Australian Car Rental Guide
At Alpha Car Hire, we have an ongoing commitment to making the car hire process easier and more accessible to everyone. Please feel free to go through our car rental guide to know more about the car hire process, from how to book a rental car to choosing the right vehicle type, all the way to getting familiar with company policies and terminologies, as well as car rental and driving tips.
- Benefits of Using a Car Hire Service
- For Interstate and International Travellers
- For Local Renters
- Where Can I Rent a Car in Australia?
- How to Rent a Car in Australia?
- Who Can Rent a Car in Australia?
- What Types of Vehicles Can I Rent?
- How to Pick-Up your Rental Car?
- How to Return your Rental Car?
- Car Hire Made Easy
- Car Hire Additional Extras
- Car Hire Excess: Liabilities and Exclusions
Benefits of Using a Car Hire Service
Promos and Deals Make a Huge Difference
Just a little bit of diligence in checking website deals or asking for them directly over the phone from an agent, you can get surprisingly great deals, such as discounts, free extra days, free extra driver or other seasonal promotions.
You’re Always Driving a New Model
Car hire companies need to be up to date with their vehicle models to stay competitive. Compared to having your own car which you’re likely to be stuck with for years, you can be sure that your rental car is a fresh model.
Get the Best Price Possible
To stay competitive, some car hire companies offer a price matching service. Show them a lower price from a competitor for the same vehicle type and booking date, and they’ll match their price if not offer you something lower.
For Interstate and International Travellers:
Gets You to More Places than Public Transport
Your destinations are no longer limited to where and when public transportation can take you. With your own vehicle, you get full control of your itinerary.
Cheaper than Public Transport
This is especially the case when you’re planning to visit multiple destinations daily. Driving yourself in a rental car is much cheaper than taking multiple taxi trips across several destinations and back to your hotel.
One Size Fits All
You can specify the size of the vehicle you’re renting to best accommodate the people in your group. Save petrol on a compact car hire when you’re travelling alone or spare yourself from renting multiple vehicles with your big family comfortably seated in a people mover.
Free Shuttle Service from your Airport to your Car
Some car hire companies offer complimentary shuttle services to take you from your terminal to their nearby office. There is no need to queue for an airport car hire service, and off-airport hires are usually much cheaper.
For Local Renters:
Spare Your Own Car from Wear and Tear
Taking a holiday or driving out-of-town for a business trip can put a lot of mileage in your car which can contribute to its depreciation. For those one-off long drives, it’s better to hire a car instead.
Save Up on Maintenance Fees
More mileage means more maintenance. But with a rental car, you can tick that off from your worries. The rental company is wholly responsible for the maintenance of their vehicles, and you’re assured that you’re getting a well-running vehicle.
Get the Perfect Vehicle for Any Occasion
Whether you want to make a stunning impression at a business meeting or need something classy when attending a formal function, a car rental company can help you get behind the wheel of the vehicle you need.
Where Can I Rent a Car in Australia?
Before you decide on where to book your rental car from, there are a few essential things you need to consider:
Booking with an airport car hire vs. booking with an off-airport provider with a free shuttle service.
While booking your rental car from an in-airport provider seems to be the better choice, you’d be pleased to learn that off-airport rentals are generally cheaper. Premier off-airport rental companies also provide free airport shuttles to ferry you from the airport to your rental car, saving you from the horrors of having to drive through airport traffic.
Booking directly on the car hire website or booking through a broker.
Because brokers compile vehicles and locations from multiple sources, you might think that it’s the better option. But booking directly from the rental provider’s website gives you access to special deals and discounts, including Alpha Car Hire’s multiple payment options.
Why choose Alpha Car Hire for your rental vehicle?
Alpha Car Hire has five car hire locations across Australia to best serve your car rental needs. From each of our location pages, you’ll find an easy-to-use platform where you can reserve your preferred dates, get a quote for each vehicle type, finalise your car hire booking or request a call from our car hire experience representatives.
- Car Hire Brisbane Airport
- Car Hire Gold Coast Airport
- Car Hire Melbourne Airport
- Car Hire Sydney Airport
- Car Hire Slack Creek Logan
We’ll even set you and your family up with a complimentary shuttle to take you from your terminal to your rental car.
How to Rent a Car in Australia?
While most online car rental booking services pretty much flow the same way—you choose your travel dates, car type, then finalise your booking payment. When booking online, we also advise you to check if whether the site you’re on has a promos and deals section where you can pick-up discount codes you can use upon checking out.
If you’re booking with an agent over the phone, also make sure to ask about their current specials and promos.
At Alpha Car Hire, we offer multiple booking options on our website. Once you’ve chosen your most ideal car rental location and the date and time of your pick-up and drop-off, you may proceed to choose the vehicle type most suitable for your needs.
Once you’ve set the details mentioned above, Alpha Car Hire offers 3 Booking Options:
- Pay Upfront
- Pay Later
- Pay Over the Phone
Please visit our payment options page to learn more about the benefits of each payment option.
Car Hire Additional Extras
Some car hire companies offer additional perks and benefits on top of their basic car hire service. Consider whether you’re travelling with children or how long you see yourself driving at a time.
If you’ll be having kids with you, please be advised that under Australian law:
- Children under 6 months must be seated in a rear-facing child seat.
- Children between 6 months and 4 years can either use a rear-facing seat or a forward-facing seat with a harness.
- Children between 4 to 7 years old can either use a forward-facing seat with a harness or a booster seat.
- Children above 7 years old and not taller than 145cm should still use a booster seat.
- Children above 145cm can use the regular adult seat once they pass the five-step safety test.
At Alpha Car Hire we offer the following optional extras for our clients:
- Child Seats (1-18kg)
- Booster Seats (18-30kg)
- Extra Driver Option
- Reduced Tyre and Windscreen Liabilities
Car Hire Excess: Liabilities and Exclusions
If your rental car suffers any damage, the car rental company will need to have it repaired and charge you an ‘Excess.’ In simpler terms, the excess refers to the limit that a car renter has to pay to cover the cost of repairs. Beyond that limit, the car company’s damage coverage will settle the cost.
So it’s always a good idea to carefully go through your car hire company’s terms and conditions to learn about their specific policies concerning liabilities and exclusions.
To help you understand terms and conditions jargon, here are some of the most essential parts of the document you need to understand and what they refer to:
Third-Party Insurance
Regardless of which state or territory you’re going to be driving in Australia, it’s mandatory to register a third-party insurance with a car, including rental cars. This is to cover any injuries caused to other people and damage to other properties.
Standard Liability or Excess
Also known as collision or loss damage waiver, damage liability fee, accident damage excess or damage recovery fee, this term refers to the limit of your potential liability to a specific amount.
Pre-Authorised Limits
Car rental companies might require you to present a credit or debit card which can cover a pre-authorised cost for the security bond. This is to ensure that you’re capable of paying your liabilities in cases where they’re applicable.
Excess Reduction Products
If you want to reduce your liability in the event of an accident, some car hire companies offer excess reduction options. It’s a minimal fee added on top of your car hire payment and can significantly reduce your liabilities. Always remember to ask your car rental company about the excess reduction products they offer.
At Alpha Car Hire, we offer multiple options to reduce your liability and bond requirements:
- Standard Liability Protection
- Premium Protection
- Total Protection
- Tyre and Windscreen Waiver
- Lost Key Waiver
- Collision Damage Liability Waiver for Commercial Vehicles
To learn more about these protection products and their exclusions, please refer to our Liabilities and Waivers Page or check out our post on Understanding your Car Hire Excess Insurance.
What Types of Vehicles Can I Rent?
Before you start booking your rental car, it’s best if you have a good think about what type of car suits you best. Consider how many people are in your group, how many kids are with you, how much luggage you’re carrying and how long you plan to be on the road.
Aside from considering seating capacity and comfort, you also need to learn how many free kilometres your car rental company offers and the safety features they provide.
Most car rental companies offer various makes and models to cater to specific needs and requirements, ranging from compact cars to full-size people movers. Check out our Guide to Car Hire Sizes so you can make a better decision with your next car hire.
Car Hire Additional Extras
At Alpha Car Hire, we offer a wide range of rental vehicles to choose from to cater to everyone’s needs:
- Economy Car Rental (Mg3 or Similar)
- Compact Car Rental (Hyundai i30 or Similar)
- Intermediate Car Rental (Kia Cerato Sedan or Similar)
- Intermediate SUV Rental (MG ZS or Similar)
- Family-Sized SUV Rental (MG HS or Similar)
- People Movers / Van Rental (LDV G10 or Similar)
- Ute Rental (Toyota Hilux or Similar)
- Moving Truck Hire (Mitsubishi Canter or Similar)
- Moving Van Hire (LDV G10+ or Similar)
You’d also be pleased to learn that we offer 500 free kilometres per day for our passenger vehicles and free 100 kilometres per day for our commercial Utes and Trucks. Additionally, all our vehicles are covered by free 24-hour roadside assistance and free standard liability protection.
How to Pick-Up your Rental Car?
Once you have your booking confirmed in advance, the details of your rental will be included in the confirmation letter from your car hire company. It will include the date, time and location of your pick-up, as well as other important details. It’s best that you keep yourself reminded of these details as you might forfeit your end of the rental agreement when you suddenly forget to pick-up your vehicle.
So you never forget, Alpha Car Hire, will send you email and SMS reminders of your booking, which includes other important details, such as the documents you need to bring, company policies, driving tips and suggested places to visit to make the most out of your time renting from us.
How to Return your Rental Car?
For car hire companies with multiple locations, make sure to check with your rental provider if you’re required to return your vehicle to the branch you picked it up from. Once you confirm the date, time and location of your drop-off, please remember to allot enough time for the company to perform their inspections and finalise the completion of your rental agreement.
If you need to extend your rental or return your vehicle during after-hours, please make sure to contact your rental provider in advance to notify them of your circumstances.
Car Hire Made Easy
With plenty of variables surrounding car hire, getting the best deals may not be too straightforward. You must practice diligence during each step of the process, from choosing the car rental company to selecting the most appropriate vehicle type and going through the terms and conditions, all the way to considering the ease of pick-up and drop-off.
At Alpha Car Hire, we’ve simplified the process for you, because we want your car rental experience to be an enjoyable one. We offer a streamlined, easy-to-navigate booking process where you can seamlessly select your vehicle type, liability protection and additional extras.
We also have various payment options where you can choose to pay upfront, pay later or complete your booking over the phone.
Plus, we constantly offer exciting car rental deals and discounts for our customers, so please make sure to regularly check into our car hire promos and deals page for exciting updates.