The short answer
No operator we compare publishes a hire with no deposit at all: each one that states its terms asks for a bond, a card hold or a deposit to reserve. Of the 92 operators in our rankings, 29 state a bond amount on their own website. The lowest figure each one gives runs from $200 to $1,000, and 10 of them start below $500.
29 of the 92 independent operators in our rankings publish a bond amount on their own site. Every figure below was read from the operator’s own website between 25 Aug 2026 and 11 Oct 2026, and links the page it was read from. Operators change their terms, so check the page before you book.
Published bonds, lowest first
The order is the lowest amount each operator states. It is not a ranking, and a low bond does not mean a better operator. Where the amount depends on something you choose, the table says what.
| Operator | City | Bond as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burswood Car Rentals | Perth | $500, dropping to $400, $300 or $200 with more cover; debit cards add $200 | Source |
| TAK8 Car Rental | Perth | $200 with Peace of Mind Cover; the amount is not published with Standard Cover | Source |
| A & Jay Car & Truck Rentals | Melbourne | $300 by credit card, $500 by debit card | Source |
| One Stop Car Rental | Melbourne | $300 on the Corolla, $500 on the other cars | Source |
| Prime Car Rentals | Melbourne | $300 on the Yaris and Mazda 2, up to $400 by category | Source |
| Rent Wize Cars | Adelaide | $300, refundable; stated for short-term hire only | Source |
| Territory Car Hire | Darwin | $300 security bond on a credit card, on every rental | Source |
| Cheapie Car Rental | Gold Coast | From $350 | Source |
| Flex Drive Rentals | Brisbane | $400, fixed (the site calls it a reduced security deposit) | Source |
| NT Car Rentals (Darwin) | Darwin | $400 per rental, refundable at the end | Source |
| AUZ Rental Cars | Melbourne | $500 on a credit card with more cover; $2,500 with Basic Cover | Source |
| Baraka Car Rentals | Melbourne | $500 | Source |
| Beepz Auto Solutions | Brisbane | $500, refundable after return and final inspection | Source |
| Berber Select Car Rental | Brisbane | $500 with an Australian driver licence; $1,000 without one | Source |
| City Centre Car Rentals | Perth | $500 on a credit card; $1,100 on a debit card | Source |
| Dream Car Rental | Perth | From $500; varies by category and driver age | Source |
| EzyDrive Car Rental | Brisbane | $500, refundable | Source |
| Long Term Car Rental | Gold Coast | Between $500 and $1,000 | Source |
| Move Car Rental | Perth | $500 | Source |
| Surfers Rent A Car | Gold Coast | $500 credit card pre-authorisation, frozen and not debited | Source |
| Trinity Beach Car Rentals | Cairns | $500 pre-authorisation if you pay by debit card or cash; nothing held on a credit card | Source |
| UB Cars | Adelaide | $500 upfront, refundable | Source |
| Viz Car Rentals | Brisbane | $500, fully refundable | Source |
| ZA Car Rental | Sydney | $500 minimum, charged at booking | Source |
| H2O Holiday Car Rentals | Perth | $550, taken from the card, on standard vehicles | Source |
| 99 Rent a Car | Sunshine Coast | $600 | Source |
| Ace Rent A Car | Perth | $700, refundable; the same FAQ says the amount varies by vehicle | Source |
| Mini Car Rentals | Cairns | $1,000 held on a credit card unless you buy extra cover | Source |
| Network Rentals | Gold Coast | $1,000 on first-time rentals; rideshare rentals: four weeks of rent or $2,000, whichever is greater | Source |
Operators that run several branches on one website appear once. The bond is the amount in the operator’s terms, not a quote for your booking.
The closest thing to no deposit
Two operators come nearest. Surfers Rent A Car says you pay no deposit to reserve and settle at pick-up, but its terms ask for a credit card pre-authorisation, shown in the table. Trinity Beach Car Rentals holds nothing on a credit card, but takes a deposit to reserve. Neither is a hire with nothing paid or held, so read their terms for how and when each amount is taken.
What moves the amount
The bond is not always one number. In the table it depends on the card you pay with (A & Jay Car & Truck Rentals, City Centre Car Rentals and Trinity Beach Car Rentals), the level of cover (Burswood Car Rentals, TAK8 Car Rental, AUZ Rental Cars and Mini Car Rentals), the car (One Stop Car Rental, Prime Car Rentals and Ace Rent A Car), or whether you hold an Australian licence (Berber Select Car Rental). If you can choose, ask what each choice does to the bond before you pay anything.
Operators that ask for a bond but publish no amount
Sunshine Car Rentals, Right Price Car Rentals, BettaCNS Car Hire and Spotto Car Rentals say a bond or card hold is required but do not state how much, so there is no figure to compare. Another 2 state a bond, but we could not open their pages a second time to confirm it, so they are not in the table. The other 54 either publish no bond or have no website we could read.
What to ask before you book
- The amount that applies to you. Card type, cover and licence can each change it.
- Taken or held. A bond is money the operator keeps until the car comes back; a pre-authorisation is a hold on your card.
- When it comes back. Same day, after an inspection, or days later.
- What it is for. Damage, fines, tolls and cleaning can all come out of it.
- In writing. Get the amount and the return terms in the agreement or the booking email.
Compare operators by city
These bonds sit inside our city comparisons, where operators are ordered by Google rating weighted by how many reviews stand behind it:
If you are hiring for weeks or months, the long term car rental guide covers bonds, minimum terms and ages. If you do not have a credit card or are under 25, read car rental without a credit card or under 25.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a car rental in Australia with no deposit?
- Not among the independent operators we compare. Surfers Rent A Car says you pay no deposit to reserve, but its terms still ask for a card hold at pick-up. Trinity Beach Car Rentals holds nothing on a credit card, but asks for a deposit to reserve. The lowest published bond is $200, so the realistic search is for a low bond.
- What is the lowest bond for a car rental in Australia?
- Among the 29 operators that publish an amount, the lowest figure is $200, stated by Burswood Car Rentals and TAK8 Car Rental, and only with extra cover. 10 operators start below $500; 14 start at $500.
- Why does one operator show two bond amounts?
- Because the amount moves with something you choose. Operators in the table tie it to the card you pay with, the level of cover, the car, or whether you hold an Australian driver licence. Ask which one applies to you before you book.
- Is a bond the same as a pre-authorisation?
- No. A bond is money the operator takes and returns later. A pre-authorisation is a hold on your card that is released without being charged. Operators in the table use both words, so ask which one you are agreeing to and when it is released.
- Does a low bond change an operator’s place in the ranking?
- No. The city rankings order operators by Google rating weighted by review count. The bond an operator publishes, or does not publish, has no effect on its place.
Cristobal Galilea
Co-founder, Carz
Cristobal builds Carz alongside the operators who use it — fleet software for independent car-rental businesses leasing weekly to gig drivers in Australia.