There’s more than one way to hire a car in Adelaide. With app-based car rental options like KINTO, hiring doesn’t have to mean waiting in lines, visiting a rental counter, filling out paperwork and collecting keys.
KINTO offers a different way to access a car when you need one, but how does KINTO car hire vs traditional rental really compare?
Each rental type offers a differentexperience, from booking and collecting your car to choosing your hire lengthand returning the vehicle. In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences tohelp you understand how each option works and choose the one that best suitsyour trip.
KINTO vs traditional car rental: the short answer
KINTO is an app-based service giving users access to a fleet of Toyota hybrid vehicles that can be booked for as little as an hour to 364 days. Traditional rental usually involves booking online, with hire periods starting from daily and vehicle collection is from a rental location.
Skip the rental counter with app-based pick-up
One of the biggest differences between KINTO and traditional car rental is the pick-up and vehicle access process. When you hire with KINTO, there’s no need to visit a rental counter to collect keys. When your booking is about to begin, you can head directly to the car's location.
KINTO is a keyless car service allowing you to find and unlock your booked vehicle using your phone. Simply open Current Journey and follow the prompts to unlock and start the vehicle. When your trip is finished, return the vehicle to its designated location, lock it and end your booking through the app. With app-based car hire in Adelaide, you can manage your booking and access your vehicle directly through your phone.
KINTO vehicles are available at a range of locations, including on-street parks, select Toyota dealerships, and commercial and shopping centre car parks. In Adelaide, KINTO vehicles can currently be found in:
- Hawthorn
- Hillcrest
- Para Hills
- and Mount Barker, with new locations continuing to be added.
If you’re looking for car hire in Adelaide, browse KINTO locations to find an available vehicle near you.
Sign up once, then you’re ready to book
When you hire with KINTO, paperwork is completed at sign-up rather than when you pick up your vehicle. To become an approved KINTO member, you’ll first need to meet our eligibility criteria and sign up with your driver’s licence, a selfie with your licence, a valid payment card, and a recent document that shows your current address.
Submit your application, and once your membership is approved, we'll link your details to your account for future bookings. So when your booking begins, you can head straight to your vehicle without waiting in line, collecting keys, completing a rental agreement, checking IDs, or providing payment details at the counter each time you hire.
For anyone looking for car rental without visiting the counter, consider KINTO. Our process allows you to complete the sign-up and verification in the comfort of your home on your smartphone. Once you’re approved, you can book and access available vehicles without visiting a counter or completing the traditional car rental collection process.
Hourly hire vs daily car hire
Imagine you have errands to run across Adelaide that will probably take a few hours. You need to pick up a painting from a Marketplace sale, stop at a couple of shops across town, collect a package, and pop into the supermarket. All up, you think it’ll take about 3 hours, and once you’ve finished, you won’t need the car.
When you hire through KINTO, you can book a car for those 3 hours. This is where hourly car hire in Adelaide can be more suitable than traditional car rental, where hire is commonly structured around a 24-hour rental minimum. If you need a car for only part of the day, you can book a KINTO for the time you actually need it, starting from as little as an hour.
That doesn’t mean KINTO will be the better option for every journey. It’s worth comparing all available options to see which is better for your trip. Traditional rentals can also have advantages for certain journeys, including one-way trips or when you prefer access to staff at a rental desk. We’ll consider these differences more below.
Car hire isn’t just for holidays and road trips. Explore the Benefits of Booking Local Car Hire in Adelaide for those times when you need a car closer to home.
One Toyota fleet, more predictability
The car you book is another difference when choosing between KINTO and traditional car rental. KINTO offers an all-Toyota fleet, with available vehicles all under 3 years old and a range of models to suit different trips and group sizes. With KINTO, you can choose from compact cars like the Toyota Yaris to zip around Adelaide, to larger SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 when you need extra space. Across the range, what remains consistent is that you know you’ll be driving a Toyota vehicle.
Traditional rental companies commonly offer mixed fleets with different vehicle makes and models grouped into categories, such as:
- Compact: Small hatchbacks and sedans
- Economy: Smaller vehicles suited to everyday driving
- SUV: Ranging from compact SUVs to larger models
- People mover/Van: For larger groups or extra space (7+ seats)
- Luxury: Premium vehicles and models
When booking, you might select a vehicle category rather than the exact make and model, which is why you may see the words “or similar”. The exact vehicle you receive at pick-up can depend on what is available at the time.
While this doesn’t make one fleet better than the other, KINTO can offer greater predictability when what you book is what you collect.
Which car hire option suits your trip?
Choosing between KINTO and traditional car rental services comes down to your trip. Consider factors like how long you’ll need the vehicle, where you’re travelling, whether you prefer managing your hire digitally or having access to support in person, and the type of vehicle you want to drive.
KINTO can be a good fit for trips where the flexibility of hourly bookings is important. It could suit a morning running errands, attending appointments, picking up an item, getting groceries, exploring Adelaide and surrounding areas, a weekend getaway or other occasions when you need access to a car. KINTO can also suit those who prefer to book, access and manage their vehicle from a smartphone. With no keys to collect from a rental counter, approved KINTO members can book and head straight to a car when they need one. As a back-to-base service, KINTO vehicles must return to the location they were collected from at the end of the booking, making them particularly well-suited to round trips.
Traditional car rental may suit journeys with different requirements. If you’re planning a one-way road trip and want to pick up a car in Adelaide and return it at another location along your journey, then a traditional provider may suit your trip if they offer one-way rentals. This can offer more flexibility for longer trips as you won’t need to drive back to Adelaide to return the vehicle. You might also prefer a traditional rental if in-person service with staff at a rental desk matters to you. Having staff available at pick-up can help answer questions about the vehicle or rental conditions before you begin your booking.
Before you book, consider your hire length, pick-up and return plans, preferred method of support, and how you want to manage your booking. The best choice will closely match the trip you have planned.
Find a KINTO near you in Adelaide
If app-based access, flexible hire periods starting from as little as an hour to 364 days and local Adelaide pick-up suit your plans, KINTO might be the right fit for your next trip. Get started with KINTO and find available vehicles nearby.
See KINTO cars near you in Adelaide.
Is KINTO cheaper than traditional car rental?
It depends on your trip. KINTO offers hire by the hour, day or longer*, with costs based on the length of your booking and the distance you travel. When you only need a car for a couple of hours, hourly hire might make more sense than paying for a full day car hire. Whereas for longer trips, it’s worth comparing available options before you book.
Where can I pick up a KINTO in Adelaide?
KINTO vehicles are available in multiple locations across Adelaide and its surrounding areas. Currently, you can find a KINTO in Hawthorn, Hillcrest, Para Hills, and Mount Barker. Check the KINTO app or Get a Quote to find available cars, see pricing and find your closest pick-up location.
Do I need a membership to use KINTO?
Yes. To book a KINTO vehicle, you need to first sign up and become an approved KINTO member. Apply through the KINTO app by entering your details and submitting any required documentation. Once your application has been approved, you can make your first booking.
*Minimum 1 hour, maximum 364 days. T&Cs apply. Vehicle models may vary from those shown. Tolls and infringements not included. Insurance excess fees apply. Fuel card may not be available under your Corporate Agreement. Please contact your employer for more information.
