Cut Price travel guide
Your Car-Hire Return-Day Planner
Plan the last part of your trip with less rushing: return timing, fuel, photos, after-hours arrangements and getting back to the terminal.
Plan your returnThe return day is easy when it is planned before the final morning. Your booking confirmation is the source of truth for your agreed return time and location; this guide helps you leave enough room for fuel, the handover and your airport transfer.
Start with your flight
When should you return the car for an early flight?
Work backwards from the time your airline asks you to be at the terminal. Then allow time for the drive to the depot, refuelling if required, returning the keys, your transfer and the normal airport check-in and security process. Do not treat the shuttle journey alone as your complete airport allowance.
Confirm the after-hours plan before travel
For an early flight, contact the team well before return day. After-hours return must be arranged in advance; do not arrive expecting a standard office-hours handover.
Prepare the night before
Pack most bags, locate a nearby fuel station and confirm your return location. This avoids turning the final morning into a race against your flight time.
Allow time for a calm handover
Arrive early enough to remove belongings, check the vehicle, speak with the team if needed and take the arranged shuttle or transfer to the airport.
Tell us as soon as possible
If your flight or return time changes, contact Cut Price promptly. The team can confirm whether the original plan still works or whether after-hours arrangements are required.
Save this for the final day
Your simple return checklist
- Check the booking: confirm the return time, depot and any after-hours instructions in your confirmation.
- Empty the vehicle: check under seats, door pockets, the boot, glove box, cup holders and charging ports.
- Refuel if required: use the fuel level recorded at collection and your rental agreement as the guide.
- Take clear photos: capture the exterior, wheels, windscreen, fuel gauge, odometer and a clear view of the interior.
- Return keys correctly: follow the office-hours handover or the pre-arranged after-hours key-return process.
- Confirm airport transport: make sure every traveller and every bag is included in the transfer plan.
Avoid unnecessary surprises
Fuel, photos and the last vehicle check
Before handing back the keys, look at the fuel gauge and compare it with the agreed return requirement on your booking. Keep your fuel receipt if you have one. A quick photo of the gauge and odometer is useful evidence of the vehicle’s condition and return state.
Photograph the front, rear, both sides, roof if practical, wheels, windscreen and cabin. The aim is not to create extra work; it is to ensure you have a clear, time-stamped record if a question arises later.
Only by prior arrangement
How does an after-hours return work?
After-hours return is available only when arranged in advance. The exact process depends on your airport location and booking, so use the instructions supplied by Cut Price rather than relying on a general assumption. Contact the team promptly if your return time changes.
Read the after-hours car-hire guide before you travel. It explains the pre-arranged process and the information you need to have ready.
From depot to departure gate
How do I get from the depot to the terminal?
During office hours, Cut Price provides a complimentary airport shuttle from the depot. The usual journey is around two minutes at Gold Coast Airport and around eight minutes at Brisbane Airport. Follow the current collection and return instructions for your booking, because meeting points and after-hours arrangements differ.
Return near Bilinga
Review the Gold Coast airport location page for the depot, shuttle and current practical details.
Return near Hendra
Review the Brisbane airport location page for the depot, shuttle and current practical details.
Quick answers
Car-hire return FAQs
My flight leaves at 7am. When should I return my car?
Confirm the return method with Cut Price before return day. Early flights often require a pre-arranged after-hours return, and you should work backwards from your airline’s arrival recommendation—not just the depot-to-terminal transfer time.
Can I refuel before returning the car?
Yes. Check the fuel requirement in your booking and the level recorded at collection. Refuel before returning when required, and retain the receipt if practical.
What photos should I take when returning a hire car?
Take clear photos of all exterior sides, wheels, windscreen, interior, fuel gauge and odometer. Make sure the images are clear and taken at the time of return.
Can I return a car after hours?
Yes, but only when it has been arranged in advance. Contact Cut Price as early as possible if your plans change so the team can confirm the correct process.
How do I get to the terminal after returning the car?
During office hours, a complimentary shuttle takes customers from the depot to the relevant airport. Use the booking-specific instructions for the current meeting and transfer details.
Need the full rental rules?
Keep your return day straightforward
Check Rental Information before your trip, then confirm any special return arrangements with the Cut Price team.