You can approach this drive in two ways; you can either take a coastal route or opt for an inland route. It goes without saying that you can start with one city and end up in the other; the drive is magnificent either way.

Booking a Vehicle

For this trip, you need speed, comfort, and reliability when it comes to your rented vehicle. Make sure you keep those factors in mind when comparing car hire online. After you book a car and pick it up from the designated location, you may start your journey.

As always, we remind you to pack a GPS, backup batteries, first aid kit, and provisions for the trip. Your car hire company would let you know the pick-up and drop-off points, and it is up to you to choose a one-way or a round trip.

The Coastal Route

The coastal route is 1,300 kilometres long, and will take as long as you want it to. Theoretically, the drive should be 17.5 hours, but that’s just the time you will spend on the wheel. There are sandy beaches, waterways, lakes, surf beaches, and Wilsons Promontory and Croajingolong national parks along the way. There are plenty of rest stops, hotels, restaurants, and fuel stations, so you do not have to worry about facilities on this drive. Make sure you take in the glory of the coastal region, and let nature inspire you.

The Inland Route

The inland route is about 1,200 kilometres long, and goes through epic places such as Walhalla, Lakes Entrance, and Mallacoota. The landscape is pristine, and there are several historical towns, villages, lakes and wineries around. Although the route is inland, you will often find yourself in the vicinity of beaches.

Take your time to enjoy the several offerings of the inland route. Again, you do not have to worry about facilities as there are a lot of fuel stations, hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, and shops on this route.

In case your hired car breaks down, or you run out of fuel, you can always make a quick phone call as you will receive cell phone coverage in all areas. You should ask your car rental provider what to do in case your car breaks down.

Both routes have their distinct features, and we cannot recommend one over the other. Whether you opt for the inland or the coastal route, you will end up a winner on this trip. If you have already been to or are planning to go on this trip, share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section.

Sydney Melbourne Coastal Drive is a post from: Best Car Rental

Choose the Right Vehicle

Use online car hire comparison and choose the right vehicle for this trip. Use the filters to modify search results. The size of your hired car should depend on whether you are travelling with children, alone, or with a group of friends. You can go for any type of car but remind yourself that you will be spending a lot of time in it for the next week. You can place a booking and pick your rental car at Melbourne Airport, and drop it off at the Sydney International Airport or another drop-off location at the end of the trip.

Before you leave, check the fuel, and make sure you have provisions for the long trip ahead of you. Having a GPS and a first aid kit is also strongly recommended.

Melbourne to Bendigo

There are several historical towns between Melbourne and Bendigo. The drive is around 155 km and is two hours long. There are several shops in these towns that sell old paintings, furniture, and other antiques. There will be plenty of photo-opportunities so keep your camera at the ready. Make sure you also stop at the fuel station and do a standard inspection on your hired car.

Bendigo to Echuca-Moama

To go to the Golden Dragon Museum, and to see the world’s longest dragon sculpture, you have to go to Echuca-Moama which is about one-and-a-half hour drive away from Bendigo. The museum contains several relics and antiques from the time when the gold rush was at its peak in the 1850s, and several Chinese diggers established settlements in the area. The ancient architecture in Echua-Moama has strong Asian imprints.

By this time, you should need a new memory card for your camera or you are not doing it right. You should also call it a day and stay at one of the B&Bs in Echua-Moama.

Echuca-Moama to Albury Wodonga

The distance between Echuca-Moama and Albury Wodonga is approximately 245 kilometres. You should be able to cover that distance safely in 3 hours. Albury Wodonga has several tree-lined streets, hotels, parks, and a quaint country side. You should spend the day here and explore its attractions. Make sure you do not party too hard in the evening, as you will have a long drive ahead of you the next day.

Albury Wodonga to Sydney

On your way to Sydney, you should stop at the historic town of Yass, and the Australian capital Canberra. You will be covering nearly 630 kilometres in this drive, so refuel, stop at rest stations, and drive safely.

Finally, drop off the hired car at Sydney Airport, or any other facility of your car rental provider.

Have you been to or are planning to go on the Melbourne to Sydney Heritage drive? Let us know all about it in the comments section.

Melbourne to Sydney Heritage Drive is a post from: Best Car Rental

Thrifty received several queries about debit card transactions, and it was quite a hot topic on a couple of online forums recently, so we thought we should explain things to those who frequent this blog, and wish to use their debit cards for online car rentals in Australia.

Yes, a Debit Card is Acceptable

A Visa or MasterCard logo on your debit card comes in handy, and makes your debit card valid for renting a car online. However, this facility may not be applicable to all locations and all car rental companies.

There is another downside. While you save heaps on interest payments, it takes longer for the car rental company to verify your credit score. They may contact the bank to inquire about your credit history and will make sure that you have the proper funds.

Why Do they Perform Credit Checks?

When you perform online car hire comparisons and finally book a car, you are asking a company to let you drive away in a vehicle they own. When someone does not have a credit card (or chooses not to use it), the companies have to consider the possibility of a credit risk. For them to trust you enough to handover a vehicle to you, they have to verify your financials.

Can I Rent Any Car With a Debit Card?

In most cases, your options will be reduced and you may not be able to rent luxury vehicles, 4WDs, and SUVs. The limited choices are also due to the fact that the car rental companies wish to minimise the risk.

If you wish to rent a car with a debit card, make sure you have full rental charges available in your funds at the time you enter your digits. A strong credit score would also help speed things along. You can also contact our customer support representatives to ask for debit card policies of different companies.

Have you rented a car with a debit card? Let us know about your thoughts, experiences, queries, and opinions in the comments section.

Can You Rent a Car with no Credit Card? is a post from: Best Car Rental

More than 3.3 million Australians used rental cars in 2012. The remaining 25% market share is divided between Europcar and other companies that have steadily maintained their numbers but have not made any dramatic improvements in a growing industry.

What This Means For You

Although these trends show that Avis is leading the market, it does not automatically make them the number one choice. We have said it before and we will say it again, there is no number one car rental service in Australia or in any other part of the world for that matter. The best company for you would vary from occasion to occasion, and you should always go for the best deals by comparing car rental services online.

Europcar, Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Budget, or any other company might be the best option for you, depending on your date of arrival, date of departure, the kind of car you need, and the places where you will be picking up and dropping off the car.

What This Means For The Companies

For the leading car rental companies, this means war. Okay, so we may be exaggerating a little, but this does mean tougher competition. The overall market in the car rental industry is going to grow in 2013 (an assumption based on past indicators), and Avis would be looking to sustain and increase its market share.

Meanwhile, a 3% drop for Hertz must have rung alarm bells throughout the organization, and they would do whatever they can to improve their performance this year. While the likes of Budget and Europcar would look to cover a larger area and would try to expand their sphere of influence.

You can expect a large variety of cars to be added to all fleets this year; you can expect more discounts, reduced prices, and other benefits as well. Competition between major players in the industry is good news for people that utilize car rental services.

We will keep you updated with more facts and figures in the future, do not forget to check out other entries in our blog and let us know your feedback in the comments section.

The Numbers From 2012 Are In: Avis Maintains Lead Over Hertz in Australia is a post from: Best Car Rental

1. Pre-Tip Planning

This is the most important part of your tour. During this stage, you need to assess your requirements and have to know exactly what you are looking for. You need to determine what kind of car you will need based on the weather and traffic conditions at your destination. The number of people travelling with you will also influence this decision.

If you do your pre-tip planning properly, your whole trip would go smoothly, and without any unpleasant surprises. So grab a notebook, and start planning.

2. Making the Reservations

You can compare car hire service online and arrange for a car to be waiting for you at the airport when you arrive. If you are planning on hiring a rental car upon arrival, you should reconsider. If you do your online research and reserve a car in advance, you will save heaps of money and will be able to benefit from the best available deals. If you start looking for a car rental after you arrive, your choices may be narrowed down and you may miss out on some pretty awesome offers.

3. Arrival

Once you arrive at your destination, you should be able to find the pick-up point easily and the car of your choosing would be waiting there for you. You need to have a few documents at hand (including your ID, insurance etc), and you are good to go.

4. After You Pick Up the Car

When you pick up the car, make sure you check its mileage, fuel, and overall condition. Also take a moment to familiarise yourself with the car’s controls and features.

5. Once on the Road

It goes without saying that before you hit the road, you should read about Australian traffic laws. Once you hit the road, make sure you stop at rest stops after ever few hours and refuel every chance you get. This is extremely important if you will be driving in the outback where the roads can be tricky and fuel stations are hours apart.

By the way, Hertz has a complete guide on this subject so make sure you check it out. Also, let us know about your queries and feedback through the comments section.

Renting a Car 101 is a post from: Best Car Rental

An Often Repeated Query

“Can I cross the state lines in a rented vehicle?” is an often repeated query in the car rental industry all over the world. Whether you are in Australia, UK, Europe, USA, or any other part of the world, you need to know the laws about crossing borders in a rental.

The Answer

Simply put, the answer is yes. You can travel across states in a rented vehicle, provided that the car rental company has facilities in that state (most do in all Australian states), and that you have informed them of your plans before you go. If crossing a state border is not on your agenda, but it later makes its way into your plans, you need to get in touch with the car hire company to inform them about your modified plan.

Will it Cost You Extra

You will have to bear the expenses of toll taxes on highways and the fuel costs, but most companies do not charge you extra for crossing the state border. Avis has introduced a one way car rental plan specifically targeted at people travelling from state to state, similarly Hertz, Budget, and Europcar, all have different discount plans for such customers.

In the distant past, you were charged extra if you wished to cross state borders, but now the cost simply depends on the distance you travel and the time you hold possession of the car. In short, it will not cost you extra to cross state borders, the fee depends on time and distance travelled.

Can You Pick It From One State And Drop It Off In Another?

Yes, you can pick a rented vehicle from one state and drop it off at an agreed upon facility in another state. Usually, the pickup and drop off locations are near or at the airports, so you can easily pickup a rented car at Sydney Airport and drop it off at Melbourne Airport. This is ideal for those on a business trip, as business officials sometimes have to move from state to state.

We hope that clarifies any queries you might have about crossing borders. Kindly use the comments section to leave your feedback and/or further queries.

Crossing State Lines in a Rented Car is a post from: Best Car Rental

Car rental is not the only service you can enjoy through your air miles. Most leading hotels also allow you to redeem your miles by staying there. In some cases, you might be able to redeem any hotel points you have earned to rent a car. You would have to contact Avis, or any other leading car hire company, to use your air miles or hotel points to rent a car. There are some considerations you have to make when using your air miles for car rental.

Ask the Airline

The first step of the process is to enquire whether the airline from which you have received the air miles allows you to redeem them on car rental. The leading airlines do allow you to exercise this option but it is better to be on the safe side before you start planning your car rental. Also, make sure you ask about the car rental companies you can use your miles at. Only then will you be able to compare car hire services before making a decision.

The Dollar Value

The rule of thumb regarding redeeming air miles for car rental is that a dollar value is applied to each mile. You need to find out the exact amount each mile in your account is worth. That way, you will have a clear idea of how much money you can spend on car rental without having to pay a dime. This is again important before you compare car rental companies. You can select the company which offers the lowest rates to maximize your air miles.

Membership Account

You need to have the information about your airline membership account on hand to be able to use the air miles at a car rental service. Make sure you state the name exactly the way it appears on the airline account. For instance, your airline account may have your full name but you might forget to tell the car rental company your middle name. In that case, an awkward situation may arise. This is why it is important to keep the details of your air miles’ account with you when renting a car.

Follow the steps laid out above to redeem your air miles to rent a car. As mentioned before, you can also use them for staying at a hotel. Provided you have enough air miles, you might not have to pay a dime for car rental and hotel accommodation when you come to Australia.

Using Your Air Miles for Renting a Car is a post from: Best Car Rental

However, you can easily find a car hire company which allows you to take a car with a full tank and return it empty. You will get this option when you rent a car from Budget or any of the other leading car rental companies in Australia. You can only do this if you have availed the option provided to you by the company. Otherwise, the relevant charges and premiums will be levied and you would have to pay for them.

The fuel charges are often not considered by people when they compare car rental companies. Most of the top companies have similar policies when it comes to fuel so you needn’t worry too much about finding out about them. If you have checked out the fuel policy for Avis, you can be pretty sure that the same rules apply when you hire a car from Thrifty.

One thing you do need to keep in mind is the distance you are going to travel. You need to consider whether you will require more than one tank of fuel. If you are driving far, you might have to fill up the tank at least once on the way. In that case, you should enquire about the policies. Usually, you have to show a receipt for the refuel and you can avoid the service charge. The policy does vary from company to company so you should look at it when you compare car hire options.

You might be wondering why the car rental companies have to charge you for an empty tank. The answer to this is perfectly simple: most of the companies don’t have an on-location refuelling facility. This means that when they get a car with an empty tank, one of their personnel has to take it to the nearest gas station and have it filled up. Imagine the hassle if there isn’t enough fuel in the tank to get to the petrol pump. The car then has to be towed to get gas.

So, now you would have a better idea of why the companies have to charge you something extra when you show up with the fuel gauge at ‘E’. You can easily avoid the surcharge by having the tank refilled at a gas station close to the drop-off location. Of course, if you’re running late you might choose to bear the premium than have the tank filled. So, keep these points in mind when renting a car. The fuel costs might increase your bill.

Should You Refuel A Rental Car Before Returning It? is a post from: Best Car Rental

Here are some of the hidden charges which can inflate your car rental bill.

Drop-Off Charges

This is one charge most people are familiar with. If you drop the rented car off at a different location to the one at which you picked it, a drop-off charge will be applied. The rates vary from company to company. The major factor is the distance from the original location. For cross-country drop-offs, you might have to pay over $1000.

Time of Return

Car rental companies run a 24-hour clock. This means that extra charges begin to be applied once you cross the 24-hour limit. For instance, if you rent a car for one day on Wednesday at 1 PM, you have to return it before 1 PM on Thursday. The leading companies like Avis and Europcar do provide customers a grace period of 30 minutes. However, you might have to pay for a full day if you’re delayed by two hours. Notifying the company that you’re going to be late can help you save the extra charges.

Early Return Fees

Believe it or not, you might have to pay an early return fee if you return the car a day or two in advance of the drop-off date. There are some companies that do refund your rental on a prorated basis but generally you can expect to pay over $10 extra. In some cases, you might have to pay a substantial amount particularly if returning the car early means you are no longer eligible for a weekly rate.

Unlimited Mileage

It is like the unlimited data plans with an asterisk at the top. You might assume that you can drive the car you hired as far as you want but it may lead to extra charges. You can get unlimited mileage from some companies but it is a good idea to read the policy before you decide to embark on a long, long drive. Unlimited mileage is usually not provided when you are availing a special offer or discount.

Additional Drivers

Last, but not the least, most car rental companies in Australia charge for additional drivers. Under the rental agreement, only the person renting the car is allowed to drive it. If you want to add other drivers to the agreement, you would have to pay extra. Companies like Budget do allow both spouses to drive the car on a single agreement without any additional charges. If you expect that you and your spouse both would have to drive the car, compare car hire and find a company that lets both of you drive without hidden charges.

These are some of the hidden charges which might inflate your car rental bill. Keep in mind that there might be some other charges which can be levied as well. Reading the terms and conditions carefully can save you from a rude shock when you see the bill.

Hidden Charges Which Can Inflate Your Car Rental Bill is a post from: Best Car Rental

1. Book Early

This has to be the oldest trick in the book. The best thing about online car rental booking is that you can cancel it at any time without any penalties. So if you are considering a trip to somewhere in Australia in a couple of months, book now.

You can make changes to your booking, such as your pick-up and drop-off locations, and the date of your arrival and/or departure. You can also upgrade or downgrade at the last moment. Booking at the last minute means you are limiting your options, and are not providing yourself with enough room for any changes.

2. Do it Online

Sure you can arrive at a location and pick from a number of cars the rental company has on display, but that means you will be missing out on several better packages out there. If you compare car rental service online, you will be able to see all your options, may be Avis will have a better deal for you, or may be Hertz will have a better offer. If you don’t do it online you wouldn’t know. So use an online car rental comparison service and book in advance.

3. Go for Value

When booking in advance, you have to go for value. The value does not simply lie in the bottom-line. You have to look at the quality of car being offered, the insurance associated with the vehicle, the terms and conditions being offered by the car rental service provider, and many other factors.

If you wish to extend the amount of time you have the car, would there be penalties? What would the company charge you if you find yourself in an accident? Is the car rental company offering GPS and other services for free? You have to weigh everything carefully and then decide which car to book and which company to choose.

Using these tips will help you save time, money, and a boat load of trouble. We will keep bringing you more tips and tricks so make sure you visit this blog from time to time, also share your feedback, experiences, and opinions with us through the comments section.

3 Tips for Finding Awesome Car Rental Deals is a post from: Best Car Rental