The 5 Best Car Rentals in Canberra That’ll Help You Find Reliable Temporary Transportation
Even though Canberra has a pretty decent transportation system, having your own car is still much more convenient in a lot of cases. You don’t have to wait for a schedule or plan out your bus stops, you can just go on your own time.
For me personally, I have friends who love camping in the many nature reserves here in the ACT. It requires a lot of packing so a trip just isn’t possible without a huge car that has tons of space.
That’s where car rentals come in. It’s so handy to be able to pick what kind of car to get for the weekend without having to commit to one for years. Tourists would also be able to see much more of the city with this kind of arrangement.
Whatever you need it for, we’ve done the research for you. Here are the best car rentals in Canberra for safe and reliable short-term wheels.
How much does a car rental cost in Canberra?
The cost of renting a car in Canberra usually falls somewhere between $40 to $70 per day. This mostly depends on the type of car you get and the time of year.
You can also get a better value by renting a car for a longer time. Most car rentals offer weekly and monthly packages.
1. Alamo Rent A Car – Canberra Airport
Address: Canberra Airport, Terminal Avenue, Canberra Airport ACT 2609
Phone: +61 2 9060 2367
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Since 1974, Alamo Rent A Car has been connecting people with rental cars in the world’s most popular travel spots. They’re actually pioneers when it comes to the online booking system in the industry.
That’s why until now, they still have a hassle-free system when it comes to handing over and collecting cars. The process is quick and the agents are friendly and helpful.
Previous customers are also impressed by the selection of cars they offer. And they’re even happier when they see how clean they are when handed over.
It’s also a plus that pets are allowed in the cars as long as they’re in a crate and you clean up the pet hair afterward. They offer other add-ons too to enhance your experience, such as GPS navigation, ski racks, winter tires, and satellite radio.
That being said, these add-ons have expensive fees. Their overall service is quite pricey as well, but that’s because they’re already such a well-known brand internationally.
Absolutely satisfied
“Absolutely satisfied and loving Alamo Canberra at Airport! The service is always great, the car is always clean whenever I pick up and pick and returning car process is always super easy ams efficient. Thanks to all Alamo staff! All of them are very kind and nice, definitely and highly recommend renting a car with Alamo”
– Jeanne Christine, Google Review
Would use them again in a heartbeat
“Great service, fabulous car and very helpful! We booked a car with a third party booking system, and then realised closer to the date that it wasn’t going to be big enough. I called spoke to someone who was super helpful and we were able to upgrade for a very reasonable amount. I can’t speak highly enough of them and would use them again in a heartbeat!”
– Cate Scolnik, Google Review
2. Avis Car & Truck Rental Fyshwick
Address: 125 Newcastle Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609
Phone: +61 2 6239 1022
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Avis was the very first company to have car rentals in airports in 1954. Fast forward to today and they have over 5,000 locations in the top cities worldwide.
This level of reach has really allowed them to streamline their process and make it efficient for their customers. Their approachable agents ensure that everything is perfect before handing the car over to you.
They also have an app that can make renting a car faster. By booking a car through this channel, you won’t even have to wait in line and can easily modify your rental schedule.
You’ll have a great selection of cars to choose from. Apart from your usual brands, you can also get an electric vehicle or a luxury car from their Signature Series.
The only drawback is that they can be a bit hard to get a hold of on the phone. However, they do have a customer service portal online which takes a bit longer but is easy to access.
Customer service was great
“I have had 2 vehicles from this location in the past month, both were organised by NRMA and each time I arrived they were ready and waiting in good clean condition. Customer service was great – I was given the full run down on how it worked both times and emailed condition photos before I left the office.”
– Theo Fieldhouse, Google Review
Great service
“I recently rented a car from this location, and I was very impressed with the service. The staff was friendly and efficient, making the entire process smooth and easy. Yousef, in particular, went above and beyond to ensure I had a positive experience. I would definitely recommend this rental location to anyone looking for a reliable and customer-friendly option. Thank you again for the great service!”
– Fatekat Youran, Google Review
3. evee
Address: 5/1 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: +61 2 5564 4000
When it comes to rentals, evee has a completely unique setup. Apart from only offering electric vehicles, you’ll get to rent directly from owners or ‘hosts’.
A big reason behind this is the company’s commitment to sustainability and fostering a greener future. It can be a trial run for those who are looking to buy electric vehicles but haven’t made up their mind yet.
The only con here is that you might get into some trouble with the owner if you damage the car. However, you can avoid this by taking lots of photos for documentation before accepting the vehicle.
Other than this, it’s a very straightforward process of selecting a car and coordinating with its owner. It’s also flexible as you get to decide where to pick up the car or have it delivered to you.
The company also offers a ‘charging concierge’ for those who are going on long trips. This will help you plan your charging stops and answer all your questions.
You won’t regret it
“Simple, informative and a wonderful way to experience an EV. The cost was also super competitive and meeting the owner means that the vehicle is immaculate and well looked after and you get so much info if you need it. I cannot recommend Evee enough and if you are curious about EV ownership or just going for a holiday and need a car, turn to Evee and you won’t regret it.”
– Kaylene Peter, Google Review
Loved our experiences
“Evee is a fantastic way to experience electric cars. The process is really easy and the experience feels very personal as the car owners are helpful and accommodating. We’ve hired with Evee on multiple occasions and absolutely loved our experiences with several different Tesla Model S‘ . We look forward to using them again soon!”
– Alex Carder, Google Review
4. Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Canberra Airport
Address: Canberra Airport, Terminal Avenue, ACT 2609
Phone: +61 2 9060 2367
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Ever since they were established in 1957, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has amassed a huge fleet of cars worldwide. With over 9,500 locations and 1.7 million vehicles available, customers are spoiled for options.
This means you get to choose whatever size and make you prefer based on your needs. They even offer moving trucks and assistance, showing just how dedicated they are to providing all types of transportation.
Finding your perfect car really is a priority for them. They’ll even let you switch models after 28 days if you feel like your chosen car isn’t up to your standards.
Their agents also go above and beyond in their service. They accommodate schedules and help with requests, like fixing the infotainment system, to ensure that your ride is smooth.
The one thing that might hold you back is their hefty additional fees. So you have to make sure to take good care of your car, or else you might be in shock when you see the final charge.
Superb service
“Easy online booking to check in prior to arrival made it super quick at pick up. Great service with a car upgrade and very helpful staff (I was travelling solo with child and luggage) and they carried the car seat for me. Drop off was a breeze. Superb service & would not hesitate to book with them again.”
– Camilla Noren, Google Review
Would book with them again
“Enterprise Canberra was great – quick and easy to check in and drop off, friendly staff, car was clean and in great condition, and had more than enough room for our family. Office and parking lot are close and convenient to departure and arrival gates. Would book with them again – thank you!!!”
– Damian Pearce, Google Review
5. SIXT Car & Truck Rental Canberra Airport
Address: Terminal, Canberra Airport ACT 2601
Phone: +61 2 6248 9081
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM
With more than 16,000 vehicles nationwide, SIXT continues to grow their diverse selection of rental cars. You get to pick between luxury vehicles, SUVs, vans, trucks, and even buses.
Regardless of what you choose, the agents will make sure that you know everything there is to know about the car. A lot of people use their services as a trial run, so they’re happy to tell you how to make the most out of your vehicle.
They’re also considerate when it comes to schedules. They’ll allow you to return vehicles outside of business hours as long as you contact them beforehand to let them know.
Agents also work hard to accommodate other requests. For example, even though it’s subject to availability, they will do their best to get your preferred color of car or help you rent moving equipment.
Just watch out for booking system errors, which a few customers have experienced. Keep in mind that you’ll get a confirmation message if your rental order comes through.
Fantastic customer service
“Fantastic customer service from victor car sorted within 5-10 minutes as we had a disaster from our flight being cancelled twice on us. Car is clean spacious and big enough for us with two big luggage and five people. He saved our day from missing a family wedding and assisted us before opening hours! Thank you!”
– Kiimii Trinh, Google Review
Good experience all around
“Good experience all round thanks. Pick-up and return were easy and plenty of good information was provided about the vehicle type. We hired an EV which was our first experience in one, and we were given good advice about driving and charging the vehicle. We really enjoyed our first EV experience as well. I would definitely recommend SIXT Car Rental for your vehicle needs.”
– Robert Willis, Google Review