Renting cars for holidays can be a confusing business. There are so many providers to choose from, all with different terms and conditions, vehicles and models and, most crucially, prices.
We’ve rounded up the best car hire sites on the internet to help take the stress out of your search.
KINTO offers hires from anywhere from an hour to a year, giving you the ultimate flexibility. It uses Toyotas, with the majority being hybrid vehicles. It's also easy on the wallet, charging a fixed rate by kilometre and time.
No surge or peak prices
Price includes fuel, motor vehicle insurance, 24/7 roadside assist and standard cleaning
No-contact – book and pick up your vehicle via the app
Available on select dates at select KINTO locations around Australia including Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Sydney, Hobart, Darwin and more. Distance fees apply.
An independent, Australian-owned car hire company, East Coast Car Rentals continues to guarantee locals the lowest possible car rates across major cities in Australia since 1979.
Get 10% off rental, premium damage waiver, premium roadside assistance, tire & windscreen, and ZERO security bond at East Coast Car Rentals. T&Cs apply.
Despite the name Europcar is not confined to Europe. Since it was founded in 1949 it has spread to over 140 countries worldwide and rents a wide variety of cars, vans and trucks.
Redeem Virgin Velocity Points against your booking
Accounts available for business customers
Privilege Loyalty Program offers exclusive rewards and discounts
Book at least 21 days in advance to save up to 20% off the base of your car rental for 2 days or more. Valid until 15 December 2024 within Australia and New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Since it was founded in 1996, Expedia has become one of the world’s leading online travel agents and is a trusted site for finding online deals. It is known for flight and hotel bookings, but also offers rental car deals.
Price-match guarantee ensures it won’t be beaten on price
Exclusive last-minute deals
Expedia+ provides members-only discounts and deals
Member Price: 10% off or more on over 100,000 hotels
Available for travel on select dates across Australia at Expedia. Destinations include Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and more. T&Cs apply.
Sign up for Expedia Rewards to become a member and get exclusive discounts on hotel stays. Destinations include Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and Hobart. T&Cs apply.
Available on selected accommodations in Cairns, Port Douglas, Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney, Queenstown, Adelaide and Dubbo. Limited time offer. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Available on select dates on destinations including Dunbogan, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Woollama, Port Macquarie and more. Sample rate is for a stay at Eden Holiday Getaway Park.
Don't miss out on incredible savings! Score up to 25% off last-minute hotels and accommodations with Wotif. Valid for stays within the next 14 days. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates until 2024 on activities such as sightseeing tours, whale-watching cruises, helicopter tours, cruises, wine tours and more. Sample rate is for an audio walking tour.
Available on select dates in 2024 on activities including wine tours, cruises, safari experiences, attraction entry passes and sightseeing tours. Sample price is for a self-guided tour.
Available on select travel dates until 2022 on activities such as wine tours, dinner cruises, hot air balloon flights, attraction entry passes and more. Sample fare is an audio walking tour.
Part of the Avis rental group, Budget specialises in cars and trucks for those on, well, a budget. It stocks a wide range of cars, vans and trucks in over 2,500 locations worldwide.
RMS E-Toll in all bookings automatically charges any tolls incurred to your credit card
Join the Budget Fastbreak program for exclusive rewards
CoachHire is one of Australia’s leading private coach hire companies with an outstanding reputation for offering friendly professional services at competitive rates.
100% refund where canceled before travel commenced
13 seat minibuses up to 70 seat coaches with standard, executive and VIP classes available
Founded in 2017, Qeeq gives an award-winning level of car rental experience with real-time services and advanced technologies to ensure a smooth and secure adventure.
Book with Avis 360° Rental and get full damage and theft cover and more. Destinations include Ireland, the UK, France, Poland, Turkey and more. T&Cs apply.
Hertz was founded in 1918 with just 12 Model-T Fords in its fleet. Today it has operations in over 146 countries and is the largest worldwide airport use car rental brand in the world.
24-hour roadside assistance with every booking
Hertz Mobile Wi-Fi connects you to Wi-Fi wherever you go
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards users receive exclusive rewards
Valid for prepaid rentals that begin on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday and end on or before Thursday of the same week. Must book on or before December 20, 2024. Excludes Sports and Luxury. T&Cs apply.
Hotwire specialises in unsold travel deals. This means that any time a plane seat goes unsold, a hotel room goes unbooked or a hire care is not reserved, Hotwire swoops in and negotiates a cheaper rate for consumers.
Which of these retailers allow me to compare different car companies?
Wotifcompares car hire companies including Avis, Europcar, Budget, SIXT and Hertz.
Drive Now compares both car hire and campervan rental from popular companies including Hertz, Budget, Avis, Europcar, Britz, Jucy and Maui.
Expedia compares car hire companies including Avis, Europcar, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
Hotwirecompares Alamo, Budget, Dollar Rent A Car, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
Which car hire company should I choose?
There's no single right answer to this question. Sometimes it might be cheaper to book direct with the car hire company, but aggregators like Wotif and Expedia may feature special deals that you can only access through them.
If you’re looking for the cheapest car hire available for your trip, spend the time to see what each company and aggregator is offering in terms of cars, price and insurance costs, to make an informed decision.
Which of these retailers allow me to add on hire car insurance?
What's the difference between booking direct and booking with an online aggregator?
On one hand, aggregators allow you to easily compare options from different companies with one simple search, but on the other, booking direct can let you access exclusive deals and discounts that are only available when booking direct. We recommend a combination: Use an aggregator to see more options and check in on our car hire deals page to see what offers are available to get the best price for you.
Want to book car hire online? Use one of our coupons
Dealexclusive
15% off every car, everyday with code ECFINDER15
Minimum 3-day rental. Available at all locations, all vehicles, every day. 14 city and airport locations across Australia. T&Cs apply.
Available from and to all locations on Let's Go Motorhomes rentals booked 90 days in advance. Minimum 7-day hire. Offer applicable for new bookings only. T&Cs apply.
Book at least 21 days in advance to save up to 20% off the base of your car rental for 2 days or more. Valid until 15 December 2024 within Australia and New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
As low as $1/day on relocation campervans from Cairns
Save on your Cairns relocation campervan rental when you book at JUCY for as low as $1 per day. Destinations include Brisbane and Sydney through JUCY Crib+. T&Cs apply.
Member Price: 10% off or more on over 100,000 hotels
Available for travel on select dates across Australia at Expedia. Destinations include Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and more. T&Cs apply.
Available for booking from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 at Motorhome Rental using the code. Pick-up locations are Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth. T&Cs apply.
Available for booking from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 at Motorhome Rental using the code. Pick-up locations are Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth. T&Cs apply.
Available for booking from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025 at Motorhome Rental using the code. Pick-up locations are Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Hobart, Hobart Airport, Melbourne, and Perth. T&Cs apply.
Valid for prepaid rentals that begin on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday and end on or before Thursday of the same week. Must book on or before December 20, 2024. Excludes Sports and Luxury. T&Cs apply.
Get 10% off rental, premium damage waiver, premium roadside assistance, tire & windscreen, and ZERO security bond at East Coast Car Rentals. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates at select KINTO locations around Australia including Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Sydney, Hobart, Darwin and more. Distance fees apply.
Available on select rental dates in 2023 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations include Brisbane, Toowoomba, Lamington National Park and more.
Available on select rental dates in 2023 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Cairns include Palm Island, Mareeba and more.
Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday. See full bio
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