Hertz Australia Car Hire Review
When it comes to the hire car market, there’s no shortage of providers available, whether you’re looking to hit the road for the weekend, or for a few weeks. Considering what’s on offer, finding a provider that fits in with your trip, and your budget, can quickly prove to be a bigger task than anticipated, especially if it’s your first time.
Founded over 100 years ago, Hertz is one of the more well-known providers in the rental car industry, with the brand currently operating in 150 countries worldwide. In Australia, Hertz has more than 200 locations available to help you get on the road, with a variety of vehicles and extras to help make your time behind the wheel more enjoyable.
If you’re looking to book a car for an upcoming trip, read on to find out just what Hertz has to offer, and if it’s the provider for you in this Canstar Blue review.
How do I book a car with Hertz?
Like many hire car providers, you can book a car as soon as you’re on the Hertz website, or through the Hertz app. Simply select your pick-up location (with the option to select a different drop-off location), the pick-up and return dates, the time you’d like to pick-up your ride, as well as the age of the primary driver.
You can also choose which vehicle type you would prefer, as well as enter any discount or promo codes you have, or the option to use your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points if you’re a member. If you’re picking up your vehicle from the airport, you’ll also be asked to provide your flight details, as this will help Hertz staff in case of delays.
Once all of this has been entered, you’ll be taken to a new screen which shows the vehicles available at the time of your travels. You’ll also be shown prices, both as a ‘Pay Now’ price, and a ‘Pay Later’ price. Once you’ve selected a payment option, you’ll be taken to the next screen, which allows you to add any extras (such as GPS units and additional cover) to your journey. Once you’ve selected what you need, you’ll be taken to the final screen, where you’ll be asked to enter your personal details, such as your name, contact details, as well as payment details if you’ve selected the Pay Now option. You’ll also be given a chance to review what you’ve booked, with Hertz also outlining what is included with the rates, as well as its Terms and Conditions for you to read. After this, click ‘Submit’, and you’re good to go.
Can I change my booking with Hertz?
You’ll be able to modify or cancel your booking with Hertz, under the ‘Reservations’ tab on its website. Simply enter your Confirmation Number and last name, and your booking information will be available for you to double-check, modify or cancel.
Will I be charged a cancellation fee?
Whether or not you’ll be charged a cancellation fee will be dependent on your type of booking, and how in-demand the car you’ve booked is. Generally, if you cancel your reservation more than about 48 hours before the allotted pick-up time, then you should avoid any potential cancellation fee, although if you’ve pre-paid your booking, you’ll likely incur a fee, or forfeit the entire amount depending on how close to the pick-up time you cancel.
Can I check-in online?
Whether you’re running late to a meeting or you’re just keen to get your trip underway, pre-filling forms and details can save you time waiting around at the airport counter. Hertz Online Check-in allows you to complete paperwork prior to arriving at your select location by providing a few key details, such as your driver’s license and date of birth.
Where are Hertz hire cars available?
As one of the more prominent hire car providers in Australia, Hertz offers a full list of locations on its website, including airports, rural areas and capital cities. Major locations include:
Can I pick-up and drop-off my Hertz car at different locations?
Depending on your trip, it isn’t always viable (or convenient) to drop-off your hire car at the same location from where you’ve picked it up from. Thankfully, Hertz offers a ‘Rent-It-Here/Leave-It-There’ (RIH-LIT) option, allowing you to select a different drop-off location to your pick-up, helping to fit your rental car into your itinerary, rather than the other way around. If you’re looking to select a different drop-off location, you can select it when making your booking, although you may incur a ‘one-way fee’ as a result.
What type of vehicles can I hire from Hertz?
While they may be subject to availability, Hertz offers a number of vehicles for you to choose from, each categorised into vehicle types to help narrow down what you’re after. Categories include the Green Collection for those after something a bit more environmentally friendly, the Prestige Collection for those after something a bit fancy, as well as the Adrenaline Collection for those looking to put the foot down. Other vehicles include small models for solo travellers, sedans and SUVs for those who have a few people tagging along, as well as trucks and vans for those who need to carry a bit with them.
Where can I take my Hertz hire car?
With Australian home to plenty of dirt roads, sandy beaches and long stretches of highway, it can be tempting to take the roads less travelled in order to get the most out of your time behind the wheel. However, despite the temptation, Hertz states that while ‘you can drive on any made road, due care must be taken on unsealed roads as damage to a vehicle while driving on an unsealed road may incur a higher liability, and all off-road driving is prohibited’. While Hertz offers a number of 4WD vehicles, from your wallet’s point of view, it may be best to stick to the bitumen.
How much will a car hire from Hertz cost?
For many, the costs associated with rental cars can be hard to follow, with many providers having a range of seemingly hidden fees or costs that change for every car that’s driven off the lot. The final price that you’ll pay at the checkout will often be the result of multiple factors, including the type of vehicle you reserve, how long you hire it for, how far in advance you made your booking, whether or not you used a discount voucher, any additional extras you added as well as plenty of other factors, meaning allocating money to your travel budget can be a big process to undertake.
To take some of the guesswork out of the budgeting, Hertz provides a guide around some of the costs you’ll likely see on your invoice. These include:
- Daily/weekly/monthly rental cost
- GST
- Location Fee
- Credit Card Surcharge
- Admin Fee
- Vehicle Registration Recovery
In addition to the traditional rates and fees, there are a number of additional charges that you may encounter, although this will come down to each individual car hire. These include:
- Excess Kilometres – While most Hertz rentals include unlimited kilometres, some rentals are under a different rate structure which is essentially broken down by how much you travel in a day, week or month. If you exceed the number of included kilometres, you’ll incur a ‘kilometre charge’.
- Delivery & Collection Fees – If you’ve requested a specific vehicle type and the location where you’re planning on picking it up from doesn’t have it, you’ll incur a fee for Hertz to deliver the vehicle to your select location.
- Late Charges – Hertz providers work on a 24-hour day, meaning if you pick up your car at 10am, you’ll have to return it at 10am. Hertz offers a 59 minute ‘grace period’, meaning if you return it before 10:59am (if you were supposed to return it at 10am), then you won’t incur a late charge. However, if you return your hire car anytime after the grace period, you’ll incur a late charge.
- Fuel – It’s common practice to refill the tank before returning your rental car, although this can be time-consuming, and you’ll often be at the mercy of local fuel prices. To combat this, Hertz offers drivers a choice, including a Prepay option, filling up yourself, or dropping the rental back off at the Hertz location and incurring a higher refueling fee.
These are just some of the more common charges and fees you’re likely to encounter when hiring a car through Hertz, with some fees specific to what type of vehicle you’ve hired and where you’re planning on taking it. To avoid any surprises on your final invoice, it’s always best to get a Hertz staff member to outline any fees you’re likely to encounter, as well as make sure you read the rental agreement before you drive off.
How can I pay for my Hertz hire car?
To pay for your hire car, Hertz offers a number of options for both individuals and businesses to choose from. If you’re paying through a business, Hertz will generally send an invoice, whereas for an individual, you’ll generally have to settle the bill at the checkout. Most Hertz locations will accept card and cash.
- Hertz will also require a bond when you pick-up the keys to your hire car, which is usually between $100 and $550, depending on the location and type of car you’ve booked.
What credit cards does Hertz accept?
Hertz accepts a variety of credit cards, including American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Hertz Change Card, Diners Club, Japanese Credit Bureau, as well as Visa and Mastercard debit cards. Those paying by credit card will be subject to a 1.35% surcharge, which is something to keep in mind when it comes to paying the bill.
- You can’t collect a vehicle from Hertz with someone else’s credit card, so be sure to book under the name of whoever is paying for it!
Can I pre-pay my Hertz booking?
To help some of the financial stress out of your travels, Hertz allows you to pre-pay your booking, which may save you some money and hassle down the line. While a convenient way to save a few dollars, the pre-pay feature is only available through select Hertz providers, so keep an eye out when you’re booking to use the feature.
How can I get a discount on my Hertz hire car?
With hire cars a major expense for your time away from home, discounts and promotions can prove the difference between your wallet feeling the pinch and enjoying your time behind the wheel. To help you find the right deal for your journey, Hertz offers a ‘Deals’ section on its website, which includes vehicle upgrades, discounts and free extras, depending on what’s currently on offer.
Another way to make the most of your Hertz hire car is to link your account with affiliate programs and providers. Hertz has partnered with a number of airlines, hotels and other big brands to help you secure points to be used on both your car hire, as well as shopping trips. Check out the Hertz Loyalty Partners section on its website for more details.
Who can rent a vehicle from Hertz?
To hire a vehicle from Hertz in Australia, drivers are subject to a few requirements before they’re given the keys. Below are the major factors as to whether or not you’ll be eligible to hire a car from Hertz:
- Age – Drivers must be aged 21 or over to hire a vehicle, although drivers aged under 25 will be subject to an ‘underage surcharge’. Younger drivers are also only able to hire certain vehicles. Similarly, Hertz recommends that all drivers over 75 provide a medical certificate when they arrive at the pick-up location, with its website stating that it is the location’s decision as to whether or not they will rent a car to a person over the age of 75.
- Licence – Drivers must have a current licence on them at the time of their booking. Hertz will not allow those with a suspended, revoked, expired, cancelled or surrendered driver’s licence to hire a car. Similarly, those on a Learner’s permit (or Provisional licences in Tasmania) are also not allowed to hire a car. Drivers must also have held their licence for 12 consecutive months before hiring a car through Hertz.
- International drivers – If you want to hire a vehicle while travelling in Australia, Hertz requires you to have a valid driver’s licence from your home country, along with an International Driver’s Permit.
Can I add additional drivers through Hertz?
There’s nothing like a road trip with friends, especially as it means you get to nap in the back seat! If you’re looking to add multiple drivers to your booking, Hertz requires any additional driver to meet its age and licence requirements, as well as provide their licence when you pick up the keys. You’ll incur an Additional Driver Charge for each driver you add, costing you an extra $3.30 a day, per driver, although this surcharge is capped at five days.
What happens if I get in an accident in a Hertz hire car?
While you hope that your time behind the wheel will be uneventful, there’s always a chance that you’ll run into some troubles. Whether it’s a mechanical issue, or you’ve accident dinged up your ride, Hertz outlines a process to follow if there’s been an incident.
If you’ve been in an accident, or your hire vehicle has been damaged, you’ll incur a charge as part of the Accident Damage Excess, regardless of who is at fault. Additionally, you will be asked to fill out a Vehicle Incident Report, as well as any accident reports required by state or national authorities.
If you’re worried about the possibility of getting into a fender-bender while in a hire car, you can opt to purchase Hertz SuperCover, which includes zero excess, premium roadside assistance, comprehensive vehicle and personal protection, as well as no fees for additional drivers. SuperCover prices start at $46 per day, but for extra peace of mind, it may be worth spending a bit more.
- If you receive a traffic violation when behind the wheel of a Hertz rental, such as parking fine or speeding ticket, Hertz takes no responsibility, so brush up your road rules before heading out!
Other things to know about Hertz
There’s plenty of information to take on board when it comes to investigating the hire car market, with a lot of it seemingly behind a shroud of mystery. To make your dealings with Hertz easier, here are a few areas that may prove helpful down the line.
What is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards?
The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is a membership program, allowing you to rack up points to be used for upgrades and discounts on future bookings. Free to sign up to, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards has different tiers, including Gold, Five Star and President’s Circle, all of which offer different levels of discounts and are based on how much you have spent during previous journeys.
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards also stores all your personal details, allowing for a quicker booking process the next time you’re travelling. You’ll be given a Hertz Member Number for quicker access to your account.
Hertz Mobile App
Like most companies, Hertz has an app to help customers on the go book or modify their reservations. Available on both the Android and iOS operating systems, the Hertz app allows you to manage current bookings, look at past bookings or book a car for a future trip, as well as allowing to redeem points if you want to treat yourself to a last-minute upgrade.
- The Hertz app is free on both operating systems, meaning it won’t impact on your travel budget.
What brands operate under the Hertz brand?
As one of the more established brands available, the Hertz Corporation, which itself operates under Hertz Global Holdings, owns a number of other rental car providers and subsidiaries, with a number available in Australia. Providers such as Flexicar, Ace Rental Cars, Dollar Rent a Car and Firefly are all owned by Hertz. Additionally, while the Thrifty brand operates Hertz on a global scale, Thrifty Australia is owned by NRMA.
Should I drive away in a Hertz rental?
Hiring a car can make your trip easier and more enjoyable, but narrowing down which provider to hire from can be anything but. With plenty of vehicles, rates, locations and reward programs to consider, looking into all of your options before booking can not only save you a bit of money, but also ensure that you’ve found something that suits your needs for when you’re on the road.
While it may be tempting to simply go for the cheapest provider available, delving a bit deeper into the rental agreement, as well as the other services on offer, can save you some heartbreak down the line. If you’ve got a big trip coming up, a bit of research can go a long way, helping your trip get off on the right foot.
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.
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What do customers think of Hertz hire cars?
In 2019, Australian consumers gave Hertz 4 out of 5 stars for overall customer satisfaction for hire cars.