Understanding Pricing

Why prices change

DriveNow is a comparison website. The prices you see come live from the rental companies we work with.

Because pricing is live, a rental company can change its rates from day to day before you book. As cars are booked and availability falls, prices may rise with demand.

When your price is locked in

When you complete your booking online, it confirms instantly and you receive a confirmation. The price for your booked dates is then locked in. If you later change the booking, for example the dates or the car, the rental company may recalculate the price at its current rate.

Most car hire bookings on DriveNow are "pay on collection" rates. You pay the rental company at the branch when you collect the car. Our guide to making payment explains what you pay and when, and which cards are accepted.

Busy periods and specialty vehicles

Availability is limited during busy periods such as long weekends, Easter, Christmas and school holidays, and cars often sell out well before the dates. If you are travelling at these times, book as early as you can. See booking during school holidays.

Specialty vehicles also tend to sell out quickly. These include 12-seaters, people movers, luxury and sports cars, and 4WDs.

Next steps

• Charges at pick-up: costs that can be added at the counter
• Features to consider when choosing a car: what to compare beyond the daily rate
• Booking with confidence: no booking fee, instant confirmation and a locked-in price

Part of Before You Book in the Car Hire Handbook.