Kangaroo Island by rental car: ferry, roads, wildlife and cover

Can I take the rental car on the ferry?

Yes. Kangaroo Island is allowed, along with North Stradbroke, Magnetic, Bribie, Phillip and Bruny, and there's no extra charge from us or the rental company for going.

The car ferry runs from Cape Jervis, south of Adelaide, to Penneshaw on the island. SeaLink runs it, and you book it directly with them. Fares start from est. A$99 for a car and est. A$49 per adult each way, and busy departures cost more, so check SeaLink for your date. Renting a hybrid or electric car? Tell SeaLink when you book. Cape Jervis is est. 1 h 45 min by car from the Adelaide Airport depot.

For example, a car plus two adults is est. A$197 each way at SeaLink's starting fares (est. A$394 return).

Damage while the car is on the ferry isn't covered by any rental cover, including zero deductible, so take your time boarding and follow the crew. That includes loading and unloading. There's nothing to sign or arrange with the rental company before you go: Kangaroo Island is allowed as standard.

Which roads can I drive?

Sealed roads only, everywhere in Australia, on Kangaroo Island too. That means no gravel or dirt roads, beaches, off-road tracks, river or creek crossings, or flood water, even in a 4WD. Kangaroo Island has plenty of gravel roads, and they're off-limits in a rental car, so plan your route on sealed roads. The rental terms don't name any extra off-limits roads on Kangaroo Island, so the sealed-roads rule is the one to plan around.

Can I drive before sunrise or after dark?

Yes. The rental terms only limit night driving in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, outside towns. On Kangaroo Island and the rest of South Australia you can catch an early ferry or drive back after dark. Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk, so slow down then.

Is hitting a kangaroo covered?

Yes. A collision with a kangaroo, wallaby or other animal on a sealed road is covered like any other damage: with zero deductible you pay US$0, and with standard cover you pay up to your deductible.

It doesn't matter whether it's before sunrise or after dark, on Kangaroo Island or anywhere you're allowed to drive at that hour (outside towns in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the rental terms don't allow driving between sunset and sunrise). The usual exclusions still apply, like damage on an unsealed road or underside damage you cause.

The rental company's own advice: avoid driving at night where you can, because a lot of Australian wildlife is out after dark.

Drive slowly at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active. More tips: Driving with wildlife

Is my cover the same on the island?

Yes. Kangaroo Island is an allowed island, so whichever cover you booked, standard (with a deductible) or zero deductible, applies there just as it does on the mainland. The same exclusions apply too (see below).

What does zero-deductible cover pay for?

Zero-deductible cover is the rental company's own cover, booked into your rental. It's applied at the counter: you don't pay for damage and claim it back later. Credit card and travel insurance cover usually work the other way: you pay the rental company first and claim it back later.

• Deductible US$0 on every car except the 12-seater (standard cover only)
• Windshield and tires included
• Roadside assistance included
• No security bond (est. US$700 (A$1,000) with standard cover), just an A$1 check on your credit card at pickup

Like all rental cover, it doesn't apply if the rental terms are broken.

What isn't covered, even with zero deductible?

• Damage while the car is on a ferry, boat or barge
• 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 the scene of an accident or not reporting it to police
• Driving where the rental terms don't allow (like unsealed roads or beaches)

What if the car breaks down?

With zero deductible, 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, on Kangaroo Island too.

What about other people's property, injuries and my belongings?

Damage to other people's property in an accident with your rental car, like another car or a fence, is covered by the rental company up to est. US$24.4 million (A$35 million), whoever is at fault. You pay no more than your deductible (US$0 with zero deductible), and the usual exclusions still apply. Injuries to other people are covered by Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, which every registered car in Australia carries, under each state's own scheme. Your own injuries and your belongings aren't covered by rental cover, so bring travel or personal accident insurance.

Picking up your car in Adelaide

Adelaide cars are picked up at the airport depot, 376 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park, a free shuttle ride from the terminal. About 24 hours before pickup you'll get a text with a link; after you collect your luggage, tap it to call the shuttle (the last shuttle runs 30 minutes before the desk closes). Desk hours: Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Returning after hours? Leave the keys in the after-hours drop box and make your own way to the terminal, for example by taxi.

Picking up in one city and dropping off in another?

A one-way fee applies on some routes. It depends on the route and your dates, from est. A$275 on short routes to several thousand dollars on long ones, and it's in your trip total before you book. You pay it at pickup.

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