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Compare car hireThis summary is for illustrative purposes only and may not apply to all reservations. We try our best to keep it up to date and relevant, but we can't guarantee that it is accurate or error-free. If you have questions regarding a specific rental, please contact our customer care team.
Bargain Car Rentals accepts AMEX, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards, and Mastercard and Visa debit cards.
Digital Payments (i.e. Apple Pay or Google Pay) are accepted — however, first-time local renters may be required to present a physical credit card or debit card.
Cash, cheques, EFTPOS cards, or Diners Club are not accepted.
Bargain Car Rentals may levy an additional charge for any of the following (though not limited to) cases:
Additional drivers
Child seats
Additional roadside assistance coverage
Bargain Car Rentals allows the addition of one additional driver free of change, further additional drivers are charged at $20 per booking. Note that any additional nominated driver, as with the primary driver, must have a full drivers licence and be present when the vehicle is collected at the beginning of the rental period.
The minimum age for renting a hire car with Bargain Car Rentals is 21 years old, the maximum age is 85. All drivers must have held their licence for at least one year.
Luxury vehicles have a minimum age of 25.
Animals of any kind are not permitted in Bargain Car Rentals vehicles except in the case of service dogs and with written approval from Budget Car Rentals.
If you cancel your Bargain Car Rentals booking through a no show, or even with prior notice, depending on the payment method selected, there may be a cancellation charge applied.
Bargain Car Rentals can provide baby seats and booster seats conforming to government standards. As supplies are limited, please request any child or baby seat at the time of your reservation, stating the age of your child so the correct type of child seat can be arranged. Child seats will be provided with the vehicle at the time of collection and are usually fitted by Bargain Car Rentals prior to pick-up, however you may need to make final adjustments to ensure straps are fitted correctly for your child.
Car seats are charged at $12.50/day, with each seat capped at $112.50 per rental.
A 1.4% merchant fee is applied to all credit and debit card payments.
In the unfortunate event of an accident:
If there are injured people, contact emergency services first.
Contact Bargain Car Rentals with relevant information including the licence plate, make and model, colour (if known), nature of fault, precise location of vehicle, contact number, and whereabouts of keys.
Prepare a written accident/damage report
Submit the report to Bargain Car Rentals.
Bargain Car Rental accepts digital licences where staff are able to complete the verification of the licence via the barcode or QR code function.
Bargain Car Rentals are not permitted to be driven above the snow line, which is defined as the point of entry into a national park where the use of snow chains is mandatory.
Bargain Car Rentals requires that all drivers have held a full and unrestricted licence for at least 12 months, and they must present a valid photo ID such as a passport or government-issued ID. Interim licences are accepted. Learner, provisional and probationary licences are not. All licences must be original — copies are not accepted.
If the driving licence is not in English, an International Driving Permit (IDP) or approved English translation of the licence is required. Renters are advised to check whether local authorities require foreign drivers to present an IDP to avoid the risk of potential fines. Renters with licences from countries who are not part of the International Driving Permit Agreement should carry a certified translation of their licence.
Bargain Car Rentals prohibits using its vehicles in ways that risk damage, violate the law, or breach safety standards. This includes reckless driving, driving under the influence, using the wrong fuel, or ignoring warning lights and signals. Causing damage to the roof, undercarriage, windscreen line, or from overloading, towing improperly, or attaching unauthorised items is not permitted and driving in a manner that causes these types of damage can impact on coverage. Off-road driving, driving through water, or entering car parks with low clearance is also banned.
Only authorised drivers may operate the vehicle, and it must not be used for racing, carrying passengers or cargo for payment, or committing unlawful acts. Smoking, fitting unauthorised equipment, or driving in restricted or unsafe areas such as beaches, and fire trails is not allowed. Where driving in snowy regions is permitted, snow chains must be fitted and adjusted properly, and hubcaps removed to avoid damage. Repairs require prior written approval from Bargain Car Rentals.
Improper use may void coverage and loss damage waivers and leave the renter liable for the entire costs of any damage. Please see the Rental Agreement for detailed coverage on prohibited uses and driving restrictions for Bargain Car Rentals rental vehicles.
Vehicles rented in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia must only be driven or used in these states and the Australian Capital Territory.
Vehicles rented in the Northern Territory must only be driven or used in the Northern Territory and daily kilometre limits as shown on the Rental Agreement apply.
Vehicles rented in Tasmania must only be driven or used in Tasmania.
The vehicle must never be driven:
on an unsealed road unless the road is graded and well maintained and the condition off the road surface will not make the use of the vehicle unsafe or expose it unreasonably to damage;
Off road or on any 4WD track; or on any road or area where snow has fallen or is likely to fall;
in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, above the Snow Line, which is defined as the point of entry into a national park where carrying snow chains is mandatory, between 1 May and 31 October unless Snow Cover has been purchased; or
in the Northern Territory, in any area south of the intersection of National Route 1 and the Arnhem Highway, Humpty Doo, between sunset and sunrise.
The Vehicle must not be used in any area that is prohibited by Bargain Car Rentals. Prohibited areas include:
roads that are prone to flooding or are flooded;
beaches, sand dunes, streams, rivers, creeks, salt lakes, dams and floodwaters or any area exposed to saltwater;
any road where the police or an authority has issued a warning;
any road that is closed; and
any road where it would be unsafe to drive the Vehicle.
The Vehicle must never be driven or used:
on any island that is off mainland Australia, except:
in any part of Western Australia;
in Tasmania, on the Western Explorer Road;
in the Northern Territory on:
in Queensland on:
on the Strzelecki Track in South Australia;
on the Simpson Desert in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland; or
on the Birdsville Track in Queensland and South Australia.
If you are unsure what fuel to use, please ask the station attendant or contact the Bargain Car Rentals rental location for advice. Bargain Car Rentals will supply the rental vehicle with a full tank of fuel, and expect the vehicle to be returned in the same condition. If you return the vehicle without a full tank of fuel, you will be charged the refuelling cost plus an $85 surcharge. If you have chosen a pre-paid fuel option, then the above is not applicable.
Bargain Car Rentals does not pay any infringement notices and it is the sole responsibility of the hirer to pay all fines in relation to infringement notices issued during the rental period. In the event that Bargain Car Rentals receives an infringement notice for a speeding, parking, or other traffic infringement relating to the period the vehicle was on hire, the hirer will be charged an additional administration fee of $65, and the liability for the fine.
If your driving licence is not in English, an International Driving Permit or an English translation is required. Renters with licences from countries who are not part of the International Driving Permit Agreement should carry a certified translation of their licence.
If you want to rent from a Bargain Car Rentals location that is within 100km of your place of residence, then Bargain Car Rentals may need to complete some additional checks, and you will also need to pay a bond of $1,000 to secure the rental. You will need to provide at least two recent (from within the last three months) utility bills from your place of residence.
To pick up an Bargain Car Rentals rental car you need to satisfy both the licence and payment criteria:
You must present a valid and accepted credit card or bank issued Mastercard or Visa debit card (see Accepted Forms of Payment above).
You must meet the licence rules.
For security purposes, the owner of the credit card entered on the payment step when making a booking must be present to collect the vehicle and is required to sign the Rental Agreement.
If you are going to be late to pick up your car, please contact Bargain Car Rentals as soon as possible.
Bargain Car Rentals vehicles are covered by standard motor vehicle insurance; however, an excess may be charged for any loss or damage incurred during the hire period, regardless of fault. This coverage may not be applicable if the vehicle has been used in a manner in contravention of Bargain Car Rentals Terms and Conditions.
The rental vehicle excess can be reduced through the purchase of collision damage waiver products. A rental vehicle with no excess reduction has an excess of $6,500. A Gold Package can reduce this excess to $2,500, and a Platinum package can reduce it to $0.
Excess insurance is also available through third party providers such as Prosura.
After hours pickup and drop off of Bargain Car Rentals vehicles is not available. Contact the rental location if you wish to extend your rental. In the event of an early return, no refund applies. All hires are counted in 24 hour durations. In the event of a late return of more than one hour, the fee for a full day of hire may apply.
Bargain Car Rentals provides 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for breakdown and accidents. If a roadside assistance callout relates to something that is your fault (for example running out of fuel, losing the keys, locking the keys in the vehicle, or if a wheel needs to be changed due to a puncture), there is a callout fee associated with roadside assistance. For any mechanical breakdowns related to a vehicle fault, there is no charge. A Roadside Assistance package can be purchased to remove the callout fee for roadside assistance.
The security deposit is a downpayment pre-authorised to your credit card at the commencement of your rental. All standard and commercial bookings require a $500 bond, which can be reduced to $1 with the Platinum Liability Waiver. Luxury vehicles require a $1,000 bond and this cannot be reduced through the use of waivers.
Bargain Car Rentals will release the bond pre-authorisation 72 hours after the completion of a rental, and it may take up to five days for your bank to release the pre-authorisation.
Bargain Car Rentals use number plate recognition to identify when a vehicle is used on a toll road, and this is automatically linked to your reservation. The toll and a service fee of $5.00 (per toll) is added to your account for any toll road you use. Please note that registering the rental vehicle under your Linkt account is not advised, as it can lead to double billing and being charged twice for the same toll. If you want to pay for your own toll usage, please use your own E-Tag registered to you.
Bargain Car Rentals does not apply any age surcharges.
Remember - this summary was prepared for illustrative purposes only - always refer to the rental provider's full rental agreement and terms and conditions for up-to-date and complete details.