Uber adds car rentals to its Australian app

Rideshare staple Uber’s empire is expanding next month with the rollout of a new Uber Rent feature allowing travellers to browse, compare and book hire cars – all in the existing app.

Created in partnership with Irish tech provider CarTrawler, Uber describes it as “a new and simple way to reserve a vehicle at your closest hub or airport”.

Unlike the traditional rideshare offering, which invites private owners to sign up as drivers, Uber Rent will rely on almost 30 professional rental brands, such as Thrifty, Budget and Hertz, unlocking more than 1,700 pick-up locations across Australia.

Uber Rent lets you sort by car size, price and distance.

The feature is already up and running in the US, Canada and Europe, with users able to book same-day or reserve a car months in advance, either a day, week or longer.

You can also customise the rental with car seats, bike racks and more. Plus, you only pay once you collect the vehicle. 

How to use Uber Rent

Uber Rent will be accessible within the existing Uber app from August. To use it,

• tap the ‘Rental Cars’ icon on the Services tab
• enter your date, time and preferred pick-up and drop-off location
• browse, sort and compare the available vehicles and prices
• payment is taken once you collect the vehicle

Beyond Uber Rent, the group has expanded its long distance Uber InterCity option, which is designed for routes such as Sydney to Wollongong or Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast.