Comparing car hire companies can be like comparing apples and oranges.
In Australia, they all have different vehicles, pricing, add-on fees, and insurance packages.
This can be a minefield if you are looking to make a booking.
Determining the best car rental companies in Australia is, therefore, quite difficult.
However, we can say that it doesn’t pay to be loyal to one particular company.
In fact, at Hack Your Trip, we regularly use different companies when we travel.
Here are some things to look for and consider before making your next booking.

The biggest car rental companies in Australia

Biggest doesn’t always mean best.
However, the biggest operators in Australia are:

Avis
Budget
Europcar
Hertz
Thrifty
SIXT

Thrifty won the 2024 Canstar Blue award for ‘Most Satisfied Customers’, rating highly across all surveyed categories.
These included customer service, value for money, transparency of cost and fees, range of vehicles available, availability of vehicles booked and quality of vehicle.
But that was just one small survey, and SIXT wasn’t included.

The advantages of booking with a large company in Australia

Booking with big rental companies has some advantages, particularly if you are flying.
These larger companies have prime positions at most Australian airports, allowing you to grab the keys and take a short walk from the terminal to your vehicle after you land.
However, this convenience can come at a high cost, with prices much higher compared to some off-airport rental companies.
These larger companies also tend to have newer vehicles – if that matters to you – and you might be able to earn loyalty points on your booking for your favourite airline or hotel group.

The best cheap car rental companies in Australia

There are many more rental companies in Australia beyond the ‘Big Six’ – some of whom you may not have heard of but do have their fans.
These include:

Ace Car Rentals
Apex Car Rentals
Alpha Car Hire
Bargain Car Rentals Australia
East Coast Car Rentals
Jucy

At the time of writing, East Coast had a rating on Trustpilot of 4.8 out of 5, and Bargain had a rating of 4.4 out of 5 from almost 30,000 reviews.
Those aren’t bad reviews at all!
In fact, they get better reviews than some of the bigger operators, which might make them some of the best operators in Australia.

What to consider when booking a cheap car rental company in Australia

These smaller operators can offer cheap bookings because they usually have off-airport locations.
After you land, you may have to take a free shuttle bus for five or ten minutes to get to your vehicle.
However, doing so could save you hundreds of dollars on your rental – particularly for longer bookings.
The other downside to these smaller companies is they can have slightly older vehicles with more kilometres on them.
However, in our experience with some of these companies—including Bargain and Alpha—the vehicles have still been in good condition.
Unlike the more prominent operators, some of these cheaper rental companies also offer an additional driver at no extra cost – which can be an added incentive to book with them.

Benefits of the best car hire companies in Australia — There are pros and cons to using both large and small rental companies in Australia.

How to compare the best car rental companies in Australia

The best way to compare rental companies in Australia is to use a comparison website when making your next booking.
Websites such as QEEQ.com will compare prices across all the rental companies listed above – big and small – to help you find the best price.
For example, we searched QEEQ.com for a two-day rental from Gold Coast Airport in February 2025, wanting a Toyota Corolla (or similar Compact).
Our search returned options from 11 suppliers, including:

Apex: $126 (including free additional driver)
Jucy: $150 ($110 for Diamond members of QEEQ.com)
Europcar: $302 ($267 for Diamond members of QEEQ.com)
Hertz: $365
Avis: $375 ($342 for Diamond members of QEEQ.com)

As you can see, there are significant price discrepancies between suppliers for the same — or very similar — cars.
All of these options included instant confirmation, free cancellation and unlimited kilometres.
For this location, you must take free shuttle buses to off-airport locations for Apex and Jucy, while Europcar, Hertz and Avis all have in-terminal desks.

Compare and find the best rental prices on QEEQ.com

Summary

Determining the best car hire companies in Australia comes down to what matters to you and what you are willing to pay. Undoubtedly, there is a slightly more ‘premium’ feel about the more prominent rental companies, like Avis, Hertz and SIXT. However, some cheaper rental companies still provide excellent service and incredible prices – and receive top reviews. Because prices between companies vary so much on similar bookings, you should always use a comparison website like QEEQ.com to compare prices.

Written By: Chris
Updated: October 2024

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Using a comparison website is the best way to find cheap rentals in Australia. Comparison websites like QEEQ.com compare prices across a range of suppliers, including both the major operators and smaller ones. You can easily search, compare and book a great rental at a great price in a matter of a few clicks.
It is always advisable to use a comparison website if you want to find a cheap rental in Sydney. These websites will compare prices across a range of suppliers. Some companies which operate in Sydney and receive good reviews include Bargain Car Rentals Australia, East Coast Car Rentals and NoBirds.
A vehicle for a trip to the Gold Coast doesn’t have to cost a fortune, with cheap options available. Check a comparison website like QEEQ.com to search a wide range of rental companies on the Gold Coast. You can save money by selecting a smaller car hire company with an off-airport location. These companies will pick you up in a free shuttle bus from outside the terminal and take you to your vehicle, which is usually about a 5–10-minute drive away.
Newcastle has plenty of rental options, including all of the major companies and some smaller ones. East Coast Car Rentals in Newcastle is one company that receives some outstanding car rental reviews. If you are heading to Newcastle, we’d recommend using a comparison website like QEEQ.com to compare deals and pricing across a range of providers.