Crossing State Line in a Rental Car

maiuspala on 21/10/2017 - 16:35

Hi guys,

I noticed that many rental companies ask additional one off fee for crossing the state border.

Does anyone know why the additional fee is being charged (insurance, easy money, something else)?
Are the cars being tracked with gps?
How strict are they with these restrictions?

I would like to do a roadtrip along the coastline starting from Sydney and heading towards QLD during christmas holidays. I am tempted to drive up to Gold Coast (30 kms acrosse the border), but it is a long way from Sydney and am not sure if I will make it this far at all.

Do You guys think it might become a problem crossing the border without paying the extra fee?

Cheers!

Travel

Comments

  • Iamnotcheap on 21/10/2017 - 16:54

    Just make sure you return the car to the location you agreed upon in your rental agreement and you should be fine.

    I don’t always read t&c’s but don’t recall of a border fee… often there is a one way fee due to it being returned to a different location, which is for getting the car back to its intended state/city; although I think companies don’t really take it seriously - they just like the free $.

  • smashed on 21/10/2017 - 16:58

    Nobody can answer this for you if you haven't advised on the company, location etc.
    I suspect GPS will be on most cars now, and definitely the better classes.

    • maiuspala on 21/10/2017 - 17:48

      I checked Orana and No Birds car rentals, they both had this fee

      • PVA on 21/10/2017 - 22:55

        Never heard of those companies.

        I have never seen this fee with hertz etc.
        there is a one way fee but that's a different thing.

  • Stewardo on 21/10/2017 - 17:56

    With the bigger companies it’s more of an “one way fee” that you are charged when you return to different destination than drop off. This costs the hire company money because it has to find its way home.
    Smaller companies might charge to cross borders, but I’d never heard of it in Australia.

    If you fly to cairns you can often get super cheap one way hire car rates if you return to Sydney, because road trippers fly to Sydney, drive north to cairns and then fly home to Europe.

  • whooah1979 on 21/10/2017 - 18:00

    gps blockers costs about $7 on .

    • smashed on 21/10/2017 - 18:12

      Great, but not so great if the car breaks down or somebody crashes into you

      • whooah1979 on 21/10/2017 - 18:15

        it plugs into the 12v. it also operates at 1560mhz to 1580mhz, which is no where near mobile bands.

        • smashed on 21/10/2017 - 18:25
          +1

          If you have an accident outside your agreed area it won't matter that the GPS was blocked.
          It is 100 one off fee to take a no birds car into QLD. Just pay it if you choose to hire you car from them and venture to the border.

    • AlanI on 21/10/2017 - 18:18

      They're also highly illegal and affect not only the things you want to block - but other GPS receivers in the same area (e.g. the stuff used by emergency services).

      • whooah1979 on 21/10/2017 - 18:28

        They're also highly illegal and affect not only the things you want to block

        of course it is. how else is the government going to track us.

  • Normie on 21/10/2017 - 18:26

    With the major rental companies you wont have any problems with your trip, smaller rental companies can sometimes charge a out of area surcharge, i have never heard of a cross border fee, maybe you are thinking of a one way fee. If you are looking for a one way rental you can sometimes get some great deals with Apex Car Rental: https://www.apexrentals.com.au/australia-car-rental-deals.as…

    • maiuspala on 21/10/2017 - 22:33

      No, im not thinking of one way fee.
      The rental fees include unlimited kms in nsw and act. There is a fee if I take the car to qld or vic https://www.bayswatercarrental.com.au/areas-of-use

      • RockyRaccoon on 21/10/2017 - 22:57

        These are lower cost rental companies, and the way they keep the prices down is to impose limits. I think you will also find the smaller companies have a Kilometre limit or you pay more.

        Given that it costs a company the more you drive, that makes sense (cents) if their cars rack up higher mileage, then they depreciate more.

      • Normie on 22/10/2017 - 11:56

        I dont think its unreasonable for them to be charging a fee to states they dont have branches in. You could either pay the fee or go with a major rental company and not get charged a fee or if you wanted to avoid the fee park the car in Tweed heads and get the bus https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus… to Broadbeach then G link https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/tra…

        • maiuspala on 22/10/2017 - 15:47

          Good alternative, thanks!
          Any idea how much it would cost?

  • Daabido on 21/10/2017 - 22:51

    I think it would probably be a combination of easy money and the additional kilometres placed on the vehicle from long round trips to interstate capitals.

  • TheBilly on 22/10/2017 - 09:33

    They will 100% have GPS. Best not to do dodgies with rental companies. Just clarify why the fee/pay it and move on.

    • Normie on 22/10/2017 - 12:11

      From their T & C: The Owner may monitor the car with a tracking device.

  • backpaqer on 22/10/2017 - 13:10

    I just would not deal with that company. But yeah danger money for mixing it with Qld drivers spot on! ;)

    • maiuspala on 22/10/2017 - 15:43

      I have used both these companies before and have had no dramas.
      Their cars are quite new and fees very reasonable (free additional drivers, cheap insurance), but now it is the first time im facing a possible state border crossing issue.
      I havent done numbers, but i still think they are cheaper option (including additional driver, excess reduced to 0 and state crossing fee) than the big players.

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