Private Car Hire in Tasmania?

branners on 22/02/2022 - 16:33
Last edited 22/02/2022 - 16:52 by 1 other user

Mrs B and I are planning a trip to Tasmania in mid-March but we are somewhat alarmed at the cost of car rental.

I understood that cars were getting scarce in that part of the world but, for a 10-day trip, it is looking like something in the order of $1300, just for a compact car. That would kill the budget, or force us to take a tent.

Does anyone know a better alternative?

On the other hand, if anyone wants to rent out their car from the 15th to the 24th to a responsible, boring, no-points-on-the-licence, non-smoking driver with more than 40 years experience, maybe we could do a deal.

Suggestions welcome.

Travel Car Rental

Comments

Hybroid on 22/02/2022 - 16:35

+1

Drive your own vehicle over for "from $99"?

https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/sailing-fares/specials/b…

Edit: Scratch that, just checked your dates and it's $1,058… Madness.
- pharkurnell on 22/02/2022 - 16:51
  
  Try adding a roofrack… either of my cars and the price changed..
  
  it also changed the dates I could return by weeks due to the roofrack… Note this was bout 2yrs ago
GG57 on 22/02/2022 - 16:39

+1

It is just a factor that you need to take into account in your planning. No different to going elsewhere and something else is expensive.
I am not aware of any alternatives.
SBOB on 22/02/2022 - 16:41

+2

On the other hand, if anyone wants to rent out their car from the 15th to the 24th to a responsible, boring, no-points-on-the-licence, non-smoking driver with more than 40 years experience, maybe we could do a deal.

would you rent your car to a stranger for a week, for less than $1300 ;)
thegumbyman on 22/02/2022 - 16:44

+1

You could try Car Next Door
doweyy on 22/02/2022 - 16:45

+5
A sneaky hack I found in Tasmania if you're willing to do it, is to hire a Ute or similar vehicle instead of a normal car.

I don't know where your start/end points are, but for example:

If you go to AVIS Trucks, generally you can get a dual cab Ute for approx $500-$600 returning from and to Hobart Trucks for that period you have mentioned. Have a try and see how you go.
- Muzeeb on 22/02/2022 - 16:46
  
  +4
  
  Driving around Tasmania for 9 days in a furniture removal truck would be awesome. Definitely save on accommodation costs too.
  - WookieMonster on 22/02/2022 - 17:00
    
    +2
    
    I would hate to drive up Kunanyi / Mount Wellington with a furniture removal truck.
  - Clear on 22/02/2022 - 20:16
    
    Just don't drive a "Budget" branded rental van around at night. The bogan kids will think you're Beam scooters and throw rocks at you.
- GeorgiaTheCat on 22/02/2022 - 17:12
  
  +1
  
  2nd this - found the same thing for an upcoming trip, saved a bunch by renting thru budget truck arm - and got a dual cab ute with canopy, for much less than an suv, also picking up from the airport. Was about 2/3 the price from memory
  - cheezal on 26/02/2022 - 14:13
    
    just did the same thing. ~$500 for a dual cab ute, compared to next cheapest of kio rio at $900.
John Kimble on 22/02/2022 - 17:10

+2

Yep, that's the price. We were there last month, paid $1k for an Outlander for 5 days thru Apex Car Rentals.

Some people have bought 2nd hand cars just for the trip and then sold it straight after for a small "loss". Eg bought for $2,500, then sold for $2,000.

Bit risky in my view.

We saw a lot of campers when we were down recently, perhaps you can get one of those and save on hotel costs?

https://www.cruisinmotorhomes.com.au/location/hobart/

Also review this website and their Facebook group if you haven't already.

https://lapoftasmania.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lapoftasmania/?ref=share

Good Luck!
all coolthings on 22/02/2022 - 17:37

+1

We caught the ferry over and drove our own car from Melbourne. If you're open to driving from interstate you can also look at one-way car transfers and there could be one heading to TAS if you're lucky (with free/ super cheap extra days) -

https://www.transfercar.com.au/
https://www.drivenow.com.au/
https://imoova.com/

Hiring a car in TAS is always super expensive!
holdenmg on 22/02/2022 - 18:03

Look @ https://www.drivemycar.com.au/
bloom on 22/02/2022 - 18:11

Try find corporate codes, just went for work and car was only $60/day
- WookieMonster on 22/02/2022 - 21:01
  
  I didn’t realise how much of a difference corporate codes made to the cost of a rental…
  
  I just did a test booking at a car rental place in Hobart; when I removed the corporate code, the price for an 8 day booking with mid-sized hatchback went up 225%!
- Westpac on 23/02/2022 - 09:18
  
  Where can you find corporate codes?
  - bloom on 23/02/2022 - 10:18
    
    +1
    
    Google… only catch is if they ask for proof of employment when you pickup the car you’ll be screwed back to the default rate
    However this is rare, I’ve booked 50+ times and never been asked
Legend279 on 24/02/2022 - 14:19

Tasmania has issues with cars and every time is there are holidays, they go crazy with rentals and pretty much are fully empty. The demand increases the price and even the crappy car rental places bump up prices to cash in.
- GG57 on 24/02/2022 - 14:54
  
  Isn't it that the car hire companies are unable to forecast and cater for the known increase in demand, and don't relocate sufficient cars from other centres?
  Or, the car hire companies make a decision that they limit their fleet numbers and rely on the increased demand = increased income to maximise their profits.
  
  The state has nothing to do with any of this.
  - [Deactivated] on 24/02/2022 - 20:13
    
    +1
    
    the car hire companies sold off large portions of their fleets when the first lockdowns hit (somewhere around there) so there is a lot less supply than there used to be, a lot of people got good deals on ex rentals though.

Private Car Hire in Tasmania?

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