Hertz debuts 'on demand' car hire in Sydney

Visiting Sydney and need a hire car in a hurry? Hit up Hertz On Demand, a unique service which the car hire colossus launches this week in Sydney.

Rather than expecting customers to make their way to a car hire centre, Hertz has 'pre-parked' cars at strategic locations around the Sydney CBD.

Fire up the Hertz On Demand iPhone app, click through to the HertzOnDemand.com.au website or call the HOD hotline to find and book the car nearest to you.

Each car in the startup on-demand fleet – comprising Hyundai i30 hatchbacks and Nissan X-Trail SUVs – is fitted with keyless electronic entry.

The cars are also available for short-term hire, with rates starting at $6 per hour (capped at $48 per day) for those times when you don't need a full 24 hour booking.

Fuel, insurance, an eTag and the first 15kms of driving are included, says Hertz, and there are no membership fees – it's just a 'dial up, walk up and drive away' proposition.

Here's a quick video showing how the Hertz On Demand system works.

This is the same scheme that's already available from Hertz in New York, London, Berlin, and San Francisco. In fact, those cars will also be available to Australian members of Hertz On Demand at the click of a mouse or the tap of a touchscreen,

With each vehicle fitted with fleet-management equipment and reporting tools, and capable of operating as pool and fleet cars for corporate clients, Hertz Australia MD Chris Rusden sees the scheme as "an ideal solution to replace, or complement, company fleets in order to drive down overall fleet costs."

Hertz lists PwC, London Heathrow Airport and Marriott Hotels among its roster of clients for the service overseas.

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David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.