While renting a vehicle from a car hire company may seem as simple as choosing the most desirable rental vehicle, paying, and then leaving the lot a happy customer, there are many other factors to consider if you want to avoid fees and have an enjoyable experience. First, you'll want to adequately inspect the vehicle that you are about to rent and photograph it thoroughly to document the condition before renting, as this will provide proof if you need to show that certain damages were already present in order to avoid excessive damage fees.

Excess damage fees cause the vehicle renter to pay for damages that are not covered by the basic insurance policy, and many times these fees are automatically charged to your card unless you can provide proof that the damage existed when you picked up the vehicle. Thus, it is essential to bring any damage found to the attention of the sales representative at the car hire company to make sure that it is documented before you leave the lot. To make sure that you are not charged excess damage fees for the actions of a person that rents the vehicle after you, it is also best to make sure it is inspected when it is returned during the early hours of the day.

To avoid refueling fees you should try to refuel the vehicle as soon as possible before returning it. It is also advisable to save money by purchasing e-tags online when you are traveling in the Eastern states of Australia, as purchasing tags at the rental company desk in these states is usually much more expensive. It is best to avoid dropping off the vehicle at an airport, as this can cause you to incur a premium location fee, which can account for up to 25% of the total rental cost. Finally, thoroughly review all terms and conditions related to the vehicle rental and supplemental insurance policies before purchasing the car hire service.