Getting a cab in Townsville can be both expensive and not particularly reliable. Townsville is doesn't have a huge population and the cab services there are certainly not up to the standard of other Australian cities such as Sydney or Brisbane. If you intend to use taxis a lot during your stay, why not try renting a car and at least you will never have to hang around waiting for the taxi to show up. The problem is finding a company that doesn't rent cars in poor condition that sound like they should be on the junk heap. Well maybe not that bad, but sometimes, the people that assist you in car rentals just don't have your best interest in mind, so you end up paying a lot of money for frustration. So here are a few pointers to help.

Using the internet is a good way to rent a car because some sites let you set a limit on what you are prepared to pay. These firms will try to get the best deal for the car that you'll get and might just toss in unlimited mileage and upgrades, all of that without spending an extra dime out of budget. It is not unusual to find that package deals that incorporate a flight and rental car, provide other incentives such as a vehicle upgrade for instance although this is rarely the case if you book with one of the airlines directly. If you do not need to organize your car rental with the airline, try a company that is outside the airport you are landing at and you will see they are much more competitive.

Just remember that you are likely to come across some solid deals on the internet if you look. Some budget car rental sites even go as far as internet only discounts. Aside from that you can easily get upgrades and depending on the season, at least one of the Townsville car rental companies is bound to have a special offer that can help you save money. The biggest benefit to all this is it can take only a few minutes to do this if you are using the internet.

Sometimes, just when you think you have managed to get a really good deal, you find your credit card company has another surprise when you realize it has organized a discount with the company on top of any you have already arranged. Many of the better known car rental companies have arranged special deals with large organizations to ensure they have more business. Check with your credit card company to find out if you are a member of one of these.

Another tip is to check you rental car carefully and let the company know of any damage you find before you drive away. For you own peace of mind and financial well-being, check out all the vehicles controls and make sure everything that is fitted works so you won't have to pay for something that was faulty when you drove it away. Car rental companies in Australia will not be shy about charging you for damage so don't be shy about checking over your car.

Regarding insurance, sometimes your own car insurance covers car rentals, so have a look see before you buy insurance from the rental company. Even though budget car rental isn't going to cost you a fortune, there is no point in paying it if you are already covered. So don't think that it isn't important either because insurance is still required in Australia.

If you like to have you car upgraded, then try arriving at the rental car company's offices as they open and you may find that owing to the number of cars that have not been returned at that time, you may be offered an upgrade at no charge. Be sure not insist that you want a smaller car and they will be forced to upgrade you at no extra cost.

Townsville is a great place and having a car to explore can really make your time there a lot easier than relying on taxis and public transport.