Thrifty has over 170 locations across Australia, and stocks a range of vehicles for you to drive away in, including compact cars, SUVs, and luxury models. If you’re a Velocity member, you can also earn points when booking a Thrifty vehicle with VroomVroomVroom.
Rated 5 stars for Transparency of Costs by Canstar Blue in 2019.
Over 170 Australian locations, both urban and rural.
Great rates available on long-term bookings.
Velocity points awarded on bookings.
Wide selection of vehicle makes and models.
Here’s what VroomVroomVroom customers think
We ask users of our booking service to review it after they've completed their reservation. We present a selection of reviews on this page. Our review scores are calculated by averaging the scores of all the reviews that we collect. We don't publish reviews that violate our guidelines. To learn more about guidelines and our reviews generally, visit Terms and Conditions.
Learn more about our reviews.
On renting a vehicle with Thrifty
Thrifty has outlets Australia-wide with depots in all the state capitals, international airports, and major urban centres. See the list below for the number of depots in each state. NT (14), NSW (111), QLD (57), TAS (12), WA (27), SA (12), ACT (3), VIC (49)
Thrifty has one of the broadest ranges of family-friendly vehicles in Australia, offering everything from compact cars and sedans through to pickups and commercial vehicles. Standard Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Fullsize Pick up (double cab) 4 door, Compact Car, Fullsize Passenger Van, Special, Premium SUV, Economy Car, Compact Commercial Van/Truck, Premium Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Compact SUV, Luxury Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Fullsize SUV, Economy SUV, Intermediate Commercial Van/Truck, Fullsize Sport, Premium Commercial Van/Truck, Premium Pick up (double cab) 4 door, Oversize Passenger Van, Premium Elite Passenger Van, Intermediate Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Premium Elite SUV, Standard Commercial Van/Truck, Fullsize Elite Commercial Van/Truck, Fullsize Commercial Van/Truck, Premium Passenger Van, Standard Car, Fullsize Car, Intermediate SUV, Luxury Commercial Van/Truck, Intermediate Pick up (single/extended cab) 2 door, Fullsize Elite Pick up (double cab) 4 door, Standard Elite Sport
Thrifty accepts AMEX, Mastercard, Visa, and Diners Club credit cards for vehicle payments. Visa and Mastercard debit cards are only accepted at some Thrifty locations, so please check beforehand. Cash payments accepted only upon the return of your rental vehicle and only at certain rental locations, so again, please check this beforehand.
Thrifty reserves an amount on your credit card of an amount at least equal to the estimated charges plus a security bond (also known as a security deposit or deposit hold). This deposit amount can vary depending on the vehicle type, mode of payment, and rental location. This deposit pre-authorisation is refunded from your card (pending any additional charges) upon the return of your rental vehicle, however it can take three to seven business days to appear on your statement — the length of this delay is dependent on your bank.
To rent a hire car from Thrifty, any driver needs to be at least 21 years old. Their age policy also requires that drivers aged under 25 need to pay a young driver fee, and may be restricted to a limited range of vehicles. Additional drivers under the age of 25 can be added to the Rental Agreement, but they will also be subject to the under 25 fee.
Any unrestricted driving licence, either Australian or international, will satisfy Thrifty’s driving licence requirements. Learner permits and provisional licences are not accepted for vehicle hire, and if your licence isn’t printed in English, you’ll need to present an International Driving Permit (IDP). Digital licences are not accepted and the name on the licence must match the name on the Rental Agreement.
Yes, Thrifty allows additional drivers, however they are subject to the same regulations as the primary driver, and are limited to the number of passengers the vehicle is legally licensed to carry. There is a daily additional driver fee for each driver added to the Rental Agreement. For further information, including the specific fee per additional driver per day, please see the “Important Information” section for details specific to your rental vehicle or contact our customer care team.
Yes. Basic cover is included in the rental quote, but should the vehicle be stolen or damaged in an accident, or a third-party loss occurs, you’ll be liable to pay for any damage charges up to the Rental Vehicle Excess amount as per your Thrifty rental agreement. The excess refers to the amount renters are liable for before the basic cover applies and the amount of this excess can vary depending on the type of vehicle, the age of the renter, and a number of other variables. Thrifty offers additional damage waiver coverage, also known as a damage waiver, including Ultimate Protection and Premium Protection, both for an additional daily cost, and these can reduce your damage excess charge, but be sure to read through your detailed Rental Agreement to see what damage is and is not covered, and also for more information regarding the cost of excess reduction cover. Prosura is another option to consider if you are looking for comprehensive excess reduction coverage.
Yes. Thrifty will provide complimentary roadside assistance for any mechanical-based defects that are inherent to the vehicle. However, for issues which aren’t strictly mechanical—you’ll be charged a call-out fee along with any associated costs.
If you use a toll road in a Thrifty hire car, you will be charged for the toll along with an administrative charge. Thrifty offers an add-on product which includes all toll charges under a single flat daily fee which allows for unlimited toll usage for each charged day. For details on Thrifty’s toll fees, please refer to the “Important Information” button related to the specific vehicle you are considering.
In cases where you do not have unlimited kilometres, if a kilometre limit on driving distance applies to your Thrifty hire car, the daily kilometre allowance will be shown on your Rental Agreement. If you drive in excess of this daily allowance, a charge may apply for the additional distance.
Some Thrifty locations allow the purchase of pre-paid fuel, meaning you can return the vehicle without a full tank of petrol, though note there is no refund for unused fuel. Otherwise, if you return your hire car to Thrifty without a full tank of fuel you may be charged a premium rate to refill the petrol tank. The most cost effective approach is to fill the hire car fuel tank yourself, at your own cost, before returning it. To save money, use the VroomVroomVroom fuel price comparison app to find the best-priced petrol near the depot you need to return your rental car to.
If your hire car rental period is yet to commence, you can modify your booking within the VroomVroomVroom app or by contacting our customer care team to make the required changes. If you have already collected your Thrifty hire car, you’ll need to contact the depot you collected the vehicle from to request an extra day — or whatever extension period is desired. Bear in mind that any change to the rental period — regardless of if it is before you have collected the car or after — may alter the total cost of your hire car. Any changes will be subject to the specific cancellation policy associated with your rental car. If you need to cancel your booking, if you paid a deposit at the time of your booking with Thrifty through VroomVroomVroom, then you need to give at least 48 hours notice of your cancellation in order to receive a refund.
The Terms and Conditions of renting a vehicle supplied by Thrifty can vary depending on the exact vehicle hired, the age of the driver, the length of the hire period, and a number of other conditions. As such, the exact Terms and Conditions related to an individual vehicle rental can vary from one customer to another and one type of vehicle to another. Once you select a vehicle you are interested in on VroomVroomVroom, you can click on the prominent “Important Information” button to read our guideline to rental terms related to the vehicle which you should be aware of. Later in the booking flow are the detailed Terms and Conditions which you will need to read and accept before finalising your booking. Upon arrival you will also be required to sign a Rental Agreement that outlines the specific Terms and Conditions for your rental.
Note: The information above was correct at the time of publication.
Please check the Terms and Conditions of your chosen vehicle for specific details.
Have a question we haven’t answered?