Global travel app Skyscanner, launches its latest research, in association with OnePoll, revealing that, of the 44% of Australians who have already booked their winter holidays this year, only 23% have hit the book button on their car hire (in contrast to the 89% who have already booked their flights).*

Aussie travellers’ flexible and more last-minute approach to car hire is reflected in Skyscanner booking behaviours with 59% of Aussies booking their car hire less than 4 weeks before departure and 14% booking on the day before or day of travel.

For those more last-minute car hire bookers, just over 2 in 5 (41%) of Aussie travellers share they’ve not booked their winter holiday yet as they’re still trying to find the best deal, Skyscanner has rounded up the smartest car hire travel hacks to help travellers save big this winter.

1.     Australia’s cheapest car hire destinations this winter (New Zealand takes the top spot!)**

Only 4% of Aussies surveyed believe their winter holiday car rental will cost between $11 and $30 per day this year.  In response, Skyscanner’s data experts have crunched the numbers to reveal the destinations with the cheapest average daily car rental prices on Skyscanner this June and September – the daily average rate for all destinations is less than $70 per day.

2.     The best value car hire countries for Aussies this year (great value Italy tops the list)***

For Aussies looking to bag the best value car hire, Skyscanner has rounded up the destinations which have seen the biggest price drop for car hire year on year.

 3.     The best time to book (last-minute) car hire to the most popular destinations this winter*****

To help these last-minute bookers, Skyscanner has revealed the best time to book car hire in that four-week window to a selection of Aussie’s most popular car hire countries:

4.     Get savvy with car hire pick-up filters to save big this winter******

There are savings to be made this winter by comparing your options on where to collect your car hire.  Often, there are savings to be made by potentially jumping on a bus or train out of the city centre to the airport or grabbing a free shuttle bus off-airport versus an airport terminal pick-up.  Heading to Milan this July or August?  Skyscanner data analysis shows you could save up to 30% taking the shuttle bus off-airport for your car hire versus pick-up at the airport terminal in Milan.

 5.     Tweak your timings to save on your car rental*******

Sometimes getting a car hire deal is as simple as tweaking your pick-up time this July or August (which you can easily do on Skyscanner). Prices may be higher at peak hours – like just after a big flight lands. Try moving your time forward by 60 minutes. If the price drops dramatically, it might be worth having a coffee at the airport for an extra hour, while avoiding the rush of people just off the flight, too.

6.     Find the best value foodie road trips your tummy and wallet will thank you for

Looking at factors including Skyscanner’s own data on the average cost of daily car hire, average hotel and fuel costs alongside the price of food and drink, Skyscanner can reveal the best value foodie road trip destinations this winter. Check out our foodie road trip guide for more detail!

7.     Get insurance in advance to make big car rental savings

Whilst we always recommend taking out insurance cover, it’s important not to opt for the first option you see as you can end up paying more than you need to. Check out our car hire article for more tips and hacks

Check out our car rental guide for more tips and hacks. Australia’s cheapest car rental destinations can be found in the interactive infographic, here.

Skyscanner car hire expert/ travel expert, Jarrod Kris, shares:

“Renting a car on holiday gives you the freedom to travel on your own terms.  Our Loud Budgeting Guide to Car Hire, built on the unique wealth of Skyscanner data, has been created to help travellers save on their car rental every single time.  From the car hire destinations seeing the biggest price drops this winter(hello Albania!) to the best time to book your car hire for the most popular destinations this winter (often more last-minute than you might think!) Skyscanner has got you covered.

“With some simple hacks, like comparing costs on where to pick up your car rental or moving your car collection time forward an hour, travellers will find they can make big savings this winter.  For example, those heading to Heraklion this winter will find they can save up 20% by picking the car up at the airport terminal versus from the city centre.  Headling to Lisbon this July or August?  Travellers can save up to 26% by shifting their car hire collection from 6pm to 7pm.  Skyscanner’s handy car hire filters make finding the best-value deals as simple as possible for travellers.”