Cairns car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Cairns
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| Minivan |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pickup Truck |
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Cairns
- A trip to Australia is simply not complete without a road trip, particularly a trip to the northern parts of the country. With a personal vehicle at hand, you can travel all over Queensland with Cairns as your home base. For instance, some of the great locales that are perfect day trips for visitors of Cairns include Port Douglas, Kuranda, and Palm Cove. Even better, all of these destinations are within an hour’s drive of Cairns.
- Would-be car renters with flights to Cairns Airport will be happy to hear that hire car desks are available in both terminals of the airport. All hire car counters can be found in the respective Arrivals Hall of both Terminals 1 and 2.
- Worried about rush hour putting a damper on your trip to Cairns? Fortunately for drivers, the congestion in Cairns is only a minor affair that is easily avoided. However, there is still some traffic during the peak hours of rush hour in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and in the afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Drivers should especially avoid the A1 during rush hour, as many drivers use it to go to and from work.
- Make sure to never leave valuables in your car unattended in the summer months -- not because theft is a problem, but because the heat is. Cairns can experience extreme temperatures during the warmer parts of the year and sensitive items like food, electronics, and many other goods will not do well after having been left in a scorching car.
- Book your rental car in Cairns at least 3 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Compact rental cars in Cairns are around 36% cheaper than other car types, on average
Cairns car rental experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
FAQs about renting a car in Cairns
What type of car is recommended for driving in Cairns?
Cairns is not the biggest of cities, so drivers will find that most vehicles -- even large SUVs -- will be comfortable to drive in Cairns. However, sedans and compacts are certainly the most popular vehicles in both Cairns and Australia in general. So, perhaps it is best to follow common practice and stick to a smaller vehicle. Streetside parking will certainly be more manageable in a smaller vehicle.
What’s the speed limit in Cairns?
Speed limits in Cairns, and in the state of Queensland in general, run between 40 km/h (25 mph) and 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas, unless otherwise specified. On rural roads the speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) and on highways and motorways it is 110 km/h (68 mph).
Where are the best places to park in Cairns?
Fortunately for visitors to Cairns, parking is widely available and easy to find throughout the city. Streetside parking is abundant, albeit more suited for smaller vehicles rather than large ones. There is also plenty of private parking in garages and lots. Drivers should have no issues finding parking, even in the central business district.
How much is gas price in Cairns?
The average gas price in Cairns is ₱250.80 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₱3,010 and ₱4,013, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Cairns?
Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Cairns.
How can I find car rentals near me in Cairns?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Cairns?
A Compact car rental in Cairns costs ₱2,052 per day, on average.
How much does a Mini car rental cost in Cairns?
A Mini car rental in Cairns costs ₱4,339 per day, on average.
How much does a Special car rental cost in Cairns?
A Special car rental in Cairns costs ₱2,680 per day, on average.
Cairns car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
8.7
Very good
32 reviewsCleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
8.6
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Term Building Airport Avenue
+61 7 4034 9045
Terminal Building Airport Ave
+61 7 4034 9045
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
May 2018
Pros:
Clean car, easy pick up and return, upgrade since they were out of our size9.6 Wonderful
Mar 2018
Pros:
Staff were very good and the process was simple.Cons:
All good.8.0 Very good
Jul 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2023
Budget
8.5
Very good
35 reviewsCleanliness
8.8
Comfort
8.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.6
Value for money
7.6
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
153 Lake St
+61 7 4048 8166
Terminal Building
+61 7 4033 9777
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Jan 2024
10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2022
10.0 Wonderful
May 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2021
Pros:
The staff were very pleasant. Drop-off very easy10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2019
Pros:
Very friendly agent, easy to rent, pick up, and return. Good process to log any known damage to car (we didn't have any).6.8 Okay
Jul 2019
Pros:
Clean and new carCons:
No invoice of damadge on windscreen, just took a lot of money from my account without any notice.Ace Rental Cars
10.0
Wonderful
1 reviewCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
8.0
3 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
147 Lake Street
+61 1800 620 408
Cairns Domestic Airport
+61 7 4035 9299
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2023
Bargain Car Rentals
9.4
Wonderful
4 reviewsCleanliness
9.7
Comfort
9.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.2
Value for money
8.5
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2023
6.0 Okay
Nov 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2023
Thrifty
9.0
Wonderful
4 reviewsCleanliness
9.0
Comfort
9.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
6.9
3 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
147 Lake St
+61 136139
Airport Ave
+61 136139
Cairns Square, Abbott St
+61 136139
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2016
Pros:
I had a small fender bender on my car and Thrifty made it easy dealing with the problem and replacing the car. Very friendly personnel.Sixt
8.9
Very good
17 reviewsCleanliness
9.0
Comfort
9.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.1
Value for money
8.2
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Cnr Sheridan and Aplin Streets
+61 7 4051 8099
Terminal building, Cairns
+61 7 4033 9800
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2022
5.6 Fair
Jul 2018
Cons:
That said no hidden fees but still charge 1000$ or insurance forcefully similar car NO FOR 6 people they give us 2 people car argument over argument rude etc10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2017
Pros:
The service from Sixt in Cairns was brilliant, from the pick up service at the airport to the swift pick up of the car and drop off. All staff were very friendly and the car itself a dream to drive, making our experience in North Queensland brilliant.10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2022
4.0 Mediocre
Jan 2022
Apex
8.3
Very good
10 reviewsCleanliness
9.1
Comfort
9.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.8
Value for money
8.1
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
396 Sheridan Street, Cairns North, Qld
+61 740 532 896
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2021
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2021
2.0 Poor
Mar 2024
10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2022
8.0 Very good
Jul 2022
Hertz
7.1
Good
20 reviewsCleanliness
7.4
Comfort
7.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.4
Value for money
7.1
3 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
147 Lake St
+61 7 4038 5690
Airport Ave
+61 7 4038 9990
Cairns Square, Abbott St
+61 7 4046 8701
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Mar 2024
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Staff were very helpful, car we booked as not available so they upgraded us FOC.Cons:
Nothing from us10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2019
Pros:
Friendly staff. Easy pickup and drop off.10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2018
Pros:
very friendly employees, easy claim process initiating, flexible return.8.0 Very good
Nov 2018
Pros:
Easy pick up and return after pickupCons:
Found out after pickup, we couldn't take it somewhere we wanted to go.10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2018
Pros:
We had a problem with the rent, and the women of the airport shop helped us to solve it.East Coast Car Rentals
7.1
Good
8 reviewsCleanliness
9.7
Comfort
9.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.1
Value for money
8.0
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
411 Sheridan Street, Cairns
+61 1800 474 258
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2022
2.0 Poor
Apr 2022
6.0 Okay
Mar 2022
8.0 Very good
Mar 2022
Europcar
6.6
Okay
7 reviewsCleanliness
6.6
Comfort
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.6
Value for money
6.6
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Cairns Square
+61 7 4033 4800
Terminal Building
+61 7 4034 9088
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jun 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2018
Pros:
I appreciated the upgrade. The service provided at check in was excellent.2.0 Poor
Jul 2017
Cons:
I booked this for a reasonable price months in advance as diving the Great Barrier Reef was a bucket list item. When I landed though, europcar said that they had given my car away and had no other cars they could fulfill my reservation with as it was high tourism season. No offer to help, no sympathy. Of course I had my phone and checked online and found they indeed had multiple cars available immediately, but were asking double what I had booked mine for. How convenient... I got a car from a competitor instead, and will be avoiding Europcar going forward.10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2023
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
6.0
Okay
2 reviewsCleanliness
8.5
Comfort
6.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.5
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
37-41 Sheridan Street
+61 7 4249 3331
Terminal Building
+61 7 4034 9045
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jul 2023
MINI Car Rentals
10.0
Wonderful
No reviews available
Cleanliness
6.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
8.0
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
55 Dutton Street
+61 1800 150 850
Cairns Off Airport Location
+61 1800 150 850
Filters
No reviews available
4 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
147 Lake St
+61 1800 501 934
Airport Ave
+61 1800 501 934
Cairns Square, Abbott St
+61 1800 501 934
Corner Of Sheridan And Aplin S
+61 7 4051 8099
Filters
No reviews available
3 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Serviced By Redspot Enterprise
+61 740 312 707
Terminal Buildinairport Avenue
+61 7 4034 9045
Terminalbuildingairport Avenue
+61 7 4034 9045
Filters
No reviews available
4 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
147 Lake St
+61 740 410 895
Airport Ave
+61 740 359 299
Cairns Square, Abbott St
+61 740 516 399
Cairns Square
+61 7 4046 8701
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Cairns Square, Corner Shield & Abbott Street
+61 740 334 800
Terminal Building
+61 740 349 088
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
No reviews available
6 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
410 Sheridan Street Cairns, QLD
1800 808 122
Shop 1, 51 Sheridan Street, Cairns City, QLD
+61 383 366 100
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
410 Sheradan Street
1800 808 122
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Cairns Airport CNS
+61 7 4041 0895
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Cairns
Locations in Cairns
Terminal Building
+86 10 6064 1387
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Cairns
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
|---|