Gold Coast Airport – Best Independent Car Hire Companies

At the Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta), our analysis reveals the following best independent car hire companies. Their off-site location will save you at least 12% in Airport Fees than if you went with the Big Boys located on-site. However, if you still want to stick with the big brands, see our recommendations on the best sites for comparing Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar.

East Coast Car Rentals Go To Site

Cheap car hires with unlimited km’s

Being inclusive of unlimited km’s, East Coast Car Rentals has probably one of the best prices you’ll find for Gold Coast car hires. Originally specializing in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns areas, their success has seen them expanding to serve Melbourne and Sydney too. They offer free shuttles to and from the Coolangatta Airport to their depot nearby. You have a choice of of late model Compact hatchbacks, Intermediate and Standard sedans, SUVs, as well as 8 and 12-seater Vans. When available, their “Near New” cars can save you a significant sum.

The rentals carry a standard liability of A$3000 that you can opt to lower to A$200 for A$13.20/day or less (these figures apply to their cars and are higher for larger SUVs and Vans).

Surfers Paradise Car Hire Go To Site

Competitive Compact Auto hatch and Intermediate sedans. Only 100km/day. Ages 18-24, 70+ allowed.

Surfers Paradise Car Hire is a small family-owned company that offers both new and used cars at attractively low prices. Their website is rather bland and could do with a makeover but look beyond that and you’ll find their Compact and Intermediate cars are often the cheapest around. Pick-up and drop-off services to Coolangatta Airport are available. However, their rentals only include 100km/day ($0.39/extra km).

It is worth highlighting in particular that they allow people between ages 18-24 and over 70, and provisional licence holders to rent. Normally, car hire companies almost always require renters to be at least 21 and the age surcharge for those 21-24 is often at least A$10/day (up to a whopping A$30/day e.g. Europcar). For under 21′s or P-platers, it’s very near impossible. Enter Surfers Paradise Car Hire! They charge 21-24 and 70+ hirers only A$4.16/day, and 18-20 and provisional licence hirers A$14.55/day.

For those 25-69, the standard liability is A$3000. About A$17/day gets this lowered to A$550. Outside the age bracket, expect a higher standard liability.

Bargain Wheels Go To Site

Independent companies comparison site. Booking with Alpha Car Hire or ECCR can be cheaper here

Bargain Wheels enables you to search a few of Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport’s off-site independent car hire companies. We have to say, it can be quite a chore to click through the various steps in order to reveal the final price but the rates found here can be attractively low. To help narrow down your options, we discovered the two companies that consistently come up with the lowest prices are Alpha Car Hire and East Coast Car Rentals (the latter of which we already covered above). Still, we recommend you check the price if you booked with ECCR via Bargain Wheels rather than directly as sometimes it works out slightly cheaper.

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.

Airport Rent-A-Car Go To Site

Possible value particularly during discount months. 300km/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 – currently being offered in June and July 2011. The rentals come with 300km/day included and will cost you A$0.25/extra km. Standard Collision Damage Liability is A$3300 which can be lowered to A$330 for A$23/day (this is expensive – instead, read up on cheaper alternative car rental insurance). They offer free pickups from the airport to their depot 5 minutes away.