In short
- Bring the car back to 238 Nudgee Road, Hendra at the agreed time, inside opening hours.
- Match the fuel level you picked it up with; anything below it costs A$15 per eighth of a tank. Return it clean and empty of your things.
- We photograph the car's condition, odometer and fuel at the return. Take your own photos too, as the ACCC suggests.[1]
- Within 48 hours we inspect it and send any proposed charge with evidence; you then have 72 hours to dispute it.
- The bond comes back within 7 business days, less any approved charges.
When and where do I return the car?
To the same yard you collected it from, at the time in your agreement. Clause 6.2 of our rental terms asks for the return at the agreed time and place, during opening hours, unless we agree otherwise. The yard is at 238 Nudgee Road, Hendra QLD 4011.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
- Closures: Also closed: Friday 25 December 2026 (Christmas Day).
- After hours: there's no after-hours drop-off, so the car has to be handed over before closing time on the day it's due.
If your return falls on a day we're closed, or you need a different time, sort it out before the day. Moving the return later is an extension, covered in extending a rental or returning late.
Flying out? There is no airport drop-off, so leave time to get from Hendra to your terminal; the options are in getting from Brisbane Airport to Hendra, which works in both directions.
How much fuel should be in the tank?
The same level as when you collected it. The fuel reading is part of the pickup record, so check that photo or your own before you set off for the yard.
| Shortfall | Charge |
|---|---|
| One eighth of a tank | A$15 |
| A quarter of a tank | A$30 |
| Half a tank | A$60 |
Fill up at a station close to Hendra so the needle hasn't dropped by the time you arrive, and keep the docket. How to find fuel prices is in fuel, parking and fines in Brisbane.
How clean does the car need to be?
Clause 6.2 asks for the car back clean and in the condition you received it, fair wear and tear excepted. Cleaning beyond normal use is one of the charges clause 10.3 allows. Before you set off, shake out the mats, bin the rubbish, wipe up spills and vacuum out sand if you've been to the beach.
Smoking or vaping in the car, or carrying animals other than assistance animals without our consent, is against clause 7.2, so a car that smells of smoke or is full of pet hair is a problem at the return.
Check for your belongings
Clause 13.2 says we aren't liable for property left in the car (subject to your rights under consumer law). Before you hand over the key, check:
- the glovebox, centre console and door pockets;
- the seat-back pockets and under each seat;
- the boot, including under the floor cover;
- charging cables and phone mounts still plugged in;
- toll, parking or fuel receipts on the dashboard.
What happens when I hand the car back?
Under clause 6.1 we record the car's condition, odometer and fuel with photos at the return, just as we did at pickup. Comparing the two records is how any new damage is identified.
The ACCC's advice for this moment:[1]
- Make sure everything the contract requires has been done.
- Take photos of the car again, so you have your own record of its condition when you returned it.
- If there was no damage during the hire, ask for a written note that the car came back undamaged.
- If there was damage, make a written agreement with the company before you leave, setting out the costs and how the damage will be fixed, and check whether your insurance covers it.
The hand-back is a good time to point out anything you noticed during the rental. If damage happened, you should already have reported it under clause 9.1; see what to do after an accident in a rental car.
What if I'm late getting back?
Returns more than 30 minutes after the agreed time are charged as extra rental time at your rental's rate. Ring us as soon as you know you'll be late. A car not back within 24 hours of the agreed time, without our agreement, is treated as overdue under clause 6.3.
What happens after I've dropped it off?
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| At the return | Condition, odometer and fuel photographed |
| Within 48 hours | We inspect the car. Any proposed charge (fuel, cleaning, tolls, late return, damage) is itemised and sent to you with the evidence |
| 72 hours from then | Your window to dispute a charge before it is collected; disputed charges are reviewed by our team |
| Within 7 business days | The bond is returned, less approved charges, by the method you paid it |
Tolls and fines may reach us after the inspection, because they come from the toll operator or the authority that issued them. How they're passed on is in tolls in Brisbane.
What if I don't agree with a charge?
Reply within the dispute window and send your evidence: your return photos, your fuel receipt, and anything from the pickup record that shows a mark was already there. Disputed charges are reviewed before anything is collected.
Hold on to those photos and the fuel docket at least until the bond is back in your account and no charge is still open. A dated photo of the fuel gauge next to the odometer is the clearest answer to a fuel question.
If you still can't agree, note that the ACCC doesn't resolve individual car hire disputes.[1] What consumer law says about damage claims, and how the excess caps what you pay, is in bond, deposit and excess.
Sources
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission: Car hire (read 23 October 2026)
Written by the Rentzy team at Rentzy Car Rentals. Rentzy prices, fees and rules in this guide come from our published terms and update with them; rules set by others (roads, tolls, licences, transport) are from the official pages above, as read on the dates shown. Something out of date? Tell us.
