The Chinese staff suggested that I upgrade to a diesel vehicle, claiming the Highlander consumes six tanks of gas while the diesel would only use one. The upgrade cost $450. I was almost scammed.

Went early, no queues

Trustworthy

Very professional. Since it's full coverage, no extra check-in or check-out inspections are needed, similar to the no-liability insurance in China. The car was very new, just over 5000 kilometers, much better than the typical 20000 kilometers in China. However, others picking up a car at Franklin Hertz should be aware that the cars are parked in a garage, and you need to drive them down yourself. It's tricky if you're not used to right-hand drive cars yet. You can ask the staff to bring the car to the ground level before handing it over. At Melbourne Airport, there's a dedicated return lane for rental cars. It's a shared lane for all rental companies and not the entrance to a private car parking. Please pay attention to this.

The Hertz service was excellent, very detailed and attentive. The staff in Melbourne recommended additional services based on my situation, such as upgrading the car for $5 a day or prepaying for toll roads. These services depend on personal preference though.