Driving on the left
Driving on the left in Australia: what overseas visitors need to know
Is it difficult for an American to drive in Australia?
Short answer
Most Americans find it easy after the first hour: the pedals are in the same place, nearly every rental car is automatic, and signs are in English. The two real changes are driving on the left (you sit on the right) and speed limits in km/h, so pick up in daylight and skip the city center on day one.
Last checked Oct 21, 2026By Brett Gould2 sources ↓
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The practical details
- The driver sits on the right side of the car and you keep to the left side of the road. Overtaking is on the right. The pedals are in the same order as at home.
- The indicator and wiper stalks are often reversed compared with North American cars, so flicking the wipers when you mean to indicate is a normal first-day mistake and does no harm.
- At roundabouts you give way to traffic already on the roundabout, which comes from your right, and you travel clockwise. Speed limits and distances are in kilometers.
- Roads outside the cities can be long, quiet and fast, with wildlife near dawn and dusk, so plan your stops and avoid driving tired.
Road rules that catch visitors
- Speed limits: 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas unless signs say otherwise; 100-110 km/h (62-68 mph) on highways; school zones are lower at set times. Cameras are common. Speed camera fines in a rental car
- No left turn on red unless a sign says you may.
- Roundabouts: give way to traffic already on them (coming from your right), drive clockwise, signal left as you leave.
- Hook turns (Melbourne city center): at signed intersections, to turn right you wait in the far-left lane and turn when the lights for the street you're turning into go green. Follow the signs and the cars in front.
- Drink-driving: the limit is 0.05 blood alcohol for full-license drivers; random breath tests are common.
- Phones: no hand-held phone use while driving; use a mount and voice.
- After dark in the NT and WA: the rental terms don't allow driving outside towns between sunset and sunrise.
Common pitfalls
- Drifting to the right on an empty road. Fix a reference point: keep the center line by your right shoulder.
- Turning into the wrong lane from a standing start, such as a junction or a car park exit. Pause and picture 'keep left' before you move.
- Driving at dusk in rural areas, when kangaroos are most active near the road.
Our recommendation
- Take the first hour gently, in a quiet area or your hotel's neighborhood, before you tackle a motorway.
- Choose an automatic, our fleet default, so you are not also learning a left-hand gearshift.
- Say it out loud at every turn for the first day: 'keep left'.
Related questions
Licenses & IDPDo you need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Australia?Usually not. A full US, Canadian or UK driver's license in English is accepted on its own to rent a car in Australia.One-way rentalsOne-way car rental in AustraliaYes, on some routes. In our live check on October 21, one-ways were offered between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, from Adelaide to Melbourne,...Pickup checklistWhat do I need to pick up a rental car in Australia?Picking up is quick when you bring the right three things: your driver's license, a card in the main driver's name, and an International Driving Permit if...Young driversCan you rent a car in Australia if you're under 25?Yes, from age 21. Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young-driver fee of $16.50 AUD (est. $12) a day, paid to the rental company at pickup, and we show it before...Automatic vs manualAre rental cars in Australia automatic?Yes. Every car you can book on niftirent in Australia is automatic, so you won't need to drive a stick shift on the left side of the road.
Quick answers
Which side of the road does Australia drive on?
The left, in right-hand-drive cars. Overtaking is on the right and roundabouts run clockwise.
Is it hard to drive in Australia as an American or Canadian?
Most Americans find it easy after the first hour: the pedals are in the same place, nearly every rental car is automatic, and signs are in English. The two real changes are driving on the left and speed limits in km/h, so pick up in daylight and skip the city center on day one.
Are the pedals reversed when driving on the left?
No. The pedals are in the same order as at home. It is the seating position and the side of the road that change.
What's the drink-driving limit in Australia?
0.05 blood alcohol content for full-license drivers, lower than most US states' 0.08.
Can you turn left on a red light in Australia?
Only where a sign says so. Otherwise wait for green.
What is a hook turn?
A right turn made from the left lane at signed intersections in central Melbourne, so the trams can keep moving.
Sources
1Road rulesSpeed limits, red lights, roundabouts, hook turns, drink-driving and phones.Transport for NSW · Dept of Transport and Planning Victoria · Queensland TMR
2Rental company termsNo driving outside towns between sunset and sunrise in the NT and WA (cl. 7.10).rental terms · checked Oct 21, 2026
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