Ute hire on your block

Hiring a ute in Australia - useful information

Need to shift some furniture or stock up at the hardware shop? Hiring a ute is a cheap and easy way to get the job done in one trip with no hassles.

Where to hire a ute

Both hire car agencies and car-sharing services like Car Next Door have utes available for hire.

With a hire car agency you need to book in advance and go to the depot to pick up and return the ute. You’ll need to allow extra time to wait in line and fill out some paperwork, and most depots are only open during business hours.

Hiring a van through Car Next Door is much more flexible. It’s free to join and once you’re a member you can book a ute instantly through the app. There’s no paperwork – just follow the instructions in the app to get the keys and get on the road at a time that suits you.

How much does it cost to hire a ute?

Hiring a ute from a hire car agency can cost around $100 a day by the time you count the daily rate, your fuel, and extra fees to reduce your excess.

With Car Next Door you can borrow a ute from $8 an hour or $35 a day, plus distance charges. Reducing your excess to $500 will cost just $1.50 an hour or $18 a day. If you only need a ute for an hour or two, why pay for a whole day? Car Next Door lets you book for as little as one hour so you’ll only pay for the time actually need.

What exactly is a ute?

A ‘ute’ (pronounced ‘yoot’) is a term used in Australia to refer to a vehicle with a tray behind the passenger compartment. It’s short for ‘utility’, and in the USA is called a ‘pick up truck’. You can drive a ute using a normal car licence.