Rent a Car at Southern Cross

Pay Now Terms & Conditions

Booking Conditions

• At time of pick-up, location specific rental qualification rules apply to your rental. You must also agree to the rental terms and conditions (Rental Agreement) unless you are an Budget Fastbreak member and have opted into the master rental agreement. You must comply with our Rental Requirements. The full name on the reservation must match the name of the person collecting the vehicle as validated on their drivers licence and credit/debit card. If the names do not match, it may be deemed by Budget as a non-permissible change to your Pay Now reservation and Budget may be required to cancel and re-book at the current rates (including any reasonable and applicable cancellation fees).

Pay now and Pay at Location

• With Pay Now bookings, you pay for the rental period and optional extras when you book. Not all optional extras are capable of being pre-paid. Any optional extras that have been pre-booked but that cannot be pre-paid will be designated as Pay at Location and the conditions regarding Pay at Location may apply.
• Additional charges may apply at the end of the rental period and must be paid at the relevant location (e.g. fuel charges and extending your rental period, however, we cannot guarantee that your pre-paid daily car rate will apply).
• At time of collection, a pre-authorisation is made on your card for the estimated value of any additional charges as well as an applicable pre-authorisation of up to $200 AUD for passenger vehicles and $400.00 AUD for all commercial vehicles. A pre-authorisation holds an amount of money in your bank account and this money is on hold until a final payment has been made if required. Any additional charges will be processed after the completion of your rental and if applicable, the unused portion of the authorisation will be released. An electronic message to your bank will be sent on the day you return your vehicle requesting the release of any holding amounts. The time it takes for this to be reflected on your statement is usually 7-10 days, but may vary depending on your bank.

Changing your booking - all booking types

• You may change your booking (whether a Pay Now or Pay at Location booking) any time before the day you are due to pick-up the vehicle by calling reservations or managing your booking online (if available).  You may be able to change your booking on the pick-up day, but you will need to check with reservations. We will send you a revised booking confirmation email confirming your new booking details and new amount to be paid to your email address provided.
• If you return the vehicle before the original return date (early return), you will not be refunded any portion of your payment. This does not detract from your rights as a consumer under applicable consumer protection legislation, including the Australian Consumer Law.

Cancellations - all booking types

• You may cancel your booking at any time before the day you are due to collect your vehicle by calling reservations or managing your booking online (if available).
• Depending on when you cancel, you will be charged a cancellation fee or no-show fee.
• You should retain your reservation confirmation number, as it is necessary for any modifications and cancellations. Modifications or Cancellations to your prepay reservation must be made on Budget.com.au or by calling reservations.
• If you need to cancel at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled pick-up time, you will be refunded the pre-paid amount less a cancellation fee of up to $82.50 AUD.
• If you need to cancel within 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time, you will be refunded the pre-paid amount less a cancellation fee of up to $165.00 AUD.
• If the value of the reservation is less than the cancellation fee, you will not be charged any further amount and will not be entitled to any refund.
• If you fail to cancel your reservation prior to the pick-up time and do not collect the vehicle on the pick-up date, a no show fee of the entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.
• Amounts indicated above are inclusive of GST fees. Additional card fees may apply.

Payment Methods

• Budget generally accepted credit cards include Visa, MasterCard and American Express. However, some locations may not accept all card types. Card transaction fees may apply please refer to the card transaction fee terms and conditions for more information.
• Debit cards are not accepted at some Budget locations and are not a recommended form of prepayment.
• Debit cards or cash may be used at the end of the rental period for payment of additional charges.
• Coupons may be applied to Pay Now rentals. Vouchers or Budget rental certificates cannot be used in conjunction with a Pay Now reservation.
• Gift Cards (Budget or any other) are not allowed on Pay Now reservations.

Rates

• Your quoted rental rate is based on the exact parameters (locations, dates, etc.) of your particular rental. Any change to your confirmed reservation may result in a different rate being charged.
• Your total rental rate is calculated based on the information provided at time of reservation.
• Extensions or late returns may result in additional charges. These additional charges are set out in the standard terms and conditions of rental, which can be downloaded via the Budget website.

Rental Requirements

• You must bring your reservation number or booking confirmation email with you.  This will help the location find your details so you can get on your way as quickly as possible. Your total rental rate is calculated based on the information provided at time of reservation.
• We may refuse to allow any driver to drive the vehicle who: (i) does not hold a valid and current driving licence in the country of rental for the entire rental period, (ii) has not brought an international driving licence or official translation (if applicable), (iii) has not held their licence for the minimum period required by the rental location, (iv) has driving related convictions, or (v) who does not meet our identity, security, driving licence or credit checks.
• The rental location may refuse to rent the vehicle if you or the person making payment fails any of the checks and this leads us to believe that you, the person making any payment for the vehicle, the driver or any additional driver results in the rental being deemed high risk. 

Privacy

The collection, use, disclosure and retention of your information, including your personal information, provided to us in connection with payment for our services and products, or participation in our programs, whether directly by you or on your behalf through a payment service, is subject our Privacy Notice located on our website or in the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement and the Privacy Act 1988.

Supplemental Liability Insurance is not available at this location.

Excess Options

Excess Reduction (ER) or Zero Excess (ZE), available at participating locations, are optional coverages that further reduce the standard excess.

Please click here for further information.

Budget generally accepted credit and debit cards include; Visa, MasterCard and American Express. However, some locations may not accept all card types.

At commencement of rental, Budget does not accept a prepaid or reloadable stored value card, a travel money card or an EFTPOS card. Budget also does not accept cards presented on phones/watches and doesn't allow contactless payment methods such as pay-wave. A physical credit or debit card must be presented at the start of rental. At the end of the rental, some Budget locations will accept a prepaid or reloadable stored value card as a final form of payment.

Please Note: Rentals paid for by a valid credit/debit card will be subject to a card transaction fee of 1.29% (including GST) at time of pick-up.

Pay Now: If the names on the credit card do not match the credit card used at Reservation, it may be deemed as a non-permissible change to your Pay Now reservation. You may be required to cancel and re-book at the current rates (including any reasonable and applicable cancellation fees).

Budget Australia may require a customer renting a vehicle to complete a Rental Qualification Form and provide additional identification as it deems necessary or appropriate or in accordance with applicable law. Please see Rental Qualification Policy.

See Credit Card Policy above.

The Driver must (i) hold a full, current and valid driving licence (not being a learners, provisional or restricted licence), (ii) have an International Driving Permit (IDP) or official translation (if licence is not in Roman alphabet), (iii) have held their licence for minimum 12 consecutive months immediately prior to signing the Rental Agreement.

An International Driving Permit is not a stand-alone document and this must be carried with your valid domestic driving licence for it to be valid.

Digital drivers licences (with the correct endorsements) are accepted for any Budget rental. All digital licences must be checked live at the time of rental, via the respective validation process. A screenshot or photo of the licence is not accepted.

A digital licence does not replace a physical licence and you should still carry your physical card, when travelling outside the issuing state or territory.

 

Please refer to the Rental Terms & Conditions

All additional drivers must meet the same minimum age & drivers licence requirements as the main renter. Each Additional Driver may be charged a daily fee. A young driver surcharge may apply.

The minimum age to drive a vehicle with Budget is 21 years of age. All drivers must hold a current, full and valid drivers licence, that has been valid for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. A young driver surcharge may apply.

You may cancel your booking at any time by calling reservations or managing your booking online.

 

For Pay Now reservations, depending on when you cancel, you will be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.

• If you need to cancel at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled pick-up time, you will be refunded the pre-paid amount less a cancellation fee of up to $82.50 AUD.
• If you need to cancel within 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time, you will be refunded the pre-paid amount less a cancellation fee of up to $165.00 AUD.
• If the value of the reservation is less than the cancellation fee, you will not be charged any further amount and will not be entitled to any refund.
• If you fail to cancel your reservation prior to the pick-up time and do not collect the vehicle on the pick-up date, a no show fee of the entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.
• Amounts indicated above are inclusive of GST.

 

To ensure a seamless start to your journey, our vehicles are rented with a full tank of fuel. It would be appreciated if the vehicle was also returned with a full tank, however if this is not possible, a refuelling charge will be applicable. The option of pre-paid fuel is on offer at select locations and the exact rate of the refuelling charge will be available upon vehicle collection.

• You may change your booking (whether a Pay Now or Pay at Location booking) any time before the day you are due to pick-up the vehicle by calling reservations or managing your booking online (if available). We will send you a revised booking confirmation email confirming your new booking details. For Pay Now reservations, the additional amount to be paid will be charged at time of rental pick up.
• For Pay Now reservations, if you return the vehicle before the original return date (early return), you will not be refunded any portion of your payment. This does not detract from your rights as a consumer under applicable consumer protection legislation, including the Australian Consumer Law.
• Modifying or returning your vehicle to a different location, changing the dates or the rental duration, will result in the reservation being recalculated at the new daily rates and any applicable one way fees or other charges may apply.

At the start of your rental, a hold will be placed on your credit/debit card for the total estimated rental charges plus an additional pre-authorisation. You must use an approved payment card that is in your name and has enough funds available.

Passenger Vehicles
Pay later reservations

• $0 for credit card payments 
• $200 for debit card payments
• $200 for all Signature Series vehicles only credit cards are accepted

Pay now reservations

• $200 for credit card payments 
• $200 for debit card payments

A pre-authorisation holds an amount of money in your account. Once a pre-authorisation has been held, you will not be able to use that money.

At the end of your rental, the final payment amount will be processed and if applicable, the unused portion of the pre-authorisation will be released. Depending on your bank, the money is usually released within 7-10 working days. Budget will not be held responsible for any overdraft fees.

The collection, use, disclosure and retention of your information, including your personal information, provided to us in connection with payment for our services and products, or participation in our programs, whether directly by you or on your behalf through a payment service, is subject our Privacy Notice located on our website or in the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement and the Privacy Act 1988.

The vehicle rental price is calculated based on your requested start and end dates and times, the rental location(s) and the type of vehicle you request. Unless stated otherwise, the price also includes all costs you must pay, for example, administration fees, GST, Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) and any location surcharges.

Budget Australia may require a customer renting a vehicle to complete a Rental Qualification Form and provide additional identification as it deems necessary or appropriate or in accordance with applicable law. For further information and to download the form please click here. https://www.budget.com.au/en/rental-qualification-policy

See Travel Restrictions.

Area of Use Restrictions

Restrictions may apply if you intend to take the vehicle outside the local area in which it is being collected. Local driving conditions and restrictions vary between locations, so you must contact the pickup location prior to your rental date for further information. During the ski season, vehicles may not be taken above the snowline (unless advised otherwise). Please contact your selected location for further information.

Where You Can and Cannot Drive the Vehicle

You and any Authorised Driver must not, unless authorised in writing by Budget drive or take the Vehicle:

IN QUEENSLAND

• On Highway No. 27: beyond Chillagoe in a westerly direction

• On Highway No. 1: beyond Normanton in a southerly direction and no further north than Karumba

• Beyond Cooktown to the north or Lakeland to the west and no further north than Cape Tribulation on the Coast Rd

• On a coastal road north of Cape Tribulation, unless the vehicle is a 4WD vehicle

• On the Bloomfield Track north of Cape Tribulation

IN NEW SOUTH WALES

• Above the snow line; being Jindabyne, from the beginning of June until the end of September

IN VICTORIA

• Above the snow line; being Bright, from the beginning of June until the end of September

IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

• On the Kalumburu Rd, Tanami Rd, Canning Stock Route, Gunbarrel Hwy and Holland Track

• On the Gibb River Rd, Broome-Cape Leveque Rd, Bungle Bungles, Karijini National Park and Windjana Gorge unless the vehicle is a four-wheel drive

IN NORTHERN TERRITORY

• Gove Peninsula

• On the Jim Jim Falls Rd to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls