Australia car rental for Canadian travelers

Your license and IDP

A valid Canadian driver's license is accepted at pickup as long as it is in English (or bilingual English and French). If your license is issued in French only, bring an International Driving Permit or an official English translation alongside it. An IDP is inexpensive peace of mind either way.

Driving on the left - the one real adjustment

Australia drives on the left, in right-hand-drive cars (the steering wheel is on the right). For most Canadian drivers this is the biggest change, and it usually clicks within a day. A few tips: give yourself an easy first drive, take extra care at intersections and roundabouts, the indicator and wiper stalks are often reversed, and 'keep left' is the rule on multi-lane roads. Distances and speed limits are in kilometers, not miles.

Money and payment

Prices are shown in CAD for convenience; your card is charged in Australian dollars and your bank converts at its own rate. You'll need a credit card (or a Visa/Mastercard debit card) in the main driver's name - prepaid and virtual cards aren't accepted, with no card fee on any accepted card. All prices include Australian tax (GST).

The deposit (bond) vs the excess - they're different

Two numbers trip up a lot of first-time visitors. The deposit (or 'bond') is a hold placed on your card at pickup - typically around $1,000 AUD - which is held, not charged, and released after you return the car (with our zero-excess cover there's no bond at all). The excess is the most you'd owe if the car is damaged or stolen; it only applies if something happens, and you can reduce it (often to zero) by choosing a higher coverage tier at checkout. Both are shown on your booking before you pay.

Insurance and coverage

Every rate includes damage and theft coverage. What varies is the excess, and you can lower it by choosing a higher coverage tier - the top tier typically brings the excess to zero and adds windshield and tire cover. The coverage and excess that apply to your car are always shown before you book.

Age and drivers

The minimum age is usually 21, with some premium, electric and larger vehicles requiring 25. Drivers under 25 pay a small daily young-driver surcharge. Every driver must be named on the booking and present a valid license at pickup.

Automatic cars (good news)

Nearly all rental cars in Australia are automatic - which suits most Canadian drivers, since you won't be learning a manual and driving on the left at the same time. There's nothing to select; the cars you see are automatics.

Mileage, fuel and tolls

Most rates include unlimited kilometers (a few vehicle types and remote areas are limited - it's shown on your booking). Fuel is full-to-full: collect it full, return it full. Toll roads are electronic (no cash booths) and only exist around Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland; any tolls are billed to you after your trip.

One-way trips and road trips

One-way rentals between cities are common - pick up in one city and drop off in another; any one-way fee is quoted before you book. Australia's distances are big, so a one-way itinerary (say Sydney to Melbourne, or the Great Ocean Road) is often the best way to see it.

Common questions from Canadian travelers