Search for car rental Australia

Car rentals in Australia are widely available and include a vast array of options and price points: compact cars, larger sedans, SUVs, luxury models, people-movers, even hybrid and electric options. There are Australian car hire rental partners to suit every need—and Airport Rentals' simple-to-use search engine makes it easy for travellers to find the right vehicle.

To see and compare Australia car rentals, just enter your desired location, dates, and times for pick-up and drop-off, age, and country of origin into the correct fields and hit the search button. The comprehensive search listings will show all the necessary details right there on the results page, making it easy to compare the possibilities and available options, and find the one you want.

You can also narrow down the search significantly with an array of filters, allowing you to select for features such as price, depot type, car type, transmission, number of people the car can hold, available child seats, GPS unit, and more. Book your car hire online with Airport Rentals and discover Australia!

Where to rent a car in Australia: popular locations

In a nation as vast as Australia, there are options to suit all kinds of travellers. Here is a rundown of some major cities and the regions they provide access to—so you can decide where you’d like your car hire adventure to take place.

Sydney car hire

Worldly and wonderfully scenic Sydney is the biggest city in Australia and the gateway to New South Wales. A car rental from Sydney Airport or one of the many depots in the city makes it easy for travellers to discover the iconic urban delights including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the sprawling suburbs, and beyond. Within a day’s drive of Sydney you’ll find the beautiful Blue Mountains region, a string of friendly coastal towns, celebrated wine regions, national parks, outback scenery, and even ski resorts.

Melbourne car hire

This trendy, stylish, and sports-mad city is a fantastic spot for a city break and an even better starting point for an epic road trip in the state of Victoria. Enjoy the laneways and the galleries then head out of the city to drive the famous Great Ocean Road, explore the Victorian Goldfields heritage region, or visit the many beautiful state and national parks of this temperate and tantalising part of the country. Hire a car from Melbourne Airport.

Brisbane car hire

A bold and bustling subtropical city, Brisbane gives travellers access to fabulous Queensland. If you like white sand beaches and palm trees, this is the state for you. A car hire from Brisbane (or car hire from Cairns if you’d prefer to start farther north) can also be the start of an Outback adventure.

Perth car hire

This far-west city is isolated from all other major centres of civilisation—a unique standout metropolis. The relaxed and globally-connected city has a lot to offer, and any traveller with a car hire will find fabulous destinations across the state of Western Australia. The Margaret River region and delights of the south coast from Albany to Esperance are spectacular. Head north in your Perth car hire to enjoy increasingly tropical beaches, encounters with marine mammals, and camel safaris on the beach at Broome. Inland, the Golden Outback awaits.

Adelaide car hire

The capital of South Australia is stately and well-ordered but far from boring. With a car rental from Adelaide you can enjoy the galleries, parklands, and beach suburbs of the city then hit the highways and explore a state that often flies under the tourism radar. Discover surf beaches, vast lakes, stunning parks and bushland, wine regions, the quirky Outback town of Coober Pedy, and more.

Top tips for driving in Australia

Stay safe on the Aussie roads with our driving tips! If you’re new to driving in the country, here’s what you need to know before you pick up your Australian car hire and hit the road for that self drive holiday.

• Everyone in Australia drives on the left-hand side of the road. This means that the vast majority of vehicles are set up with the driver on the right-hand side. If you are unused to this arrangement, we suggest taking some time to become accustomed before driving your car rental on busy or high-speed roads.

• All distances are posted in kilometres, and speeds in kilometres per hour.

• Australia is made up of eight states/territories, and each has slightly different road rules. Do some research on the rules for the specific state you are visiting before going on a rental car Aus journey.

• The Outback regions are vast and spots of civilisation are few and far between. If you are heading into central Australia, ensure your vehicle is stocked with food, water, and a method of communication. Fuel up when you have the chance, as you may not come across another petrol station for a long time. Distances on the map can be deceptive.

The sheer size of the country means that there are almost limitless options for those hiring a car in Australia with the intention of embarking on an unforgettable road trip. That said, we have narrowed down the possibilities to just a few ideas for inspiration for your next rent car AU adventure.

Great Ocean Road: 1-2 days

This famous route near Melbourne takes you past some stunning coastlines including iconic rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles and the rainforests of Great Otway National Park. Although this car rental Australia route only takes around 2.5 hours to drive, we suggest splitting it over two days to fully enjoy the epic scenery.

Sydney to Brisbane: 2-4 days

Spread this thousand-kilometre journey over several days to enjoy all that there is to see along the way. If you like beaches and beach towns (whether you are in a car or campervan rental to Brisbane / Gold Coast), this is the road trip for you! Highlights include the Hunter Valley region (worth the detour) and iconic coastal resorts like Byron Bay and Ballina.

Stuart Highway (Darwin to Adelaide): 1-2 weeks

This is an epic and memorable journey with your Australia car or campervan rental, a trip through the otherworldly landscapes and unique vistas of Australia’s “Red Centre”. The main point of interest along the way is Alice Springs, but you’ll discover friendly towns, rivers, gorges, stunning sunsets, and an array of climates. Make the detour to see the famous Uluru rock formation and the rest of Northern Territory.

Perth to Broome: 4-6 days

Stick to the stunning Indian Ocean Coast to enjoy the amazing sights of this road trip. Highlights include the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park, the natural archway called Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park, the dolphins at Monkey Mia, the wetlands and vast stretches of sand at 80 Mile Beach, and of course the fantastic cities at either end.

If you want a different kind of vehicle like an RV during your Australian adventure, why not get a motorhome rental in Perth? You may also pick up a campervan in Brisbane. The choices are endless with Airport Rentals.