Adelaide car rentals are CHEAP!

[Febs]

I usually like to think I know quite a few tips and tricks when it comes to travel (that's what everyone tells me anyway), but dad certainly showed me up today.

I booked a rental through Hertz the other day for an upcoming Adelaide/Barossa trip - $46.50/day for a full-size (typically XR6 or SV6) at our corporate rate ($500 excess from memory), with one day free (#1 Gold Club coupon). Total came to ~$160 for 3 days including all taxes and a Neverlost.

Dad mentioned he'd just recently done a dummy booking through Hertz ADL and couldn't believe how cheap the cars were. I didn't even try a booking without our corporate CDP as it's always given the best deals in the past. I tried another booking without the CDP and wow...he was right. $29.90/day for a Fairlane! $27.90/day for an full-size!

The one free day coupon didn't work with the Fairlane, but I found an AMEX $30 off coupon that did. So instead of 3 days with a full-size/GPS for $160inc, we got 3 days with a Fairlane/GPS for $130inc.

(Excess is signficantly higher of course, but I've reserved it using my Earth Platinum which covers up to $5,500 in rental excesses within Australia).

Just thought I'd share. Sometimes it pays to try a number of booking methods!

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Roma]

Yes but I often wind up paying an extra $22 or so per day for the full insurance. (If one pays less one can still be up for $3000 or so excess). Does anyone do this differently or have a better idea? Visa card insurance perhaps?

[Dave Noble]

Originally Posted by Roma

Yes but I often wind up paying an extra $22 or so per day for the full insurance. (If one pays less one can still be up for $3000 or so excess). Does anyone do this differently or have a better idea? Visa card insurance perhaps?

If you are going to be renting 150Km from home, then have a look at Car Hire Excess Insurance | Car Rental Excess Insurance. They do an annual policy that specifically covers rental car excesses. GBP65 will cover you worldwide ( except USA/Canada ) for the year

Dave

[markis10]

Originally Posted by Roma

Yes but I often wind up paying an extra $22 or so per day for the full insurance. (If one pays less one can still be up for $3000 or so excess). Does anyone do this differently or have a better idea? Visa card insurance perhaps?

As discussed before, ANZ have an extra tied in with their cards, for around $24 for the year the excess drops to $350 from $4000:

ANZ Car Rental Cover

If you negotiate for a corporate rate with a 4K excess you can get some good savings from the rental companies to use with this policy. ANZ Gold holders have it included for free (not the FF card).

[Febs]

Originally Posted by Roma

Yes but I often wind up paying an extra $22 or so per day for the full insurance. (If one pays less one can still be up for $3000 or so excess). Does anyone do this differently or have a better idea? Visa card insurance perhaps?

(Excess is signficantly higher of course, but I've reserved it using my Earth Platinum which covers up to $5,500 in rental excesses within Australia).

See above

[danielribo]

That's good to know, I didn't realise the Earth card covers domestic insurance excess (I thought it was only Intl).

Do you know if thats just on the platnium card or the gold as well?