One-way rentals
One-way car rental in Australia
Short answer
Yes, on some routes. In our live check on October 21, one-ways were offered between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, from Adelaide to Melbourne, Hobart to Launceston, Newcastle to Sydney, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. The fee changes with your dates, shows before you pay and is paid to the rental company at pickup; long routes can carry a fee of several thousand dollars.
Last checked Oct 21, 2026By Brett Gould2 sources ↓
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One-way routes in our live check
| Route | Offered in our 10‑21 check? | Distance, drive time (Google, no stops) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney ↔ Melbourne | Yes, both ways, airport to airport | Inland: est. 876 km, about 9 h Coast: est. 1,040 km, about 13 h |
| Sydney ↔ Brisbane | Yes, both ways | est. 907 km, about 9 h 30 min |
| Brisbane ↔ Cairns | Yes, both ways | est. 1,693 km, about 19 h 30 min |
| Adelaide → Melbourne | Yes (this direction) | est. 727 km inland, about 8 h 15 min |
| Hobart → Launceston | Yes (this direction) | est. 175 km, about 2 h |
| Newcastle City ↔ Sydney Airport | Yes, both ways | est. 165‑171 km, about 2 h |
| Gold Coast ↔ Brisbane | Yes, both ways | est. 105 km, about 1 h 10 min |
| Sunshine Coast → Brisbane | Yes (this direction) | est. 110 km, about 1 h 10 min |
| Into or out of Darwin, to or from Perth, Alice Springs, Uluru | Not today | Fly between regions and rent at each end |
In our check, one-ways came back on small cars and SUVs; families who need a people mover should check the live search.
How one-way works
- How it works. Choose a different return location in the search. If the route's available, you'll see the cars and any one-way fee before you book.
- Why some one-way trips cost more. Long one-way trips carry a big drop fee from the rental company. A return trip, or dropping the car off at a closer location, could lower your total cost.
- Plan the drive. Distances in Australia are big. Use the road trip planner for drive times and distances before you book.
- Same cover, same rules. Standard and zero deductible cover work the same on one-way trips.
Related questions
ItineraryWhat's a good 2-week Australia itinerary with a rental car?Pick two regions, not five: fly between them and rent a car in each.PLANNERRoad trip planner: distances and drive timesDistance, drive time, the right car and an est. fuel cost for 8 classic routes.Cover, explainedZero deductible car rental in AustraliaSydney Airport car rentalMelbourne Airport car rental
Quick answers
Can I drop off at a different airport?
On some routes, yes: search your pickup and return cities to see if a one-way is offered. Darwin and Perth pickups are return trips only today.
How much is the one-way fee in Australia?
It changes with the route and dates. It shows in the price before you pay and is paid to the rental company at pickup. Long routes like Brisbane to Cairns can carry a fee of several thousand dollars.
Can I pick up in Melbourne city and drop off in Sydney?
Not today: Melbourne pickups on niftirent are at Melbourne Airport.
Can I drive one way to Darwin, Perth or Uluru?
Not today. Fly between regions and rent a car in each.
What if my route isn't available?
Try a nearby pickup or drop-off, or message us and we'll look for the closest option.
Sources
1niftirent live searchOne-way routes offered, Mon, Nov 16 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026.our live check · Oct 21, 2026
2Google MapsDistances and drive times, no stops.maps.google.com
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