When it comes to road trips and self-driving holidays, few destinations are as exceptional as Australia. With dramatic coastlines and golden-sand beaches, tropical rainforests and rural scenes, and, of course, the spectacular Red Centre, Australia has it all. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a short stay or have months on end, a rental car gives you an unrivalled freedom and flexibility to explore.
When it comes to picking the right rental car for your road trip, VroomVroomVroom is here to help make your decision as easy as possible. From a compact car ideal for inner-city hops to an SUV perfect for driving across the country, we’ll help you find the right vehicle at the right price — and the whole process can take as little as two minutes.
If you’ve rented a car elsewhere in the world, renting a car in Australia isn’t that different, but there are a few points to keep in mind. Here’s ten of the important ones.
In Australia you drive on the left side of the road.
If your licence is not in English, you will need an International driving licence.
Australia is big. Do not underestimate the amount of time required to get from one location to another. Capital cities in Australia can be thousands of kilometres apart.
It is compulsory to wear a seatbelt while driving in Australia. This rule applies to both the driver and passengers and fines for non-compliance can be high. Children under the age of seven must use a child seat.
In most cases you need to be at least 21 years old and have a full, unrestricted, licence to rent a car in Australia. Drivers under the age of 25 may be charged a surcharge to hire a car. Drivers over the age of 75 may require a medical certificate.
Speed limits vary across the country, ranging from 40 km/h in suburban areas to 120 km/h on major highways. Speed limits are strictly enforced and fines for exceeding limits are high. If you are fined for speeding in a rental car, you will be liable for the fine.
Rental cars in Australia come with insurance, but in the case of damage or if your rental vehicle is stolen, you’ll be liable for an excess which generally ranges from A$3,350 to $9,000.
Using a mobile phone while driving —or even when the vehicle is stationary — is illegal across Australia. Your phone must be mounted in a dock or another hands-free manner.
Driving a hire car under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offence in Australia. The legal limit is a blood alcohol level of 0.05 and penalties for breaking this limit can result in heavy fines and/or the loss of your licence.
You are not permitted to take a rental vehicle off-road, though you can drive on gazetted roads. An important example of a type of driving that is not permitted is driving on the beach on K’gari (previously Fraser Island). If you are unsure, please check with our customer care team.
You can rent a hire car from locations across Australia — even picking up your car in one location and dropping it off in another — and VroomVroomVroom allows you to search for a rental car from hundreds of destinations right across the country. An important note to keep in mind is that not all companies allow their vehicle to be taken out of the state, so if you are planning an inter-state road trip, be sure to read the Terms and Conditions carefully.
If you’re planning on continuing your holiday in another country after your Australia road trip, VroomVroomVroom is here to help. We offer our same world-class services for car hire in the following countries:
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