Are you driving in circles with your frequent renter program options but failing to get anywhere?

Loyalty programs are offered by all of Australia’s five major car hire companies, but at a glance it can be hard to determine if any are superior. So we set our research team to work to find you the answer.

What are the programs?

Each car hire company has its own branded frequent driver offer – Avis Preferred, Budget Fastbreak, Europcar Ready Program, Hertz #1 Gold Club and Thrifty Blue Chip.

Unfortunately the name is probably the most individual thing about them.  Each program will provide you with faster reservations, record your preferences and ensure that you have priority over other customers who are not part of their program.  With each, you will receive a card and a membership number.

Effectively by retaining your details on file, it speeds up the transaction time of both parties, thereby reducing administration costs over the long term.

Do they give me a discount for being a member?

The short answer is no.  The programs do not entitle you to a direct discount in their own right.  The best deal you can expect, as a result of being a member of their program is that you will be offered in most cases the best rate of the day. Being a member of the NRMA, an auto club, or Frequent Flyer program however may entitle you to a 5-10% discount depending on the car hire company.

Most hire companies have a second or third tier of membership to which you cannot join, but must earn.  This is similar to a frequent flyer membership where you can only progress up to the next level by travelling a certain number of times and distances.  If you travel very frequently you may find yourself admitted to this group and therefore may become eligible for a greater level of priority, more upgrades and discounts.

Are there any other benefits of membership?

There are a few additional benefits to some memberships, which separate the quality of the programs.

Priority number
Only Avis and Thrifty offer their frequent or priority members a dedicated phone line. The others direct you through to their standard reservation line which in some instances, particularly Europcar, can leave you waiting 10-15 minutes to be answered.

Priority service
Priority service is offered by all the providers. However in the cases of Avis and Hertz, this means no stopping at the counter at all within the main Australian airports, allowing you to simply proceed to the car.

Other features
Hertz goes one step further than the other car hire companies, in that they have a ‘no additional driver charge’ feature which is applicable on all their cars and provides a discount to gold members on the rental of infant or child seats.  In addition, they offer their own points reward program so you can still achieve points even if you are not part of one of their affiliated frequent flyer programs.

Joining the program

Each programs is free to join, except Hertz, which is only free to Australian residents.  The forms simply need to be downloaded from the website, completed and returned.

Be aware when selecting any preferences on your application form that this information will be automatically used on all your future bookings with that company.  Should you need to change a preference, you will need to contact the company to update your details.

A final word

Because all the providers are similar, the choice of your hire car company is likely to come down to individual cost and features at the time you wish to travel.  The only time this would not be the case is when you travel very frequently, then aiming for one of the memberships such as Hertz which offers an upgrade after 10 hires in one year, may be worthwhile.

There is no reason not to join multiple programs given they are free.  The only investment is your time to complete the information required.

Finally frequent renter programs do not have to mean another five cards in your back pocket.  Each provider confirmed that as long as you have your number available you do not need to physically provide your card. So if you choose to join multiple programs, save your wallet from exploding by creating one card with the names, program numbers and phone numbers on it.

Links

Avis Preferred Service
Budget Fastbreak
Europcar Ready
Hertz #1 Club
Thrifty Blue Chip

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Visiting Australia is not like visiting Vatican City. You can’t really see it all in a day. A year might not even be enough. It’s 4,000 kilometers from Sydney to Perth. Even the flight takes five hours.

So what if you want to experience Oz in all its diverse glory, from the other-worldly grandeur of Ayers Rock to the pristine beauty of the Gold Coast beaches? What if you want to smell the wax of the surfboards on the Whitsundays and taste the dust of the desert around Alice Springs? What’s the best and most rewarding way to get around this vast, country? Should you take to the air, or keep to the ground, fly everywhere or hire a car? To drive or no to drive? – that is the question.

If you’re heading on an Australian holiday and wondering whether to hit the road, here are some of the questions you should probably be asking yourself.

How Much Time Have You Got?

Have you got time to spare, or have you got a plane to catch? If you’ve got a limited amount of time, you’ve got to prioritize. What do you REALLY want to see? And how long is it going to take you to get there? If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef and take in Aida at the Sydney Opera House in the space of a week, driving isn’t really an option. But if you want a more focused holiday, you can fit in some of Australia’s most memorable sights on a road trip.

Some of Australia’s best and most spectacular sights are concentrated around particular areas. You can build your stay around Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, for instance. Or you can focus on Darwin and the Kakuda National Park, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road or maybe Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Hiring a rental car and touring these areas is relatively easy, affordable – and hugely rewarding. Sometimes less is more, if you know what we mean.

Do You Want To Drive Alone?

Australia has an excellent road system that criss-crosses large sections of the country. Roads linking the major cities are especially good. So if you want to drive coast to coast, you can do it. (If you allow yourself a couple of weeks that is.) But the distances are huge and it can be a demanding – and a lonely – drive.

There are some other options though. It doesn’t have to be a lonely trip. You could join up on a tagalong tour, for instance. This popular option allows you to hook your car up with an official tour party and drive through Australia’s in convoy. Think of it as being a little like Mad Max, without the crossbows. There are some really great options available. You might like, for instance, to take the 25 day Kimberley Wander, north east from Alice Springs towards the stunning northern town of Kununurra, an oasis created by the waters of Lake Argyle. Alternatively, you might like to take an 11 day drive through the heart of the country and the Simpson Desert, heading from Broken Hill to Alice Springs.

Do You Want To Follow A Pre-Planned Route?

Alternatively, if you’re determined to do it yourself, you can make life less stressful by booking a self-drive package. This option takes all the pain out of planning a route, stop-offs, researching good bars, restaurants or hotels en route. A tour operator will give you all the directions, maps, schedules and even camping equipment you might need. It takes the heat off and leaves you free to enjoy the open road.

Are You Properly Prepared For Outback Driving?

Driving through the outback is an amazing and unforgettable experience. It will make you feel like the last man or woman on earth. You will experience a silence and isolation unlike anything on earth.

But it will take you through stretches of country where you won’t see anything other than heat haze, insects, lizards and the odd kangaroo for as long as a day or two. So you do need to bear in mind some safety pointers.

The main thing is that you need to make sure you are equipped for all eventualities. You need to plan petrol stops, make sure you have ample supplies of water, maps, shelter and digging tools in case of breakdowns. You need to tell people about your travel plans and carry at least one mobile phone with you. You must also be careful not to pick up hitch hikers.

Why Not Drive – And Fly?

The best way to see a large chunk of Australia during a relatively short visit may be to combine flying and driving. That way you get the best of both worlds.

There are all sorts of options. For instance, you could spend two days exploring Sydney, then fly to Ayers Rock. After a couple of days listening to the startalkers and experiencing the silence of Australia’s iconic natural wonder, you could fly up to Darwin. There you could pick up a rental car and drive through Kakadu, the breathtaking Katherine Gorge, Litchfield National Park and back. From Darwin you could fly to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, you could drive all the way across north-western Australia and finish your trip on the pristine beaches of tropical Broome on the west coast.

Of course, you could try any other combination. And you can take as much time as you want. If you’re not watching the clock then no one else is. As the Aussie’s say, she’ll keep.

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It is hard to place a value on an icy cold drink in the middle of the blazing summer, but if you happen to be driving in Australia’s vast outback, the stakes are raised. Petrol stations come and go infrequently, and unless you are able to align your consumption to these scattered beacons it may be worth considering a car fridge.

Assessing your needs

Size and type

Before you dash out to purchase one, consider your specific needs. Are you happy eating at roadside petrol stations, but just need that ice cold chocolate bar and can of Coke on standby? Do you like to make your sandwiches in the hotel in the morning then picnic somewhere scenic? Do you have snacks packed for children to tide them over till you get to the next destination? Or are you planning a long camping trip away from civilisation?
Knowing how you are going to use your fridge will enable you to decide what functions you need, such as whether you need to freeze, cool quickly or even to heat?

Location

When making your fridge decision, you also will need to consider that it will need to be able to fit into your car or 4WD, reducing available luggage space. In addition the larger it is, the heavier it will be, are you planning on moving it?
In addition, consider if your fridge will be exposed to sunlight as a light colour will then provide better efficiency than a dark one.

Frequency of use

In addition consider how much you are going to use it, are you going to utilise it within your day to day life as well for your holidays?

Choosing your fridge

There are three different types of fridge available, thermoelectric, absorption or compressor.

Thermoelectric

The biggest advantages of thermoelectric coolers are that they are compact, lightweight, durable and portable. Generally they will run off both mains power and the cigarette lighter in your vehicle and you have access to a large range, from soft shell exterior coolers to hard shell family sized coolers.

Thermoelectric coolers run between 15 and 30 degrees below the ambient temperature and are quiet, environmentally friendly and some will even enable you to heat food.

The disadvantages are that they do not refrigerate as well as the other fridges, as they cannot get cooler than one degree Celsius and in hot weather where it may be 40 degrees the best the fridge will perform is at 10 degrees Celsius. Another disadvantage of the cheaper models is that because of their design, when the power is off, the fridge will actually draw heat into the fridge.

Prices range $50 to $500

Absorption

Absorption fridges are also called 3 way fridges because they can be run on gas as well as 12V or 24V, making them extremely flexible. They work by heating a concentrated ammonia solution and have the advantage that they are very quiet to run. The cooling is effective allowing you to achieve up to 35-40 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature.

The key advantage to absorption fridges is you can power them from the car while you are driving and then switch to power at a campsite or hotel, or switch to gas in remote locations.

However, there is a safety warning when using absorption fridges. If you power your fridge with gas, then it is essential that you provide adequate ventilation. Effectively you should never use gas to power the fridge within a motor vehicle, caravan or tent. In addition to this serious warning, absorption fridges are also power hungry using up battery capacity quickly and are designed to operate on a level surface (so no parking on slopes!)

Prices range from $350 – $1300

Compressor

The best thing about the compressor type of fridge is that it is superior at cooling allowing you to cool or freeze and in the more expensive models to segment compartments thereby achieving both. They operate on 12V but accessories can usually be purchased to switch to 24V if required. The power drawn is significantly less than an absorption fridge and allows ‘fast cooling’, a feature lacking in the other two models.

Unfortunately the compressor is a little noisier to run, but then it doesn’t put out heat, is not dependent on level surfaces and is safer to operate.

The biggest disadvantage however with the compressor is that is usually more expensive.

Prices range from $500 – $1800

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We’ve updated our Winter Car Hire Guide for 2010. All you need to know about who and where to rent from! Have a look see and enjoy tearing up the slopes! Yeehaw!

Time’s a-ticking so pay attention: Europcar’s Earlybird Special offers 10% discount if you place your booking by 11 June 2010!

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2. VIC Public and School Holidays 2009 / 2010
3. NSW Public and School Holidays 2009 / 2010

Camp at the Kakadu. Experience Australia’s nocturnal creatures. Bag some cane toads.

Say what?

A rather unusual proposal is being mulled over by Darwin’s Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer to recruit tourists on safaris to help bag toxic cane toads that have now overrun the area. No bounty is planned on being awarded so no pocket money there – simply a sense of satisfaction of helping cull the cane toad population that have reached epidemic proportions – 92 million in the NT according to Frogwatch (yes there is a Frogwatch) – and are threatening other wildlife.

While we’re personally not so big on supporting extermination programs of any sort, it certainly could be something new to append to your travels in the near future! WA already has been running such an event since 2006 called The Great Toad Muster. It goes on for a month beginning some time in September. Volunteers anyone?

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Good news for folks looking for Sydney Airport rentals!

East Coast Car Rentals, already amongst our top picks for independents in Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Melbourne have opened shop there and we’re pleased to find their prices for Sydney Airport hires are as competitive as ever. On top of that, they offer probably the lowest daily waiver reduction rates. Read more in our updated article on the Best Independent Companies for Sydney Airport.

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1. Sydney Airport – Best Independent Car Hire Companies
2. Sydney Airport-City Public Transport
3. Sydney City – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

Inter-City Driving Routes Map

For complete details including directions, open this Inter-City Driving Route map on Google Maps.

View Major Inter-City Routes in a larger map

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3. Sydney Airport-City Public Transport

1. Click on any of the cities’ badges to display the exact addresses of the petrol stations offering the low prices
2. Use Google Maps to navigate your way to your chosen station
3. And save!

Unleaded fuel price data below is manually collected and updated twice daily in the morning and afternoon on Mondays to Saturdays, and once daily on Sundays.

For specific suburb search and prices of other types of fuel, use MotorMouth’s Price Search.

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1. Best Comparison Site for the Major Car Hire Companies
2. Inter-City Driving Distances and Times

The toll roads are fully electronic meaning cash is not accepted. To pay for your usage if you don’t have an electronic tag fitted in your car, you’ll need to pay for your trips by credit card online with a go viavideo pass or over the phone by calling 1 3000 GO VIA (1 3000 46 842). Alternatively, cash payments can be made at customer service centres but will incur a further $1.00 fee.

go viavideo passes are valid for 30 days and can also be bought up to three days after using the toll road. They are only for the Queensland Motorway network. On top of the regular toll fee, you’ll be charged an additional $0.40 ‘video matching fee’ per toll point.

Toll prices are charged depending on which of the five toll points you pass through.

Queensland Motorways Map (0.2 Mb)

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2. Melbourne Toll Roads, Charges and Passes
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CityLink

CityLink in its entirety, connects Malvern (Monash Fwy) in the south-east to Essendon (Tullamarine Fwy) in the north-west via the City. This is made up of two parts: the Southern Link (connects Monash Fwy to CBD) and the Western Link (connects West Gate Fwy and Tullamarine Fwy). There are several toll passes available for you to buy depending on your needs.

CityLink Map and Toll Details PDF (0.8 Mb)

Eastlink

Eastlink is a north-south tollway that connects the Eastern, Monash and Frankston Freeways. It is a fair bit more expensive for those without an electronic tag because each Eastlink pass costs the maximum trip fee instead of being aggregated to the distance travelled.

A single Trip Pass in one direction costs $5.15. Buying passes over-the-counter will unnecessarily incur you an extra $2.45 purchase fee. Avoid this by getting them either over the phone (call 13 54 65 or 13 LINK) or over the internet via Breeze.

Passes remain valid for 6 months and you don’t have to specify your travel dates. You can exit and re-enter Eastlink in the same trip, provided you keep going in the same direction, don’t repeat any section, and complete your trip within 60 minutes. Any unused passes are non-refundable.

Alternatively, consider the Melbourne Pass which covers travel on both the Eastlink and CityLink toll roads (refer to CityLink section).

You can pay for your pass either before or up to 3 days after travelling on the Eastlink.

Eastlink Map and Toll Details PDF (2.0 Mb)

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2. Sydney Toll Roads, Charges and Passes
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