Are you looking to hit the road on your next trip without breaking the bank?
Car hire costs can add up, but you could save hundreds of dollars on your next rental with a few tips and tricks.
Whether you are looking to hire a car in Australia or while on an overseas trip, there are ways to enjoy the freedom of the open road without the financial stress.
Use these seven tricks to discover budget car hire for your next booking.

1. Use a car hire comparison website

Just because you have always booked with one particular rental company doesn’t mean they will offer the best deal for your next trip.
In all major cities worldwide, a raft of rental companies compete for your business.
You can find them and their best deals using a comparison website.
QEEQ is one such comparison website, which compares prices on more than 7 million cars in about 200 countries worldwide.
These include trusted brands like Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar and SIXT.
In many cases, the prices listed on QEEQ are lower than those on the rental companies’ websites for the same vehicle.
We’ve seen rentals available on QEEQ for as little as $32 a day from Sydney Airport.
That’s what we call a bargain!

2. Make a flexible booking

Whichever company or website you hire a car through, make sure it is a flexible booking with either no prepayment or free cancellation.  
The reason for this is that prices for rentals can dramatically drop.
If you are planning a trip in six months’ time and find a reasonable deal on a hire car, lock it in with a flexible booking.
But we’d also recommend you do another search for a new rental around three to four weeks before your trip.
When doing this, we’ve often found that prices have dropped dramatically – sometimes by hundreds of dollars on a one-week hire.
With a flexible booking option, you can cancel your old vehicle and book a new one at a lower price.
Some rental companies try to entice you into making a pre-paid, non-refundable booking with a marginally lower price point.
Don’t get sucked into this – because you might be able to save a lot more than $10 by cancelling and rebooking down the track.
If cancelling and rebooking sounds like a lot of work, booking websites like QEEQ offer a ‘Price Drop Protector’, which will do it for you and ensure you always pay the lowest price.
This is quite a handy travel hack!

3. Consider off-airport rentals for budget car hire

Car rental companies located just outside the terminal at airports are undoubtedly convenient.
However, you can save a lot of money using an off-airport operator instead.
Generally, off-airport rentals mean an easy 10-minute shuttle bus ride to an office near the airport.
The shuttle service is free both to and from the airport.
You will have to allow extra time in your schedule because the shuttle buses won’t necessarily be there as soon as you collect your bags.
However, off-airport hires can be half the price of at-terminal operators.

4. Watch out for additional fees

Some companies are notorious for extra fees.
One of the most annoying ones is for an additional driver.
If you and a partner or friend want to hire a car for a week and share the driving, some operators will charge you $12 a day or more for the privilege of adding an additional driver.
That’s an extra $84 for the week.
However, some other operators offer free additional drivers, so check these fees when considering options for your next hire.

5. Save on insurance

Car hire prices can seem reasonable on the surface, but companies will try to up-sell you with expensive insurance products.
For example, when we searched for a three-day rental from Gold Coast Airport with Budget in March 2025, we found a Toyota Camry available for $519.04.
After selecting the Camry, we were offered three insurance packages on the next page – ‘Most Things’ at $170.84, ‘More Things’ at $150 and ‘Some Things’ at $75.01.
Ignoring those packages, we could select ‘Excess Reduction’ for $125 or ‘Zero Excess’ for $145.84 on the following page.
Alternatively, we would be left with a liability of up to $5,445 if the vehicle was damaged while in our possession.
Some credit cards negate the need for these pricey insurance products – and will still leave you fully protected.
If you book and pay for a rental using some credit cards, you could be covered by the card’s own Loss Damage Waiver Cover with no excess payable.
If you don’t have a credit card that covers rental cars, you may be able to purchase insurance through a comparison website like QEEQ for a lower price than if you were to take out insurance directly with a rental company.
Always check individual insurance policies and ensure that any cover is right for you, but you could save hundreds of dollars on insurance.

6. Book a mystery car rental

Some companies offer ‘Mystery’ cars on some rentals.
You can also find these on some comparison websites like QEEQ.
These usually are cheaper than all other cars available, with the proviso that you won’t know which car you are given the keys to until you check-in.
Generally, it will be a smaller, lower-class vehicle.
But sometimes, you can get lucky with a larger car for a heavily discounted price.
If you’re not fussed about what you drive – or how big it is – this can be an excellent way to save money on your next booking.

7. Enjoy loyalty program discounts

Signing up for loyalty programs could save you money – and time – on your next rental.
For example, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members don’t have to pay a fee for an additional driver; they can skip the counter for pick up and drop off and pick their car at some locations.
Signing up for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is free, and you can even earn points on bookings.
Avis Preferred is another free program. Members receive a free additional driver and priority service, among other perks.

Summary

By using comparison websites, booking flexibly, considering off-airport rentals, being mindful of hidden fees, and utilising credit card benefits, you can significantly reduce the cost of your next car rental. Additionally, signing up for loyalty programs can provide further discounts and perks.

Written By: Chris
Updated: October 2024

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS