Car hire Tasmania. Which company?

[Port Power]

Good tip. Uber does operate from HBA: rental car opening hours in town probably only 9-5.

Both LST and HBA have a shuttle service into town, easy and cheap. We actually have used a no-brand from LST many times in the past when driving on to Ulverstone. Cheap and cheerful. They pick you up as the office is a few hundred metres away from the terminal.

I‘m travelling from Launceston to Hobart from December 22nd. Cannot find a hire car anywhere, I think because of reduced opening hours. (I want to drop at Hobart late afternoon 26th.) So I am using shuttles at the airports and the Redline bus on 24th from LST to Penguin, then Devonport to Hobart on 26th. Scenic, easy, and I have saved a fortune! Care hire this month is from $250/day. Of course I am missing out on driving the west coast, but can’t be helped. Tours booked pick up from hotel, including a full day Bruny Island tour.

 

[OZDUCK]

Europcar have a really bad rep for ripping people on 'damages' I've heard this quite a lot recently....

Well, they were fined $264,000 for ripping off customers in Tasmania 6 years ago so I guess they have earned their bad reputation.

Europcar in Tasmania Perhaps not the Most Reputable - Tasmania Forum - Tripadvisor

Answer 1 of 11: Reported in our local media today http://www.themercury.com.au/news/scales-of-justice/court-slams-hire-car-ripoff-with-bajv-pty-ltd-fined-220000-director-fined-44000/story-fnj8cre7-1226930462470 A $264,000 fine handed down to a Tasmanian hire car...

www.tripadvisor.com.au

 

[Brissy1]

Well, they were fined $264,000 for ripping off customers in Tasmania 6 years ago so I guess they have earned their bad reputation.

Europcar in Tasmania Perhaps not the Most Reputable - Tasmania Forum - Tripadvisor

Answer 1 of 11: Reported in our local media today http://www.themercury.com.au/news/scales-of-justice/court-slams-hire-car-ripoff-with-bajv-pty-ltd-fined-220000-director-fined-44000/story-fnj8cre7-1226930462470 A $264,000 fine handed down to a Tasmanian hire car...

www.tripadvisor.com.au

This. And the frequent neg experiences in this short forum alone; why would anyone, ever, use europcar. And I find that companies of all sizes, like individuals, that have form are more likely to re-offend.

 

[EestiTiger]

Agree with the sentiment on EuroCar. I hired a car from them in Adelaide many years ago and they tried to stitch me up for some existing minor damage on the return. I had photos and as it was late in the day they just wanted to shut up and go home. I wasn't going anywhere until they agreed it wasn't my doing. Worked out okay in the end but I was pretty fired up at the time and to this day only use hire cars as a last resort

 

[og]

Mark every scratch, dent and chip on the contract paperwork. The agents will hate you but it stops them hitting you for damage you were not responsible for. It’s best to rent an older “worn” car because any chips or dents you cause may be mixed up with existing damage and then ignored. Agents fastidiously examine the windscreens for undocumented chips - you have been warned! Also check the door sills below the doors - easy to overlook but these take a pounding on kerbs and dirt roads. Always get a rental agent to collect / sign off the car on return - don’t just leave the keys for them to sort it after you are gone. These comments were learnt from renting from various companies at HBA. They’re all smiles, but they can bite when you least expect it. Keep your paperwork for a long time afterward. Enjoy Tassie - it’s beautiful.

 

[Cossie]

Road rash on alloy wheels from hitting gutters is another good one to check for.

 

[RooFlyer]

The shortage of hire cars in Tasmania is becoming a thing.

Tassie tourism operators suffer cancellations due to hire car shortage (probably paywalled)

AS TASMANIA’S rental car prices skyrocket and vehicle availability runs empty, the state’s tourism industry is again being hit by cancellations from mainland tourists.

Corinda owner Julian Roberts thought when Tasmania’s borders reopened the tourism industry would finally get back on its feet.

He could never have anticipated cancellations trickling in because guests could not source a hire car.

“We knew we’d be OK when the borders opened. We’re full again as of the end of this week and we’re almost back to where we used to be,” he said.


According to the radio this morning, people are now privately renting out their cars. No insurance cover for 'commercial' use, of course.

 

[wheelsup]

No-one has mentioned Apex (the Jetstar of Avis). Have used them at least 10 times form LST and HBA (and a mix of both) - good cars, great service, prompt pickups and drop-offs from off-site yards nearby, and just a bit cheaper.

 

[ramamba]

Another suggestion: Bargain car rentals - used them 3 times in HBA, good experience each time so far. They have (or used to have) a sizable operation in Tassie, in HBA they are located in the airport terminal compared to other non-majors who are usually a shuttle ride away.

And i also had an experience with Europcar (in Melbourne) where they charged me several hundred for allegedly scratching one of the wheels. I've been reimbursed by allianz as i had separate insurance but never used europcar ever since.

 

[drron]

We also have used Bargain car rentals because they did allow travel to Bruny Island.We had absolutely no problems with them and service exceptional.But on Trip Advisor their are quite a few complaints of poor service as well.

And RooFlyer I circumvent the Muckery's paywall by reading it at the Newsagent.

 

[RooFlyer]

This will resonate with @jkbaus

'We've given up': Tourists unable to book hire cars after companies sell off fleet

As tourism dried up during COVID-19 lockdowns hire car companies sold off their fleets. Now tourists are back but they can't find cars to rent.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Port Power]

This will resonate with @jkbaus

'We've given up': Tourists unable to book hire cars after companies sell off fleet

As tourism dried up during COVID-19 lockdowns hire car companies sold off their fleets. Now tourists are back but they can't find cars to rent.

www.abc.net.au

That explains it! No wonder I couldn’t hire a car over Christmas, even for four days. And the prices are indeed very high for the days they are available, if you can find one. As I mentioned previously, Redline to the rescue!

 

[Steady]

My thoughts
If you have an AMEX - check to see if there are any statement credits available as that may make one company cheaper.
Some CC's have complementary hire car insurance - if going that way have a good read of the conditions to ensure it covers domestic hire and gravel roads etc.
There is lots of wild life on Tassie roads from dusk to dawn if you are out of the metro areas, so ensure insurance cover level includes single vehicle accidents (both hitting, and swerving to miss can do damage)

Fill up the fuel before returning the car - they charge a lot more per litre if they get have to.

There are new Amex offers today for Hertz (spend $180 get $50 back and Avis (spend $300 get $60 back)

 

[jkbaus]

There are new Amex offers today for Hertz (spend $180 get $50 back and Avis (spend $300 get $60 back)

Got both of these offers.
Unfortunately it’s for hire and return of car by 31 Jan and I will be in Tas in Feb.

 

[jkbaus]

Thanks to all for your help.

Read lots of PDS. Yuk
Then after info here and reading some other reviews I decided to go with Avis. Not the cheapest but seems like less problems with them.

Now booked.

 

[Jacques Vert]

As soon as you get in the car take a picture of the instrument panel including fuel gauge and then again as you return the car.

And when returning the car, put your receipt for filling up the fuel tank alongside the fuel guage on the instrument panel before takng that picture, preferably while the attendant is watching you.

I've got no doubt that some of these attendants fill up their own vehicles and charge it to one of the rentals (happens too often for it to be any other reason). Unfortunately, many renters don't bother to check the final bill/credit card and these people get away with it.

 

[RooFlyer]

I hadn't heard of this, but apparently been on the mainland since 2013. May relieve some of the issues with lack of rental cars in Tas:

Car Next Door sharing platform launches in Tasmania (paywalled)
A NEW car sharing platform now has vehicles available to rent in Tasmanian after the state government changed registration regulations to help get more hire cars on the road.

Rental car stocks had been almost entirely cleared out over the festive season, some going at $600 a day with providers hiking their fees amid high demand.

Car Next Door peer-to-peer car sharing app has operated on the mainland since 2013 and has now launched its online service in Tasmania, with the state government accrediting the platform and temporarily waiving the $447 fee for “hire and drive” vehicle registrations to urgently address the rental car shortage which has deterred some tourists from visiting Tasmania.
...

The incentive will be available for the first 500 eligible vehicles or until February 1, 2021, whichever comes first.

Since the changes were announced on Wednesday two cars have gone live on Car Next Door from car owners renting their vehicles out to tourists, with 30 cars currently in the listing process.

 

[Port Power]

I hadn't heard of this, but apparently been on the mainland since 2013. May relieve some of the issues with lack of rental cars in Tas:

Car Next Door sharing platform launches in Tasmania (paywalled)
A NEW car sharing platform now has vehicles available to rent in Tasmanian after the state government changed registration regulations to help get more hire cars on the road.

Rental car stocks had been almost entirely cleared out over the festive season, some going at $600 a day with providers hiking their fees amid high demand.

Car Next Door peer-to-peer car sharing app has operated on the mainland since 2013 and has now launched its online service in Tasmania, with the state government accrediting the platform and temporarily waiving the $447 fee for “hire and drive” vehicle registrations to urgently address the rental car shortage which has deterred some tourists from visiting Tasmania.
...

The incentive will be available for the first 500 eligible vehicles or until February 1, 2021, whichever comes first.

Since the changes were announced on Wednesday two cars have gone live on Car Next Door from car owners renting their vehicles out to tourists, with 30 cars currently in the listing process.

I was watching TV news on Christmas Eve in Penguin and hiring if private cars was actually talked about. It is being allowed because of the rental car shortage as RooFlyer quoted. So it is a real thing. You would have to look into your insurance very carefully, and so should the owners. (I also have never heard about the scheme before.)

 

[BCons]

Um, maybe one for the Tasmanians. How do you get a car to Bruny island NOT on the ferry?

You don’t.. it’s an island with boat access the only way...

 

[jb747]

Something else that has always struck me about some destinations in Tasmania is the issue of parking. Expensive hotels/apartments only offering street parking. It's always put me off taking one of my cars, or even hiring something decent.