Renting a Car at airport vs City (OOL, Gold Coast) return to airport

[zerog101]

Hi All was wondering why the cost difference is so much between picking the rental car up at Airport instead of city, in both cases car is returned to airport

Example:
Hertz(all big guys are the same)
7 day car hire Medium SUV
Pick up: OOL drop off OOL
Cost: $921.87 (153.65/day)

vs


Hertz(all big guys are the same)
7 day car hire Medium SUV
Pick up: Southport Gold Coast drop off OOL
Cost: $347.74 (57.96/day)

cost difference = $574.13

can get limo or taxi to southport for $100 or less

I dont get it :S

 

[drron]

First there are extra charges for the company at the airport which accounts for some of the extra costs.
But the big difference is that they count on the customer being lazy and not checking or just accepting the charges for convenience.

In the old days pre covid when renting OS we often went from the airport for our first night hotel and rented the next day off airport.

 

[kookaburra75]

Hi All was wondering why the cost difference is so much between picking the rental car up at Airport instead of city, in both cases car is returned to airport

Example:
Hertz(all big guys are the same)
7 day car hire Medium SUV
Pick up: OOL drop off OOL
Cost: $921.87 (153.65/day)

vs


Hertz(all big guys are the same)
7 day car hire Medium SUV
Pick up: Southport Gold Coast drop off OOL
Cost: $347.74 (57.96/day)

cost difference = $574.13

can get limo or taxi to southport for $100 or less

I dont get it :S

All the big companies have what they call a "Premium Location Surcharge", which after they have calculated the total rental charges, including insurance if you take it, and add that on top. I've seen loadings of 30-50% for different major locations, and I suspect different times of the year.

 

[zerog101]

In the old days pre covid when renting OS we often went from the airport for our first night hotel and rented the next day off airport.

thats also a good idea

 

[luxury-lizard]

Hi All was wondering why the cost difference is so much between picking the rental car up at Airport instead of city, in both cases car is returned to airport

Example:
Hertz(all big guys are the same)
7 day car hire Medium SUV
Pick up: OOL drop off OOL
Cost: $921.87 (153.65/day)

vs


Hertz(all big guys are the same)
7 day car hire Medium SUV
Pick up: Southport Gold Coast drop off OOL
Cost: $347.74 (57.96/day)

cost difference = $574.13

can get limo or taxi to southport for $100 or less

I dont get it :S

Thanks so much for posting - just saved a bundle on a similar car hire ex-OOL in mid-July.

 

[clifford]

Here's a bit of a strange one with Hertz.

I've been trying to book a 1-day 1-way rental from Canberra to Sydney Airport (I don't want to take the train or bus in these times of Covid), but the Hertz website says no cars are available for this trip.

However, cars are available for a 1-way rental from Canberra to Hertz's Arncliffe depot, which is just about within walking distance of the International terminal. I wonder why I can't book to the airport and drop off at Domestic?

It's also $25 less to pick up at the Fyshwick depot, rather than the CBR airport, because of the location charge.

I

 

[docjames]

Agree with the “airport hotel then local rental” approach. Very much worth it for longer rentals.

Surcharge added at most major airports for airport fees plus lazy consumer fee.

Re: CBR —> Syd, it’s possible they have excess stock at SYD and don’t really want the car there, same as you can often get cheap one way off season to holiday destinations (so they don’t have to transport the car there) - there was a thread recently on this (Cost to hire in CNS).