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.
25% of our users found rental cars in Australia for ₱2,412 or less
Book your rental car in Australia at least 5 weeks before your trip in order to get a below-average price
FAQs about renting a car in Australia
On average a rental car in Australia costs ₱4,551 per day.
Full-size (Class Full-size SUV or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Australia.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Apex (₱2,701/day), East Coast Car Rentals (₱3,941/day) and Ace Rental Cars (₱4,559/day).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Australia are Budget (8.7, 166 reviews), East Coast Car Rentals (8.4, 114 reviews), and Alamo (8.3, 92 reviews).
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in Australia are Cairns (63% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Australia), Melbourne (13%) and Hobart (10%).
On average a rental car in Australia costs ₱17,830 per week (₱2,547 per day).
On average a rental car in Australia costs ₱76,414 per month (₱2,547 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.
The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for car rentals for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 24 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car rentals listed or dates of travel. Some car rental providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the car rental providers' sites.