Frequently asked questions

Search your cities and dates, choose a real car with transparent pricing, and book. The rental company confirms your car in real time, usually within seconds, and your card is charged only once it's confirmed. Your confirmation and voucher arrive by email right away. If the car can't be confirmed, nothing is charged.

When your car is confirmed, which usually happens within seconds of booking. If the rental company can't confirm it, you're not charged. Anything held or payable at pickup (the security deposit with standard cover, a $1 AUD card check with zero deductible, and any extras you choose) is shown before you book.

The car and the cover shown with that rate, with Australian GST (sales tax) included. The kilometer allowance, fuel policy, cover level, deductible and security deposit are all shown before you book, and anything payable at pickup is listed before you book. Optional extras such as a higher cover tier, a second driver or a child seat are added only if you choose them.

How our pricing works →

Yes. Every rate includes the rental company's damage and theft cover. What varies is the deductible: the most you'd pay if the car is damaged or stolen. You can lower it by choosing a higher cover tier at checkout, and the cover level and deductible are shown before you book. This cover comes with the rental; it isn't a travel or personal insurance policy, so check with your own insurer or card provider before relying on their cover abroad.

Both include damage and theft cover. With standard cover, the most you'd pay toward covered damage is the deductible ($5,500 AUD (est. $3,850) for smaller cars, $6,600 AUD (est. $4,600) for larger ones). With zero deductible, that amount is zero. With zero deductible cover, windshield and tire damage is included too. See the rental terms for what's covered.

The deductible is the most you'd pay toward damage or theft. On our cars the standard deductible is $5,500 AUD (est. $3,850) for smaller vehicles or $6,600 AUD (est. $4,600) for larger ones. It's not money taken from your card; it only applies if something happens. Zero deductible cover, which you can choose at checkout, brings it to zero.

No. It's the rental company's own cover, booked into your rental and applied at the counter: you don't pay for damage and claim it back. Zero deductible on every car except the 12-seater minibus, which comes with standard cover only. With zero deductible cover: windshield and tires included, roadside assistance included, no security bond ($1,000 AUD (est. $700) with standard cover), just a $1 AUD credit card check.

Damage while the car is on a ferry, damage to the roof area (like low branches, low roofs or anything carried on the roof), damage to the underside that you or a passenger cause, water or salt-water damage, wrong fuel, deliberate, negligent or reckless driving, breaking road rules (including excessive or prolonged speeding), leaving an accident scene or not reporting it to police, and driving where the rental terms don't allow.

With zero deductible, yes: roadside assistance is included. With standard cover, roadside help is free if the car itself breaks down; other call-outs, like keys locked in the car or running out of fuel, are charged by the rental company unless you add its premium roadside option. Either way, the roadside number is on the car's key ring.

No. No rental cover, including zero deductible, covers damage while the car is on a ferry, boat or barge, including loading and unloading. Kangaroo Island and some other islands are allowed.

Can you take a rental car on a ferry? →

With standard cover, a $1,000 AUD (est. $700) security deposit is pre-authorized at pickup on a credit card in the main driver's name, and released after you return the car. It's held, not charged, though it can take a few days to clear back to your card. Cash and prepaid cards aren't accepted. With zero deductible there's no security deposit: just a $1 AUD check on your credit card at pickup (tolls and fines are billed to that card later), so every renter needs the card, whichever cover they choose. The security deposit is separate from the deductible and much smaller than it.

21 on the day of pickup for most of our cars; some electric models (Tesla Model 3, Kia EV6) need a driver aged 25+. Drivers 21–24 pay a young-driver fee of $16.50 AUD (est. $12) a day at the rental counter at pickup (not included in the online price). Provisional licenses come with extra conditions from the rental company, so message us before you book and we'll check yours. Learner licenses aren't accepted.

At least 48 hours before pickup. If your pickup is sooner, the search shows the first pickup time we can book, with one tap to see those cars.

The minimum age is 21 on the day of pickup, for the main driver and any extra driver. If you turn 21 before your pickup date, you can book now. Traveling with someone 21 or older? They can book as the main driver.

No change fees from us. Your updated trip is priced at the current rate. Changes close to pickup follow the rental company's terms, shown on each car.

You see the rental company, the pickup address and the desk's opening hours before you pay, on the car and again at checkout.

Some cars are booked as the exact model, such as the Kia EV6, Tesla Model 3 or Suzuki Jimny; most are booked as a class, "or similar". Each listing says which.

Yes, when you book: $11 AUD (est. $8) a day per seat, capped at $90 AUD (est. $63) per rental, paid at pickup; request the seats you need when you book. Seats are subject to availability and you fit them yourself, so if a seat is essential, bringing your own is the safe choice.

Your own on your first visit (US, Canadian or Australian dollars, pounds or euros), and you're charged exactly the amount shown. You can switch currency in the menu at the top of any page.

Each pickup desk's opening hours are shown once you pick a location, and again at checkout. If your flight lands outside them, the search offers the nearest open times, or message us and we'll help.

Yes. Add them when you book. Each extra driver must be 21 or older and bring their own driver's license to pickup. The fee is $11 AUD (est. $8) a day per driver, capped at $50 AUD (est. $35) per driver for the rental, paid at the rental counter at pickup, and it's shown before you pay.

It might: many US and Canadian credit cards include damage and theft cover for rental cars, but only your card's terms can tell you whether it works in Australia, for your car and trip length. Every rate already includes damage and theft cover with a deductible; a card benefit usually helps with that. Our credit card guide lists the 5 questions to ask your card.

In Australia every car we show is an automatic, so there's nothing to select. In Europe and New Zealand, choose 'Automatic' on the request and we'll only offer automatics (there are fewer of them, so book early).

A valid driver's license and a card in the main driver's name, whichever cover you choose. It holds the $1,000 AUD (est. $700) security deposit with standard cover, or a $1 AUD card check with zero deductible (tolls and fines are billed to that card later). Credit cards are accepted; prepaid and virtual cards are not. The cards accepted for your rental are shown on your booking before you pay. If your license isn't in English, bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) with it. You get an IDP in your home country before you travel, from your national motoring club (for example AAA in the US, or the AA or RAC in the UK). Anything else required is shown on your booking before you pay.

Full to full. You pick up the car with a full tank and return it full, so you only pay for the fuel you use. If it comes back short, refueling is charged at $5.50 AUD (est. $4) a liter. Electric cars are handed over with at least 80% charge where possible and should come back with at least 20%, or a $16.50 AUD (est. $12) charging fee applies.

Unlimited on nearly every car; Darwin rentals have a daily limit (100 km in small cars, 200 in larger cars). Extra kilometers are charged at the rate on your rental agreement. Your exact allowance is shown on each rate before you book.

Yes, on a sealed road, at any hour you're allowed to drive: nothing with zero deductible, up to your deductible with standard cover. The usual exclusions still apply, and the rental company advises avoiding night driving where you can because of wildlife.

Other people's property: yes, up to $35 AUD million (est. $24.5 million), and you pay no more than your deductible (nothing with zero deductible). Injuries to others: covered by each state's Compulsory Third Party (CTP) scheme. Your own injuries and belongings: not covered, so bring travel or personal accident insurance.

More: Does rental car insurance cover injuries in Australia? →

Yes. It's one of six islands the rental terms allow (Kangaroo, North Stradbroke, Magnetic, Bribie, Phillip, Bruny), with no extra charge for going. The car ferry runs from Cape Jervis, south of Adelaide (est. 1 h 45 min by car from the Adelaide Airport depot), to Penneshaw; SeaLink runs it, and you book it directly with them. Damage on the ferry, including loading and unloading, isn't covered. Nothing to sign or arrange before you go.

Yes, including in South Australia and on Kangaroo Island. The only exception is outside towns in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, where the terms don't allow driving between sunset and sunrise. The rental company advises avoiding night driving where you can, because a lot of wildlife is out after dark.

Not in a rental car: it's sealed roads only, everywhere in Australia, islands included. The famous gravel spots are easy to see on a tour.

On some routes, yes. Choose different pickup and return cities when you search: if the route is available, any one-way fee is shown on your booking before you pay (it's paid at pickup). Every counter charge is shown before you book.

It depends on the route and your dates, from est. $275 AUD on short routes to several thousand dollars on long ones. It's in your trip total before you book, and you pay it at pickup.

To change your dates, times, car or location, contact us and we'll arrange it with the rental company for you. No change fees from us: your updated trip is priced at the current rate, and we'll confirm it with you before anything changes. To cancel: Free cancellation runs up to a deadline set by the rental company, shown on each car before you book and on your confirmation. You can cancel from your booking page or by contacting us.

A real person looks after every booking. Reach us before, during or after your rental, and we'll sort it out with the rental company for you.