Side by side
| Rent weekly (QuickVan) | Buy a car | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash to start | $500 bond + first week (first 2 weeks half price on 8+ weeks) | The full price or a loan deposit |
| Registration and CTP | Included | You pay |
| Servicing | Included every 28 days on long hires | You pay, and you lose driving days |
| Kilometres | Unlimited | Unlimited, but the car loses value with every km |
| Big repairs | Our problem (outside damage you cause, which the excess covers) | Your problem |
| Stopping | Return it with 5 days' notice on long hires | Sell it, often at a loss |
When renting makes sense
- You are starting out and do not know yet how many hours you will drive.
- You are on a visa and may leave Australia within a year or two.
- You cannot afford a week off the road when the car needs repairs.
When buying makes sense
- You already drive full time, plan to keep going for years, and have savings for repairs.
- You can buy a reliable, efficient car that will stay within Uber's 15-year limit for a long time.
Do the maths with your numbers
Use our earnings calculator to see what you keep per week after rent and fuel. Many drivers rent for the first months, learn what they really earn, and only then decide whether to buy.
