good local car rental at MEL
 

On August 13th I would like to hire a car for a day from MEL and returning the car in the city. The big companies are pretty steeply priced for such a hire. Any recommendations on a reliable local outfit with a return location in the city?

Renting from the airport will limit your options. Not many second tier rental companies. And need to pay the airport surcharge (money to the airport owners)

Renting from the city/suburbs may be cheaper, but does depend where you are going. Do you really need a rental car for the (half? ) day?
Guessing you are landing at MEL. But you can get to city on skybus, taxi or uber. However that cost may/will be more the difference you are seeing.

Second tier, but have not used them
https://www.redspot.com.au/ [ but have not used them]
https://www.atlasrent.com.au/ [ but have not used them]
https://www.apexrentals.com.au/renta...airport-branch [have used them in NZ]
https://www.jucy.com.au/rental-locat...ourne-airport/

Comparison sites (but would never hire from them)
https://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au
https://www.airportrentals.com.au/

Thanks. I arrive early at MEL and won't be able to check into my hotel until the afternoon so I thought driving to Bendigo or some other place and return the car in the city before checking into my hotel. Of course I can make my way by bus to Southern Cross and take the train but that would make that whole enterprise much less efficient. If I cannot get a reasonable rate I just spend the morning in Melbourne which is also fine. So no, I don't need a car but it would be nice.

Try the second tier rental companies, but for 12 to 24 hrs will it make much real difference?
Google "Melbourne airport car rentals" will bring up others close to, but not on the airport.
And airport web site (on site)---> https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/...ort-Car-Rental

Daylesford & Ballarat other places to go for a day trip
Map link--> https://goo.gl/maps/25JbuXwzmnHG74nm8

Indeed Ballarat is pleasant and the train ride is pretty quick. Was there last year. Will look into Daylesford. I appreciate your replies.

One-way car rentals can be pricey, usually adding a flat fee (so particularly bad for a single-day rental). See if a return to MEL is cheaper. If so, you could consider that, or a pickup/return at another location with good public transport onwards to the city.

I've never had a dropoff fee added for renting at MEL airport and dropping in CBD. I usually rent Europcar and drop at their Clarendon St location by Crown Casino as easy to drive to and tram stop less than a block away. Day rate varies tremendously with demand but often about AUD 100 when 7 day rental costs $250. Hertz and Avis have somewhat higher rates whenever I've checked. Often corporate rates are the best deal for single day rentals. Personally I'd rather drive to Daylesford than Bendigo (and take train to Bendigo if that is the destination). Different experience.

Red Spot is fine. I've usually used their downtown premises in between Bourke and Lt. Collins , Parliament end.