Sydney Airport Car Rental Advice?

Uncle Roger on 23/10/2024 - 08:01

Will be travelling to Sydney just for the day, looking to rent a car from the airport…

Based on your experience,

a) Which companies would accept a debit card for the booking and deposit?

b) Which companies are generally cheaper for the rental + full insurance?

Thanks so much in advance

Travel Car Rental

Comments

  • geekcohen on 23/10/2024 - 08:16
    +1

    Do it online and book it before hand. Providing your "Debit Card" is a online card like Mastercard/Visa, then that will work.

    My last booking with Budget all they needed was the hire fee, nothing else. It had insurance, excess was $1,500.

    Also, do you need a car? Can you not use the train? I used a train last time I was in Sydney to get to and from the airport from CBD. If you do need a car, I am sure a buzz box like a i20 or something similar would be sufficient.

    • Uncle Roger on 23/10/2024 - 08:35

      Thank you, yup we would need a car… Few of us splitting, so shouldn't be very expensive

  • ryefig on 23/10/2024 - 08:18
    +1

    This wont answer your question, but I am pretty sure most rental car companies accept debit cards for payment, but if you are using a debit card for a deposit/security hold they will hold a greater amount than if you use a credit card for the security hold (something like $5k from memory).

    To make it a little more complicated, some rental companies will waive the requirement to leave a security hold on the car if you purchase their top level (i.e. most expensive) insurance excess reduction. To explain a little better, most car rental companies will have an excess of approx. $4500 if you are involved in an accident. They will offer to reduce this excess down to $0 if you pay an additional amount - under this circumstance you may not be required to have a security hold put against your card.

    Unfortunately most rental companies do not make the details available online, and they are only available at the rental counter when you are picking up your car. Probably the best thing to do to get a definite answer is to spend a bit of time to call them up and ask.

    • Uncle Roger on 23/10/2024 - 08:34

      Thanks for this, appreciate the detailed reply

  • elgrande on 23/10/2024 - 08:31
    +2

    Sixt allow debit, but with $500 deposit

    • Uncle Roger on 23/10/2024 - 08:34

      Thanks for this! Can you confirm this is for Sydney airport, as according to their website they say debit card acceptance depends on the specific "branch"…

      • elgrande on 23/10/2024 - 17:55

        Sorry unc, was a different branch.

  • CurlCurl on 23/10/2024 - 08:42

    Not relevant I know. We used a Visa debt for 10 day hire in the U.S. Pick up Hertz Manhattan and drop of Little Rock Arkansas.

  • Flying Ace on 23/10/2024 - 09:56
    +2

    For B) We recently used Bayswater Car Rental and they were brilliant - the insurance is only a few dollars a day as well, instead of the extortionate amount the bigger companies charge.

    • Caped Baldy on 23/10/2024 - 10:11
      +1

      No Birds would be my pick and I've had good experiences in the past with the Kings Cross branch.

    • elgrande on 23/10/2024 - 17:55

      Yeah, but no birds..

    • Alice McGregor on 23/10/2024 - 18:01

      $14/day for insurance last year. It was about $50/day total on the weekly rate.

      Bayswater were easily the cheapest car around. And the staff in Kewdale were always friendly.

    • ryefig on 25/10/2024 - 14:36

      Are Bayswater/No Birds the same thing?

      I haven't rented with them before, but I have heard nothing but good things about them so they must be doing something right.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join