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Why choose Low Cost Car Rental?

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With so many car rental companies operating in Sydney, it is not so easy to make the choice on the car hire provider.

Heard about us and wondering why do you rent a car from us? Here is a short list of things we put together to help you make the decision and choose Low Cost Car Rental to take care of your next trip.

No booking fees

Here at Low Cost Car Rental we are 100% transparent with our costs. The policy of the company is to discuss every single aspect of the car hire with the customer before we book and charge them any money.

All you pay for is the rental value that already includes the car hire, default insurance for one eligible driver and complimentary 24/7 Premium Road Side Assistance. Among the additional costs are the mandatory bond of $250. Additional charges may apply only if you want to reduce the insurance excess, add more drivers to the insurance policy or book one of many extras like GPS, baby seats or snow chains to name a few.

Customer Oriented

Google Reviews is a hard to get. Maintaining 5-star is almost impossible as customers often picky or unfair. Nevertheless we managed to maintain 5-star rating for longer than 2 years since we registered our business with Google.

We constantly ask our customers for the feedback on our vehicles and customer service.

Our staff is trained and rewarded for positive feedback and we do not tolerate lazy or rude car rental workers.

We value every single customer. We make every effort for you to get the best rental vehicle and cover for your trip.

Low Cost Great Value

There are so many choices of car hire providers. But, like with any other service or purchase, the consumer wants to see the value for their money. Whether you are interested in short-term or long-term car for rent, you are always welcome in Low Cost Car Rental.

Feel free to visit our main car rental office (see Our Locations in Sydney, Australia) and discuss how we can help you organise your trip. We have a range of people movers to fit all your family, small to large size cars for casual leisure or business trips and SUVs (AWD, 4WD) if you go camping or skiing.

Have you hired from us before and have a suggestion on how we can improve our car rental service? Please don’t hesitate to call or email us any time. We would be happy to hear from you. We will be even happier if you continue using our car hire service.

Never rented from us? Please give us a try. We will do our best to not disappoint you.

The Positives of Car Hire

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Cheap car rental

There are many good reasons for car hire. The most common would be for someone from out of town who doesn’t have their own vehicle and doesn’t want the restrictions and inconvenience of using public transport. There are some other positives as well and we’ll take a look at some.

Why Buy When You Can Hire?

Maybe you need a specific type of vehicle for a few days or the week or two. There is little point buying a car in a temporary scenario like this. Car hire is the obvious solution. No need to go shopping for a vehicle, paying registration fees and ongoing insurance policies. For one off occasions and circumstances, it really is the simplest solution.

That Special Occasion

Some people hire special cars just for the wedding day. These cars are used to transport the bridal party and other dignitaries. Not everyone getting married has access to modern and nice looking vehicles, so car hire is the tailor made solution.

When friends visit town and you want to drive them around to see the sights, but you only have a small car, then hiring a much bigger car solves this problem. This can also be applied to other special occasions like a milestone birthday party or wedding anniversary. There are many occasions when car hire makes perfect sense.

Impress Your Date

For the guys out there. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you finally landed a date with your dream girl, agreed to pick her up, but are embarrassed about your rambling old car with the engine running rough and flaking paint?

Impress her and make a good first impression by hiring a nice shiny new and modern car. Even if she knows the car is not yours, she’ll be impressed that you went to so much trouble for her and your date with her.

Car Hire can be a Tax Deduction

When it comes to business, car hire is a legitimate tax deduction. You might be travelling for business and need transport when you get on the ground. Even in your home town, perhaps you have a high end client coming to visit and you need a better car to drive them around in to make that all important positive first impression. Car hire solves the problem and can be claimed against tax as well when used for business purposes.

Car Hire Sydney

For good quality but cheap car rental Sydney, come in and see us at Low Cost Car Rentals. We have a good range and great deals for rentals cars Sydney has to offer.

Avoid extra charges on cheap Car Rentals Deals

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Sales and discounts

The rate of car rentals might look reasonable, but once you get the final bill for your rental car, the bottom line can be a shocker. Taxes, fees and charges for everything from an additional driver to satellite radio, concession charges at airport locations and refilling the gas tank – all this can quickly add up to a big surprise if you have not navigated the confusing world of rental car contracts before renting. Read the fine print before you go. And don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Q 1 – Insurance

Enquiry your car rentals company about the insurance included in the quotation. You need to know who and what is covered.

Questions to ask:

  • What is the excess in case of an accident?
  • Any additional excess in case of a single vehicle accident?
  • What if the accident is not at your fault?
  • What if there is a dispute in liability?
  • What if the repairs are less than the excess amount?

Q 2 – Roadside assistance

It is something you definitely need while on holidays. Unfortunately bad things happen – tyre puncture, empty fuel tank, broken or lost car key, etcetera. You don’t want to ruin the day of your precious holidays dealing with some towing service or booking a hotel in the area where the car broken down.

All the prices of Low Cost Car Rentals include 24/7 premium roadside assistance. It means a help is just 10-60 minutes away from where you are, depends on your location and type of the issue.

Q 3 – Location fares

If you found the best price, don’t often assume it includes the taxes and GST. Even though it is not entirely legal to hide surcharges and GST, some companies find legal ways to work around it. Do not hesitate to ask the rental company if the price is final. Ask if it includes the car delivery (if applicable), airport fares or any other fees when picking up the car.

Check the company’s drop-off policies, which may include hefty charges for one-way rentals or drop-offs at a different location.

All quotations issued by Low Cost Car Rentals are final and include all the taxes, fares, delivery fees (if applicable) and refundable bond.

Q 4 – Membership points

If you own some credit card that has an awesome points system. Don’t use it just yet. Ask the rental company if there is any charges apply when paying with the credit card. Some companies charge it daily, most of the time it is one-off fee.

Low Cost Car Rentals does not charge any fees for any of the accepted payments methods.

Q 5 – Car Rentals fuel policy

Most of the companies follow the “full tank out – full tank in” policy. It is worth confirming though. You don’t want to get a car with 10% of fuel in and then being asked to return it with a full tank.

Also, sometimes you can be in a rush when returning a car and will not have a chance to re-fill the tank. Ask the rental cars company if there is any charge apply in this case.

If you happened to return a car to Low Cost Car Rentals with less than 100% in the tank. We would refill the car for you and only charge you the amount we pay at the petrol station. This is only valid if you return the car to our CBD location in Alexandria or Sydney Airport. Please ask our staff for any extra charges if you return the car into a different location.

Q 6 – Fines and toll payments

Obviously during the rental period you are liable for any toll payments, fines or parking tickets. If you know you would be travelling through the paid roads, be careful. With some car rentals, they would charge you a fee for each of those fines you receive. Additionally they might charge you an administration fee for each day you use the paid roads.

More tips on using the toll roads here.

Q 7 – Return date and time

Sometimes the trip doesn’t go as planned. Whether you are running late or one of your travel companions gets sick. You have no choice but extend the car rental. Most of the companies would start charging you a non-discounted daily rate. You will not be entitled for any discounts or specials you might of had before. Be careful, it is no uncommon the rental company would start charging you hourly rates. So a day of the extended rental can cost you an air ticket to LA and back 🙂

Here, at Low Cost Car Rentals, we are very flexible. As long as the car you have is available for the dates you need, you will have it for the same price. We are easy on 2-3 hours late returns as well and will not charge you any extra fees. The only condition, you have to contact one of our staff members in advance and make sure they are aware of the extended rental.

ADDITIONAL TIP

Examine both the exterior and interior of the car carefully before leaving the rental lot, making a note of any damages. A quick time-stamped photo on your cellphone is a good idea. Point out any defects out to the rental agent to avoid being charged for damage that was already there when you picked up the car.

WARNING

Follow the rules and conditions of your contract. Do not smoke in a non-smoking car. Never let an unauthorized driver operate the car, even a valet. Never drink and drive. Violations can void the contract and result in hefty charges. Treat the car as you would your own, keeping it clean, parking it in safe locations and always locking the doors and trunk.

Cheap car rentals – 5 myths busted

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True or false - cheap car rentals

1. Car rental near airport is very expensive.

It is true, the space within the airport car park and a kiosk right next to the arrivals are costly. So companies who you normally see there, would have higher rates than normal car rentals. They need to cover up for all the expenses.

But it does not mean that you should avoid all the near-airport car rentals altogether.

Usually the airports are located in non prestige suburbs or in industrial zones. An office only a kilometre away from the arrival gate is much cheaper. There must be some car hire agencies who are located there.

For instance, one of the Low Cost Car Rentals depots is located only 2.7km away from the Sydney Domestic and 3.2km from International airports.

We offer free airport pick-up and drop-off on all long term rentals (7+ days). And it is as cheap as 30 dollars both ways for short term hires.

In reality, we love Sydney visitors so much, we often offer free unlimited kms package and GPS on long term rentals. All of those are worth more than 25 dollars per day.

I personally believe, the car rental agencies near airports are the most professional ones. They have to deal with a lot of customers from overseas therefore their standards are much higher.

2. Shared cars schema is cheaper than usual car rental companies.

There was a lot of excitement when we first saw our neighbours offering their cars for rent for cheap prices.

It was good at first until those car owners faced first troubles. Cars often were left in prohibited areas. Parking fines, tolls notices, light scratches and dirty interior that nobody will ever pay for.

It all led to the new restrictions. You must be an approved member to rent the car. Usually it involves an annual fee regardless of whether you would even need a car that year.

The price might still look cheap, however you will understand later that it is not final. You will have to pay each kilometre you travel. You will need to have your own GPS or baby seats if you need them.

To conclude, the shared car can be cheaper than a cab if you just need to travel short distance then back. Nothing else seem to be worth it.

3.GPS is too expensive, i will use my phone.

Firstly, lets assume you have the phone holder to secure your phone in the car. So now you are able to follow the directions without the need to juggle the phone in your or your passenger hands.

Secondly, we would assume, you have unlimited mobile data and all-around country mobile coverage.

I already doubt you have all the above.

Now, how about the reception? Do you have it while at the car park in the shopping centre? How often it is getting lost in the tunnels and how long it takes for the signal to recover?

You still think 5 dollars a day or free GPS on long term rentals is not an option?

4. I can get away with not registering the additional driver.

This is a very dangerous myth. It is not up to the car rentals companies to decide who is guilty in the accident. It is not them who is charging you when you have an incident.

Touch wood, if anything happens and it is the additional drivers fault. Just because they were not registered as the driver of the vehicle, the insurance company would decline the claim. You will end up loosing the excess and would have to pay for both car repairs and any hospital expenses anyone incurred due to the crash.

The insurance company used by Low Cost Car Rentals only charges a one-off fee to register the driver. It only costs 11 dollars for the whole rental period. Touch wood, but it is a piece of mind.

5. Companies use foreign language for rental agreements.

I can’t say for all companies, but Low Cost Car Rentals contract is written in English and you do not require any form of translation.

If you really unsure about anything in there, you are free to ask questions. Our staff is also fluent in English and therefore easy to communicate with.

Cheap car rental made easy

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While a road trip can be a great way to get you away from the everyday hustle and bustle, don’t jump into booking cheap car rental without proper research.

There are indeed many companies offering cheap car rental. Always be careful and consider the following tips. We will try to help you find your best deal so you can hit the road and start exploring.

Cheap car rental

1. Book in advance

When you book in advance you will almost always get a better deal than at the counter. And it’s easier and quicker. The last thing you want to do after a long flight is deal with rental car companies at the airport and negotiate a deal.

Be sure to take all your documents with you as proof of hire and your rates to avoid any hassles (scan and save in your email account).

2. Read the paperwork thoroughly

Before fixing the deal for cheap car rental, make sure that the paperwork is thoroughly studied by you. While rushing through it, you may miss on some important terms and conditions which might turn out a major surprise for you once you are back from your trip. Do not leave room for any doubt or uncertainty. This will save you from paying the extra charges, which we are sure no one really wants.

3. Check the insurance

Most of the cheap car rental come with full insurance. However it is always better to check that you are being covered from every aspect. This will help you understand whether there will be any excess charges or not. Ask the hire company what is your excess in case of the accident. It is important to know what happens if it is a “one vehicle” or “not at your fault” accidents.

Here at Low Cost Car Rental in Sydney we always read the important terms and conditions to our customers. If you hire a car from someone else, make sure you ask those questions before driving away.

4. Stick to the known cheap car rental companies

If you are hiring cars frequently, we suggest you to find one company and stick to it. For example, Low Car Rentals always give some discounts to our return customers. It is not always a money value. Our repeat customers often get free car delivery, GPSs or extra kilometres at no charge.

5. Keep a tab on discounts

There’s no issue if you aren’t regular with the car hire, you are still entitled to get discounts and other free extras. The only thing you have to do from your part is to ask for it. Also, don’t forget that most of the companies offer “Price guarantee” policy. Get a quotation from another car rental company where it clearly states what car they offer, kilometres allowance and insurance excess amount with the price in the local currency (e.g. AUD in Australia). You will most probably get the same deal from any other place. Low Cost Car Rentals often beat price by offering further discounts. Unfortunately it is always a subject to the cars availability and might not work with another discount or offer (e.g. free GPS or Unlimited kilometres package).

6. Check the fuel policy options

Almost all rental car companies will require you to return the car with the same amount of fuel it had in the tank at pick-up. Others operate a fuel policy where you, the renter, must purchase the first tank of fuel and may drop the car off empty. In this case, there may be no refund for unused fuel.

Where the car hire company charges for fuel, the cost may be higher than it would be at a local petrol station.

7. Age requirements

In most locations, the minimum rental age is 21 years. Additional fees can apply with certain car rental companies for drivers aged under 25 years or over 65 years. They are defined as more at “risk” drivers.

If you’re not yet over 25 years but are traveling with a companion who is, have them be the designated driver to save on this cost.

8. Additional driver fee

Extra fees typically apply for additional drivers. If you can get by with having only one designated driver you’ll typically save $15 per day. Of course, NEVER run the risk of driver fatigue, a few extra bucks is nothing when it comes to your safety and that of others on the road!

9. Additional state taxes and admin fees

Be aware of additional state taxes and fees that may apply if you cross state borders. And don’t lie about where you are taking the vehicle, because if you have an issue you probably won’t be covered by insurance! Always ask the rental company of any restrictions of the vehicle use. Don’t forget to ask if the quotation you got includes all the administration fees and is final. So you will not be mandated to pay extra money when picking up the car and will be in the situation where you have no choice but paying it.

Here in Low Cost Car Rentals, all our prices and quotations we issue are final. Remember it is often issued with an assumption that you are over 25 years old and hold a full Australian Driver Licence. If you don’t meet the age requirement or still on your Ps, make sure to tell the rental company about in advance.

10. Don’t use your debit card

Book using your credit card. Not only for added consumer protection and rewards points if it’s a rewards card, but rental companies tend to hold a larger deposit for use of debit cards and the hold on your deposit may take days to be returned.

11. Inspect your car before driving away

Do a thorough inspection of your rental car before driving out of the lot. If you find any damage fill in the documentation (get a copy) and take pictures with your phone so you have a time & date stamp. You don’t want to be held liable for damage from a previous driver.

Remember, You are entitled to do any checks you feel required. You can start the car, check the lights and air conditioning are working. Obviously all the car rental companies supposed to offer only safe cars to drive and perform all-around checks of the vehicles before offering to you. However, especially in the peak season, it is better to take the extra 15 minutes and have a proper look of the car you intend to hire.

12. Extra day may be cheaper

Cheap car rental often start when you hire a car for long term. Sometimes a 7-days deal can be cheaper than a 6-days one.

Often if you pick up the car at 9am and return at 10am, it can count as an extra day. Make sure you ask the car rental staff on how you can save on your rental prices. May be you can drop a car a little earlier to avoid paying the extra day. Sometimes, dropping off the car on a public holiday can involve the holiday surcharge.

If you can make a note of these points, can help you comparing the car rental prices from different companies. Also, you will be able to save money on car hire along with enjoying a leisure trip.

Cheap car rental deal is a good way to start your journey.