Best car rental in Melbourne (and the one to avoid)

So, you’ve decided to rent a vehicle in Melbourne, a fantastic choice for exploring so many unique places around the city, hardly reachable with public transportation.

But here is the big question: which car provider genuinely works better in Melbourne? Should you lean towards a global giant or a local name? What car rental would I personally suggest, and, crucially, which one should you absolutely avoid?

Without further ado, let’s dive straight into the nitty-gritty.

Global vs. Local Operators

Global Car Rental Operators in Melbourne

Let’s start talking about the global operators like Budget and Avis, which they do offer a few solid advantages:

• Newer and More Modern Cars: These providers typically have a fleet of newer and more modern vehicles, which is always a great perk.
• On-Site Airport Pickup: A great time-saver! You can pick up your car directly at the airport, meaning no faffing about with vans or shuttles to an off-site office. This alone can save you at least 20 to 30 minutes.
• Frequent Flyer Programs: Many global operators are linked to frequent flyer programs, allowing you to rack up those extra miles for future flights or even another car rental.
• Extended Operating Hours: Especially at the airport, these companies tend to be open for longer hours, which is incredibly handy if you have an early morning or late-night flight.

However, all these benefits often come with a price tag. Global operators generally tend to be around 10 to 20% more expensive than their local counterparts.

Local Car Rental Providers in Melbourne

Now, let’s look at the local providers. While they might not always have the absolute latest car models, they offer a compelling alternative:

• Limited Availability: Local operators might have a more limited selection of cars, so I definitely suggest booking as far in advance as possible to secure your vehicle.
• No Frequent Flyer Programs: Unlike global players, local providers typically aren’t connected to any frequent flyer programs. For me, this isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s certainly a benefit when opting for global companies.
• Off-Site Airport Pickup (with free shuttle): If you’re picking up from the airport, local providers usually don’t have a direct presence on-site. Instead, they’ll arrange a free shuttle to pick you up and take you to their off-site office.
• Potentially Better Value: Local operators usually offer a more budget-friendly option. In saying that, it has happened to me on multiple occasions that global operators offer sudden special deals.

The Aggregator Advantage

For the past seven years, my go-to method for booking car rentals has been using a comparative website called DiscoverCars. Think of it as an “Airbnb of car rentals”. This platform ranks every single provider between 5 and 10 stars based on customer feedback, real customers who have actually rented the car from the operator.

I usually filter for companies rated above 8 stars to shortlist the most trusted and reliable operators and book from there. It’s as easy as that. This approach helps me find not just the best price but also a great service, helping to avoid potential headaches and scams.

Top Local Car Rental Recommendations in Melbourne

Based on my experiences, here are a few local operators that stand out:

• East Coast Car Rental: This company is definitely one of my favourites in Melbourne.
  • Convenient Locations: You can find them at both the airport and in the Central Business District (CBD), which is incredibly handy.
  • Flexible Pickup/Drop-off: They offer the flexibility to pick up your car in the CBD and return it at the airport, or vice versa.
  • Top-Notch Service & New Cars: The service is absolutely fantastic, and their cars are genuinely new, which is a great bonus.
• Simba and Big Boy Car Rental: These two are solid options for good deals.
  • Airport Only, with Shuttle: You’ll find them at the airport, but they are off-site. Don’t stress, though – they typically provide a shuttle that gets you there in just 5 to 10 minutes, making it very easy-going.
  • Small Deposit: A great bonus is their small deposit, usually ranging from $300 to $500.
  • Important Drawback (and my solution): The only potential issue I’ve observed with these two is their high Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), which can be as much as $5,000. For this reason, I always suggest renting the car via the comparative website DiscoverCars and adding full car insurance for just 8 to 10 US or Euros a day. This is an absolute bargain and offers immense peace of mind.

You can book these operators on the comparative website DiscoverCars. Prices on their own websites tend to be similar or slightly more expensive; however, full insurance usually costs an arm and a leg on the car rental website, even more at the counter.

Reliable On-Site Global Option

If you’re specifically looking for a global player or an on-site car company that is directly at the airport, then Sixt is a good option.

• Trustworthy Service: They definitely provide a good service that you can rely on.
• Convenient Locations: You can find them straight at the airport or in the CBD.
• Flexible Pickup/Drop-off: Similar to East Coast, you can also rent a car in the CBD and drop it off at Melbourne Airport (MBO).
• Slightly Higher Cost: Keep in mind that Sixt tends to be a little bit more expensive than the local providers I’ve mentioned.

Car Rental Companies I Personally Avoid

Now, for the crucial part: the companies I personally wouldn’t recommend:

• Budget (in Melbourne): While a global player, the service here in Melbourne is simply not as good as the other car rental vendors I’ve highlighted.
• Gold Car: This is a company I personally avoid in every country where they operate. They’ve tried to scam me a couple of times, and frankly, I don’t trust them anymore. This is a strong warning from my personal experience, and I advise caution.

Of course, these suggestions are uniquely based on my personal experience, and your experience may be completely different. That’s why it would be great if you could leave your feedback in the comments area. It would help the entire community.