Western Australia’s capital is a sprawling, sun-drenched metropolis surrounded by pristine coastlines, renowned wine regions, and rugged national parks. Although commuting by bus and train is a practical and very efficient way to travel in the CBD, you will be restricted in your travel options if you want to visit areas outside of Perth such as the Pinnacles, the Margaret River or the secluded beaches of the Sunset Coast. If you’re outbounding on these long trips with ride-share apps or taxis, you will instantly break your travel budget.
The best way to keep your freedom without going over budget is to get a dependable, affordable car rental service. But, dealing with the local rental market demands a smidgen of strategy. A number of large multinational companies offer a low daily base rate, and then add outrageous airport surcharges, forced credit card surcharges and upsells on insurance packages at the rental desk. The key to saving money is to have an agency that values transparency, fleet efficiency, and strategic pick-up points off-airport.
Whether you are a backpacker setting off on a multi-week coastal road trip or a business traveler needing an economical city runner, finding the right provider is crucial. Here are the most reliable and affordable car rental services in Perth to fuel your next adventure.
1. Aries Car Rental
When you want to stretch your travel budget without compromising on vehicle quality, booking with Aries Car Rental Perth is an exceptionally smart move. Their expertise lies in providing a diverse range of vehicles at affordable prices, ensuring that every traveler can find a car that suits their needs, from compact city cars to fuel-efficient hybrid models that help reduce expenses. Best of all, they offer free airport transportation to their off-airport depot, which means you’ll avoid the huge location surcharges on top of airport rentals.
- Budget Hybrid Options: Offers incredibly fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, allowing you to save massive amounts of money at the petrol pump during long coastal drives.
- Off-Airport Savings: Avoids exorbitant terminal taxes by utilizing a seamless, free airport shuttle service that transports you directly to your waiting vehicle.
- Long-Term Discounts: Provides excellent seasonal promotions and highly competitive rates for extended, long-term rentals.
- Transparent Pricing: Operates with a strict no-hidden-fees policy so you know exactly what your trip will cost before you turn the key.
2. No Birds (Bayswater Car Rental)
The Bayswater Car Rental is a famous Western Australian institution which is notorious for its extremely simple and low cost business model locally as “No Birds”. They’re ideal for travelers who aren’t looking for fancy luxury travel vehicles, and just want to get from point A to point B and have a perfectly maintained and reliable vehicle to do the job.
- Uniform Fleet: Is almost entirely about late-model Toyota Corollas and similar reliable sedans that are all standardized in terms of maintenance, and at the same time, significantly reduced consumer expenses.
- Transparent Pricing: Famously has a fully transparent, all-inclusive pricing which actively strives to not leave any hidden fees at the rental counter.
- Multiple Depots: Maintains highly convenient pickup locations across the city, including their massive flagship depot in the CBD and near the airport.
- P-Plater Friendly: Surprisingly flexible policies on younger drivers and P-platers; a favourite of local university students and backpackers.
3. Bargain Car Rentals
Bargain Car Rentals is a highly reputable, proudly Australian-owned company that focuses heavily on delivering massive value to budget-conscious tourists and families. These are a great choice for people who would like to avoid the long lines inside the airport terminal and opt for a quick and convenient transfer to their hotel from the airport.
- Off-Airport Efficiency: They have a very efficient shuttle service to the nearby Redcliffe depot which they forward to their customers as the tax savings.
- Diverse Budget Fleet: Features everything from zippy compact hatchbacks for tight city parking to spacious family SUVs for long-haul highway trips.
- No Age Discrimination: Refuses to charge exorbitant daily “young driver” surcharges for fully licensed drivers under 25, saving young travelers a fortune.
- Toll Management: Provides highly streamlined toll management packages so you don’t end up having to pay a huge administrative fine at the end of your trip.
4. Redspot Car Rentals
Redspot Car Rentals is one of the few completely Australian-owned agencies operating directly inside the major airport terminals. They are ideal for families, international visitors and corporate travelers looking for the convenience of getting from the airport, right into a car without having to pay multinational brand rates.
- All-Inclusive Packages: Offers top-tier packages that bundle the daily rate, comprehensive insurance, and zero-excess liability into one simple upfront payment.
- Terminal Convenience: Keeps desks inside the Perth Airport’s terminals, so you get yours placed as soon as you arrive at Perth Airport after a long, tiring journey.
- Flexible Fuel Options: If you’ve booked a full tank of fuel before time, you don’t have to worry about getting a petrol station before you arrive at your destination again.
- Modern Fleet: Rotates their vehicles regularly so they can maintain a safe late model standard with modern safety equipment and Bluetooth connectivity.
5. East Coast Car Rentals
Home to one of the most highly awarded independent agencies, East Coast Car Rentals has thrived in the off-airport rental business, often beating the price of giant world-wide brands. They work best for anyone who is a “savvy traveller” and wants the best price for a new car each day.
- Brand New Vehicles: Despite their highly aggressive budget pricing, they maintain one of the youngest fleets in the country, constantly introducing brand-new models.
- Award-Winning Service: Often cited by top consumer advocacy organizations for their outstanding service and booking processes.
- Seamless Shuttle Service: They have a swift and steady shuttle bus service that will take you from the arrivals hall to their closeby depot in a few minutes.
- Corporate Programs: Offers fantastic, heavily discounted long-term rental rates and customized corporate programs for extended business trips.
6. Apex Car Rentals
Apex Car Rentals built its massive reputation in New Zealand before expanding successfully across Australia, bringing its highly customer-centric, no-nonsense approach to Perth. They’re a great choice for longer road trips, and their pricing is very flexible for longer stays – rewarding bookings for longer periods.
- No Hidden Fees: Does not accept extra fees for vehicle registration recovery, credit card processing or premium location surcharges.
- Automatically adds your additional drivers to all regular car rental trips at no cost: it’s super convenient for multi-driver trips.
- Comprehensive Cover: Offers incredibly clear, highly affordable insurance reduction options that completely eliminate the stress of driving on unfamiliar roads.
- Roadside Assistance: Backs every single rental with a highly responsive, 24/7 emergency roadside assistance network for ultimate peace of mind in remote areas.
7. Sixt
Sixt combines premium European customer service standards with a highly versatile, budget-friendly fleet. Their economy model definitely has high-end luxury vehicles but their regular model gives a great value to people who intend to run their vehicles for daily use with the assurance of a huge multinational company.
- Electric Vehicle Options: Features one of the largest fleets of fully electric and hybrid vehicles in the region, perfect for eco-conscious travelers looking to eliminate fuel costs.
- International Reliability: An extensive and very sophisticated infrastructure all over the world, which ensures that renting is smooth, professional and completely predictable.
- App Integration: You can manage your whole booking, choose vehicles and even avoid the counter altogether with their very slick smartphone app.
- Loyalty Perks: Offers an excellent loyalty program that heavily rewards frequent renters with massive discounts, free additional drivers, and complimentary vehicle upgrades.
8. Budget Car and Truck Rental
The name Budget Car and Truck Rental says it all: They only rent budget-friendly cars and trucks, and they rely on the extensive network of the Avis Budget Group. They’re an amazing option for visitors who wish to experience a huge choice of pick-up points throughout the city and suburbs, without the hassle of having to look for one.
- Extensive Network: Maintains an incredibly dense network of pickup and drop-off locations, making one-way rentals across Western Australia highly convenient.
- Fastbreak Program: Enables frequent renters to bypass long lines at the airport counter and proceed to their rental car parked in the lot.
- Commercial Options: Provides a large fleet of affordable moving vans, dual cab Ute and commercial trucks for the locals moving big equipment or heavy furniture.
- Regular Promotions: Regularly offers incentives such as weekend discounts, early-bird specials, and aggressive seasonal promotions for spur-of-the-moment local vacations.
What to Look for When Choosing a Budget Car Rental
The low daily rate on the internet is only part of the deal. Here are some key points to consider when looking for a good deal:
- Off-Airport Advantages: It may appear convenient to hire from the airport terminal, but this can result in large “Premium Location Surcharges” that can take up to 20% of your total bill. The best way to cut down on your daily rate is to go with a company that provides a free, 5-minute off-airport shuttle.
- Fuel Efficiency: Western Australia is massive. You will soon be on the verge of losing your hard-earned money at the pump, when you start filling up your cheap V6 equivalent SUV. If you have a long commute to work, be sure to choose a newer, more fuel-efficient compact or heavily discounted hybrid.
- Insurance Excess Realities: Budget rentals often come with a massive standard damage excess (sometimes upwards of $4,000). Always factor in the daily cost of reducing this excess to zero when comparing rates between different companies to see the true cost of the rental.
- Kilometer Restrictions: Always read the fine print regarding daily driving limits. Other very cheap rentals have a maximum daily limit of 100 km, with high fees for exceeding it.
Western Australia’s vast and magnificent outback terrain demands the freedom that can only be achieved in a personal vehicle. Avoid paying for guided tours and other unreliable public transportation to get around, and enjoy the sunrise at your own pace, the secluded beach at your own time, and the beautiful coastal roads at your own time.
The key to a successful road trip lies in strategic preparation rather than simply clicking the lowest advertised base rate online. With a little legwork, you can find fair pricing options, focus on vehicles with fuel efficiency, and find smarter, off-airport pickup options to help save your travel budget from hidden costs. With a trusty reliable and cheap machine, you can easily take to the open road and explore all the West Coast has to offer without the hassle of overspending.
