Airline crew rates on Hire cars in OZ

[Aslan]

Can anybody recommend a hire car company in OZ with the appropriate corporate code (P.M. me as appropriate) for airline crew that gives great rates (all inclusive insurance included)?

Going through the usual car chains everything works out so expensive after including the exceptions to the insurance coverage (windscreens, any moving creature out after dark, etc) .

I've got vacation in OZ coming and would be real appreciative of help. I can offer similar help on a good deal here in Europe (need to be airline crew to qualify).

Thanks
Aslan

P.S. Moderator: This is possibly not the correct forum even if it may the most widely read forum for this question. Apologies in advance if you need to move it - cheers

[L5Brassco]

While I can't recommend car hire in Australia I have used cdwsli.com for the car hire insurance.
They are a UK based firm who do car hire insurance by the day.
Fingers crossed I have not had to make a claim with them, but their premiums are very reasonable.
Hope this helps
L5

[lowerlobe]

Aslan....

I would suggest a google search for car hire firms in Australia.

Then simply email them and see what response you get and what discount they are prepared to offer..

If you don't mind driving a campervan or motorhome and want to do some sightseeing this is one way with the firm looking for people to relocate their vehicles to their original base.The prices are veryyyyyy low but the trick is time and KM's.

Rental Relocations Australia New Zealand United States Canada - Hire Now at StandByCars (http://www.standbyrelocations.com/)

Cheers and best of luck with your holidays.

[virgindriver]

I just use this site. I can't seem to beat their deals.

Cheap Car Hire > Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty > Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne (http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au/)

[dragon man]

The code for Hertz is 313303. The best prices ive had recently are with Europcar rentals. Dont book on line but phone them the rates ive received are far better than any of their opposition. Good luck.

[Mr.Buzzy]

Agree with Virgindriver, just book online.

"Special pilot rates" are usually just lip service.

I know if I had a car rental company and a 200k p.a, big ego, wearing his 4000 dollar Brietling asked me for a discount; I'd give him a discount on the number of expletives I'd call him and that would be about it!!!!

bbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Keg]

I've always managed to get cheaper cars off carrentals.com than I've ever managed to get through using a QF employee code. That includes booking online and over the phone....carrentals is invariably cheaper.

[richie-rich]

hi
whilst i was doing my training in aus, i was obviously not entitled to crew discounts DUHHHH :ugh: but have booked cars through Car Hire.com.au | Compare Car Rental Prices from $29.84/day (http://www.carhire.com.au)

99% of the times, they have good rates and specials.

enjoy your holidays.

Richie

[halas]

Every time I'm back in Oz l use Vroomx3.com. Always better offers than any corporate discount offered to me via Avis or Hertz. I always ask at the counter on collection, if the best price on Vroom is one of those two.
And with Vroomx3 there is no down payment. If you are on sub-load, one less thing to worry about.

Just back from the states and used the same web site, and compared to some colleagues who used the corporate avenue, about the same. But l got a better car!

halas

[Metro man]

Try these guys, they're a car hire search engine and will compare the best deals including specials from all companies. Once got a Fairlane Ghia through them for the same price as a Toyota Corlola.

Cheap Car Hire & Car Rental In Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth | Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty | DIY Car Hire (http://www.diycarhire.com.au/)

[zube]

I have just booked a Hertz car at Cairns. The qantas staff rate was no cheaper than the NRMA or RACV rate.

When I wandered around the Hertz website and combined special deals with the car club rates I saved around $150 for a ten day rental over the Qantas staff rate. Avis & Budget, using the qantas staff rate, were so dear they didn't rate a consideration. However for other locations, eg, Gold Coast, Avis was cheaper. Go figure.....

Do a bit of research on their booking engines for the best rate.

[VH-XXX]

Try this Promo code online with Thrifty.com.au 4908004508.

[news]

Try Alpha Car Hire - Brisbane, Melbourne & Gold Coast Australia Car Rentals (http://www.alphacarhire.com.au)
Beat the majors by roughly a third.
:ok:

[Aslan]

Thanks heaps - you guys are spectacular!
I'll start looking ...

My offer still stands though, P.M. if you need car hire info in Europe. I can put you on good track for aircrew with Alamo/Eurocar.
cheers
Aslan

[Aslan]

Having processed all your recommendations (thanks again) I come across the problem that many hire companies don't allow travel on dirt or gravel roads. :uhoh: Not able to visit most farms in the country not to mention using some back roads... :ugh:
Does anybody know of hire car companies that have great deals & still allow dirt/gravel road usage (gazetted roads)?

Also anybody know of an insurance company that provides hire car excess insurance up to £3000. Most only go to £2000 or are only for UK/Irish residents. Some companies have excess of AUD 5500 for standard cars & most 4xWD.

Thanks
Aslan

[Cap'n Arrr]

Can't help with the excess but check the fine print, some cars are allowed on dirt roads, some rental companies require you to hire a 4wd of some sort for it though. I'm fairly certain one of the "big 5" (Avis, Thrifty, Budget, Hertz and Europcar) has some line in the T&C about "cars may be driven on high quality dirt roads such as..."

Does a dirt driveway count as a dirt road?

[Aslan]

Thanks Cap'n Arrr. So far as I have determined Europcar & Budget don't allow any non sealed roads (normal vehicles)... I'll keep looking...

Driveways: probably if something goes wrong....

[Cap'n Arrr]

Found this on Budget's T&Cs

3.1 You and any Authorised Driver must only use the Vehicle on a road, which is properly formed and constructed as a sealed, metalled or gravel road.

I'd take that to mean some dirt roads as long as they're built like a road. The next line (and there's something like this in all the ones I looked at) says

3.2 You and any Authorised Driver must not, unless authorised in writing by Budget, drive or take the Vehicle: blah blah


So maybe try calling up one of the companies, tell them exactly where you want to go? Maybe you'll be able to get a written authorisation for it? Or at the very least they might say "yes that will be fine, but you'll have to hire the LandCruiser" or something like that.

Worth a try methinks:ok:

[Aslan]

Once again thanks Cap'n Arrr.

I'll contact them and try....
cheers
Aslan

[Aslan]

I've just realised that it was Thrifty (not Budget) that had the restrictive conditions :
d) on any unsealed road (being a road not sealed with a hard material such as tar, bitumen or concrete) unless the Vehicle is a 4WD in which case it may also be used on graded unsealed roads. No Vehicle (including 4WDs) may be used on off road conditions.

I've been looking at too many sites & working thru to many search machines & "can`t see the forest for the trees"...:\

[Aslan]

Would anybody have a corporate code Red Spot?
cheers
Aslan

[Osky-74]

East Coast Car Rentals has a number of locations near Airports in Australia. They always have the lowest rates, and only rent new cars. No need to wait in queues at the rental desks in the terminal and still pay more than double! New car hire at Sydney Airport (http://www.eastcoastcarrentals.com.au/) and Melbourne Airport Rent-a-car (http://www.eastcoastcarrentals.com.au/location/melbourne/car-rental-melbourne-airport.htm)
Courtesy shuttle transfers when you arrive, as per Car Rental at LAX