Car Hire Cost in Australia
The lowest car hire price depends on your dates, pickup point, return point and vehicle. Compare the full quoted rental amount, liability, deposit, return terms and kilometre allowance before booking.
Updated
Key facts
- Total cost
- Check the liability cover for gaps, for example single car accidents are sometimes not covered
- Mandatory fees
- Must be included in advertised headline price
- Optional extras
- Do not have to be included in headline price
- Deposit
- Check the amount and the circumstances in which it can be forfeited
- One-way return
- Ask whether a different return location is allowed and whether it costs extra
- Kilometre limit
- Hertz may apply a daily allowance and charge for kilometres above it
When is car hire cheapest in Australia?
A supposed nationwide cheapest month or average daily rate will not price your trip. Quote the same vehicle class on your actual dates, then test nearby pickup dates and airport versus city collection if your itinerary is flexible. Record the full rental total, not just the first daily rate.
For a fair comparison, hold the return point, included kilometres and damage liability level constant. A lower base rate may become a dearer trip if it adds excess-kilometre, one-way or optional-cover charges.
Which charges belong in the comparison?
Mandatory charges belong in the advertised headline price; optional extras need separate attention. Compare the total with chosen cover and required add-ons rather than a daily number alone.
How do bonds and excess affect cash needed?
Hertz typically reserves the estimated charges plus a security bond on your payment method, and releases that amount after the vehicle is returned and the rental is paid. Ask when the deposit is refunded and what the liability amount is if the vehicle is damaged; the cheapest rate is less useful if the card cannot support the hold.
Does one-way hire change the price?
It can. Ask whether a different return point is allowed and what it costs. Hertz may charge a one-way fee if you return to a different location, and tells you at reservation whether that is permitted and the fee.
Compare cars at Sydney Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
What is the cheapest time to hire a car in Australia?
There is no single cheapest month for every location and vehicle. Compare dated, like-for-like quotes for your route before booking.
What is the average cost of car hire in Australia?
A single average conceals differences in dates, location, vehicle and duration. Use live quotes for your exact itinerary to estimate the cost.
Why can car hire cost more than the first rate shown?
With Hertz, for example, additional drivers, tolls, excess kilometres and a different return location can add to the amount payable, and fuel needs refilling before return. Check the full quote and agreement.
Does a quoted daily rate include all costs?
Mandatory fees must be in the headline price, but optional extras and later usage charges require checking.
Is a security bond part of the rental price?
It is separate from the rental charge. Hertz, for example, reserves the estimated charges plus a security bond and releases the hold after the vehicle is returned and the rental paid.
Is one-way car hire more expensive?
It can be; check any one-way charge in the actual reservation.