Can you return your hire car early?

By returning the car earlier than you specified on your rental agreement, you can be charged for the amount originally agreed upon at the time of rental. A few companies will recalculate your rental rate (while others do not) based on the number of days rented and charge you the recalculated rates — which may be higher or lower than your original rental quote, depending on any discounts you may have been quoted.

What happens if you return a hire car early?

Returning your hire car early is in many ways the same as if you return it at the agreed upon time. As long as you’ve clarified the change of schedule with your provider, you’re allowed to drop off the rental car at designated parking areas anytime, even outside business hours. As car rentals are paid for upon pickup, most providers charge for the rental in full with no refunds, though there may be some exceptions.

Will your rental car cost more if you return it early?

Possibly. Some rental car providers in Australia, including Avis and Budget, will recalculate your original rental quote to compensate for the unused rental days, replacing your initial rate with a revised daily rate. This may result in a final rental charge that is lower — or higher — than the initial cost.

For example, if you booked a rental car at a special rate because it was for a seven day period, but now you want to return the vehicle after four days — you would be charged the higher daily rate for those four days instead of the discounted weekly rate. If you’re planning to return a car before the agreed date, review your Rental Agreement and see what impact this could have on the overall cost of your rental.

Will you get a refund for unused days?

Policies on refunds for early returns vary between rental car providers. Some may issue refunds while others might apply an early return fee on top of your rental cost — with no refund. These policies may also be impacted by special deals and other promotions which may or may not be refund-eligible. Please see the summary table below and feel free to contact our customer support team to confirm what the refund policies specific to your rental car are.

*The provider doesn’t clarify early return fees in their Terms and Conditions. Please check with the provider concerned or contact VroomVroomVroom’s customer support team for further information.

What is a rental car early return fee?

Early return fees are fixed penalty fees charged to you when you return a car before your rental period ends. To cover days lost during your reservation, providers may charge for unused days with no refund, meaning the final rental cost may be higher than what is quoted in your Rental Agreement.

Early return vs. cancellation: what’s the difference?

Returning a hire car early is treated differently to cancelling a rental car booking. Early returns may either cost the same as stated in the Rental Agreement or higher due to fees and recalculations, while cancellations are usually free, as they’re done before car pickup. VroomVroomVroom follows the Change of Mind Policy, which honours a customer’s wish to modify or cancel their booking prior to the start of their rental period at no extra cost. Refer to your provider’s Terms and Conditions for further details as each provider may treat cancellation requests differently depending on your individual circumstances.

Can you change your car rental return date?

You can modify your rental booking anytime before your start date for free. Changing your car rental return date once the rental period has begun may attract additional fees and surcharges to the agreed rate in your Rental Agreement.

What to do before returning your hire car early

Does travel insurance cover early returns?

Some travel insurance policies will cover early returns if the trip is cut short due to an emergency or illness. Insurance policies for car rental do vary between insurance providers, so be sure to check your insurance Terms and Conditions to see if your provider does cover early returns.

Important

Returning your car early might cost you more

When you book a car hire, returning it early may actually cost you rather than save you some money. Please note that some providers charge an early return fee on top of the rental cost. Although early return policies depend widely between car rental providers, rentals cut short aren't usually eligible for refunds.