Top 10 Car Rental Companies in Melbourne for Tourists and Locals

Planning a trip to Melbourne and looking for a rental car to explore this cultural centre at your own pace?

Both locals and tourists prefer to hire a car in Melbourne so they can travel freely, comfortably, and in privacy. You can explore this cosmopolitan centre and its suburbs, and drive across the Great Ocean Road with your family, friends or team. 

Various car rental companies operate in Melbourne, offering car rental services to both locals and tourists. The services and pricing vary with companies. As a local tour guide, I’m obliged to provide you with the list of the most reliable car hire companies in Melbourne, Australia. 

Quick Comparison of the Best Car Hire Companies in Melbourne

Before giving you a detailed overview of the best car rental companies in Melbourne, here is a quick comparison that helps you determine which company you should choose for your trip in Melbourne. 

The given table compares the companies based on pricing transparency, rental duration, travel flexibility, and suitability for tourists/locals. 

Car Rental Company	Pricing	Rental Duration	Travel Flexibility	Suitability
Hertz	Average to high	Flexible duration	Travel anywhere in Australia with standard car hire	Most suitable for loyalty program members
Vital Rental	Affordable weekly payments	Long-term car hire	Travel anywhere across Australia	Suitable for both locals and tourists seeking stable car hire
Avis	Affordable daily rate	A few days to several months	Travel anywhere across Australia (some restrictions may apply)	Suitable for locals and tourists
Sixt	High rates	From 1 day up to 1 year	Travel anywhere in Australia	Suitable for both locals and travellers
Europcar	Flexible rate according to the car	From 1 day up to 2 years	Travel across Australia	Suitable for both locals and tourists
National	Average daily rates	Daily	Travel anywhere in Australia	Suitable for short-term travellers
Advance Car Rentals	Average rate	Flexible long-term car hire	You are restricted to staying within Victoria	Good for people willing to travel to Melbourne and Victoria
Thrifty	Low to average rates	Flexible Long-term car rental	Travel across Australia	Perfect for travellers willing to rent a car for a long period
East Coast Car Rentals	Affordable rates	Flexible short and long-term car rental options	You can travel across cities, but restrictions are applied	Perfect for locals who want a stable vehicle to travel in Melbourne and its suburbs.
Redspot Car Rentals	Affordable pricing	Flexible car rental duration	Allows travel across states, but restrictions are applied	Ideal for travellers who want to stay within Melbourne and its suburbs.

If you want to travel rental car for a short period, Avis and National are the most affordable options. And if you are looking for a long-term car rental service, then Vital Rental, Thrifty or Europcar are your go-to options. 

Top 10 Companies for Car Rental in Melbourne

As a local tour guide in Melbourne, I have rented vehicles from various car rental companies. I have personally used the services of all the companies I’m listing below. You can trust my judgement and go for the one that best suits your needs. 

1. Hertz

Hertz is one of the most popular car hire companies in Melbourne, Australia, with a rating of 4.4 on Google. The services are outstanding, and it allows you to travel anywhere in Australia. Moreover, it offers a flexible car rental duration from a few days to several weeks. 

Key Features: 

• Flexible Rental Period: Rent a car from one day to several months. 
• Unlimited Travel: You can travel anywhere in Australia 
• Fleet: You can choose any car from a wide variety of compact cars, SUVs, minivans, convertibles, and premium collections. 
• 24/7 Support: Get 24/7 roadside assistance

Pricing: The cost varies with the type of vehicle you choose. Smaller cars cost around AU$34-69 while SUVs cost AU$75-128 per day. 

2. Vital Rental 

Vital Rental is the best car hire company for Car rental in Melbourne. It has a rating of 4.4 on Google. The company offers well-serviced and insured cars for a minimum of two week to upto several months. 

Key Features: 

• Weekly Payment: The company provides weekly payment plans, which are more affordable than daily rentals. 
• Well-maintained Fleet: The fleet contains well-serviced hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, and commercial vans. 
• Roadside Assistance: 24/7 roadside assistance is offered to all customers. 
• Unlimited Kilometres: With each car hire, you get unlimited kilometres and flexibility to travel across Australia. 

Pricing: The weekly cost differs by vehicle type. The average price ranges from AU$190 to AU$350. 

3. Avis 

Avis is another top rankin car hire company in Melbourne, with an average rating of 3.5 on Google. This company provides flexible car hire solutions in Melbourne. You can rent a car for a few days to several months. 

Key Features: 

• Vehicle Option: It offers a wide range of vehicle options to choose from, including compact cars, SUVs, electric vehicles, and passenger vans.
• Avis App: It offers an app to book, track, upgrade, or return vehicles. 
• Travel Freedom: You can travel anywhere in Australia. 

Pricing: The vehicle costs AU$46 to AU$94 per day (price differs with car). 

4. Sixt

Sixt is another top-rated car rental company in Melbourne with a Google rating of 4.5. It provides premium car hire services and thus a bit pricy then the others. You can rent a car for both short and long terms, and travel anywhere across Australia.

Key Features: 

• Multiple Locations: Sixt has various locations across Melbourne. 
• Flexibility: It provides flexible daily, weekly, or monthly rental terms. 
• Variety Vehicles: The fleet includes passenger cars, luxury models, electric vehicles, SUVs, and a wide range of commercial vehicles. 
• Unlimited Mileage: There is no mileage limit, travel as much as you please. 

Pricing: The price varies with car type, average daily cost is about AU$140-200. 

5. Europcar

Europcar is an affordable car hire solution in Melbourne with a Google rating of 3.3. It offers flexible rates and rental duration, from one day to up to 2 years. You are provided the flexibility to travel anywhere within Australia. 

Key Features: 

• Flexible Rental: It offers short, medium, and long-term car rental options. 
• Roadside Assistance: The company provides 24/7 roadside assistance for all rental cars. 
• Online Booking: You can easily book your car online. 

Pricing: The small compact cars cost around AU$40-80 per day, while luxury vehicles can cost up to AU$200 per day. 

6. National 

National is another famous car hire company in Melbourne with a 3.7 Google rating. This company provides daily car rental solutions ideal for short-term travellers. 

Key Features: 

• Variety of Vehicles: It offers a wide range of cars, including automatic, small cars, and electric vehicles. 
• Support: Roadside support is provided round the clock. 
• Flexibility: It provides the flexibility to travel anywhere within Australia. 

Pricing: The average cost of a car is between $51 and $80 per day. 

7. Advance Car Rental

Advanced Car Rental is pretty famous among renters, with a rating of 4.7 on Google. It offers a wide range of vehicles at a very reasonable rate. It offers both daily and weekly rental options. Weekly options are more economical compared to the daily rentals. 

Key Features: 

• Fleet: The fleet contains compact cars, sedans, SUVs, and vans. 
• Quality Cars: The cars in their fleet are well-serviced.
• Flexible Plan: It allows you to hire a car for both short and long terms. 

Pricing: The daily vehicle rate is about AU$108-185, while weekly rates are about AU$270-350. The price changes with the type of vehicle you rent. 

8. Thrifty

Thrifty is another outstanding car hire company offering long-term car rental services. It has a Google rating of 3 on average and allows renters to travel anywhere in Australia. 

Key Features: 

• Online Booking: You can easily book a car online from the comfort of your home. 
• Unlimited Kilometres: You can travel without worrying about the mileage anywhere in Victoria. 
• Affordable Rates: It provides affordable rates for long-term car hire. 

Pricing: The typical rate for standard vehicles is AU$37-59, and for SUVs is AU$70-136. 

9. East Coast Car Rentals

East Coast Car Rentals is a reliable car hire company offering both short and long-term car rental solutions. It has a rating of 4.7 on Google and is pretty popular in Melbourne. 

Features:

• Variety of Cars: It offers a variety of vehicles, including compact cars, mid-size and large SUVs, and premium options.
• Unlimited Travel: You can travel for unlimited mileage (within the permitted location)
• Roadside Support: It provides 24-hour roadside support. 

Pricing: The price varies with vehicle type, but the usual daily rate is about AU$80-150. 

10. Redspot Car Rentals

Redspot Car Rentals is yet another famous car hire Melbourne company with an average Google rating of 4.3 stars. You can travel across states and can rent a car for a flexible time period. 

Key features: 

• Flexibility: You can hire a car for a flexible time period at affordable rates. 
• 24/7 Support: You get 24-hour roadside support 7 days a week. 
• Well-maintained Fleet: The company provide well-maintained fleet of sedans, SUVs, electric cars, vans and minibuses. 

Pricing: The pricing varies with the car, but usually ranges between AU$61 and AU$200. 

These are the 10 top-rated and high-value car rental companies in Melbourne that I have personally used to rent a car. You can choose any one of them that fits your travel needs. 

In the next section, I will discuss how to choose the right car hire company, so continue reading!

Choosing the Right Car Rental Company

Choosing the right rental car company in Melbourne depends on several factors. These factors include affordability, flexibility, limitations, insurance and other polices. You must consider all these factors when renting a car. 

1. Consider Total Cost: When choosing a rental car company, don’t just compare the daily rates but the total price. You need to consider the final price that includes hidden fees, insurance, additional drivers, and fuel policies.
2. Consider Rental Duration: Daily rentals are ideal for short trips or weekend travels, while weekly plans are better if you are staying in Melbourne for a longer period. Weekly plans are more economical than daily car rental plans. 
3. Pickup Location: Many tourists prefer renting a car directly from the airport, which is convenient but a bit expensive. If you could arrange a taxi and get a car from the CBD or the suburbs, it would cost you less. 
4. Check Travel Restrictions: It is very important to check the travel restrictions when renting a car. If you are planning to travel far and wide in Australia, choose a company that allows you to travel anywhere within Australia. 
5. Review Insurance and Excess Policy: Most car hire companies in Melbourne include basic insurance and a high excess amount. If you reduce the excess, your financial risk will be lower, but it increases the daily rental price. So, consider this option when choosing a car rental service. 

By considering these factors carefully, you can confidently select the best car rental company in Melbourne that aligns with your needs, budget, and travel plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is the cheapest car rental in Melbourne?

The cheapest rental car depends on travel dates, vehicle type and location. The standard cars have low rates during the off-peak season, but the final price increases after adding insurance and additional fees. 

2. Which is cheaper daily or weekly car rental plan?

Weekly car rental plan costs lower than a daily plan. Car rental companies offer better pricing for long-term car hire. 

3. Is it better to rent a car at Melbourne Airport?

If you are travelling by air, renting a car at Melbourne airport is most convenient but also expensive. If you want to save money, it is better to get a taxi and get a car from Melbourne CBD or its suburbs. 

4. Can tourists hire a car in Melbourne?

Yes, tourists can rent a car in Melbourne with a valid driver’s licence. International visitors require an International Driving Permit (IDP) if their driving licence is not in English. Your debit/credit card is also needed for a security bond. 

5. Do I need insurance when renting a car in Melbourne?

Most car hire companies provide basic insurance with a high excess. The renter can reduce the excess amount by increasing the daily rental price. 

6. What documents are required to hire a car in Melbourne?

• Valid driving licence
• IDP (for international travellers)
• A debit or credit card
• Identification card

7. Can I travel outside Victoria with a rental car?

Many companies allow renters to travel across states, but not all. If you plan to travel to different states, always check the travel policy of the car hire company.