Car Rental in Australia
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 00:24 on 2022-01-18. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
AUD
Country code
61
Traffic direction
Left-hand
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h
50 - 62 mi/h
Speed limit within town
50 km/h
31 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Why rent a car in Australia?
Australia is one of the true great destinations of our planet. From famous cities like Sydney and Melbourne to a very diverse nature that includes deserts, tropics, endless beaches, and the Great Barrier Reef, the country offers plenty to keep you excited. While the sheer size of the country means you probably won’t get to explore all of it on a single trip, getting a rental car is one of the surest ways to take in as much as you can.
Top ways to enter Australia
- Sydney Airport: The busiest in Australia, Sydney Airport serves more than 40 million passengers annually.
- Melbourne Airport: Known as Tullamarine by locals, this airport serves flights to and from destinations in the rest of Australia, as well as in Oceania, Asia, and even the U.S. state of Hawaii.
- Brisbane Airport: Arriving in Brisbane is the best way to reach Queensland’s capital and the beautiful beaches that surround it.
- Perth Airport: The main airport of the vast Western Australia state.
Top cities and places to visit
- Sydney. Sydney is one of the most famous cities on the planet and a visit here will be a highlight of any trip to Australia. The city is notable for its architecture that includes not just the famous opera house, but also many fine Georgian and Victorian buildings. Other highlights include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Maritime Museum, Sydney Fish Market, and Royal Botanic Gardens. The city also offers access to the neighboring Blue Mountains.
- Melbourne. The capital of the state of Victoria, Melbourne is Australia’s second-largest city and, more importantly, a hub of culture, creativity, and cuisine. Notable for its distinct neighborhoods and free spirit, it boasts attractions like the Royal Exhibition Building, Immigration Museum, East End Theater District, and Melbourne Observatory.
- Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast. The capital of sunny Queensland, Brisbane is a large and modern metropolis notable for its skyline, museums, and many green areas. Two of Australia’s most popular beach hubs, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, are located to the south and north of the city, respectively, and other destinations like the Glass House Mountains National Park are also within your reach.
Most popular rental car
The most popular rental car in Australia is the Hyundai i20, followed by the Toyota Corolla and the Kia Rio.
Driver license requirements
- Australia recognizes valid foreign driver’s licenses if you’re visiting on a trip that’s shorter than six months. If you’re visiting for a longer period or are living in the country permanently, you need to obtain the local license instead.
- If your driver’s license is printed in a non-Latin script (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
- Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP instead.
- You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times.
- You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
- Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
- There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.
Most popular types of rental car
Most popular rental car types in Australia are economy, standard, and compact.
Top driving routes
- Great Barrier Reef. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is another place that you should absolutely visit if you’re in the northeast of the country. There are many tours and jumping points that take off for the reef and its many islands, with the city of Cairns probably the most notable among them.
- Western Australia. The great western state of Australia is very remote — you’re probably going to fly in and out — but offers plenty of excitement if you get there. The capital, Perth, is a sophisticated and modern city with plenty to enjoy, but the region’s endless beaches, otherworldly landscapes, and indigenous sites are just as fascinating.
- Tasmania. Located on the mainland (Melbourne is the nearest big city), the island of Tasmania is distinct both in terms of nature and culture. The region’s mountains, bays, and woodlands are among the most scenic in the country, and you can also visit refuges of wildlife like the distinct Tasmanian devils. Tasmania is also a good place to see the Southern Lights, especially from June to September.
Car Rental Prices
- Station wagons - from $44 per day
- Large cars - from $92 per day
- Medium cars - from $70 per day
- Vans - from $117 per day
- Premium cars - from $94 per day
- Small cars - from $72 per day
- SUVs - from $97 per day
How can I save money on my rental car?
You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Australia:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Australia is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 48% cheaper than the yearly average.
Top 20 Most Popular Cities in Australia
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Car Rental in Melbourne from $45.36 per day
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Car Rental in Brisbane from $73.53 per day
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Car Rental in Cairns from $60.22 per day
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Car Rental in Sydney from $35.58 per day
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Car Rental in Hobart from $31.26 per day
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Car Rental in Gold Coast from $26.22 per day
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Car Rental in Perth from $39.78 per day
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Car Rental in Adelaide from $44.30 per day
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Car Rental in Launceston from $56.17 per day
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Car Rental in Canberra from $45.02 per day
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Car Rental in Avalon from $72.57 per day
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Car Rental in Ballina from $50.06 per day
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Car Rental in Marcoola from $45.76 per day
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Car Rental in Darwin from $24.12 per day
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Car Rental in Surfers Paradise from $30.11 per day
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Car Rental in Townsville from $52.79 per day
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Car Rental in Proserpine from $40.22 per day
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Car Rental in Newcastle from $38.08 per day
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Car Rental in Broome from $63.63 per day
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Car Rental in Lismore from $29.48 per day
Top 20 Most Popular Locations in Australia
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Car Rental at Melbourne Airport from $25.02 per day
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Car Rental at Brisbane Airport from $36.48 per day
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Car Rental at Cairns Airport from $42.65 per day
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Car Rental at Gold Coast Airport from $26.22 per day
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Car Rental at Sydney Airport from $35.58 per day
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Car Rental at Brisbane Domestic Airport (BNET02) from $45.02 per day
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Car Rental at Hobart Airport from $31.26 per day
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Car Rental at Cairns Domestic Airport (CNST02) from $60.22 per day
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Car Rental at Adelaide Airport from $40.96 per day
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Car Rental at Perth Airport from $40.33 per day
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Car Rental at Launceston Airport from $36.96 per day
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Car Rental at Avalon Airport from $72.57 per day
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Car Rental at Ballina Airport from $50.06 per day
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Car Rental at Sunshine Coast Airport from $45.76 per day
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Car Rental at Darwin Airport from $24.12 per day
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Car Rental at Canberra Airport from $45.02 per day
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Car Rental at Townsville Airport from $52.79 per day
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Car Rental in Melbourne Dandenong from $40.64 per day
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Car Rental in Melbourne Tullamarine from $54.27 per day
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Car Rental in Melbourne Blackburn from $35.72 per day
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Australia?
The cost of renting a car in Australia depends on the time of year. This graph compares price changes from month to month in order to find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in Australia
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in Australia is October — prices start from $29.46 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 29% cheaper than the yearly average and 48% cheaper than renting a car in the month of July (when prices start at $56.52 for a Compact class). This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. The exact price for your trip will depend on the length of your rental and the number of days until your rental period begins. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers.
What’s the average rental length in Australia?
The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in January — an average of 8 days. The shortest are in October — an average of 2 days.
Average Rental Length in Australia
What’s the most popular time for renting a car in Australia?
Discover Cars users search for cars in a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in Australia. The most popular month is January, while the least popular is June.
Popularity of Car Rental in Australia by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bargain Car Rentals | Hyundai Accent | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Toyota Corolla | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Hyundai Kona | 4 | 3 | SUVs |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Nissan X-Trail | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Toyota Corolla Sedan | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| Jucy | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 3 | Medium cars |
| NoBirds | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 1 | Medium cars |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Mitsubishi Eclipse | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Suzuki Swift | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Thrifty | Mitsubishi ASX | 5 | 2 | Station wagons |
Our Customers Reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
WL
Australia
Toyota Corolla Sedan
November 28, 2021
Brisbane/Gold Coast area. Very convenient with a rental car.
DG
Australia
Hyundai Kona
November 26, 2021
Tasmania was beautiful. Travelled around the outside for 11 days. Great experience.
CF
Australia
Toyota Yaris
November 18, 2021
Although I have lived elsewhere for many, many years, Cairns is my birth place and my home. It is still an amazing city and Trinity Beach is where I lived in 1950 to 1979 ... still so beautiful too.
PA
Australia
Mitsubishi Pajero
November 10, 2021
Travel was family related.
JC
Australia
Mitsubishi Outlander
October 10, 2021
Tasmania is a tourist Mecca. Hospitality staff everywhere were terrific !!!
SB
Australia
Hyundai Kona
October 9, 2021
Tasmania - perfect for the self drive holiday ... History and scenery combined. From forest walks to beautiful shorelines, rivers, lakes and creeks, islands and wildlife, adventures and relaxation .. it's all there in a relatively compact form that can be easily experienced on a self-drive.
DJ
Australia
Toyota Corolla
October 4, 2021
My experience with this company was great.
GB
Australia
Kia Carnival
September 26, 2021
Rented a Kia Carnival as very room and spacious. As we had four travellers allowed us heaps of room for luggage. Had 12 days in Tassie and visited places like Strahan, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, Bay of Fires, Bichelo, Frecinet, Port Arthur. Got to explore a lot of places and car was super reliable.
MG
Australia
Hyundai i30
September 23, 2021
If going to Broome, WA book well in advance.
PV
Australia
Nissan X-Trail
September 22, 2021
Car was great, fuel efficient and offered a good deal on fiel.
RN
Australia
Hyundai Accent
September 20, 2021
Plenty to see and do and most of it only an 1hr drive from Cairns
TC
Australia
Kia Cerato
September 7, 2021
Port Douglas and Cairns a car was very needed. Beautiful scenic places to visit
CB
Australia
Hyundai Kona
August 15, 2021
Flecker botanic gardens in Cairns are an absolute must see.
Palm cove was a delight, with lots of choice for meals along the beachfront.
Very relaxing time in Cardwell, plenty of walks along the beach.
SB
Australia
Nissan X-Trail
July 26, 2021
Did a mini lap of tassy in 11 days will do longer next time
DD
Australia
Hyundai Kona
July 25, 2021
We thought cost was high. Or possibly it’s high in far North Queensland
OO
Australia
Mitsubishi Outlander
July 20, 2021
I enjoyed my time at Brisbane, it was lovely
AS
Australia
Hyundai Accent
July 17, 2021
Absolutely beautiful scenery, thoroughly enjoyed our holiday!
AA
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
June 29, 2021
Stayed Melton and a day trip to Ballarat
SO
Australia
Hyundai Accent
June 21, 2021
Visited Hobart and Launceston. Definitely recommend researching a lot before driving anywhere as there are a lot of dirt roads and even though it’s not a long distance it takes more time than usual especially if you encounter a diet road and need to turn back! Always plan to be off any “country” roads before dusk to avoid the wildlife. The tasting trails are amazing and well worth doing but pick your must sees and plan.
CW
Australia
Mitsubishi Lancer
June 17, 2021
We flew from Emerald to Brisbane to spend our boys 1st birthday there and the ease of having a vehicle was on point, I must say that it would have been great if we wer able to meet our vehicle at the airport when we arrived as we had to juggle a lot of our stuff and son to catch a shuttle to get our vehicle but overall would rent again.
Top 12 Suppliers in Australia in 2022
National
740349052
TERMINALBUILDINGAIRPORT AVENUE,
Enterprise
+61740349052
Cairns Airport, T2 Domestic Terminal, Aeroglen QLD 4870
Europcar
+610263231888
5 Charlotte Street, Bathurst NSW 2795
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-16:00
Sun:08:00-16:00
Keddy
+610740349088
Terminal Building Cairns Airport, Cairns City QLD 4870
Working hours
Mon:08:00-23:30
Tue:08:00-23:30
Wed:08:00-23:30
Thu:08:00-23:30
Fri:08:00-23:30
Sat:08:00-23:30
Sun:08:00-23:30
Alamo
740349045
Terminal Building Airport Ave
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-19:30
Sun:08:00-19:30
EastCoast Car Rentals
+611800474258 / +61755558908
411 Sheridan Street, Cairns, 4870
Working hours
Mon:07:00-20:00
Tue:07:00-20:00
Wed:07:00-20:00
Thu:07:00-20:00
Fri:07:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-17:00
Sun:08:00-17:00
Dollar
+1800501934
Terminal Building Cairns Airport, Cairns City QLD 4870
Working hours
Mon:07:00-22:00
Tue:07:00-22:00
Wed:07:00-22:00
Thu:07:00-22:00
Fri:07:00-22:00
Sat:07:00-22:00
Sun:07:00-22:00
SIXT
+61263317033
92 Durham St, Bathurst
Alamo
740349052
TERM BUILDING AIRPORT AVENUE,
GreenMotion
+61134733
385 Thompson Road, North Geelong Victoria 3215
Working hours
Mon:09:00-17:00
Tue:09:00-17:00
Wed:09:00-17:00
Thu:09:00-17:00
Fri:09:00-17:00
Sat:09:00-15:00
NUCarrentals
+61738681935
Terminal Building Brisbane Airport, Brisbane Airport QLD 4007
Ace Rent a car
61740410895 / 3173487251
147 Lake Street