What are the driving licence requirements for hiring a car?

As licence requirements may vary depending on the rental company you select, here’s what you need to know when looking to reserve a vehicle through the rental brands we compare.

Licence requirements

In most cases, you’ll need a full driver licence (held for a minimum of 12 months) to rent a hire car in Australia. If your licence is not in English, you’ll be required to present an international or overseas licence translated into English. If you have a learner permit (L plates), or a provisional or probationary licence (P plates), you may not be able to rent a vehicle. You will not be able to rent a car if your licence is expired, suspended, or has been revoked. Keep in mind that you must provide the original copy of any required document — digitaland printed copies are not accepted.

If you want to drive a vehicle in the van category, a full Australian driver’s licence allows you to drive a vehicle up to a 12-seater van, though you will need to be over the age of 25 to be able to rent a van.

Enterprise allows provisional licence holders to rent a vehicle if they are over 21 years of age and have held their licence for at least one year. Restrictions will apply to the types of vehicles available, as will a daily provisional licence surcharge. Provisional drivers aged between 21 and 24 can only reduce their damage liability to a minimum of $300.

International licences

If you’re visiting Australia from overseas, you will need to present a valid driver licence from your country of residence (that has been held for at least 12 months). If your licence is not printed in English, you will also need to provide an International Driving Permit. Keep in mind that you must provide the original copy of any required document — digital and printed copies are not accepted — and you may be asked to provide other forms of identification.

Young drivers

If your licence indicates that you are under the age of 25, you still may be permitted to hire a car, but in most cases, you’ll need to pay a young driver surcharge. This is a daily fee charged by your selected rental brand, added to the total cost of your rental car. Check out our page on age restrictions for more info.