Car rental in Darwin - any tips? vers 2

[kpc]

There was an old thread about this but it is now closed
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...tips-8825.html (Car rental in Darwin - any tips?)
Thinking of hiring a car for Ozfest. I've looked up Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar and Thrifty....all of them only include 100km; after that they charge around 0.23cents / kilometre upwards, and this adds up very quickly!! Even this site: Getting Live Rates... suggests the hire cars in Darwin only come with 100km included. Anyone know any company (I suspect unlikely tho) that has unlimited kms even though the base hire rate night be higher?
thanks

[markis10]

Short answer is no AFAIK, as someone who has to visit Katherine once in a while I always have fun explaining the mileage charges, not much you can do!

[Mwenenzi]

Try Vroom.com.au. Putting in 3 days from Darwin city (not airport) it shows unlimited km with Thrifty & Euro but 300km for the rest. Sometimes these 3rd party sites have different conditions to direct. But buyer beware

Would expect there is "rent a wreck" or equal in Darwin given its a backpackers haven

[kpc]

Try Vroom.com.au. Putting in 3 days from Darwin city (not airport) it shows unlimited km with Thrifty & Euro but 300km for the rest. Sometimes these 3rd party sites have different conditions to direct. But buyer beware

Unfortunately, when you click on a Thrifty or Euro car, it is 300km for 3 days or 100kms /day.

Short answer is no AFAIK, as someone who has to visit Katherine once in a while I always have fun explaining the mileage charges, not much you can do!

I think you are correct unless anyone can prove us incorrect

[markis10]

Maybe - Northern Territory Tours | Travel | Compare deals - Book online, seems to have some unlimited KM deals.

[AdMEL]

Short answer is no AFAIK, as someone who has to visit Katherine once in a while I always have fun explaining the mileage charges, not much you can do!

That's not correct - see below.

Try Vroom.com.au. Putting in 3 days from Darwin city (not airport) it shows unlimited km with Thrifty & Euro but 300km for the rest. Sometimes these 3rd party sites have different conditions to direct. But buyer beware

Would expect there is "rent a wreck" or equal in Darwin given its a backpackers haven

Although Europcar and Thrifty cars don't show any km limit on the front page of the link you provided, when you select any of their cars, they all say they are limited to 100km!

I used Expedia Australia a couple of years ago to hire a full size car (Commodore SV6) from ASP through Hertz, but it appears they don't have unlimited km's anymore. Worked well - I rang Hertz and got the booking linked to my #1 Club Gold - but was still costly - about $400 for 3 days with excess reduced to either $400 or $0 (I can't remember which, as I don't usually reduce the excess, but did for my travel mate's benefit). It was still cheaper than paying the excess km charge though, considering we drove approx. 1,500km!

Other intermediaries that I have found that offer unllimited km:

ntstandby - min. 2 days, through Europcar

territorydiscoveries - unlimited km through Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty & Budget

See websites for further details. Note that you can't book online with either - you can e-mail enquiry or ring.

I haven't used either of them, but will next time I'm in NT. They're both large reputable agencies - ntstandby has been around since 2006.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Cost starts at about $100 per day for a small car.

[markis10]

That's not correct - see below.

For the majors booking direct or through a TA it is, the loophole with Hertz was closed when the Franchise was bought out 24 months ago, also note there are now charges from Hertz to collect at the airport and drop off in the city.

My last few months of rentals I have been renting every day and I have to say the low KM encourages renters who dont fill the tank after 40-50K, I think 7 from the 12 rentals I had needed $15 of fuel when I travelled only 40km, which was reimbursed by Hertz and Avis but still a PITA. If your wondering why I have so many rentals, in the wet they are $30 a day and I credit to VS, which are per rental mileages

[AdMEL]

For the majors booking direct or through a TA it is, the loophole with Hertz was closed when the Franchise was bought out 24 months ago, also note there are now charges from Hertz to collect at the airport and drop off in the city.

My last few months of rentals I have been renting every day and I have to say the low KM encourages renters who dont fill the tank after 40-50K, I think 7 from the 12 rentals I had needed $15 of fuel when I travelled only 40km, which was reimbursed by Hertz and Avis but still a PITA. If your wondering why I have so many rentals, in the wet they are $30 a day and I credit to VS, which are per rental mileages

The OP asked whether there was any way to rent a car with unlimited km, to which you replied no. I advised this was not correct and provided two examples - one of which you also provided at about the same time!

Thanks for the further info though.

$30 a day - that's dirt cheap! Which company/car/rate?

Obviously you haven't been hiring through Hertz, since they now require you to provide a receipt if you drive less than 120km.

[markis10]

Thanks for the further info though.

$30 a day - that's dirt cheap! Which company/car/rate?

Obviously you haven't been hiring through Hertz, since they now require you to provide a receipt if you drive less than 120km.

Both Hertz and Avis charge $27-30 a day for a group A during the wet, although now that Hertz have moved to the shopping centre I prefer Avis despite being a Presidents Circle member, both have never asked to see my refuelling receipt but I usually show them since its so high . I also like the I30s from Avis, they are a nice car and would take it over an Epica which Hertz often given me.

[kpc]

Maybe - Northern Territory Tours | Travel | Compare deals - Book online, seems to have some unlimited KM deals.

Other intermediaries that I have found that offer unllimited km:

ntstandby - min. 2 days, through Europcar

territorydiscoveries - unlimited km through Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty & Budget

Looks good, thanks....will check them out. Need to decide how many days I need the car for