Eight people, one car booking, and a long weekend on the calendar. Squeezing into two cars and convoying down the Hume gets old fast, and so does paying airport surcharges every time family fly in from interstate. Turbofleet runs seven seat SUVs out of two Melbourne depots, set up for the school run, the family trip, the wedding shuttle and everything in between. Here’s what to know before you book.
Who actually needs a seven seater in Melbourne?
Most bookings come from families. Three kids in restraints and the boot of a five seat hatch is full before the suitcase goes in, and a sedan won’t fit the in-laws on the way home from Tullamarine. Add a grandparent or a friend’s kid for a sleepover and you’re done with five seats. Outside the family run, junior sports coaches grab a seven seater for away games to Geelong or Ballarat, wedding parties book one to shuttle bridesmaids between the ceremony and the reception, and group trips down the Great Ocean Road work out cheaper than running two cars on fuel. Bookings spike around Victorian school holidays, the AFL grand final weekend and Melbourne Cup, so lock it in early if your dates are fixed.
Boot space behind the third row and what actually fits
Here’s the part the comparison sites skip. With all seven seats up in a typical seven seat SUV, you’ve got room for a couple of soft bags or a pram and a few backpacks, not a full week of luggage for seven people. Fold the third row down and you’ve got a proper wagon with around 1,500 litres of cargo room. So if you’re picking family up from Melbourne Airport with bags, plan for the third row down on the way out, all seats up on the way home, and an overflow bag riding in a footwell. Turbofleet’s seven seat SUVs come with roof rails as standard, and a roof box can be added with a couple of days’ notice if you’re heading to Mount Hotham or carrying paddleboards down the coast.
How does pickup work from Craigieburn or Ravenhall?
Both Turbofleet depots run fast handovers, not airport-style queues. The Craigieburn depot at 2a Rushwood Drive sits a few minutes off the Hume Freeway, so anyone coming from Mickleham, Broadmeadows, Coolaroo, Roxburgh Park or Campbellfield can collect a vehicle without driving across Melbourne.
The Ravenhall depot at 2/44 Orbis Drive covers the western run, including Sunshine North, Taylors Lakes, Keilor and the industrial precincts around them. You’ll do a five minute walkaround with one of the team, sign the contract, and you’re gone. Pickup is booked in 30 minute windows, and after hours collection can be arranged for early flights if you ring 1300 410 510 the day before. No airport recovery fee, no shuttle bus, no premium tacked on because you’ve landed at Tullamarine.
What you’ll pay, what’s covered, and what isn’t
Daily rates on a seven seater in Melbourne sit higher than a small hatch, that’s just the maths on a bigger vehicle. Where you save is by booking a longer block. Three days usually works out 15 to 20 percent cheaper per day than three single bookings, and a full week drops the daily rate further again. Comprehensive insurance is built into the rate with a standard excess, and you can reduce that excess at the counter if you want peace of mind on a long trip.
Fuel policy is full to full, no service charge games. Drivers need a full Australian or recognised overseas licence, minimum 21 years old, and any second driver needs to be on the contract before they take the wheel. Business invoicing is available for ABN holders, with a tax invoice emailed to accounts the same day.
Can you take a seven seater interstate or down the coast?
Yes. The seven seat SUVs are cleared for interstate driving and most go down the Great Ocean Road, up to Echuca, across to Adelaide or up to Sydney every long weekend out of Melbourne. Mention the trip at booking so the kilometre allowance gets sorted, because uncapped kilometre deals only apply to certain rental lengths. Country driving is fine with a few notes, unsealed gravel roads need to be cleared in advance, and snow chains for the alpine resorts are something you’ll need to organise separately. Every Turbofleet booking comes with 24/7 roadside assistance included, so if a kangaroo finds the headlight at three in the morning outside Bairnsdale, there’s a number on the visor and someone picks up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fit three child restraints across the middle row?
In most seven seat SUVs, two restraints plus a booster will fit across the middle row, but three full-width restraints can be a tight squeeze. Tell us the ages and seat types when you book and the right vehicle gets pulled for you.
Do you offer one-way hire between the Craigieburn and Ravenhall depots?
One-way hires between Turbofleet’s two Melbourne depots can be arranged, and the fee varies by season. Ring 1300 410 510 to confirm availability for your dates.
What happens if I need to extend the rental mid-trip?
Call or email and the booking extends on the spot, subject to availability. Extending before the original return time avoids late fees, and extra days bill at the standard daily rate.
Are pets allowed in the SUVs?
Pets are allowed provided they’re crated or in the cargo area, and a small cleaning fee applies if the cabin needs detailing on return. Service animals travel at no charge.
Do you supply booster seats or baby capsules?
Booster seats and forward-facing restraints can be added for a flat hire fee per seat per rental, and rear-facing capsules for newborns are available with a couple of days’ notice.
Eight people, one car booking, no airport queue. To lock in a seven seat SUV from Turbofleet,Call 1300 410 510 or email north@turbofleet.com.au for the Craigieburn depot and west@turbofleet.com.au for Ravenhall.
