Drive the price of your rental down by comparing the car rental companies from around the world.
Renting cars for holidays can be a confusing business. There are so many providers to choose from, all with different terms and conditistephaons, 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.
What’s the difference between booking direct and booking with an online aggregator?
The first decision to make is whether you want to book direct through the rental company (such as Avis or Europcar) or through a booking engine or aggregator (like Expedia or Hotwire). We’ve previewed a mixture of both here, so you’ll have plenty to compare.
Something to keep in mind when deciding which to go for is the deals and specials each is offering. Sometimes it’s possible to get exclusive offers through aggregators, but going through an aggregator can occasionally create problems as it’s an extra ‘layer’ you have to go through if anything goes wrong. For example, if you need to change or modify your booking at a later date, you might have to contact the aggregator for details to contact the car hire company to make the amendments on your behalf.
If you’re going through an aggregator, read the terms and conditions properly so that you’re aware of who you will have to deal with at a later date and the processes to follow should any issues arise.
Avis
Global car hire giant Avis has been around since 1946. Since then it has expanded and currently has over 5,000 rental locations worldwide.
- Mobile app available for iOS
- Offers and specials available in the site’s deals section
- Avis Preferred Membership offers priority service and pricing
Europcar
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 Frequent Flyer points against your booking
- Accounts available for business customers
- Privilege Loyalty Program offers exclusive rewards and discounts
Hertz
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
Budget
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
- Earn FlyBuys or Qantas Frequent Flyer points on all bookings
DriveNow
Use Drive Now to compare the price of car hire, plus book campervans and car relocations.
- Compare car prices from multiple companies
- Guaranteed best rate on your car hire or you'll get 10% off
- Book cars in almost 100 countries around the world
Expedia
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
Sixt
With thousands of locations around the world, no matter where you need a car, Sixt has you covered.
- Frequent deals with up to 35% off hires
- Discounts available if you pre-pay for your vehicle
- Average age of cars is just three months
Wotif
Australian travel-planning site Wotif burst onto the scene in 2000, offering bookings for flights, hotels, packages and car hire.
- Customer reviews let you see what others thought of hotels, airlines and rental agencies
- No hotel booking fees
- Sign up to the newsletter for exclusive deals and savings
BYOJet
One of Australia’s leading travel sites, BYOJet finds great deals on a range of travel needs, including car hire and discounts on world famous attractions.
- Car hire, packages and insurance available worldwide
- Live chat available
- Exclusive deals on local attractions
Hotwire
Hotwire specialises in unsold travel deals. This means that anytime 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.
- Exclusive rates and deals
- Get $10 off when you sign up for the newsletter
- Mobile app for on-the-go browsing and booking
Which of these retailers allow me to compare different car companies?
- Wotif compares 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
- BYOJet compares Avis, Thrifty, Europcar, Hertz and Budget
- Hotwire compares 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. Don’t forget to check out our coupon codes and deals [link to the coupons below] to see what steals you can drive away with.
Which of these retailers allow me to add on hire car insurance?
Considering car insurance?
READ MORE: The ins and outs of car rental excess insurance
READ MORE: Does your credit card offer car rental insurance?
Which car hire providers let me hire a caravan?
Want to book car hire online? Use one of our coupons:
| Up to 20% off car hire |
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Valid on hire cars in Australia and New Zealand for pick up before 16 December 2018. Must book 21 days in advance. |
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| 15% off base rate on 5+ days rentals |
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Valid at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand until 29 June 2018. Book 7 days in advance to redeem offer. T&Cs apply. |
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| Get one day free on weekend rentals |
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Valid for pick ups from 15 April - 30 June 2018 across Australia. Minimum of three consecutive days including Saturday. T&Cs apply. |
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After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| 10% off USA car hire + 30% off Legoland tickets |
Coupon code expires |
Valid until 31 October 2018. T&Cs apply. |
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After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Up to 25% off prepaid rentals |
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Valid for use on select dates and rentals. Just select Pay Now when booking. T&Cs apply. |
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| $1/day one-way car hire | Valid on select dates on select car hire relocations in Australia. Destinations updated regularly. |
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| Campervan hire from $5/day | Offers and validity dates updated daily. Available on select routes in Australia and New Zealand. |
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| 20% off Latin America and Caribbean car hire |
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Valid until 31 July 2018 on intermediate and larger car categories. T&Cs apply. |
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| 10% off private car rides |
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Book now and save 10% off on private car rides all over 90 airports in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, and the Czech Republic. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
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After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Fourth day free car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid on rentals until 30 September 2018 with minimum of four consecutive days rental across Australia. T&cs apply. |
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Show code
TP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| 15% off car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for pick ups from 15 April - 30 June 2018 across Australia. Minimum of seven consecutive days. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
20****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| $1 per day on New Zealand car hire |
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Maximum of 3 days rental. This is a relocation deals and drive from Christchurch Airport, Queenstown Airport, Dunedin Airport, Hokitika Airport, or Greymouth to Nelson, Picton or Blenheim. T&Cs apply. |
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| Free upgrade on your car hire |
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Rent an Economy (Group A) through to a Full Size (Group E) car for 2 or more consecutive days including a Saturday night and receive a free single upgrade up to a maximum Full Size Sports (Group P) car. T&Cs apply. |
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UP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Up to 35% off Europe rentals |
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Valid for rentals between 23 April -13 May 2018. Destinations include Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, UK and more. T&Cs apply. |
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| Up to 35% off weekly rentals |
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Valid for rental on select dates. Minimum of 7-day rental to redeem offer. Earn miles and points for all major airline and hotel loyalty programs. T&Cs apply. |
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| Up to 15% off Los Angeles rentals |
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Offer is only valid for online bookings on Sixt Rent a Car. Includes unlimited mileage and free rebooking and cancellation. T&Cs apply. |
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| 15% off rides | Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include Sydney and Melbourne. T&Cs apply. |
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| Mount Buller Day trip w/ CBD transfers for $77 |
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Valid for from 2 July - 7 September 2018 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Includes return CBD transfers. T&Cs apply. |
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Holiday Cars
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10% off on car hire | Get 10% off on your first car hire. T&Cs apply. |
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| Free 1 day car hire on 6-days rental |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for travel on select dates until 15 June 2018. Minimum of 6-days rental to redeem offer. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
20****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Free double upgrade on Queensland car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Rent an Economy (Group A) through to a Full-Size Elite (Group P) car for 3 consecutive days or more and enjoy a free double upgrade. Valid on rentals from 3 April - 30 June 2018. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
UP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| 35% off Canada car hire |
Deal expires |
Valid on select dates and destinations. Must be pre-pay to avail the discount. Conditions apply. |
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| Third weekend free car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Available for rentals from 29 March - 4 April 2018 and 14 - 30 April 2018 across Australia. Valid for 3 consecutive days over the weekend including Saturday. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
TP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| $20 off SUV hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid on rentals from 29 March - 4 April 2018 and 14 - 30 April 2018 across Australia. Minimum of 3 days rental. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
MP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Fourth day free car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid on rentals from 29 March - 4 April 2018 and 14 - 30 April 2018 across Australia. Minimum of 4 days rental. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
TP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| $20 off car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid on rentals from 29 March - 4 April 2018 and 14 - 30 April 2018 across Australia. Minimum of 5 days rental. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
MP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Free upgrade on 2-day car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for rentals from 29 March - 4 April 2018 and 14 - 30 April 2018.. Minimum of 2 days rental. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
UP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Italy car hire from just $24 | Valid for travel on select dates. Rate is based on a 7-day rental. T&Cs apply. |
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| $20 off your first ride | Get $20 off on your first ride. |
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FI****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| $20 off car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Get $20 off an intermediate (Group C) through to Luxury (Group H) and Full-Size Sports (Group P) car rental when you rent for three or more consecutive days. Valid for rentals on select dates until September 2018. T&Cs apply. |
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Show code
MP****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| $10 off first ride + up to 20% off rides | Use code for $10 off your first Taxify ride plus up to 20% off rides Monday to Thursday. |
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After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Up to 25% off during happy hours | Valid for use on select dates. Just look for the "Request Happy Hour" button when booking to redeem offer. T&C's apply. |
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DriveMyCar
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Subaru XV hire from just $229 per week | Valid for use on select dates. Minimum of 7-day rental to redeem offer. Inclusive of 100km plus extra 100km free per day, roadside assistance and comprehensive insurance.T&C's apply. |
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DriveMyCar
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Car hire from $23 per day | Hire cars across Australia from as little as $32 per day. |
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| 15% off 2019 car hire |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for rentals between 1 January 2019 - 15 December 2019 across Australia. Minimum of 5 consecutive days rental. T&C's apply. |
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Show code
20****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Get one free day on 5-day rentals |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for pick-ups until 30 June 2018 any day of the week. Valid across Australia. |
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Show code
20****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| 5% off US car hire for seniors |
Deal expires |
Valid on select dates and US rental locations. Valid I.D. proving age of 50+ must be shown upon renting. T&C's apply. |
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| Up to 20% off Mexico car rentals |
Deal expires |
T&Cs apply |
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| Up to 35% off Germany weekly rentals |
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Valid for travel on select dates and locations in Germany. Includes free rebooking and cancellation, third party insurance and more. T&C's apply. |
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| 15% off Miami car rentals |
Deal expires |
Valid for travel on select dates and Miami locations. Includes free rebooking and cancellation, unlimited mileage and more. T&C's apply. |
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| Up to 10% off car rentals in Europe |
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Valid for travel on select dates. Includes free rebooking and cancellation. T&C's apply. |
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| 25% off premium hire insurance | Get up to 25% off on your car rental when you purchase GoZen Cover. Valid at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand. T&C's apply. |
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| Up to 15% off business car rental | Sign up today as a partner to get up to 15% off on your business car rentals. Visit site for more details. |
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| 10% off New Zealand car hire |
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Valid for rental pick ups until 30 June 2018 at select locations across New Zealand. Minimum of 3-day rentals. T&C's apply. |
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| Save up to 70% on car hire from airports | Valid on select dates in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. T&C's apply. |
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| 10% off your first hire | Valid on select dates and destinations. Sign up for newsletter and get 10% off for first hire. T&C's apply. |
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| 15% off for 5-day car hire |
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Valid for rental pick ups until 30 June 2018 across Australia and New Zealand. Minimum of 5 days rental. T&C's apply. |
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| 10% off 3+ day truck, ute and van rentals |
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Valid for pick ups until 31 August 2018 in Australia. Minimum three day hire required. |
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| 10% off Europe car hire | Valid on select dates. Minimum of 5 days rental. T&C's apply. |
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Show code
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After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
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| Hire a car and get your fourth day free | Hire a car with Budget Car Hire through DriveNow for a minimum of four consecutive days and get your fourth day free of base rate charges. Available for pick ups at the airport in Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne (Tullamarine). Valid on select vehicles including family, full-size and SUVs. |
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| Free changes your booking | Pay no credit card or amendment fees when you book through rentalcars.com giving you peace of mind. |
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| Compare over 800 car hire companies worldwide | Rentalcars.com can help you compare major car hire company rates for the best price. Companies it compares include Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Thrifty, Alamo and Budget. |
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| Best price guaranteed | Find a lower price on the same vehicle for the same days and rentalcars.com will match it. |
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| Earn more Qantas points | Earn more Qantas points when you ride with Avis. Get (4) four Qantas points for every $1 spent on eligible time and kilometre charges. |
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