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Car subscription or long-term car rental?

Find the right fit for your journey.

Whether you like to keep your options open or prefer to settle in for the long haul, we've got a flexible plan that fits your lifestyle.

Subscribe, swap, or rent – it's all about what moves you forward.

Long term car rental

Long term car rental vs car subscription

Cost & inclusions

Long-term car rental
Car subscription
Features
Upfront cost
Security deposit required
Low to no upfront costs
Weekly cost
Varies by rental length & car type
One fixed weekly payment
Insurance
Often extra or partially included
Fully included
Registration (rego)
Usually included, varies by provider
Fully included
Servicing & maintenance
Not included or charged separately
Fully included
Flexibility
Not included or charged separately
Stop, swap, or upgrade anytime*
Long-term value
More costly over long periods
More cost-effective for ongoing use
Vehicle choice
Limited to what's available short-term
Wide range of new & near-new cars
Commitment
Short-term focused
Month-to-month flexibility
* Two weeks’ notice to swap cars or stop your subscription.

30-second snapshot:
Car subscription vs long-term rental

Your situation

Need a car this month, gone the next?
Fixed six-month project interstate?
Love trying out new models regularly?
Want one car, one payment, no hidden extras?
Prefer the flexibility to walk away anytime?
Comfortable with fixed dates and kilometre limits?

Best fit

Car subscription
Long-term rental
Car subscription
Car subscription
Car subscription
Long-term rental
Long term car rental snapshot

Meet the drivers

Based on real people. Real needs. Smarter mobility.

Whether you're flying in and out, hitting the road on weekends, or growing a business – there's a flexible car solution that fits. See how others are making it work with carbar.

Jesse

The frequent flyer

Jesse travels between Sydney and Singapore every six weeks and only needs a car while she's in Australia.

Best fit:

Long-term rentals - Ideal for booking in fixed blocks without paying for downtime.

Joe

The weekend warrior

Joe works from home during the week and heads to Byron Bay on weekends. He enjoys the flxibility of switching between a hatchback, SUV, or EV depending on the trip.

Best fit:

Car subscription – allows for easy model swaps to suit his changing lifestyle.

Maya

The Scale-Up CEO

As a CMO at a rapidly growing tech company, Maya's team and their vehicle needs are constantly evolving. She prefers a simple solution with one invoice, minimal admin, and the ability to scale up quickly.

Best fit:

Carbar for Business – a flexible, streamlined subscription model designed for growing teams.

Find your fit

Wheter you're like Jesse, Joe, Maya – or someone in between – there's a smarter way to drive.

Explore your options today.

* This persona is based on real customer insights but does not represent an individual person.

Car subscription highlights

Exclusive, flexible car package

Exclusive, flexible car package

With carbar, you dodge ongoing and unexpected running costs, long-term debt and balloon commitments. For a weekly subscription, you enjoy exclusive access to a car complete with insurance, registration, servicing and roadside assistance*. Just give us two weeks’ notice to swap or cancel a subscription.
Enjoy complete peace of mind

Enjoy complete peace of mind

Members have complete peace of mind knowing their car is comprehensively insured, fully maintained and serviced with 24/7 roadside assistance for the duration of their subscription. We also cover mechanic faults, faulty and worn tyres and batteries. Simply add fuel or charge and we’ll take care of the rest (excluding tolls and infringements).
Save with benefits and rewards

Save with benefits and rewards

Exclusive rewards for your loyalty. We'll also reward you every year with a 50% discount on the Upfront Fee if you want to swap or subscribe to an additional vehicle^.
* Terms and conditions apply. ^ Discounts are valid for 15 months and can accumulate up to a maximum amount equal to 100% of the Upfront Fee of the swap or additional vehicles, but cannot otherwise be accumulated or redeemed for cash.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can add them upon pick up of the car, Unlike most other car hire companies, we do not charge for this! Only approved drivers will be insured to drive the car.

With regular price checks in the area as well as offering competitive loss damage waiver options along with our 5 star service, we like to think we are offering the best deals in town! If you think you have found something better let us know at rentals@idriverentals.com.au with screenshots and we will do our best to beat it! Just ensure it is a similar car and rental date range!

View all FAQs
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Ready for a car – without the commitment?

Compare cars, find out more and have the option to start a flexible car subscription.