At Melbourne Airport, Europcar, SIXT and Thrifty are listed as onsite car hire providers. Their counter directions and rental conditions differ, so follow your provider’s instructions and check your final quote for charges based on the vehicle, dates or driver.
A bond is money the hire company temporarily authorises on your payment card as security. It is separate from the rental price and reduces the credit or funds available to you at pickup.
Compare Europcar, SIXT and Thrifty
| Provider | Counter, hours and return | Driver and licence rules | Payment, bond and excess | Airport fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europcar | Melbourne Airport lists Europcar among its onsite providers, with rental desks in the ground-floor T123 Car Park area opposite Terminal 2. Europcar’s Melbourne Airport rental guide describes its main office as across the road from Terminal 3, under the Parkroyal Hotel. It lists hours of 06:00 to 24:00 daily. Privilege customers can go to a booth in the car park. The guide directs returns to the airport rental-car return area but does not state an after-hours return procedure. | Europcar’s published Melbourne-specific information does not state a minimum age or licence-holding period. Europcar says requirements depend on location and vehicle category, so check eligibility for every driver and the selected car before booking. | Europcar’s Australia-wide deposit policy lists a card pre-authorisation of $200 for standard passenger vehicles, including standard electric vehicles, and $500 for commercial vehicles and people movers. It also lists $500 for specialty and prestige vehicles, with a credit card required. The rental price is authorised in addition to the bond. Europcar says extra cover to reduce liability is available at the counter; Europcar does not state a Melbourne-specific excess amount. | Europcar’s general fee guidance says airport surcharges may apply, but Europcar does not publish a Melbourne-specific amount. |
| SIXT | SIXT places its Melbourne Airport branch on the ground floor of the terminal car park, opposite Terminal 2. Its branch page lists counter hours of 06:00 to 23:00 daily, including bank holidays, and 24-hour returns. For returns, SIXT directs drivers to follow the Car Rental Returns signs via Centre Road. | The minimum age is 21. Some vehicle types require drivers to be at least 25, and a fee applies to drivers under 25. A valid licence held for at least 12 months is required, depending on vehicle type. For a licence that is not in English or has no photograph, SIXT requires an International Driving Permit or certified English translation. | The renter needs a credit card in their own name with enough available funds; SIXT does not accept cash. Some branches may accept debit cards, so do not assume the airport branch will. The Melbourne branch page does not state the bond amount. SIXT says damage waiver is included and optional protection can reduce the excess, but a Melbourne-specific excess amount is not stated. | SIXT’s Australian terms define a Premium Location Fee for airport and certain other rentals. The amount depends on the booking; SIXT does not specify the Melbourne amount. |
| Thrifty | Melbourne Airport lists Thrifty as an onsite provider in the shared T123 Car Park rental area. Thrifty’s published airport information does not state its counter directions, hours or after-hours return instructions. Follow the pickup and return instructions on the booking. | Thrifty’s Australian terms state that a Young Driver Surcharge applies to renters or additional drivers aged 24 or younger. Those terms do not state a current Melbourne minimum age or licence-holding period. Confirm eligibility and any surcharge in the booking conditions. | Thrifty’s terms say the company may authorise the expected rental cost plus a security bond or another amount advised at reservation. The terms describe Collision Damage Waiver as included, with the applicable basic excess stated on the Rental Agreement. Optional products may reduce or remove that liability at selected locations. Thrifty does not state current Melbourne bond or excess amounts. | Thrifty’s terms describe a Location Service Fee that applies at certain locations, including airports. The fee varies by location and appears on the Rental Agreement; Thrifty does not state a current Melbourne amount. The terms describe the fee mechanism, not the amount on a current quote. |
Melbourne Airport lists a shared location for onsite rental providers, while Europcar’s guide places its office near Terminal 3. Check the named provider’s pickup instructions rather than assuming all counters sit at the same point.
Check the quote and card requirements
Costs include the bond and damage excess. Optional excess-reduction products and airport or location fees also affect the total. Europcar publishes Australia-wide bond amounts, but its Melbourne-specific excess is not established here. SIXT’s local page gives its age and licence rules but not its bond or excess amounts. Thrifty’s terms explain how its bond and protection work, but do not establish current Melbourne figures.
SIXT requires a credit card in the renter’s name. Europcar’s stated bond is a card pre-authorisation, and Thrifty says it may authorise the rental cost plus a bond or other amount advised at reservation. Before travelling, compare the final quote and rental agreement, including the amount that will be held on the card. Do not treat an optional excess-reduction product as included unless the quote says so.
Pick up and return at the airport
At pickup, have the booking confirmation, each driver’s licence and the required payment card ready. For SIXT, make sure the card is in the renter’s name and has enough available funds for the authorisation. Before driving away, compare the car’s condition with the rental agreement and report any damage or discrepancy to the provider.
For returns, Melbourne Airport directs drivers approaching via Terminal Drive to turn onto Centre Road and follow the Car Rental Returns signs. SIXT gives similar Centre Road directions and states that returns are available around the clock. Europcar’s guide identifies the airport rental-return area but does not confirm an after-hours procedure; the Thrifty details reviewed do not establish one. Confirm the relevant key-drop or counter arrangements with the provider before relying on an out-of-hours return.