What payment methods are acceptable for hiring a car?

As VroomVroomVroom is a car rental comparison website, in most cases, a deposit is paid at the time of your booking, with the balance due being paid upon pick up of the vehicle. In both cases, credit card is the popular means of payment, however, there are a number of other options available. As we want you to have a hassle-free booking experience, please read below to find out what types of payment are accepted by our car hire partners in Australia.

What is the process for paying for a hire car in Australia?

There are a series of straightforward steps involved in booking and paying for a rental car in Australia.

Why you need to pay a deposit in advance

When you make a booking on the VroomVroomVroom website, you will need to pay a deposit to secure your rental vehicle, and settle the remainder of the rental car cost at the counter along with a security deposit to the supplier. For example, if your total rental cost is $200, you will be asked to pay us a deposit of say $20 when you book with us, and the remaining $180 will need to be settled plus the security deposit at the depot upon pick up of your hire car.

Remember that any optional extras such as GPS, child seats, extra surcharges, additional drivers and other similar charges that you arrange at the time of pickup all need to be paid for at the car rental counter.

Who needs to pay for the hire car?

Generally speaking, the person who has been nominated as the driver in the rental car booking is the one who needs to pay for the hire car. The renter must be present to sign the Rental Agreement and provide their credit card when collecting the car. If you wish to pay for the hire car, but intend on someone else driving it, you can rent the vehicle in your name and add them as an additional driver. However, the individual must meet all the age and licence requirements. They’ll also need to present their licence at the car rental counter with the primary renter.

In some cases corporate locations may permit another person to pay for the hire car, although that person must have a current and valid photo ID at the time of pickup and payment. This depends on the provider of the vehicle and the pickup location — usually, franchises do not accept another person paying for a hired vehicle. If asked, we often call the location and/or car rental provider to inquire over situations like this. Please contact our customer care team if you require further information or assistance.

Can I pay with a credit card?

In almost all cases, yet. Paying for a hire car with a credit card is the most popular means of payment in Australia. There are though, a few points to keep in mind.

Which credit cards are accepted by Australian car hire companies?

Visa and Mastercard are accepted by Australia’s major car rental brands including Avis, Budget, East Coast Car Rentals, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Thrifty, while American Express and Diners Club cards are accepted only by some, with American Express cards attracting a 2.2% surcharge in Australia. We recommend you check beforehand if you need to pay with American Express or Diners Club. If you are using a foreign credit card it may attract an international transaction fee from your financial institution.

Regardless of the card you plan to use, you’ll need to present your credit card when you collect your rental car and sign your rental agreement. You may also need a second credit card depending on the type of vehicle you select.

How much credit do you need to have on your credit card?

When paying for a hire car with a credit card, you must have enough credit on the card to cover your full rental charges at the time of rental, as a hold will be placed on your card for this amount. Additionally, the security bond for your vehicle will be held on your nominated credit card. It is highly advisable to use a credit card under the renter’s name, however some companies also accept credit cards from another person as long as they are present during the collection of the vehicle.

Can I use someone else's credit card?

No. For security purposes, the credit card used must match the name of the driver on the booking. It is mandatory that the name, address, and signature on the credit card are reflective of the details printed on the driver's licence. If the name on the credit card does not match, you may be refused a vehicle.

I forgot my credit card. Can I show a photo of it instead?

No. The physical credit card (along with your physical driver's licence) must be sighted by staff at the rental counter prior to the signing of your rental agreement. As you will be taking the rental car off site, this is a security measure that needs to take place.

Can I rent with a debit card?

Most major rental car companies in Australia including Hertz, Avis, East Coast, Budget, Europcar, and Thrifty allow customers to book a hire car using a debit card. However, it must be a Mastercard debit card or Visa debit card. They do not accept a normal Savings Account bank card, which is sometimes also referred to as a debit card, nor pre-paid cards. Luxury vehicles cannot be hired with a debit card.

When paying with a Mastercard debit card or Visa debit card, there may also be an adjusted amount for the security deposit. This is based on the terms and conditions of the car rental provider you are hiring with, and the amount may vary between depots. This is because the car rental company cannot guarantee you’ll have available funds on your debit card if the vehicle is damaged or lost. The bond will be refunded at the conclusion of the rental although the funds can take up to 21 days to be returned to your card, depending on your card provider (bank). There may also be a card surcharge that differs to typical credit card surcharges.

For further details on paying with a debit card, click the “Important Information” box that is displayed when you select a rental car using our search form. This information box will display what is required based on the payment option of your choice.

Can I pay with cash?

At VroomVroomVroom, all of our car rental partner prefer a credit card for pick up and only a few major locations will accept cash upon the return of the vehicle. This is because safety and security for staff can become a risk by keeping large amounts of cash on the premises.

Some providers such as East Coast, Enterprise, Avis, and Hertz may approve a cash rental, but you will need to pass their very strict cash qualification rules. Make sure to coordinate directly with the car rental provider if you are planning on paying in cash, since for security purposes we require payment by credit or debit card when you make your booking.

To pay cash with East Coast Car Rentals, it is compulsory to purchase a Loss Damage Waiver option if you are paying by EFTPOS or cash. Other restrictions include employment confirmation, references, a substantial cash deposit, and only Monday to Friday rental. In some cases a 30-day notice is required. It is important to note that cash is not accepted at city offices.

While it may be possible to pay with cash upon pickup, cash bookings cannot be confirmed online with VroomVroomVroom. Reservations made with VroomVroomVroom require payment by credit or debit card when the vehicle is collected. The owner of the card must be present to sign the Rental Agreement and authorise the payment directly to the car rental provider. If you have any additional questions, please contact us via phone, email and live chat.

Important Information

When paying for your rental car . . .

We highly recommend paying using your own credit card so you don’t have to worry about any other requirements asked for by the car rental company and to avoid extra charges. As not everyone owns a credit card, if you would prefer not to use a credit card, it is best to call the car rental provider directly.