East Coast Car Rentals

I've hired cars in most states of Australia and many countries overseas and this was the worst experience I've ever had. I hired a car from East Coast in September last year. Firstly they put us in a non-road worthy car, that we didn't even make it out of the lot in and secondly, I'm still waiting for them to return my $1000!! They took this… Read more

money (additional to the hire fees etc.) from my card when I returned the vehicle because I had a NOT AT FAULT. An elderly gentleman accidentally ran up the back of our rental vehicle while we were stopped at a red light. He said his foot came off the clutch when he turned to look at something, which caused his car to roll forward from a stationary position, into the rear of our rental car. East Coast told me I would get my $1000 back as soon as they received confirmation that the repair costs would be covered by the driver at fault (or his insurance company). The driver at fault gave all his details and was comprehensively insured. I've conversed directly with him since the accident and he advised that he admitted fault to his insurer and they accepted his claim. I have contacted East Coast over 20 times now and they never get back to me, and won't give me an explanation as to why they are still holding my money!! The accident was 8 MONTHS AGO!!! There were 4 people in our car, not one of us has been spoken to by East Coast insurers. There was minor damage to the rear bumper bar and I was told by the driver at fault, that his insurer covered the cost of the repairs. There was no damage his vehicle because he had a bull bar (business ute)

Great service and good car. Would prefer a clear response to the opening hour and business hour. We arrived at 7:00AM to return our car but were told the business hours are from 8:00AM to 10:00PM. However, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to… Read more ·  2

Kumail and Umang at Launceston facility for assisting me with the return process. Kumail processed our return and drove us to the airport and dropped us off just in time for us to catch our flight. Thank you Kumail for going over and above. We appreciated it very much.

Excellent experience with East Coast Car Rentals. Collecting and returning the car was super easy and very efficient. The vehicle was in excellent condition, clean, and well maintained, which made the whole trip very comfortable. The entire process was smooth and hassle-free. And prompt refund of my deposit. Highly recommended and I would definitely rent from them again. Show details ·  1

After a terrible experience due to a licensing issue with a rental car company at Brisbane airport, I was lucky enough to hear about East coast car rental in Hendra. I had a wonderful employee named Shoaib explain and guide me through a car rental for my twin sister and I on our 40th birthday trip to the Sunshine Coast. Not only did Shoaib… Read more ·  1

patiently guide me but offered me a hybrid car for long distance travel.

I cannot thank east coast rental and Shoaib enough for getting our holiday off on the right track. Will be renting through this amazing company every time we travel. Thank you Shoaib and East coast rentals Hendra.

Had a great experience with these guys no fuss.... easy. Had a rav 4 hybrid got great fuel economy around 5ltrs per 100. These guys aren't dodgy. Highly recommended. Show details ·  1

Disappointing experience due to overbooking, long delays, and lack of transparency around a promised refund. We booked a Toyota-class vehicle in advance with East Coast Car Rentals in Tasmania, but at pickup in Launceston we were told none were available due to overbooking. After waiting 1–2 hours, we were offered an MG5, which was then found to… Read more

have a faulty headlight and could not be provided.

We were ultimately given a smaller MG3 and had to sign a new contract. Staff confirmed this was a downgrade and that a refund would be issued, but said only a manager could confirm the amount. We were told we would be contacted, but no one followed up.

At return in Hobart a week after, staff again confirmed the refund was noted in the system but could not provide any amount or timeframe. Multiple follow-ups since then have received no response and it has been a month since we returned the car.

After I posted review on online platforms, we finally got some response from the CS team and received the refund.

Extremely non-transparent/verging on dodgy- from my personal experience as I will detail below. (Read on) I have had a current CAR SUBSCRIPTION with East Coast Car Rentals (Adelaide) for almost a year now and each vehicle I have been provided with by E.C.C.R. (ADELAIDE) has had issues. The first vehicle was clearly well used. It was covered in… Read more

obviously visible, marks, chips, scratches and dents (which the lady at Adelaide Branch, said was normal for the cars that E.C.C.R.'s supplies to it's customers??) and which I later discovered, had a loose and damaged front grille. (When you drove at speed, it would flap around on the side, where the screw was missing) The rear cargo barrier was also missing? When I asked where it was, I was told, E.C.C.R. removes them, so that customers can put more luggage into the car (Not sure how legal that is??) good luck if you have to stop suddenly or are hit from behind!!) Also the Odometer reading on the contract, was NOT the same as what was actually on the car. (The other subsequent cars, had the same wrong odometer readings as well) When I changed into a second vehicle, (after completing my minimum of 21 days driving in the first car and handed it back via the Adelaide Branch) the next exchange vehicle, was handed over to me, in a less than clean condition. (Well by handover I mean, the staff member handed me the car's keys and then just walked off) The sun-roof was full of leaves, debris and pine needles (It had clearly been parked somewhere outside, for an extended period of time) and the center info console was scratched and grimy (It looked like someone had tried to clean the INFO screen, with some kind of abrasive substance) The front seats also had burn holes in them, from what I am assuming was dropped cigarette ash. The floor of the car was also not clean and once again, the rear cargo barrier, had been removed. Within less than three weeks of taking possession of this vehicle, the air-conditioning began to fail, the Cruise control wouldn't turn off anymore and eventually, the air-conditing, stopped working altogether. The car also had trouble staying on, when it was idling from a cold start. Getting a response and an exchange from E.C.C.R over the phone, was akin to running an endurance race in lead shoes. Emails and phone calls were not returned and when I finally did get someone acknowledge what was happening with the car, the response was that I had to take it back myself (I live 128km from the Adelaide Branch of E.C.C.R) only after I threatened to get Consumer Affairs involved, did E.C.C.R. relent and send a driver (one of their mechanics) out to drop off a replacement car for me. (Which they did) However, the driver came without a vehicle inspection report and literally handed me over the car keys, got into the other car, and took off. So, now to the final vehicle from E.C.C.R. This car was in better condition and cleaner than the one that was returned but had clearly been DRIVEN HARD. (It has interstate license plates) from a state that is a considerable distance, from where I am located. Once again. No cargo barrier and burn holes in the front seats (despite all the non-smoking signs in the car) Cleaner than the last vehicle, but very lack-lustre and slow. In fact, so slow, that if i needed to be somewhere at a certain time, I pretty much had to get up an hour earlier than usual, to make sure that I was not late for appointments, work meetings or training sessions. When I questioned why the car was so slow, I was advised by (A) a manager with E.C.C.R. that, the car was designed this way??? (Ah, I don't think so, as I have driven several of this model of car in the last three years and not one, has been as sluggish as this particular vehicle??) Moving on, within a few weeks, the car's electronic key fob (that opens and closes the car remotely) started to play up and the air vents inside the car, on the passenger side, appear to be blocked. Work colleague who was also a qualified mechanic, thinks the battery is failing in the key-fob and the car's interior air particle filter is completely blocked. So I email/phone E.C.C.R (again!) and yes, they offer me a replacement vehicle (the email states) (The same vehicle, but a year younger- a 2023 model instead of a 2022 model) but what does E.C.C.R. do as well?? They add an extra $20.00 a week onto my weekly payments with NO explanation whatsoever!! (This appears to be a common theme with this particular company to add additional costs, wherever and whenever possible) I am VERY unhappy with this and send them, a NO-NOT RETURNING the car on (so and so date) but I AM NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR SUBSCRIPTION COMPANY! (Before anyone retaliates and states, I am just being pedantic) The car I am handing back to E.. E.C.R. is a 2022 base model MG. Excite and has almost 70k on the clock of which I am paying $257.00 a week@ 500 km a week) The would be replacement model is a 2023 MG Excite with 67k on the clock @ 500km per week. Somehow according to E.C.C.R. this warrants an additional $20.00 a week. (Yeah/No) So yesterday I get an E-Mail from E.C.C.R. stating I have to return the said car by Friday. (Nice, not) If I want to return a vehicle voluntarily (after I have completed the minimum term, I HAVE TO GIVE 21 days' notice) If E.C.C.R. wants the car back, they can order you to hand it back IMMEDIATELY. Also, don't leave anything in the car, because quote/unquote, YOUR PERSONAL ITEM"S WON'T BE RETURNED TO YOU. Anyway, I have organised another vehicle with a previous car subscription company I was with, prior to moving across to E.C.C.R. and they have offered me a 2 year old vehicle with 31k on the clock, for $239.00 a week @ 750 km a week (on a minimum 120 day term) The moral of the story. AVOID, AVOID, AVOID, unless you like the feeling of mentally running head-long into a brick wall, every time you have to sort out the endless problems that come with dealing with this particular company!!!

Had a great experience with ECCR from the moment we landed in Hobart to when we left in Launceston it all went smoothly. The shuttle experiences were great and I would highly reccomend this company. Thanks ECCR we had a great time in Tassie. Cheers David C. Show details ·  1

Excellent customer service - easy to book, efficient and friendly shuttle service and easy check in and drop off. Highly recommend. Have used this company when visiting Tasmania and then again in Perth. Much more economical than the major firms and the pick up and drop off at the airport saves navigating complex traffic situations. Looked after very well in Perth by David (driver), Tima and Natalie. Would use again without hesitation. Show details ·  1

Recently hired a car from Hobart and when booking the car online a link came up from ‘carjet’ offering full comprehensive car insurance for approximately $170.00 dollars. It explained that this insurance covered everything and gave me piece of mind that we were covered and no nasty excesses in the event of an accident. On picking the car up from… Read more

East Coast Car Rentals in Hobart I showed them the insurance that I had already purchased and was informed that East Coast don’t recognise that insurance, I explained that the link came up from their website when booking. They stated that they have no control over these pop-ups and as a result I had to take out additional insurance in the amount of $373.00 dollars. Either East Coast Car Rentals are liars or Carjet are a scam, either way I am currently trying to get reimbursed. Would recommend that if anything pops up offering insurance other then the firm you are dealing with then steer clear. A search online didn’t offer very good reviews for’Carjet’.

Was picked up at airport and brought for car in Melbourne .. the staff were so nice and explained all , paid toll for us during our journeys, never a problem, I would highly recommend the company totally professional and excellent customer service .. Show details ·  1

East Coast Car Rental near Adelaide Airport is a fantastic company to deal with! I rang to book and Regina was super helpful in getting a car for me at very short notice. I had hardly any wait time for the shuttle; driver Jack was cheerful, friendly and helpful. At check in, Kristy was welcoming, courteous, friendly and explained everything… Read more ·  1

clearly. Not being used to a hybrid car, I was able to practice all the 'differences' fully with her so that I left feeling 100% confident. The car ran beautifully throughout my stay. Returning it was a breeze and Jack was again on hand to take me back to the airport. All the staff smiled at all times and made me feel a valued customer. No credit charges during payment; rental charges very reasonable as was the extra offering for full insurance which gave me peace of mind. I won't choose anyone else for my car hire in Adelaide and various people I spoke to at the office all shared the same opinion. 11 out of 10 for everything!

Courtesy and consideration from start to finish. Every staff member was thoughtful, polite, professional, and I wasn't kept waiting. The Shuttle bus service at Cairns was prompt, friendly and efficient. I would use this company in other cities and states as my first preference. Show details ·  1

We have used East Coast a few times now, and they are fantastic. On a recent trip to Sydney, I accidentally left my wallet in the rental car. The team at East Coast located my wallet and returned it to me via express post with the cash still in it! Absolutely amazingservice!! Show reply

We had an absolute legend Jack pick us up on the way to our hire car. He was so friendly and ended up giving us a full list of winery recommendations for the Barossa plus his personal highlights. What a legend! Show reply

Amazing service from pick up to check in the car was great. Special shout out for Ash the incredible young man who picked uS up from the Brisbane airport was very professional, fun and full of local knowledge. He recommended a local pub after we asked and it was a fabulou . meal. Ash also gave us many other pointers help with our holiday. We have… Read more ·  1

used East Coast rentals in Tasmania Cairns and Brisbane before this trip. We will continue to use / recommend your service to everyone. Thank you Ash

EDIT: I knew that a marketer would come and post a defensive response to my review. This section is full of clap backs to customers with legitimate complaints and warnings, amid the fawning reviews that are most certainly not all genuine. Can you see how they try to delegitimise my review by insinuating I'm not a real customer? I am, but it… Read more

doesn't really matter if I'm not, since my points stand: they are a 10-min drive from the airport, which is 10 minutes further away than a rental office on site; and it's not worth it because they aren't cheaper than the other companies at the airport.

All the "well ackshewelly" responses on this site to discredit customers' opinions are the biggest red flag for this company—so beware!

Review: Beware that they add extra charges at the office. Insurance is not included in the advertised rate - they will push it on you when you pick up the car - it was roughly $300 extra for us, PLUS $50 extra for an additional driver. If you don't want to pay insurance, you have to leave $1,000 deposit and pay up to $5,000 for any damages, even a windscreen chip. The insurance process, combined with having to go to the second location to pick up the car, adds an extra 30-45 minutes to what should be a simple transaction.

More money + more hassle for a car you can get directly in the airport = not worth it.

The consultants at East coast rentals obviously make a commission when they sell customers insurance. I was aggressively warned about driving risks. When I decided not to pay the premium, the consultant tried various other price brackets. I recalled I’d already bought insurance online and he continued trying to resell it to me. Very manipulative and unimpressive.

Cancelled a fully pre paid booking hours before we were due to land. No alternative car offered and no compensation provided. Left to try to book a car through another provider while we were in the airport waiting to board. Luckily another rental company was able to provide another car albeit at a higher cost.

The Launceston Branch of this company was really good to deal with, I could not fault them, our experience was very positive when hiring a car to travel Tasmania,very happy I will be a repeat customer thanks again ECCRentals Show details ·  1

I used East Coast Car Rental for a weekend trip around Adelaide and the Barossa. On arrival at the airport I contacted East Coast to inform them and proceeded to the pick up point where the van arrived in one minute. The app showing the location of the van. Picking up the car was a breeze, under 10 minutes. The staff were friendly and… Read more ·  1

courteous. The vehicle was better than the one selected (Kia 7 seat to Hyundai 8 seater). The car was a delight to drive and had plenty of room for everybody. We toured McLaren Vale and Barossa.

We have used East Coast Car Rentals as our first choice for many years and again this week on an emergency trip away. Great prices, Near New Cars that are so well maintained and the All Inclusive Package takes away all the concerns over excesses etc. Whenever East Coast is an option in a destination we need a rental we wont go elsewhere Show details