Car Hire Tips in North Queensland over Christmas?

senectus on 10/08/2024 - 14:56
Last edited 10/08/2024 - 15:19 by 1 other user

Hey fellow cheapskates, we're heading from WA to Qld (Mackay and north of there) for Christmas for about three weeks. We need to hire a car with a bit of height like a SUV) also we are a family of tall people, so no little hatch will do.

I was shocked looking at prices, a Kia Sportage for instance will cost us over $3k for 3weeks of hire.

Are there any tips or tricks anyone can suggest? Is there a better time of the year to wait for booking it? Any cheapish memberships we can temporarily use to book it and get a discount?

Thanks all!

Travel Car Rental Queensland

Comments

  • spackbace on 10/08/2024 - 15:04
    +1

    Mackay and north of there
    for Xmas
    about 3 weeks
    so no little hatch will do.

    Yet you're surprised it's expensive?

    • senectus on 10/08/2024 - 16:58

      well yeah its gone up a lot from the last time. I did expect it to jump but not quite so much.
      3 weeks with a car is going to cost us the same as 4 adults to fly there and back.

    • HeWhoKnows on 11/08/2024 - 08:20

      Get one thats very waterproof, cyclone proof and maybe floats on water.
      And make sure the a/c works great.

      That is absolutely the worst time of year to go to FNQ.

  • Gunnar on 10/08/2024 - 15:05
    +2

    Car hire got very expensive over the past few years

    Also make sure you check the included kilometers (some place have daily caps which are fine if you are in a city but won’t be for where you’re off to)

  • Sye on 10/08/2024 - 15:15
    +6

    Take a photo of the full fuel gauge when handing vehicle back.

  • sumyungguy on 10/08/2024 - 15:15

    Pick-up and drop-off in MKY? The regional airports just don't have as many cars so school holiday tax is steep.

  • AndyC1 on 10/08/2024 - 15:59

    Peak season. Prices like this occur in WA when the mining has boomed in places like the Pilbara.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/08/2024 - 16:26
    +2

    We found an automobile association membership got us a reasonable discount in FNQ from SixT.

  • AustriaBargain on 10/08/2024 - 17:13
    +1

    Makes sense. If flights for the three weeks around xmas are more expensive because of more demand, then you'd think the same flyers would want to rent the same amount of cars and that the pool of car rentals would directly be just as scarce/valuable as flights were. Are you looking at renting elsewhere and just taking a taxi there to pick up the car?

  • Benoffie on 10/08/2024 - 18:30

    Ask about road exclusions in FNQ.

  • valuer on 10/08/2024 - 19:01

    How are accommodation prices?

    It's Christmas, yes, but otherwise it is Off-season up in FNQ. Maybe there are bargains to be had further north, or maybe you could find someone on Facebook to swap/loan a car from.

  • sumyungguy on 10/08/2024 - 19:39

    What towns are you visiting? If you book two rentals, returning the first one after Xmas, the rates for the second leg are lower.

  • morse on 10/08/2024 - 20:34

    Could try a relocation but it might impact your itinerary and they are generally only available at short notice

    https://www.imoova.com/en
    https://www.transfercar.com.au/

  • altomic on 10/08/2024 - 23:27

    I use to look for hire cars via ladybug.com

    It's a consolidation website.

    It shows economy car rentals with cx3 for 2356$

  • cuethebush on 11/08/2024 - 05:08
    +1

    Have a look at flying into Cairns and renting from Apex Car Rentals. They are a low cost car rental business owned by Avis/Budget Group. I just put in three weeks from 21st December and a mid size SUV option came up for about $2100.

    Last time I rented from them was good, albeit was a number of years ago before they were bought out. They are no frills so expect shuttle bus to the depot and limited opening hours but otherwise they should be no worse than the big players.

    And a tip for insurance, don't use their excess reduction options. Use your credit card insurance or buy a domestic travel insurance policy. It will be cheaper (or free if you have the option with your CC) and cover more than just the rental car.

    And make sure you check for road use exclusions. ALL car rental companies will have exclusions on where you can use their vehicles, especially in the Far North wet season. You should be ok if you plan to keep to the usual tourist places, but further north of Cooktown or heading west towards the Gulf Country is likely to be an issue.

    Book now and keep an eye on pricing. If you book a refundable rate you can always rebook if there a better price pops up.

    • heal on 16/12/2024 - 18:14

      Use your credit card insurance

      My card doesn't offer anything for car hire. Do you have any card recommendations

  • nekro on 11/08/2024 - 08:45

    Another vote for apex car rentals.

  • mikekiwimike on 11/08/2024 - 14:42

    I hadn’t realised inflation had ‘hit’ the rental car market to the same extent as every other industry…. Sure is expensive to keep those cars on the lot.

    Don’t get rental insurance - don’t get any extras and get the cheapest car that fits your requirements - no one’s gunna think that you are povo because you drive around in a car from Apex, unless you have claimed regularly on your own policy, then you should get insurance….

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