It starts with two cars.
At a Waterloo service station in South Sydney, founder Dan Mekler begins a new venture with a Holden ute and a Ford Laser. It is the beginning of Redspot’s independent Australian car rental story.
Read our founding story
Redspot through the years · 1989—2026
Every great journey starts somewhere.
Ours started with two cars at a Sydney service station. Follow the people, partnerships, airport breakthroughs and big ideas that turned Redspot into an Australian car rental story.
1989 TODAY
Proudly Australian owned and operated since 1989.
1989Where our story began
2 carsThe original rental fleet
100%Australian owned and operated
35+Locations around Australia
Our beginnings
A service station. Two cars. An ambitious idea.
In 1989, Dan Mekler was operating a service station and workshop in Waterloo, South Sydney. Two courtesy cars—a Holden ute and a Ford Laser—became the starting point for a vehicle rental business with a distinctly local approach.
Through the 1990s, Redspot opened dedicated city rental offices, built its airport presence and proved that an independent Australian operator could compete at the country’s busiest travel gateways.
A local start. A national ambition. A commitment to making every rental count.
Meet Redspot and our founderThe moments that shaped us
The road from 1989 to a national network.
From a Sydney workshop to major airport terminals and regional communities, every milestone helped create the Redspot of today.
A rental business of its own.
The first standalone Redspot rental office opens in Surry Hills, followed by a second location at Mascot in 1998. The workshop sideline becomes a dedicated rental operation.
The breakthrough at Sydney Airport.
Redspot earns the right to operate inside Sydney Airport terminals, establishing a local Australian company alongside international car rental brands at a major travel gateway.
Explore Sydney car hireGrowing beyond Sydney.
The acquisition of Australian Rent a Car adds a foothold in Melbourne and Brisbane, alongside further Sydney operations and a Cairns agency. Redspot’s national story is taking shape.
From Queensland to the west.
Airport appointments in Cairns, Gold Coast, Launceston and Brisbane pave the way for further growth. In 2009, Redspot expands into Perth and strengthens its airport presence in Melbourne and Hobart.
Explore our networkA different way to rent.
Redspot relaunches its all-inclusive offering under the Top Dog name, reinforcing a promise of straightforward, customer-focused car rental and transparent package choices.
More than passenger cars.
Commercial rental operations grow in Coburg and Mascot, city branches expand in Tasmania and Cairns, and the franchise network reaches mining markets across SA, NT and WA.
Franchise opportunitiesNew destinations. New partnerships.
An on-terminal licence at Whitsunday Coast Airport is followed by a regional depot in Townsville and an official partnership with Melbourne Storm.
Read about the Storm partnership
The latest chapter
2026. Proudly independent. Looking ahead.
In 2026, Redspot celebrates customer recognition, builds on its own Australian identity and prepares for the next major airport chapter.
Operating under one proudly Australian brand
From 2 February, Redspot operates solely under its own name, marking the end of its Enterprise master-franchise arrangement and the next stage for an Australian family-owned company.
Read the announcement ↗Recognised by the people who rent with us
Redspot wins ProductReview.com.au Car Rental Services of the Year and Direct Car Hire of the Year awards.
About the awards ↗Show & Go makes its mark
The corporate Show & Go service brings an express collection option to regular business customers, helping eligible renters spend less time at the counter.
Explore business rentals ↗Western Sydney International Airport
Redspot secures an on-airport rental desk at Sydney’s new international gateway, with opening scheduled to coincide with the first passenger flights.
Explore the new location ↗This timeline is current to October 2026. The Western Sydney International Airport opening date is prospective and should be updated after the airport commences operations.
The complete company history
Every milestone. Every chapter.
Explore the original Redspot company milestones decade by decade, from 1989 to the present. Select any era to view the full list of events and locations.
1989–1999The beginnings7 milestones
- Redspot begins renting vehicles from a Waterloo service station in South Sydney.
- Joins the Redspot Rentals group as a licensee.
- Becomes licensor of the Redspot Rentals group.
- Opens its first standalone rental office in Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.
- Receives an off-airport operator licence at Sydney Airport.
- Opens a second standalone rental office in Mascot.
- Wins the tender to operate inside all Sydney Airport terminals—a breakthrough for an Australian car rental company.
2000–2009An Australian business goes national12 milestones
- Acquires Australian Rent a Car, adding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane locations, plus an agency in Cairns.
- Forms a strategic alliance with Metro Hotels Group.
- Secures airport rental desk licences at Gold Coast and Cairns airports.
- Wins the Launceston Airport on-terminal licence.
- Opens a Hobart operation serving customers with a shuttle service.
- Wins rental desk licences at Brisbane Airport’s domestic and international terminals.
- Expands customer communication onto Facebook and Twitter.
- Opens in Perth Airport terminals and Perth City.
- Secures an on-terminal rental desk at Melbourne Airport T3.
- Secures an on-terminal rental desk at Hobart Airport.
- Updates the national Redspot brand with a new logo and refreshed counters.
- Moves head office to Mascot to support continued growth.
2010–2019New technology, products and markets17 milestones
- Begins migrating broker and aggregator distribution to an XML platform connected to live availability.
- Partners with Channel 7’s Sunrise morning show.
- Wins rental desk licences at Canberra Airport and Melbourne Airport Qantas Terminal 1.
- Expands website functionality to include invoices, reservation retrieval, prepayment and express collection.
- Wins rental desk licences at Brisbane’s Qantas domestic terminal and Adelaide Airport.
- Secures airport licences at Newcastle and Rockhampton.
- Sponsors the Sydney Comedy Festival.
- Relaunches the flagship Driveaway rate as Top Dog All Inclusive car hire.
- Wins an on-terminal licence at Sunshine Coast Airport.
- Secures on-terminal licences at Townsville and Darwin airports.
- Opens a Brisbane City branch.
- Opens a Surfers Paradise depot for Gold Coast city rentals.
- Moves the Sydney City office from Hyde Park to the Holiday Inn building at Potts Point.
- Expands the commercial rental fleet with operations in Coburg and Mascot.
- Opens city depots in Hobart and Launceston.
- Opens a Cairns City depot on Sheridan Street.
- Expands franchise operations into mining markets in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
2020–2026A new chapter for an independent Redspot10 milestones
- Wins the Whyalla Airport on-terminal licence.
- Opens a Darwin City depot.
- Expands into Adelaide City and Moorooka.
- Secures an on-terminal rental desk at Whitsunday Coast Airport.
- Opens a depot in West End, Townsville, for regional business.
- Announces an official partnership with Melbourne Storm.
- Wins ProductReview.com.au awards for Car Rental Services of the Year and Direct Car Hire of the Year. Added for 2026
- Begins operating solely under the Redspot brand from 2 February 2026. Added for 2026
- Introduces the corporate Show & Go service.
- Secures an on-airport rental desk at Western Sydney International Airport, with opening scheduled for 25 October 2026.
Milestones based on Redspot’s published company timeline, with additional 2026 company announcements noted.
More than a history lesson
Be part of what comes next.
Discover the people, opportunities and customer experiences behind the Redspot name.
01
Our story
Get to know our founder, values and the people who make Redspot tick.
02Franchising
Explore what it means to build a local rental business backed by Redspot.
03Careers
Find opportunities with Redspot across branch operations and head office roles.
04Customer reviews
See what customers say about Redspot rental experiences around Australia.
Our next milestone starts with your journey.
From the first two cars to the next road trip, we’re here to keep Australians moving.