Useful insights to help you book the perfect rental car in Cairns Airport
Prices
Companies
Other Information
When is the best time to rent a car at Cairns Airport?
Aim to rent a car at Cairns Airport more than 90 days before your trip to get the best deal. On average, it costs $32/day when booking more than 90 days ahead. Weekend car rental prices at Cairns Airport average $53/day, while weekday prices are $36/day. If your schedule is flexible, consider renting a car at Cairns Airport in November, when average prices are at their lowest - $26/day.
What is the best car rental company at Cairns Airport?
Our momondo users have rated Alamo as the best rental car company at Cairns Airport with an average score of 8.7 from 30 people. 23% of users who rented a car at Cairns Airport chose Alamo in the past year. The next best rental agencies according to momondo users are Sixt (8.7 rating based on 15 reviews), and Apex (8.7 rating based on 16 reviews).
What car do most people rent at Cairns Airport?
The MG 3 is the most popular car to rent at Cairns Airport, according to our data. Our users have found prices for MG 3 rentals for as low as $21/day at Cairns Airport, though on average you can expect prices to be around $39/day. Another popular car to rent at Cairns Airport is the Kia Stonic for an average of $43/day, and deals as low as $24/day.
What is the most popular car type to rent at Cairns Airport?
The most popular types of car to rent at Cairns Airport are SUV cars. 29% of our users searched for SUV rental cars at Cairns Airport in the past year. The Mazda CX-8 and the Audi Q5 are the two most popular SUV car models to rent. Alamo is the most popular rental company offering SUV vehicles at Cairns Airport. $56 per day is the cheapest price to rent SUV cars from Alamo.
Cairns Airport car rental deals found on momondo
Find the rental car at Cairns Airport that's right for you
Small cars
$30 - $166
All Car Types
$39 - $98
The average price of a small car rental in Cairns Airport is $48. The cheapest time to rent a small car in Cairns Airport is in March. The price is 39% lower than the rest of the year at just $30 per day. A small car rental is typically 19% less expensive than the average rental car in Cairns Airport. The average price of a vehicle rental in Cairns Airport can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for Cairns Airport small car rentals found on momondo in the past week.
The average price of a medium car rental in Cairns Airport is $54. The cheapest time to rent a medium car in Cairns Airport is in August. The price is 6% lower than the rest of the year at just $52 per day. A medium car rental is typically 9% less expensive than the average rental car in Cairns Airport. The average price of a vehicle rental in Cairns Airport can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for Cairns Airport medium car rentals found on momondo in the past week.
The average price of a large car rental in Cairns Airport is $50. The cheapest time to rent a large car in Cairns Airport is in September. The price is 26% lower than the rest of the year at just $63 per day. A large car rental is typically 17% less expensive than the average rental car in Cairns Airport. The average price of a vehicle rental in Cairns Airport can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car.
The average price of a SUV rental in Cairns Airport is $51. The cheapest time to rent a SUV in Cairns Airport is in May. The price is 25% lower than the rest of the year at just $39 per day. A SUV rental is typically 14% less expensive than the average rental car in Cairns Airport. The average price of a vehicle rental in Cairns Airport can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for Cairns Airport SUV rentals found on momondo in the past week.
Drip off in Cairns for Entreprise not straightforward
8.0
Very good|Jul 2023
The pickup experience was a bit inefficient and slow. The Kayak booking acceptance email directed us to Cairns airport terminal 1, but the actual pickup office for Alamo was in terminal 2. The office couldn’t be contacted by phone. When we eventually found the office., after asking around, the pickup process was slow. But once we got the car it was a good vehicle and our overall experience was good. Drop off was easy.
10.0
Wonderful|Apr 2023
Easy pickup and drop off, friendly staff.
10.0
Wonderful|Feb 2023
Easy process with very helpful staff.
10.0
Wonderful|Jan 2023
Easy pick up and drop off. Craig on the desk was extremely helpful and professional certainly will be recommending!
8.0
Very good|Nov 2022
Cannot fault the customer service. Was given an upgrade which was great, unfortunately the inside of the car was not cleaned very thoroughly. Windscreen was very dirty from inside. Was told that fuel gauge was full but was not. I filled up slightly higher than it was when I picked it up.
Staff were friendly and helpful especially as I arrived several hours before the scheduled pick and they could get me a car. The car was clean and faultless.
10.0
Wonderful|Jan 2022
So easy to book, extremely competitive pricing, quick pick up and drop off. Extremely pleased to arrive to collect the car, and to be told that we would be receiving a free upgrade.
4.0
Mediocre|Jan 2022
Everything was good except for not getting my $400 holding fee back within a day,which I was told I would. After making a phone call I was informed it would take 1 to 2 months before my money will be credited back into my account.
10.0
Wonderful|Dec 2021
Car was great value. Car was easy to find. I suggest adding a free Uber or taxi from hotel to airport to pick up the car and vice versa when dropping car back at the airport would be a great idea
10.0
Wonderful|Nov 2021
Friendly staff
7.9
Good|Oct 2021
The hire was actually through the sub-company, East Coast Car Rentals. The only bad thing was the base package which we initially signed up for had a mandatory $4,000 excess for ANY damage, even if at fault or not, plus a $1,000 hold. So we opted to upgrade for an extra $50-60 per day for the $0 excess and no hold.
Do not book through qeeq, not aware of hidden costs which made the hire exorbitant
10.0
Wonderful|Jul 2022
Easy shuttle to and from the pickup/drop off. Friendly service, great little car. Would definitely recommend Apex and will use them again.
8.0
Very good|Jul 2022
No
10.0
Wonderful|Jul 2022
It wasn't cheap, but i think it's the 'Cairns thing'. Service was excellent, ready pick up and drop off, nice and friendly staff. I would use them again if in Cairns. Highly recommended.
10.0
Wonderful|Jun 2022
Smooth picking up the car. Got exactly what I booked. Staff very friendly… will use APEX car rental again.
I could not rate the car as Avis cancelled my booking with out even notifying me on arrival to Cairns airport the staff just said it had been cancelled but could not give a reason for cancellation or lack of notification he did give a very insincere sorry with out any attempt to help slove the lack of a car over all Avis wrecked my 7 day stay in Cairns as it is hard relying on public transport to navigate around all the tourist attractions the area has to offer with out a car with all that said avoid Avis at all cost
Learn everything there is to know about renting a car at Cairns Airport so you can be properly prepared for your next trip
When did momondo last update prices for cars in Cairns Airport?
Prices for cars in Cairns Airport are refreshed on a daily basis.
How many operators does momondo search for cars in Cairns Airport?
As of September 2025, there are 41 operators available to choose from for cars in Cairns Airport.
How old do you have to be to hire a car in Cairns Airport?
The minimum age for drivers varies by country, including Cairns Airport. In many EU countries drivers must be 18 years old. As a rule, you’ll need to be 21 to hire a car abroad, and a young driver surcharge may be applied if you are under 25. We recommend reading through the policy of your chosen rental company before booking.
What documentation or ID do you need to rent a car in Cairns Airport?
To rent a car in Cairns Airport, all drivers must have a valid full driving license. If the license is written in a language other than the language of the country of rental, an International Driving Permit may be required to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you're renting a car abroad, you may also need to provide proof of return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We recommend that you verify with the specific rental company you're booking with.
Why use momondo?
Why should I use momondo to book a car rental in Cairns Airport?
Choosing momondo to search for rental cars in Cairns Airport makes sense because it is quick and free of charge. We find all the rental car prices and policies, you simply choose what works best for you and your trip.
How does momondo help me find the best car rental deal in Cairns Airport?
Once you have performed a search for a car rental in Cairns Airport, momondo will show the results and enable you to find the best deal by using our filters; here you can narrow your search down by vehicle type, price, agencies and a multitude of policies that can apply.
Does momondo show car rental deals in Cairns Airport with free cancellation?
Yes, whether it is for cars in Cairns Airport or elsewhere, momondo allows you to filter specifically for policies that offer free cancellation.
Can I rent a car with a fair fuel policy in Cairns Airport on momondo?
Fair fuel policies are specifically available to select on momondo, allowing you to refine your search for rental cars in Cairns Airport.
Can I find a car rental in Cairns Airport which offers enhanced cleaning on momondo?
Yes, rental cars in Cairns Airport with enhanced cleaning options can be searched for on momondo.
Can I search for rental cars in Cairns Airport with unlimited mileage on momondo?
Yes, car rental deals in Cairns Airport with unlimited mileage can be found on momondo.
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