Hobart car rental
Feb 12, 2015, 9:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 9
Hobart car rental
Hello, everyone.
I will be flying to Tasmania in March.
Planning on renting a car in Hobart and driving the east coast, then to Launceston, then back to Hobart.
Any preferences or advice on which rental company to use?
Thanks.
I will be flying to Tasmania in March.
Planning on renting a car in Hobart and driving the east coast, then to Launceston, then back to Hobart.
Any preferences or advice on which rental company to use?
Thanks.
Mar 4, 2015, 5:48 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Egham, Surrey, UK
Programs: Mucci Champion des Champions, BAG4L, *A Gold, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz Gold, Avis President
Posts: 3,416
All the major companies are represented at HBA. I tend to use Hertz as they work out a lot cheaper than Avis who I normally use. There are a couple of local Oz companies - I can dig out the details if you like?
Apr 13, 2015, 6:41 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: QFF NB, Velocity Silver, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred, Thrifty Blue Chip (Oz), Europcar Privilege Exec.
Posts: 378
Just be aware that Hertz have a non waivable excess of AU$9,900 if you damage the car on unsealed roads. I've always used Avis in Tassie.
Apr 13, 2015, 6:51 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Egham, Surrey, UK
Programs: Mucci Champion des Champions, BAG4L, *A Gold, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz Gold, Avis President
Posts: 3,416
Apr 14, 2015, 3:43 am
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Does that include windshield chips? That is the most common damage, and excluded surprisingly often. Cost of $1000 when it happens but car companies charge rental during the repair period so it becomes $2000. Of course they sell their own "policies" which cover this at an exorbinant cost. Driving on gravel roads is definitely a hazard for new rental cars, and unavoidable in trips like the OP describes.
Apr 14, 2015, 4:51 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: QFF NB, Velocity Silver, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred, Thrifty Blue Chip (Oz), Europcar Privilege Exec.
Posts: 378
Does that include windshield chips? That is the most common damage, and excluded surprisingly often. Cost of $1000 when it happens but car companies charge rental during the repair period so it becomes $2000. Of course they sell their own "policies" which cover this at an exorbinant cost. Driving on gravel roads is definitely a hazard for new rental cars, and unavoidable in trips like the OP describes.
As you say, some of the rental car companies cover it if you pay.
Avis and Budget do not provide that option.
Hertz will cover it if MAX cover is available - I suspect not in Tassie, as all outlets are franchises. Hertz have recently added a windscreen and tyre replacement cost to their website - some of those costs are way less than the actual cost! Though it doesn't specifically say that is the charge, it is implied.
Thrifty also cover it if the highest level of 'insurance' is purchased.
Europcar have two options - windscreen and tyre cover for less than $10 a day, or they are covered if the highest level of 'insurance' is purchased.
Bear in mind that most of the rental car agencies in Tassie of all brands are franchises, so it's unlikely they offer this cover. I suspect this is why Hertz have the $9,900 excess.
Apr 15, 2015, 12:00 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Egham, Surrey, UK
Programs: Mucci Champion des Champions, BAG4L, *A Gold, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz Gold, Avis President
Posts: 3,416
Does that include windshield chips? That is the most common damage, and excluded surprisingly often. Cost of $1000 when it happens but car companies charge rental during the repair period so it becomes $2000. Of course they sell their own "policies" which cover this at an exorbinant cost. Driving on gravel roads is definitely a hazard for new rental cars, and unavoidable in trips like the OP describes.
Apr 17, 2015, 8:39 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: QFF NB, Velocity Silver, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred, Thrifty Blue Chip (Oz), Europcar Privilege Exec.
Posts: 378
Avis and Budget allow you to drive on gravel roads, with full cover.
As far as I am aware, Thrifty and Europcar prohibit you driving on unsealed roads (there are some exceptions: if you have rented a 4WD and paid for unsealed road cover).