With Geelong’s central location in Victoria and its proximity to the famous Great Ocean Road, a rental car can make it easy to explore this stunning region and enjoy a unique holiday experience. Whether you need something luxurious or economical, practical or sporty, there is sure to be the perfect Geelong car hire out there to fit your needs.
What Do You Need To Know About Driving In Geelong?
If you are a foreigner vacationing in Australia, it might be a good idea to brush up on Australia’s rules of the road before running off to the nearest Geelong car hire. Things like the speed limit and which side of the road to drive on can easily throw off foreign visitors. There are plenty of resources online which can help you get up to speed like this one!
Though there is much free parking around the city of Geelong, certain high-demand areas do use meters to regulate parking and to keep things moving. Recently Geelong has started running a “buy one hour, receive the second hour for free” initiative, to encourage people to shop and dine in post-covid Geelong.
Not to be outdone by other modern cities, Geelong is working on building its electric car infrastructure. If you can get your hands on an electric car in Geelong, theres nothing to worry about, as several charging stations are scattered about the city, ensuring that you will never be far away from your next charge.
Geelong Rental Car Brands And Pick up Locations
There are a number of car hire companies in Geelong, some of the most popular companies are as follows:
- SIXT
- Thrifty
- Hertz
- Budget Car & Truck Rental
- Europcar
These companies are a trusted option for a quality car hire in Geelong, which can all be conveniently booked through Discover Cars. Choose from everything from compact cars, sports car to midsize vehicles, and SUVs.
Pick Ups and Drop Offs
In Geelong, you’ll have to pick up your car in the town centre. Each rental company has their own separate car lot and rental office to pick up from. You can either return to the same location or plan a one-way trip, so you don’t need to circle back to Geelong to drop off your car hire.
These Geelong car rental companies have lots of locations around Australia. You can extend your trip to Ballarat in the Central Highlands, visit the capital of Victoria, Melbourne or even Adelaide or Sydney. The choice is up to you!
Necessary Documents For Renting A Car In Geelong
The documents necessary to rent a car in Geelong are the same as anywhere else in Australia. Thankfully, only a few are needed, and you will probably already be traveling with them.
Drivers License
First, of course, you will need a drivers license. It is generally required that the license has been held for more than one year, and that it is printed in English. If the license isn’t in English then an International Driving Permit is usually required.
Credit Card
As with car rental services in most countries, car rentals in Geelong will require you to have a credit card. The card must be valid, and in the renters name. In some cases, a debit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo will be accepted but a certain amount of money will need to be blocked from the account.
Passport
The last document needed is a passport. This document is only necessary for renters that are not Australian Citizens, so if Australia is your native country, feel free to leave your passport at home!
How To Get The Best Deals On Geelong Car Hires
Though searching for a quality cheap car rental may sometimes seem hopeless, here are a few tips for getting the best car hire deals in Geelong.
Don’t Book Too Early
While in the world of flights and hotels it is usually understood that earlier booking means a better price, research shows that the same does not apply to car hire deals. Statistics show that travelers who book a car 3 months in advance, on average pay $75 more than those who only book a week in advance. So save yourself some money by waiting for a closer date.
Of course this method may backfire if you are booking a Geelong car hire in a busy season or on unusually busy dates. Something to think about before waiting for the last minute to book is how busy the dates you are looking to book will be.
Use a Website like Discover Cars
Discover Cars and similar websites will allow you to compare all of your options before making a decision. Discover cars has been helping travelers get great deals on hire cars since 2013, as one of the first sites of its kind. Not only does the site give you a view of all your options in any given area, it is also a place where renters will post reviews of their experiences with different companies and locations, and provides quick facts about the models.
Only Use One Driver for Your Hire Car
Many car companies will charge you an extra daily fee for every driver you add. Often the fee will be 12 or 13 dollars a day, so sticking to one driver will save you some extra cash for food or activities!
Use Your Own Insurance
You never want to be driving a vehicle without insurance, but if you already own a car, you might not have to add car hire insurance to the bill. Many primary car insurances will automatically cover hire cars.
If your insurance doesn’t cover it, there is a chance that the credit card that you use to pay for the rental might also have some basic insurance coverage built in. Unfortunately, if you are renting overseas there is a good chance that you will have to purchase hire insurance even if your car insurance or credit card already covers it.
Resist the Add-Ons
Though many hire car services will try to convince you of the necessity of add-ons, chances are you don’t actually need most of them. Roadside assistance, satellite radio, and GPS navigation are a few of the usual suspects when it comes to unnecessary add-ons.
Your phone will already have GPS, and will probably be able to provide you with any entertainment you may desire. Add-ons like roadside assistance might be a more reasonable offer, as well as a car seat if you are travelling with a baby. Just make sure that you are making the decision that is best for you, and not just being up-sold by a rental worker.
What To Check Before Renting A Car In Geelong
Assuming you have all the documents you need, there are a few other things you should check before choosing a hire car in Geelong.
Plan Out Your Pick Up and Drop Off
Check where you will be able to pick up and drop off the car. This may quickly limit your choice of rental companies as you find out which ones are in a convenient location for you. If you are going to travel from Geelong to another city, it is important to check which car rentals have drop off locations where you are looking to go. This is where planning your road trip ahead of time will really save you a lot of headache.
Consider Insurance
Car hire insurance is an option you may want to think about before renting a car in Geelong. Also called excess cover, this will help you to cover the cost of damages to your vehicle, others vehicles, and property in the case of an accident. It isn’t something anyone wants to think about, but you wouldn’t want your fun vacation to go way over budget through an unforeseen accident!
Familiarise Yourself with the Car
When the car you are going to rent is presented to you, give a quick but thorough inspection of the exterior. It has sometimes happened that damage from a previous user has gone unnoticed by the rental service, and you wouldn’t want to end up paying for someone else’s misuse.
Get familiar with the rental car. It is unlikely that you will be renting the same model of car that you drive at home, so be sure to take a minute to familiarize yourself with the model that you are renting. Anything might be different. From small things like the placement of the wipers switch or air conditioning, to big things like whether the car is automatic or manual.
Inquire about the type of fuel the model of car you are renting needs. Using the wrong type of fuel could have many effects on the car, from simply making it run less efficiently, to causing irreversible damage to the vehicle. If you don’t know, just ask.
Whether you are visiting Geelong’s iconic waterfront, or touring its fine dining offerings , a Geelong car hire is the best way to get around. It gives you the freedom you need to explore the “gateway to to the Bellarine Peninsula” with ease. Book now to secure your ride since renting a car in Geelong is sure to provide lasting memories.
