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Last updated: 27 October 2022
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Checked for accuracy by our qualified verifiers and subject experts. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE.

We assess the six biggest car rental companies in Australia – Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, SIXT and Thrifty – to determine how easy it is to hire a car and understand the car rental contract.

Our car hire buying guide outlines how to rent a car in Australia and everything you need to know about these services.

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Our hands-on test follows the same steps you would if you were renting a vehicle online.

We assess:

  • overall ease of use before, during and after the booking process
  • the level of detail in the contract, the amount of information provided, and whether it's delivered in language that's easy for the average consumer to understand
  • the level of detail provided in the contract, to see if the collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver specifies what is and isn't covered. 

We look at what's covered for the basic cover included in the rental price by all six companies.

You may notice we haven't recommended any of these companies. Our scoring is primarily based on the ease of renting a car and understanding the rental contract. No rental car companies performed well on this basis. 

Car rental companies have been investigated for anti-consumer practices by the ACCC and ongoing negative feedback from consumers suggests there is still a long way to go. However, people continue to use them, so we've assessed their performance and usability on the grounds that many of our members will likely rent a vehicle sometime in the near future.

Matthew Steen
By Jodi Bird
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List of brands we tested in this review.

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    Ease of use score

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    We went through all the steps required to book a vehicle via a web browser, on desktop and mobile devices. This includes assessing location and vehicle information, payment options and details regarding extras or loyalty programs.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 18 and 83

    Contract score

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    This score is based on the level of detail in the contract, the amount of information provided, and whether it's delivered in language that's easy for the average consumer to understand.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 19 and 58

    Collision Damage Waiver

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    The basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) for the cheapest vehicle. The CDW may also be called a Loss Damage Waiver or an excess.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 4950 and 5500

    Included in this review

    Members-only access
    • CHOICE Expert Rating
    • Ease of use score
    • Contract score
    • Good points
    • Bad points
    • Carbon emissions data
    • Electric vehicles
    • Hybrid vehicles
    • Phone app
    • Collision Damage Waiver
    • Additional Collision Damage Waiver
    • Roadside assistance
    • Snow driving
    • Minimum rental age
    • Credit card charge period
    • Unsealed roads
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