Travel guides
Straight answers and planning notes for renting a car in Australia - deposits, excess, one-way trips and driving tips.
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Do I need an IDP?What's the deductible?How do I contact you?Sydney, Jan 4 – Jan 12, automatic, I'm 24Cairns, Dec 20 – Jan 3, an SUV, zero deductible
Decades in car rentalRental companies we know and trustCall or email: a real person repliesDeposit and deductible shown before you book
Before you book
- The deposit (bond), explainedHow much is held, why it's a hold not a charge, and how it differs from the excess.
- What rental excess is - and how to reduce itThe most you'd pay if the car's damaged, and how a higher cover tier lowers it to zero.
- Do you need an International Driving Permit?When an English-language license is enough, and when to carry an IDP.
- How tolls workAustralian tolls are cashless, only a few cities have them, and how you are billed is shown with your rate.
- Drivers under 25You can usually rent from 21; drivers under 25 pay a daily young-driver fee at the rental counter at pickup.
- Adding a child seatAdd a child seat as an extra at booking, with the price shown before you pay.
- The fuel policyFull to full: collect it full, return it full. What a short tank costs, and how EV charging works.
- What to bring to pickupYour license, a card in the main driver's name, and an IDP if your license isn't in English.
Getting around Australia
- Renting a car one-wayPick up in one city, drop off in another - how one-way fees and popular routes work.
- Driving on the leftKeep left, give way at roundabouts, and why an automatic makes it easier for overseas drivers.
- Automatic or manual?Most cars are automatic, and every vehicle listing shows the transmission before you book.
- Road-trip fuel plannerEstimate fuel and driving time by state, surface and season, in your currency.
- Driving with wildlifeKangaroos are most active at dawn, dusk and after dark. How to drive country roads safely.
Road trips
- When to goThe best season for a road trip depends on the region: the south in spring and autumn, the north in the dry.
- Sydney to Melbourne one-wayThe Hume Highway drive, about 880 km (or the scenic coast), one-way fees and where to stop.
- Great Ocean RoadThe Twelve Apostles loop from Melbourne over 2-3 days - and why you don't need a 4WD.
- Tasmania road tripA 5-7 day island loop from Hobart: Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and the island-only rule.
- Brisbane to Cairns one-wayThe Bruce Highway run, about 1,680 km, up the tropical Queensland coast to the reef.
- Sydney to Brisbane one-wayThe Pacific Highway drive, about 910 km, past Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.
- Perth to Margaret RiverAn easy run of about 275 km south from Perth into WA's wine and surf country.
- Cairns to Port DouglasAbout 65 km on the Captain Cook Highway, between rainforest and the Coral Sea.
Visiting from overseas
- Australia car rental for US travelersLicense, driving on the left, deposit vs excess, and automatic cars.
- Australia car rental for Canadian travelersLicense and IDP, payment and cover for Canadian visitors.
- Australia car rental for UK travelersYour UK license works, no IDP, and you already drive on the left; here is what to know.