Still waiting on a

Thrifty

refund?

The Thrifty refund policy in Australia covers two main situations: cancelling a prepaid booking and getting your security deposit (bond) back after the rental. What you're owed depends entirely on how and when you booked.

You're generally eligible for a refund when:

• You cancel a prepaid booking before the cut-off. Cancel more than 2 days before pick-up (by midnight) for a full refund; cancel inside that window and you'll get a partial refund, less the cancellation fee.
• Your refundable bond is due back. The security deposit is released once the car is returned undamaged, with the correct fuel level, and no outstanding tolls, fines or charges.
• You were incorrectly or doubly charged. This includes erroneous post-rental charges, a duplicated bond hold, or a charge for damage you didn't cause.
• A confirmed-refundable charge wasn't returned. For example, a credit-card surcharge on a refundable bond that should have been credited back.

You typically will NOT get a refund for:

• Early returns. Thrifty calculates rentals in 24-hour blocks, so handing the car back early doesn't refund unused days.
• No-shows on prepaid bookings. The prepayment can be forfeited or attract a no-show fee.
• Cancellations inside the cut-off beyond the refund-minus-fee amount.
• The cancellation fee itself (roughly $50 if cancelling more than 24 hours before pick-up; around $100 if less than 24 hours — figures vary by booking and location).
• Pay-on-arrival bookings. No money has changed hands, so there's nothing to refund, though a cancellation charge may still apply.

Exact fees and cut-offs vary by rate type, location and any third-party platform you booked through, so always check the specific terms on your confirmation.

The right path depends on whether you're cancelling a booking or chasing a deposit or overcharge.

How to cancel a Thrifty booking for a refund

1. Go to the Manage / Cancel Booking page.

2. Enter your reservation number and last name to view, modify or cancel.

3. Cancel before the refund cut-off — more than 2 days before pick-up (by midnight) for a full prepaid refund.

4. Keep the cancellation confirmation for your records.

How to chase a bond refund or incorrect charge

1. Wait the stated processing window (typically 3–10 business days; Thrifty advises up to 14 business days depending on your bank).

2. Check your bank statement — pre-authorisation holds often "drop off" rather than appearing as a separate refund.

3. If nothing's appeared, call Thrifty Customer Service on 1300 110 196 (post-rental) or 136 139 (reservations and changes).

4. Provide your rental agreement (RA) number, return date, and the disputed amount.

5. If unresolved, escalate in writing and lodge a complaint with your state Fair Trading body, citing your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

For more detail, the Thrifty FAQ page covers common booking and charge questions.

Timeframes vary depending on what's being refunded:

• Prepaid cancellation refunds: Returned to the original card; allow several business days up to roughly 14 business days, depending on your bank.
• Security deposit / bond release: Commonly cited as 3–5 business days, but real-world reports range 3–10 business days — and Thrifty itself advises up to 14 business days in some cases.
• Correction / overcharge refunds: Often quoted as 7–10 days to process back to the card.

What speeds it up: returning the car undamaged with the correct fuel, no tolls or fines, a clean inspection, and a card that releases holds quickly.

What slows it down: post-rental damage or toll investigations, admin errors, weekends and public holidays, third-party booking platforms adding a processing layer, and slow bank posting. Many reviewers report a Thrifty bond refund delay running well beyond the stated window.

• Original payment method only. Refunds go back to the credit or debit card used to book or lodge the security deposit.
• Bonds released as a pre-authorisation hold. When released, the hold simply disappears from your available funds rather than arriving as a new credit — so check your available balance, not just transactions.
• Deposit amounts vary by vehicle. Around $500 for standard vehicles and roughly $1,000 for prestige or premium models; a local renter bond of $500–$1,000 may apply if hiring within about 100km of your home address.
• Restrictions apply. No cash refunds; cancellation and no-show fees are deducted before any refund; and credit-card surcharges may not always be fully refunded.

• Delayed bond refunds — Deposits not returned within the stated 3–10 day window, with some customers waiting far longer. Photograph the car (inside, outside, fuel gauge, odometer) at return and get a signed inspection.
• Unexplained post-rental charges — Random amounts ($55, $90, even $2,000+) appearing days or weeks after return. Dispute immediately with your RA number and request an itemised breakdown in writing.
• Damage or hail charges withheld from deposits — Large quotes deducted with little supporting evidence. Time-stamped photos at pick-up and return are your best defence in a Thrifty overcharge dispute.
• Surcharge not fully refunded — Only part of a credit-card surcharge on a refundable bond returned. Confirm in writing what is refundable before you pay.
• Deposit amount changed at pick-up — A higher bond charged at the counter than was quoted at booking. Keep your confirmation and challenge discrepancies on the spot.
• Admin or GST fees on tolls — A flat admin fee (around $35) added on top of small tolls. Pay tolls yourself where possible and check the rate's toll-handling terms.