Australia car hire
Car hire directory
Sunnycars car hire locations in Australia
84 Locations
keddy by Europcar car hire locations in Australia
32 Locations
Budget car hire locations in Australia
30 Locations
Avis car hire locations in Australia
28 Locations
Europcar car hire locations in Australia
26 Locations
Thrifty car hire locations in Australia
26 Locations
Hertz car hire locations in Australia
25 Locations
Red Spot car hire locations in Australia
25 Locations
Enterprise car hire locations in Australia
23 Locations
Firefly car hire locations in Australia
21 Locations
Dollar car hire locations in Australia
19 Locations
National car hire locations in Australia
16 Locations
Top tips for hiring a car in Australia
- If you rent a car in Australia, be aware that it is illegal to smoke in the car. This policy is even more important if there are underage children traveling in the car with you. There are one or two companies like Hertz that lease "smoking optional" cars, but these are few, so you will have to book your reservation early if you wish to get one.
- Since the requirements are not uniform from one state to another, it’s not a bad idea to get yourself an international driver’s permit to cover all the bases if you intend to drive in Australia, especially if you are making cross-country trips. When you need to park, always use the left-hand side of the road, going along with the traffic.
- Australia is famous for its vast Outback region. If you intend to drive through this area, your best bet is to rent an SUV or other four-wheel drive vehicle. If you prefer to stay close to the cities, it is likely you’ll encounter toll stops at bridges and freeways, so it’s smart to always have a bit of change handy.
- For those planning extended driving trips or weekend getaways, it may be necessary to use multiple drivers. In such cases, you should let the agency know at the time you pick up the car. Each additional driver will have to be registered, and there is a fee for each additional driver per car. Such fees will vary from one rental agency to another.
FAQs about hiring a car in Australia
Economy (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Australia.
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Australia are Budget (8.7, 137 reviews), East Coast Car Rentals (8.5, 83 reviews), and Alamo (8.4, 61 reviews).
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in Australia are Brisbane (52% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Australia), Sydney (22%) and Cairns (12%).
On average hiring a car in Australia costs €308 per week (€44 per day).
On average a car hire in Australia costs €1,319 per month (€44 per day).
Drive on the left side of the road if you are renting cars in Australia, and be aware that the metric system is used in this country, so think "kilometers" instead of miles and "liters" instead of gallons. All passengers in the car must wear a seatbelt or you could receive a fine if caught. Also, the blood-alcohol limit is very low, 0.05%, so make sure there’s a designated driver if you intend to drink.
You must be at least 21 years of age and have held your license for at least one year to rent a car in Australia, but as with most countries, there is a surcharge applied to drivers who are younger than 25 years of age. For seniors enjoying a trip "Down Under," you can safely rent a car as long as you are younger than 75 years old.
The price of petrol in Australia is better than the average globally. A liter of petrol sells for about 1.43 AUD (1.00 USD), (about 3.77 USD per gallon). Diesel prices are slightly higher at 1.49 AUD (1.04 USD) per liter (about 3.95 USD per gallon).
Unless otherwise specified (there are certain shared areas and school zones where the limit is reduced), the speed limit in Australia is 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas, 100 km/h (62 mph) on rural roads, and up to 110 km/h (68 mph) on some highways. If you are staying in the Northern Territory, these limits are increased because there are few urban areas.