Planning to hire a car after you land in Melbourne? You’ve got two main choices: pick up your rental at the airport or wait until you reach the city. Both can get you where you need to go. But only one saves you the time, transfers and backtracking that can eat into your trip.

Choosing Melbourne Airport car hire means everything’s in one place. Car rental desks and the pick-up location are just across the road from the terminals. It’s a simple handover that gets you moving fast, whether you’re heading into the CBD or setting off on a road trip across Australia.

The moments after you land can set the tone for the rest of your trip. So, the last thing you need is added logistics just to get moving. Here are more reasons why hiring a car directly at Melbourne Airport often makes more sense than picking one up in the city:

• No need to arrange separate transport – Off-airport car rentals mean booking a taxi, rideshare or hopping on a shuttle bus just to reach the depot. At the airport, you're already at the pick-up location.
• Faster handover – On-airport car rental desks are located directly across from Terminals 1, 2, and 3 on the Ground Floor of the T123 car park. City locations can involve queues, parking restrictions, or off-site yards.
• Aligned with flight times – Most on-airport providers operate around flight schedules. City branches often have fixed hours that don’t line up with early arrivals or late landings.
• One-stop process – On-airport car hire means you deal with one provider in one location. City hires can involve moving between counters, depots or coordinating with third parties.
• Simpler drop-off – Flying out from the same airport? Returning the car to the same airport location means you’re just steps away from check-in. In the city, it can mean circling for parking or navigating unfamiliar streets just to hand over the keys.

City rental prices might look lower at first glance, but the full cost often tells a different story. Once you factor in the extras (both in time and money), on-airport car hire can offer better overall value. Here’s how the costs really compare:

• City rentals often require extra transport. Getting from Melbourne Airport to the CBD means paying for a taxi, rideshare or SkyBus. With airport car hire, your pick-up location is just a short walk from the airport terminal.
• Some off-airport locations require higher security deposits. On top of the rental price, many off-airport providers hold a larger bond or credit card surcharge, and may be less flexible with payment types. Some do not accept a debit card at all.
• Melbourne Airport bookings don’t charge cancellation or booking fees. If your plans change, you won’t pay extra. City-based providers may apply cancellation policies or booking penalties.
• Some on-airport car hire includes loyalty perks. Some rental companies at Melbourne Airport offer Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity points, which aren’t always available with off-airport options.
• Prices shift during busy travel periods. During peak demand, city and airport pricing both go up. But booking early through the Melbourne Airport website helps you compare and lock in the best rate.

The base pricing isn’t the full story. For many travellers, booking at the airport avoids surprise costs and makes the overall value easier to manage.

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport has a strong line-up of rental companies onsite, so you won’t need to search far to find a car hire brand you recognise. Whether you're heading into the city, planning a one-way drive to Sydney, or sorting out a long-term car rental, there's a mix of rental vehicle types and price points to suit.

Here’s who you’ll find at the airport:

• Avis – Offers a broad fleet, from compact runarounds to full-size sedans. A solid choice if you’re not sure exactly what you need yet.
• Budget – Keeps things simple with lower daily rates and reliable everyday vehicles, including a range of hatchbacks and sedans.
• Europcar – A strong Australian presence with vehicles built for group travel, including SUVs, seven-seaters, utes and vans.
• Redspot – Focused on no-fuss bookings with practical vehicles that get you from the airport to the road without delay.
• Hertz – Well suited to business or repeat travel, with the ability to earn loyalty rewards and book one-way trips across Australia.
• Sixt – One of the newer names at the airport precinct, offering premium inclusions across newer models. This is ideal if you prefer to drive something more modern.

Brands like Hyundai, Toyota and Kia are common across most fleets, so if you’re looking for something familiar, you’ll likely find it. Most providers also offer extras like child seats, GPS, toll passes, and the option to add an additional driver.

You’re a few minutes from keys-in-hand once you land. Just head to the car rental desks on the Ground Floor of the T123 car park to collect your vehicle. Bring your driver’s licence and a credit card in the primary driver’s name; most providers take a pre‑authorisation for the bond, and some may accept a debit card. If you’ve listed an additional driver, they’ll need to show their licence at the counter too.

At the desk, you’ll review and sign the rental agreement, which confirms your pick‑up and drop‑off details, how to return the rental after hours, vehicle info, and what’s included. From there, follow the signs to the on‑airport bays and you’re on your way.

Yes. Most on-airport rental companies let you book a one-way trip, so you can pick up at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and drop off at another location. Just choose your pick-up date and time, drop-off date and time, and return location when booking to see availability and fees.

Landing at Melbourne Airport should be the start of your trip, not the start of another journey to pick up your rental car. On-airport car hire puts you steps from the counter and just minutes from driving away. Compare options and lock in your pick-up early through our Melbourne Airport Car Rentals page so you can spend less time organising and more time on the road.