Car Seats in Hire Cars?

[KyeG]

Hi,

We're heading to Brisbane next month and have arranged for a car seat for our 7 month old in our hire car and was just wondering if any one has any opinions (good and bad) on using these (i.e. standard of seats etc), I know we can take our own but it seems like a big hassle.....

[jaspen]

I have never had a problem with standard (they aren't the top of the range seat but are in excellent condition) the only thing you need to check is the installation cause sometimes they don't really know what they are doing (eg car seatbelt through wrong hole) and make sure you let them no the age so you get the right type of seat, you also need to give yourself the time to change the strap height cause they'll usually just guess that.

I like using the car hire ones cause its one less piece of luggage and one less thing to get damaged on the plane

[Jaycee]

Yep, we used a hire seat last month when we were in Brisbane and Townsville.
Like jaspen said they are not the most expensive ones out but they are in great condition and we had no problems.
I agree to take the time to check that the seat is installed properly and also request it to be rear facing (if that's what you still have in your car )

[KyeG]

Thanks for the replies, has eased my mind a lot!

[Doing my best]

Hi there,

Just checking what kind of car you girls had? We are flying to Sydney next month and hiring a car. We will be taking our own seat, but just want to check regarding anchor points. I have emailed 2 car companies to see if they are standard, or if we can request at time of booking to ensure that they are there, if we don't use their seat.

Cheers
Heather

[Danni]

I always hire cars through Europcar and it is standard for ALL of their cars to have atleast one anchor point. They allow rear facing seats to be installed but they never used to. A lot of the other companies will say they only provide seats for babies 6months plus (which is what they classify as a forward facing baby)

[Doing my best]

Thanks for that Mabello,

Europcar has always been a favourite here too, and are one of the companies I asked.

Cheers
Heather

[alioops]

Heather - Many of the newer cars have 2 or 3 anchor points already fitted. We hired a Misubishi 380 (Not my favourite car, turning circle is HUGE) from Thrifty for a week and had our 2 car seats in it. My new car also has 2 points fitted. My mum has an X-Trail and that has all 3 points fitted. I might get DH to check his Commodore now.

ETA - DH's 2006 Commodore only has the 1 point fitted. You can ask the hire company for a car that has as many anchor points as you need. All new cars have to have 1 point fitted to be complaint with Australian standards

[Danni]

Europcar will also give you a discount if you fly with Virgin!

[Doing my best]

We are flying with Qantas cause when we added our luggage surcharge with Virginblue, they were cheaper..

Anyhow, do we have to supply the anchors, are the holes all the same size for the anchor screws? Should we take one just in case? At least we are arriving in the middle of the day, so if there are any hassles, we can get it sorted.

Europcar is the 2nd cheapest for what I have looked at, and I tend to use them more cause they don't freeze a bond on your credit card if you pay the car hire with it. So just the one amount, and no waiting for refunds.. (We only have a small limit on our card, so this is big help for us..)

[Danni]

Sorry I have never taken my own seat. Its always been too much of a hassle to lug it with all our other luggage so we just hired it for $5 or $10 a day

[alioops]

Heather - if you have spare anchor point it wont hurt to take it, they are all the same. Instead of booking it on the net book over the phone and specify that you need a vehicle with x number of child seat anchors fitted. If you do take the anchor point you will need a 13mm spanner or a shifting spanner to put it in and take it back out

[Doing my best]

Heather - if you have spare anchor point it wont hurt to take it, they are all the same. Instead of booking it on the net book over the phone and specify that you need a vehicle with x number of child seat anchors fitted. If you do take the anchor point you will need a 13mm spanner or a shifting spanner to put it in and take it back out

Thanks.. That is a great help. I think I will take one just in case.