non-holiday months where they often offer 10% off their regular car hire rates. The rental comes with 250km/day included and will cost you A$0.25/extra km. Standard Collision Damage Liability is A$2500 which can be lowered to A$500 for A$15/day (cheaper than the A$24-26.40/day the Big Boys charge). They offer free pickups from the airport to their depot 5 minutes away.

Alpha Car Hire Go To Site

Value for Economy up to SUVs, 3 days or less with 500km/day

For shorter term rentals under a week, Alpha’s prices are competitive factoring in that they include 500km/day with their hires. Exceeding 500km will be charged at 27.5 cents/km. Do take notice that it is Alpha’s policy to charge a A$99 administrative fee if you incur a traffic infringement on your rental car or A$220 if you damage it.

This Alpha Car Hire voucher will give you A$10 off any 3-day or more car hire, or A$20 off for 14 days or more. Check their Specials section to see if there are any other current offers you can take advantage of.

Before placing a booking on Alpha’s site, you might want to check if booking with them through Bargain Wheels (see below) can work out cheaper.

Bargain Wheels Go To Site

Booking with Alpha Car Hire or ECCR for rentals 4 days and under can be cheaper here

Bargain Wheels enables you to search a few of Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport’s off-site independent car hire companies. The two companies with the lowest prices overlap with our recommendations above: Alpha Car Hire (view) and East Coast Car Rentals (view). Still, we recommend you check the final price for your rental if you booked with either of these two companies via Bargain Wheels as it is possible for it to be slightly cheaper than if you went direct.

Ensure you read the Rental and Supplier information provided on each company by Bargain Wheels to understand the terms of your rental. We suggest you give them a call to clarify anything you are uncertain about and get the exact pickup procedure and location.

Surfers Paradise – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

Amongst the Surfers Paradise sea (pun intended) of independent car hire companies, you’ll find the most competitive rates at Andy’s Auto Rental and East Coast Car Rentals.

East Coast Car Rentals Go To Site

Best bet for value across all car sizes with unlimited km’s

East Coast Car Rentals offers great deals on car hires for 3 days and longer (best from 7 days) across economy, mid, standard-sized cars and vans. Their prices which are inclusive of unlimited mileage are often the cheapest around and their rental cars are mostly brand new. When renting for under 5 days, check first with Bargain Wheels (see below) where renting from ECCR via them can actually be slightly cheaper.

Andy’s Auto Rental Go To Site

Great rates for short-term car hire under 5 days with 200km/day

You’ll have to choose the Labrador depot which is about 5 minutes drive north of Surfers Paradise. Their rates are competitive for short-term car hires and drop even lower for 8 days or more. However, do factor in that the prices only include 200km/day (A$0.28/extra km). Collision damage excess is A$2500 which you can lower to A$300 for A$15/day. They also offer a “budget” category for select sizes which are essentially used cars between 3-5 years old. These lower prices come with the trade-off that older cars are more prone to technical problems and may be less comfortable.

Bargain Wheels Go To Site

Booking with ECCR for 4 days and under can be cheaper through Bargain Wheels

The Bargain Wheels site allows you to book with a couple of independent car hire companies serving Surfer’s Paradise. We find they are only worth checking if you intend to hire a car for 4 days or less. Look out for East Coast Car Rentals as they offer the best rates. For such short-term hires, renting from ECCR via Bargain Wheels can work out slightly cheaper than if you went direct. Beyond that, prices work out the same and you may as well book direct with ECCR.

Car Hire Questions To Ask

A checklist of questions you should ask yourself and the car hire company before committing.

Ask Yourself…

To be able to find the best deal for yourself as quickly as possible, you should know exactly what you need and what your priorities are.

• Most importantly: Do you really need a car?

• What’s the minimum sized car you need? Can it comfortably fit everyone and your bags? If you’ll be doing stops while your luggage is with you, you’ll want to get a car that can fit it all in the boot

• What are your expected pickup and drop-off times? Will it be outside opening hours?

Read more

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