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.