Top deals on rental cars

15% off for Finder customers at East Coast Car Rental

Unlock a 15% discount on car rentals at East Coast Car Rental, exclusively for Finder customers. Enjoy the convenience of a rental car and save on your travel expenses. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.

Up to 20% off campervan rentals at Motorhome Republic

Experience the ultimate road trip with Motorhome Republic's campervan deals, saving you up to 20%. Create lasting memories and explore incredible landscapes with these fantastic rental discounts. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.

Up to 15% off first car rental

Sign up to SIXT's newsletter to get up to 15% off your first car rental on select locations. Visit site for more details. T&Cs apply.

$100 off your booking with code FINDER100 at Camplif

Plan your next adventure with Camplify and save! Use the code FINDER100 to get $100 off your campervan or motorhome booking, making your road trip more affordable. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.

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Is it better to book car hire in advance or at the counter?

Save money

The major advantage of pre-booking your hire car in advance is that it allows you to access cheaper car rentals. There's a common misconception that you'll be able to snap up a last-minute bargain and save heaps by simply showing up to the car rental counter when your plane lands, but this simply isn't the case.

As a general rule, the earlier you book, the cheaper your hire car will be. It's all about supply and demand – if there are plenty of rental cars available for a specific date and you book early, then you can find a better deal. Discounts of 10% or even 15% are not uncommon on pre-bookings, which can make a substantial difference to the total cost of your holiday.

The main aim for car hire companies is to lock in as many rentals as possible, so offering discounts and deals to customers who book early is a simple way to keep revenue coming in.

Get the car you want

When you rock up at the car rental counter and try to hire a vehicle at the last minute, your choice is limited. And if you're travelling during peak periods such as holidays or weekends, you may even find that the rental company is fully booked and you'll end up stranded.

It's a different story when you rent a car in advance. If you pre-book a hire car months before your planned travel dates, you'll usually be able to pick from the rental company's full range of vehicles. Not only does this allow you to choose the perfect car for your holiday – a people mover that can fit the whole family in comfort, for example – it also guarantees that you won't miss out altogether.

Compare your options

When you're caught up in the stressful rush to book a rental car at the last minute, there's no time to shop around for the best deal. Instead, it's merely a matter of locking in something – anything – before it's too late.

But when you book in advance, you've got plenty of time to compare car rental options and prices at your leisure. It's quick and easy to weigh up your options using an online comparison engine, allowing you to browse a wide selection of vehicles, choose the one you want and find the best price available.

Change your mind

Making a car rental reservation in advance usually won't cost you any money. In most cases, it's free to reserve a car online, and the company won't actually charge any funds to your credit card until you actually pick up the car in person.

This is very handy for savvy shoppers who want to hunt around for the best deal. For example, you could find a great car rental rate while comparing your options and make a reservation to lock it in. However, if you do another comparison a couple of days later and happen to find a better deal, you then have the option to cancel the first reservation without incurring any fees. But if a better deal doesn't become available, you can still fall back on the original reservation.

Of course, this also means you don't have to stress about the cost of cancelling your booking if your travel plans change. While cancellation fees may apply if you cancel your reservation close to the scheduled pickup time, such as in the final 24 or 48 hours, many car rental companies won't charge you for cancellations that occur well in advance of your planned travel time.

One less thing to worry about

Regardless of whether you're travelling for business or pleasure, anything you can do to take some of the stress out of travel can only be a good thing. Holidays are meant to be relaxing, stress-free experiences, so why would you want the hassle of trying to find an affordable rental car at the last minute?

Not only can this be a frantic and unpleasant experience, it'll also cost you money. There's even the risk that you don't properly review the rental agreement or check the car for existing damage and instead just focus on signing on the dotted line and getting out of the airport as quickly as possible.

Pre-booking a rental car in advance means your holiday will get off to a smooth start. You can board your flight knowing that the car you want will be ready and waiting with a full tank of petrol as soon as you land, leaving you free to simply relax and enjoy your holiday.

What is car hire excess insurance?

Car hire excess insurance is your financial saviour should things turn south during your trip and your vehicle gets stolen, maliciously damaged or involved in an accident. It does this by covering or reducing the excess imposed by the rental company and could save you a motza as this excess can cost up to $5,000.

Rentalcover.com

• Complete vehicle coverage for up to $100,000 in damages
• Coverage for theft, towing, damage to tyres, windscreens, roof, underbody, and key loss
• Coverage for accident-related charges e.g. admin/processing fees, "loss of use", relocation fees, and more
• Cancel anytime up until pickup, and for any reason
• No further excess payable

Car hire excess

• Cover from $4,000 to $8,000
• Additional cover for damage to windscreens, roof, tyres and underbody
• Underwritten by Lloyds
• No further excess payable

Tripcover

• Cover from $4,000 to $8,000
• Underwritten by Allianz
• Excess options: Nil or $300

American Express

• Cover up to $3,000
• Underwritten by Chubb
• Excess options: $100, $200 and $500

RACV

• Cover from $1,000 to $8,000
• 15% discount for RACV members
• Underwritten by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd
• No further excess payable

*Prices are based on a 15-day hire in Australia, as of September 2019. Benefits vary from brand to brand. Always read through the product disclosure statement (PDS) to make sure the product is suitable for you.