Short answer: Apollo and Britz are both owned by THL (Tourism Holdings Limited), so their depots, booking systems and back-office largely overlap - you’re often collecting from the same yards. Choose Apollo if you want the better value: similar coverage and reliable vans for typically 5-15% less. Choose Britz if you want a newer fleet and the reassurance of a $0-excess option, and you don’t mind paying a small premium for it.
Apollo vs Britz at a glance
| Apollo | Britz | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | THL (Tourism Holdings) | THL (Tourism Holdings) |
| Price positioning | Mid-range - usually the cheaper of the two | Mid to upper-mid - a small premium |
| Fleet age (approx.) | Roughly 1-3 years old | Roughly 1-3 years, newer on average |
| Vehicle range | 2- to 6-berth vans and motorhomes, plus 4WD campers | 2- to 6-berth vans and motorhomes, plus 4WD campers |
| Excess / insurance | Standard bond ~A$5,000 (vans) to A$7,500 (motorhome/4WD); reduction packs available | Standard excess ~A$7,500 (2WD) / A$8,000 (4WD); reducible to $0 with all-inclusive |
| Depots | 10 across Australia | Same 10 locations |
| One-way | Between all depots; fees tiered by route | Between all depots; fees tiered by remoteness |
| Best for | Budget-conscious travellers, longer trips | First-timers wanting newest vans and zero-excess peace of mind |
Figures are approximate 2026 guidance and change with season and promotions - always check live quotes for your dates.
Pricing: Apollo usually wins on value
On matched dates and van classes, Apollo generally comes in cheaper - our reading of 2026 rates puts it around 5-15% below Britz. That reflects positioning rather than a quality gap: Britz sits one rung higher in THL’s line-up, so it carries newer stock and prices accordingly.
The gap isn’t fixed. Both brands run seasonal sales (a common 2026 offer is 15% off plus waived one-way fees for shoulder-season travel), and during those windows Britz can match or beat Apollo. The only reliable way to know is to price the exact same pickup, drop-off and dates on both. For a sense of what you should be paying overall, see our guide to campervan hire costs in Australia.
Fleet and vehicles
Here’s the useful context most comparisons miss: THL runs a fleet cascade. Maui gets the newest vehicles, Britz takes them next, and older stock moves down to Mighty. Apollo runs as its own mid-market brand alongside that ladder. In practice both Apollo and Britz vans are typically 1-3 years old, with Britz averaging slightly newer.
The line-ups mirror each other closely:
- 2-berth compact vans (some fully self-contained with an onboard shower and toilet) - ideal for couples.
- 4-berth pop-top campers for small families.
- 6-berth motorhomes with full kitchen and bathroom.
- 4WD off-road campers (2- to 5-berth) for the Gibb River Road, Cape York and remote tracks - available from most depots but not all.
Both hire automatics only, which is genuinely helpful if you’re driving on the left for the first time. If you’re unsure which size or drivetrain suits your trip, work through our how to choose a campervan guide first - it matters more than which brand you pick.
Insurance and excess
This is where Britz has a clear edge. The standard excess (the amount you’re liable for after damage) is high on both brands - roughly A$7,500 on Britz 2WD and A$8,000 on 4WD, and around A$5,000-7,500 as a bond on Apollo depending on vehicle. That’s held against your card at pickup.
Both sell reduction products to bring that down. On Britz, a Liability Reduction Option (from approximately A$46/day) takes the excess to zero and adds windscreen, tyre, overhead and underbody cover; an Inclusive Pack (from around A$58/day) layers on extras like single-vehicle rollover cover and booster seats. Apollo offers equivalent reduction tiers. Read the fine print either way - the cheap headline rate almost always excludes windscreen, tyres and rollover, which are exactly the things that go wrong on Australian roads.
Depots and one-way hire
Because both brands sit under THL, they share the same 10 Australian depots: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. You’ll frequently collect an Apollo and a Britz from the same physical yard.
One-way hire is available between all branches on both brands, with fees tiered by route - low or waived for east-coast hops like Sydney-Melbourne, higher from remote depots like Broome, Darwin and Alice Springs. Hobart involves extra location fees on both. If a one-way leg is central to your plan, price it on both brands; sale periods sometimes waive the fee entirely, which can swing the total either way.
Verdict by traveller type
- First-timers and families who want the newest van and zero-excess peace of mind: Britz.
- Budget-focused couples and long-trip travellers counting every dollar: Apollo.
- Outback and 4WD adventurers: near-identical off-road ranges - pick on price and depot for your route.
- Anyone flexible on dates: whichever is cheaper for your exact quote, since the back-office is shared anyway.
The honest takeaway: these are two doors into the same building. You’re rarely choosing between different companies - you’re choosing between a slightly newer van with a stronger insurance option (Britz) and a slightly cheaper one (Apollo).
Compare live prices for your dates: rates on both Apollo and Britz shift constantly with season and promotions, so put your exact pickup, drop-off and dates through both before booking. We route bookings via campervan specialists who show real-time availability - start with a route and compare both brands side by side.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is Apollo cheaper than Britz?+
Usually, yes. On like-for-like dates Apollo tends to undercut Britz by roughly 5-15%, because Britz sits higher in parent company THL's fleet cascade and carries slightly newer vehicles. The gap narrows during sales and off-peak, so always compare the exact same dates and van class before assuming one is cheaper.
Are Apollo and Britz the same company?+
They share an owner but run as separate brands. Both are part of THL (Tourism Holdings Limited), which also runs Maui and Mighty. That means depots, booking systems and back-office often overlap, but each brand keeps its own fleet, pricing and vehicle standards.
Which is better for a first-timer?+
Either works, and both hire only automatics that are easy to drive on the left. Britz edges it if you want the newest interior and the peace of mind of a $0-excess option; Apollo edges it if budget is the priority and you're comfortable with a van that may be a year or two older.
Can I reduce the insurance excess on Apollo or Britz?+
Yes. Both sell a liability-reduction product that lowers the standard excess (roughly A$5,000-8,000 depending on brand and vehicle) down towards or to zero for an extra daily fee - approximately A$46-60/day on Britz. Read exactly what each pack covers, as windscreen, tyres and single-vehicle rollover are common exclusions on the base rate.
By the Oz Road Trips team · Last updated 18 July 2026
General information only; prices, specs and availability change - confirm with the provider. See our disclaimer.