Road trip around Australia for virtually nothing

Does the idea of travelling across Australia for $1 per day raise your eyebrows? What if you got free fuel on top of the deal? 

Sound good to you? 

Turns out it's not too good to be true, and you, if you're willing and able, can go on the world's cheapest roadtrip whenever you're ready. All it takes is a bit of organisation, a bit of finagling, and an intrepid attitude.

Tired of the mystery? Want to know how it's done?

Well, here's the lowdown. They're called 'relocation' deals, and if you keep a look out, you'll see them advertised when car-hire companies need to transport a vehicle from one branch to another. 

Now you may think that's not often, but in fact, it's every day. Hire companies will either pay a driver to do it, or they'll reduce the hire price to almost nothing in the hope that some adventurous cross-country traveller will do the job for them.

Often they'll throw in free fuel and sometimes even spending money just to sweeten the deal.

Everyone wins – roadtrippers get to enjoy a heavily discounted ride and hire companies get their vehicles transported for a fraction of the cost they’d usually pay.

To find these deals, check out transfercar.com.auimoova and coseats, or read our article on campervan relocations.

7 comments

Other than your own driving ability, the biggest issue with an "adventure" like this is insurance on the vehicle - who pays for it? who/what does it cover? what is the excess and who pays it? A free ride is like a free lunch - it doesn't exist.

No time for sightseeing either. It's from A to B as quickly as possible.  Most of the trips seem to be from Perth back to the eastern states.

You have to pay for insurance and any extras (petrol etc) and you do not have time to spare to look around places. IT IS GO GO.You are better off using your own car.

This is absolute nonsense.

Rushing to deliver a vehicle or a car hire company would be horrible as well as unsafe.

No way would I like to tear around the country if I was unable to stop and explore.

So many say "I just went around Aussie in 6 weeks",  but really all they would have seen was the middle line, what a waste of time and money to see NOTHING

Nobody has covered another major point, on here.  Read the small print.  You pay your deposit & booking fee & it does not guarantee the use of the vehicle.  You make plans for the trip & turn up for the vehicle which they have already rented out to another customer.  You get your fees refunded, but your holiday is blown & there is nothing whatsoever that you can do about it.  It is a common occurance.

It most be VERY small print. I can't see any of that printed above.

Good smart ass Fast Eddie.  Try booking a relocation & paying the fees, then read the conditions.  I know it is a fact.  I travelled from Byron Bay to Brisbane to do a relocation to Sydney.  When I arrived at the yard to pick up the vehicle with my daughter & grand daughter, it had been rented to a tourist to drive to Newcastle.

Gee that is a real dishonest rip off and sorry to hear you had it done to you innes

 

Thanks PlanB.  It was all fully written in the conditions, that they had the right to accept a paying renter, anytime up until I took the vehicle.  All they had to do is advise the one way driver.  They just forgot to phone me.  I find it amazing that so many business people find that customers have become so cynical.

Yes seems like would have been just basic GOOD MANNERS innes,  to have rung you

7 comments



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