Europcar Australia vs Hertz Australia: Which Rental Car Company Is Better?
Choosing a rental car in Australia is rarely just about finding the lowest advertised daily rate. The final cost can change once you add airport fees, protection, additional drivers, one-way charges, fuel and other extras.
Two established options worth comparing are Europcar Australia and Hertz Australia. Both offer airport and city locations, one-way rentals, multiple vehicle categories and protection options, but they approach pricing and flexibility somewhat differently.
So which one should you book?
For most travellers, Europcar is particularly attractive when you find a strong inclusive rate or want broad international booking flexibility, while Hertz has an edge for travellers who value a large Australian location network, loyalty benefits and a familiar rental process.
Here’s how the two compare.
Europcar Australia vs Hertz Australia at a Glance
| Feature | Europcar Australia | Hertz Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Australian locations | Major cities, airports and regional locations | 220+ Australian locations |
| Unlimited kilometres | Available on many rentals, depending on rate | Free unlimited kilometres on most rentals |
| One-way rentals | Available | Available |
| Third-party liability | Included | Included |
| Damage protection | Included in quoted rates according to applicable booking | Standard protection subject to rental terms |
| Excess reduction | Optional protection available | AER/Maximum Cover options available |
| Loyalty programme | Privilege programme | Gold Plus Rewards |
| Best suited to | Flexible leisure trips and international travellers | Frequent renters and broad Australian coverage |
Both companies can be good choices. The better option depends heavily on your itinerary and the final checkout price, not simply the headline rate.
Europcar Australia: What You Get
Check Europcar Australia rates
Europcar has a broad international footprint and offers Australian rentals through airports, city locations and other pickup points.
One of its advantages is the amount of information provided around the rental quote. Europcar states that its quoted rental price generally includes mandatory charges such as applicable taxes, road and licence fees, third-party liability insurance, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Waiver (TW).
That’s important because it makes the initial quote more useful for comparing the actual cost of different vehicles.
However, “included” doesn’t mean you have no financial exposure.
Europcar still displays an excess amount, which represents the customer’s potential liability under the applicable protection terms. Additional protection can be purchased to reduce that exposure.
Where Europcar Works Well
Europcar makes particular sense for travellers planning a road trip or one-way journey.
Its Australian one-way service allows customers to collect a vehicle at one location and return it somewhere else.
That can be useful for itineraries such as:
Instead of planning your entire trip around returning to the original rental branch, you can build the vehicle around your travel route.
Hertz Australia: What You Get
Check Hertz Australia rates
Hertz is one of the better-known rental brands in Australia, with more than 220 locations across the country, including major airports and cities.
That network is a genuine advantage if you’re travelling beyond the biggest tourist destinations.
Hertz also offers one-way rentals and states that most rentals include unlimited kilometres, although conditions can vary by vehicle and rental.
For someone planning a long Australian road trip, that can be valuable.
A 1,500-kilometre trip is very different from a weekend around Sydney, so mileage terms deserve attention before booking.
Which Is Cheaper?
This is where comparing Europcar and Hertz becomes tricky.
Neither company has one fixed Australian rental price.
Your quote can change based on:
- Pickup location
- Return location
- Rental dates
- Vehicle category
- Rental duration
- Driver age
- Availability
- One-way requirements
- Protection options
- Additional drivers
- Extras
- Seasonal demand
So claiming that one company is always cheaper would be misleading.
Instead, compare the total booking price for exactly the same itinerary.
For example, if you’re hiring a car at Sydney Airport for seven days, enter the same dates and times on both platforms and compare equivalent vehicle categories.
Don’t compare a compact hatchback from one company with an SUV from the other.
The Important Difference: What’s Included
Europcar explicitly says its quoted rate generally incorporates mandatory charges and certain basic protection elements, while additional protection can be purchased separately.
Hertz similarly separates the basic rental charge from optional protection products and other possible charges. Its Australian rental terms state that third-party insurance is included, while options such as Accident Excess Reduction and Maximum Cover can reduce the customer’s financial exposure.
This is why the cheapest advertised daily rate isn’t necessarily the cheapest rental.
Insurance and Excess: The Part You Shouldn’t Ignore
This is arguably more important than saving $5 or $10 on the base rental.
With Europcar, third-party liability cover is automatically included in the rental in Australia, while additional protection can be purchased at an extra daily cost.
Europcar’s protection documentation explains that the standard collision protection limits the customer’s liability to the applicable excess, with higher protection products available to reduce that exposure.
Hertz also includes compulsory third-party insurance, but its Australian terms specify an Accident Damage Excess (ADE) and optional products to reduce the amount the renter may have to pay in the event of damage.
For example, Hertz currently lists an Australian standard ADE of A$3,300 including GST in its Gold Plus terms, with an optional Accident Excess Reduction listed at A$25.90 per full or partial rental day and Maximum Cover at A$34.90 per day. The exact amount applicable to your booking should be checked in the rental agreement.
That’s a significant difference from simply looking at the advertised rental rate.
My advice: compare the total price both with and without additional protection. Then decide based on the level of risk you’re comfortable accepting.
One-Way Rentals: A Close Match
Both companies support one-way rentals.
Europcar promotes one-way rentals as a way to collect a vehicle at one location and return it at another.
Hertz similarly allows customers to pick up and return vehicles at different Australian locations and specifically promotes one-way rentals for road trips and multi-city travel.
The difference is likely to come down to availability and the specific drop-off fee on your route.
Don’t assume a one-way rental is free just because the company offers the service.
Enter your exact pickup and return locations before deciding.
Which Has the Better Australian Network?
This is one area where Hertz has a clear advantage based on the published network information.
Hertz says it has 220+ Australian locations, covering major cities and airports as well as other locations.
That matters if your trip extends beyond Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.
Europcar also has a substantial network, but its bigger advantage is its international footprint. The company says its wider network covers 3,835 locations in more than 140 countries.
So if you’re an international traveller who regularly rents cars in Europe, Australia and other destinations, Europcar’s global presence may be useful.
Loyalty and Frequent Rentals
Frequent renters should look beyond the individual booking.
Hertz offers Gold Plus Rewards, which provides loyalty benefits for eligible members. Hertz also promotes a counter-bypass/touchless experience for Gold Plus members.
That can make a difference if you rent cars several times a year.
Europcar also has its own loyalty programme, making it worth comparing if you’re already a regular Europcar customer.
For a single holiday rental, loyalty benefits probably shouldn’t determine the decision. For frequent business travellers, they can.
Europcar vs Hertz: Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Europcar if:
- You’re planning a leisure road trip.
- You want a strong inclusive quote.
- You’re travelling internationally and already use Europcar.
- You need a one-way rental.
- You want to compare a broad range of vehicle categories.
- You prefer seeing mandatory charges included in the quoted rate.
Choose Hertz if:
- You want a very large Australian branch network.
- You’re travelling between multiple Australian cities.
- Unlimited kilometres are important to your itinerary.
- You’re already a Hertz Gold Plus member.
- You rent cars frequently.
- You want a familiar large-car-rental-company experience.
The Better Choice for Different Types of Travellers
For a Sydney city break: Compare both. Location and airport fees may matter more than the brand.
For a long road trip: Hertz deserves a close look because unlimited kilometres are available on most rentals, subject to the applicable terms.
For a one-way journey: Both are competitive. Check the exact drop fee and vehicle availability for your route.
For frequent renters: Hertz may have an advantage if you already use Gold Plus Rewards.
For international travellers: Europcar’s large global network can be attractive if you’re using the same rental brand across multiple countries.
Final Verdict
There isn’t a universal winner between Europcar Australia and Hertz Australia.
For a traveller comparing two similar cars at similar prices, I’d look at the total cost, protection level, kilometre allowance and pickup location before worrying about the logo on the rental agreement.
Europcar stands out for its transparent quote structure, international footprint and flexible one-way options.
Hertz has a particularly strong Australian presence, with more than 220 locations and unlimited kilometres on most rentals. Its loyalty programme and protection options also make it appealing to frequent renters.
The smartest move is to run the same dates, locations and vehicle category through both booking systems, then compare the final checkout price.
A $10 cheaper daily rate isn’t a bargain if it comes with a higher excess, fewer included kilometres or expensive one-way charges.
For most leisure travellers, I’d give Europcar a slight edge when its inclusive rate is competitive. For frequent Australian renters and travellers covering significant distances, Hertz is the stronger alternative.
