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Being picky about which rental company to book with can be the difference between an expensive, stressful trip and a comfortable, relaxing one.
Europcar and Hertz are two leading companies, so choosing between them can be difficult.
We've made the decision that much easier by comparing all those niggling details, from vehicles and prices to policies and inclusions, to simplify the decision.
The winner: Hertz wins by a landslide. Not only does it offer a cheaper rate when you pay in advance in a like-for-like car rental search, it has less-strict driver requirements, picks you up in certain locations, lets you add a second driver for free under select circumstances and price matches, taking an extra 10% off the difference.
| Feature | Europcar | Hertz | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where can I hire a car? |
|
| Both |
| What type of cars does it have? |
|
| Europcar |
| Does it require a deposit? | No | No, but the total price is cheaper if you pay a deposit. | Both |
| Is insurance included? | Yes. Standard cover is included in all rentals, with reduced liability up to $4,730. | Yes. Rentals include accident damage excess to reduce your liability for loss or damage to the vehicle. This varies per vehicle type. | Both |
| How much is excess? | The damage liability fee is usually up to $4,730, depending on the location and the vehicle. | $4,650 for 2WD; $6,001 for prestige/adrenaline vehicles, 4WDs, AWDs and light trucks/vans; $7,000 for vehicles heavier than 3 tons and $8,250 for dream collection vehicles. | Both |
| Do I need to wash the car? | Europcar does not say whether cars should be washed. However, cleaning fees apply for excessively dirty or smelly vehicles. | No. However, the vehicle should not be returned in an excessively dirty or smelly condition, for which fees apply. | Both |
| Rental requirements | Drivers must be:
| Drivers must be:
| Hertz |
| Does it charge per mile/kilometre? | No, but for rentals with limited mileage, you will be charged per extra kilometre/mile. | No, but if the rental has limited mileage, you may be charged per kilometre/mile for exceeding the limit. | Both |
| Is there unlimited mileage? | Most rentals include unlimited mileage. If not, the limit will be specified in the rental agreement. | Depending on the location and vehicle, mileage may be limited. In this case, the daily mileage allowance will be defined in the rental agreement. | Both |
| Does it rent to under 25s? | Yes, but a young driver surcharge applies for most rentals. The cost varies by location. | Yes. In most places, the minimum driving age is 21. However, branches in certain locations cannot rent to people below the age of 25. Fees and restrictions may apply. | Both |
| Does it accept cash? | No | No | Both |
| Does it price match? | Yes. Europcar matches cheaper rates found on its cars. | Yes. Hertz will match and better competitive rates on its cars by 10%. | Hertz |
| Does it pick you up? | No | In some locations. | Hertz |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| Both |
| Does it accept debit cards? | Yes | Yes | Both |
| Does it allow for cancellations/changes? | Yes. Cancellations are free of charge up to 48 hours before the pick-up time. Changes and cancellations can be made online. Fees may apply. | Cancellations and changes to the return date, time and location can be made online before the start of the rental. Fees may apply. | Both |
| How long does it hold reservations? | If credit card details are not provided when booking then 1 hour. If credit card details are provided when booking then until close of business, or 12:00 the following day at 24-hour rental stations. | Hertz usually holds vehicle reservations for either 2 hours after the pick-up time or until 11:59pm, depending on the location and type of vehicle. | Both |
| Can I add an extra driver? | Yes, provided they meet the rental requirements. Fees vary depending on the location. In Australia, the daily fee starts from $7.32, capped at 5 days. | Yes. Immediate family and partners, employees and employers can drive free of charge provided they meet the rental requirements. Other additional drivers must pay a daily fee of $5.50, capped at 5 days. An additional fee applies for drivers aged 21–25. | Hertz |
| Does it have manual and automatic cars? | Yes | Yes | Both |
| Is there a loyalty programme? | Europcar's Privilege loyalty programme rewards members with priority check-in and drop-off, discounts, free weekend rentals and partner discounts. | Hertz's Gold Plus Rewards Programme allows points to earn free car rentals. Members also enjoy fast pick-up and drop-off, exclusive offers and discounts. | Both |
| Is there GPS? | Yes, for a fee. | Yes, for a fee. | Both |
| Can I return the car early? | Europcar does not charge for early returns, but you will not be refunded for the remaining unused time. | Hertz allows you to return the car early, but an early return fee may apply. | Both |
| Book | Book your ride with Europcar | Book your ride with Hertz |
We put the two on an even playing field and searched for a quote from their official websites for the same rental query. We looked for a three-day hire from Gold Coast Airport for a 25-year-old driver and pulled up the absolute cheapest vehicle each had available. Both quotes were retrieved on 26 November 2018.
Hertz comes up cheaper but only if you pay straight away. You also don't know what car exactly you'll get as the cheapest on offer are "mystery cars".
If you'd prefer to book now and pay later - and know what car you're getting - Europcar wins on cost with a hire price mere cents cheaper than Hertz.
Europcar's deals cover certain locations, dates, vehicles and early bookings. It has a dedicated Australian website which features deals in Australia.
Hertz has deals on particular vehicles, dates and locations, as well as early bookings and partner offers. It too has an Australian website that features domestic deals.
Up to 20% off Australia and New Zealand car hire
$1/day one-way car hire in Australia
Up to 20% off Australia weekend car hires
Up to 15% off New Zealand car hires
Despite Europcar coming up cheaper for a book now, pay later hire, Hertz still comes out on top in our eyes. Its price-match guarantee goes above and beyond with a bonus 10% off if you find its rental cheaper elsewhere, it doesn't charge for select additional drivers, picks you up at select locations and has a more-lenient driver policy.
Here's a list of both of their winning points:
Europcar
Hertz
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