Australia

Car rental in Australia

A country made for the drive

Australia is a driving country like few others - sealed highways that run for days, empty horizons, rainforest, reef and red desert, and a car is very often the only sensible way to reach the best of it. Whether you want a hatch for a city and the coast or a diesel 4WD for the outback, we help you find the right one at an honest price and look after the booking from first request to final drop-off.

Visiting from overseas?

First time driving in Australia? Our traveller guides cover licences and IDPs, driving on the left, the deposit vs the excess, insurance, age rules and one-way trips:

Cars for Australian roads

The right car depends on where you're going. A few pointers before you check live prices for your dates:

Economy hatch - cheapest to run around the cities and the coast
SUV - room and comfort for long sealed-highway touring
4WD / ute (diesel) - for the space and clearance on long sealed highways; our cars stay on sealed roads
People-mover - families and groups with luggage for the long haul
Electric - great for city and coast; check charging before remote runs

See all vehicles →

When to drive it

The best season to drive depends on the region:

Red Centre & outback - Apr–Sep; avoid the Dec–Feb heat
Top End & Tropical North - May–Oct (the Dry); the Wet closes roads Nov–Apr
Kimberley & Savannah - May–Sep; many tracks are impassable in the Wet
South-east coast & Tasmania - spring to autumn; mild and green
The Alps (Snowy Mountains) - summer for touring, winter for the snow
South & West WA + Nullarbor - spring & autumn are kindest

Know before you go - renting a car in Australia

Australia has a few rules of the road that catch first-time visitors, and most of them are about the rental terms rather than the driving. Here is the honest version of what to expect, so nothing at the counter is a surprise. Where a rule varies by car or by rate, we say so - and we confirm the detail on your booking before you travel.

What is the excess, and why is it so high here?

The excess is the amount you remain responsible for if the car is damaged or stolen, even when a collision damage waiver is in place. On our cars the standard excess is $5,500 for smaller vehicles or $6,600 for larger ones - higher than many visitors expect, and the norm across the Australian market. You can lower it at checkout with a higher cover tier: the mid tier brings it down to $550 (or $1,000 for the 12-seater), and the top tier takes it to $0 and adds windscreen and tyre cover. It is not money taken from your card - it only applies if something happens.

Am I liable even if the damage was not my fault?

Often, yes. A waiver is a liability limitation, not full insurance, so the excess and the exclusions can still apply regardless of who was at fault - for example damage from a parked knock, a single-vehicle accident, or hitting an animal. Choosing a higher cover tier in advance is the simplest way to cap what you could owe.

What does the waiver not cover?

Standard cover in Australia commonly excludes tyres, windscreen and glass, the roof and the undercarriage, plus water and flood damage, animal strike, and anything that happens on an unsealed road. Using the wrong fuel or letting an unlisted driver take the wheel can also remove your cover. Our top cover tier adds windscreen and tyre cover; ask us and we will point out what is and is not included on your car.

What is a single-vehicle accident, and why does it matter?

A single-vehicle accident is one where no other vehicle is involved - a rollover on a bend, clipping a gutter, or hitting an animal. In Australia these are a common source of a damage bill, so they are worth understanding before a long remote drive.

How big is the deposit, and is it charged or held?

A security bond of $1,000 is held - blocked, not charged - on the main driver's card at pickup, and released after return, which can take several days to clear. It is a fixed bond that is separate from, and much smaller than, the excess, and it is shown on your booking before you request. A credit card or a Visa or Mastercard debit card in the driver's name is accepted; prepaid and virtual cards are not, and there is no card fee on any accepted card (credit or debit).

Can I drive on unsealed or outback roads?

No - our cars are for sealed roads only. Genuine unsealed or remote-area driving, beaches and off-road tracks are not permitted on any of our vehicles, including the 4WDs and utes, and some remote parts of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are restricted. Driving off the allowed surface can remove your cover entirely, which in the outback can mean the full value of the car - so this is a protection, not just a rule. Our planner flags which routes are fully sealed, and we confirm your route before you go.

Why choose a 4WD or ute if they stay on sealed roads?

For the space, the ground clearance and the comfort on long sealed highways, not for off-road access. They carry more people and gear over big distances; if a specific unsealed track matters to your trip, tell us early and we will point you to a specialist local option instead.

Can I take the car between states, or to Tasmania?

Interstate travel on sealed roads is generally fine. There are quarantine limits on carrying fresh produce across the Western Australia border. Our cars cannot travel between the mainland and Tasmania in either direction - not on the vehicle ferry - so a Tasmanian trip is a separate local rental. Tell us your route and we will confirm it before you book.

Is there a one-way fee between cities?

A one-way fee (also called a relocation fee) covers returning the car to a different place than you collected it. It depends on the route - from a small intra-city charge to several hundred dollars for interstate or regional drop-offs, and one-way from remote depots or out of Western Australia may not be offered at all. It is quoted on your booking, so you always see it before you commit - one-way trips between our cities are welcome.

How many kilometres are included?

Unlimited kilometres on nearly every car. The 12-seater is capped at 200 km a day, with extra kilometres at $0.33/km. In the Northern Territory the smaller classes get 100 km a day (200 for larger) at $0.33/km, and you cannot drive outside town or city limits between sunset and sunrise. Your exact allowance is shown on each rate before you book.

What fuel policy will I get?

Every car is full-to-full: you collect a full tank and return it full, paying only for the fuel you actually use. If it comes back short, refuelling is charged at $5.50 a litre. Remote roadhouse fuel runs well above city prices and the gaps between stations can be long, so budget more, and fill up more often, on outback legs.

Can I rent an electric car for a road trip?

For city and coastal driving, an electric car is a great fit. For remote and outback routes, public fast-charging is sparse and far apart, so an EV may not be practical - our planner warns you when a route's charging cannot be relied on. EVs are supplied with at least 80% charge and should come back with at least 20%, or a $16.50 charging fee applies. Confirm the network along your exact route first.

How do tolls work in a rental car?

Australian tolls are entirely cashless - there are no cash booths, and every toll is read from an e-Tag or the number plate. Only Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland have toll roads at all. Any tolls you drive through are billed to you after the rental at cost plus a $1.10 administrative fee per toll. We make the tolling arrangement on your car clear up front.

I'm under 25 - is there an extra charge?

Yes. A young-driver surcharge of $16.50 a day applies to drivers under 25, and our electric, premium and elite cars and the 12-seater need a driver aged 25 or over. The minimum age to rent is 21, and provisional licence holders aged 21 to 24 need to have held their licence for at least 12 months. We confirm the surcharge on your quote so it is never a counter surprise.

Do I pay extra for a second driver?

An additional-driver fee of $11 a day (capped at $50) adds a second driver. Every person who drives must be listed on the agreement - an unlisted driver can void the cover in an incident, so it is always worth adding them properly.

Are the prices shown with tax included?

Yes. Australian prices are quoted with GST (the 10 percent goods and services tax) already included, so the figure you see is the figure you pay, before any optional extras you choose to add.

What if I get a fine, or the car breaks down?

A traffic or parking infringement is passed to you with an administrative fee for handling it. Roadside assistance for a genuine mechanical breakdown is normally covered; a call-out caused by driver error - a flat battery from lights left on, a lockout, wrong fuel, or a tyre - is usually chargeable. Premium roadside cover is available as a $5.50-a-day add-on.

Is it safe to drive at night, and what about animals?

Dawn and dusk are the high-risk times for animal strikes on country roads, and hitting an animal is one of the exclusions on standard cover. In parts of the Northern Territory some roads carry night-driving restrictions for this reason. The simple advice is to avoid driving remote stretches after dark and to plan arrivals for daylight.

Can weather or the season close my route?

Yes, and it is normal here. The tropical north and the Kimberley have a wet season (roughly November to April) that floods and closes roads and parks; the alpine areas have winter snow; and summer brings extreme heat and fire risk in the interior. Our planner shows the best season for each route, and we will flag a seasonal closure that affects your dates.

The rental terms that matter here

Plain-English definitions of the terms above - neutral, industry-wide, and specific to what bites in Australia. Any traveller tip is kept separate from the definition.

Excess

What you remain responsible for if the car is damaged or stolen, even when a waiver applies. Called the deductible in the US. On our cars it is $5,500 or $6,600 as standard, reducible to $550, $1,000 or $0 by cover tier.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

The company agreeing not to charge you for damage to the car, usually above the excess. It is a waiver, not insurance, and carries exclusions such as tyres, glass and undercarriage.

Liability limitation

The Australian way of describing what a waiver really is - it limits, but does not remove, what you can be charged. The excess and the exclusions can still apply regardless of who was at fault.

Single-vehicle accident

Damage where no other vehicle is involved - a rollover, clipping a kerb, or an animal strike. Common in Australia, and sometimes carrying a higher excess than a multi-vehicle claim.

Excess reduction (cover tiers)

A higher cover tier chosen at checkout that lowers the excess on a damage or theft claim - the mid tier to $550 ($1,000 for the 12-seater), the top tier to $0 with windscreen and tyre cover added.

Tyre and glass

Windscreen, other glass and tyres are among the most commonly damaged parts and are excluded from standard cover. Included on our top cover tier.

Underbody and roof damage

Damage to the undercarriage or the roof, commonly excluded from standard cover. It matters in Australia because both are easy to damage on rough or flooded roads and low clearances.

Security bond (deposit)

A fixed $1,000 amount held - blocked, not charged - on the main driver's card at pickup and released after return. "Bond" is the local word for it. Separate from, and much smaller than, the excess.

Card and payment rules

A card in the main driver's name is needed for the bond. Credit cards and Visa or Mastercard debit cards are accepted; prepaid and virtual cards are not. No card payment surcharge applies on any accepted card; Visa and Mastercard debit are accepted at no fee.

Sealed road

A bitumen or paved road. Our cars are for sealed roads only, which covers the great majority of Australia's highways and tourist drives.

Unsealed road

A gravel, dirt or sand road. Not permitted on any of our vehicles, because the risk of damage is much higher and it removes your cover.

Remote-area restriction

The parts of the country our cars may not go, including unsealed roads, named tracks, and some remote areas of Queensland, WA and the NT. Breaching it removes your cover, so it is worth confirming your route before an outback trip.

One-way fee

A charge for returning the car to a different location than pickup, covering repositioning it to where it is next needed. Quoted on the booking.

Relocation

The Australian term for a one-way rental. Relocation between cities is common; from remote depots or out of Western Australia it may be limited or unavailable.

Interstate travel

Driving across a state or territory border on sealed roads. Generally allowed; quarantine rules limit carrying fresh produce across the Western Australia border.

Tasmania and the vehicle ferry

Our cars cannot cross between the mainland and Tasmania in either direction, including on the vehicle ferry. A Tasmanian trip is a separate local rental.

Kilometres

Unlimited on nearly every car. The 12-seater is capped at 200 km a day; the Northern Territory limits the smaller classes to 100 km a day (200 for larger). Extra kilometres are charged at $0.33/km.

Full to full

A fuel policy where you collect the car full and return it full, paying only for the fuel you use. If returned short, refuelling is $5.50 a litre.

EV charging policy

Electric cars are supplied with at least 80% charge and should be returned with at least 20%, or a $16.50 charging fee applies. Range and charger spacing make an EV better suited to city and coast than to remote routes.

e-Tag and cashless tolls

Australian tolls are read electronically from an e-Tag or the number plate - there is no cash. Tolls are billed after the trip at cost plus a $1.10 admin fee per toll. Only Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland have tolls.

Young-driver surcharge

An extra $16.50 a day for drivers under 25. The minimum rental age is 21; provisional holders aged 21 to 24 must have held their licence at least 12 months, and some classes need a driver 25 or over.

Additional-driver fee

$11 a day (capped at $50) to register a second driver. Everyone who drives must be listed, or the cover can be voided in an incident.

Listed (named) driver

A driver formally recorded on the agreement and permitted to drive. Anyone not listed typically voids the cover if there is an incident.

GST

Australia's 10 percent goods and services tax. Prices are quoted with GST already included, so the figure shown is the figure you pay before optional extras.

Infringement (fine)

A traffic or parking penalty. It is passed to the driver who incurred it, with an administrative fee for the rental's handling of it.

Roadside assistance

Help if the car breaks down. Genuine mechanical breakdown is normally covered; a call-out caused by driver error (lockout, flat battery, wrong fuel, tyre) is generally chargeable. Premium roadside is a $5.50-a-day add-on.

Animal strike

Hitting wildlife or livestock, a real risk on country roads at dawn and dusk. Commonly excluded from standard cover, so it is a reason to avoid remote night driving.

Night-driving restriction

A limit some rentals place on driving certain remote roads after dark, mainly in the Northern Territory, because of the animal-strike risk.

Seasonal closure

A road or park closed by weather - the northern wet season, alpine snow, or flood and fire. Normal in Australia, and worth planning around by season.

Plan your drive - what it really costs

Pick a route and a vehicle and the planner models the fuel from real per-state prices, then lays out the surface, the remote stretches, the rental terms that bite, and the season to drive it - in your own currency and units. It's built right into this page:

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Cities in Australia