Australia

Cheap Car Hire in Australia from $21

Sydney, NSW, Australia
26 Mar — 2 Apr
Driver's age: 26-65
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Tue 26/3
Noon
Tue 2/4
Noon

Australia car hires in 2024

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in Australia. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Most popular company

Sixt

Most common car type

Premium

Average price per day

$69

Cheapest price per day

$21

What are the car hire prices for popular cities in Australia?

Discover the price range for hiring a car in popular cities across Australia, helping you budget and make informed decisions for your upcoming travel. There are 1,831 pickup locations in Australia to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Price

$21 - $38

Out of all the popular cities in Australia, Melbourne is the cheapest city to rent a car in at just $21/day. Renting a car in Melbourne is 45% cheaper than renting one in Cairns where the per day rate is around $38. Other fairly inexpensive cities in Australia to get a rental car in are: Sydney ($23/day), Coolangatta ($24/day), and Hobart ($25/day). While these cities typically have cheaper prices than the rest of the country, travelers looking to rent a car in Brisbane should expect to spend around $28/day on their transportation. The most popular city to rent a car in Australia is Brisbane.

What is the cheapest time to rent a car in Australia?

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in Australia and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

January

$56

February

$60

March

$70

April

$77

May

$71

June

$67

July

$73

August

$67

September

$60

October

$56

November

$59

December

$73

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in Australia is January. The most expensive time to rent a car is April. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Popular car types in Australia

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in Australia and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

small car is the cheapest car type you can hire in Australia this past week from 3,137 hire locations out of 81 hire agencies. Prices for a Australia small car hire start from $21/day. Check out available deals for 7 car types currently offered at listed car hire agencies here:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

SUV

SUV

People mover

People mover

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Compare available car types for hire in Australia

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in Australia to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Small cars

$51 - $79

All Car Types

$68 - $116

To hire a small car in Australia, you would pay an average price of $66/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a small car in Australia (~$51/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is July (~$79/day). In fact, January is about 24% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a small car saves you 28% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a medium car in Australia, you would pay an average price of $75/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in Australia (~$51/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is July (~$90/day). In fact, January is about 33% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a medium car saves you 18% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a large car in Australia, you would pay an average price of $124/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a large car in Australia (~$99/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is December (~$157/day). In fact, November is about 21% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a large car is 27% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia large car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a SUV in Australia, you would pay an average price of $91/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in Australia (~$65/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is July (~$121/day). In fact, January is about 29% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a SUV saves you 2% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a van in Australia, you would pay an average price of $142/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a van in Australia (~$109/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is December (~$223/day). In fact, January is about 24% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a van is 36% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia van hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a pickup truck in Australia, you would pay an average price of $122/day. September is the cheapest month to hire a pickup truck in Australia (~$48/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is July (~$191/day). In fact, September is about 61% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a pickup truck hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a pickup truck is 26% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia pickup truck hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a luxury car in Australia, you would pay an average price of $144/day. September is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in Australia (~$119/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is December (~$188/day). In fact, September is about 18% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a luxury car is 37% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Australia luxury car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a convertible in Australia, you would pay an average price of $278/day. September is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in Australia (~$207/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is December (~$441/day). In fact, September is about 26% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a convertible hire for Australia. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Australia, hiring a convertible is 68% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

Hyundai i30$21/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i30
Kia Picanto$21/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Hyundai Accent Hatch$25/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai Accent Hatch

Tips for hiring a car in Australia

Browse helpful tips for hiring a car in Australia including age restrictions, car type suggestions and more. Tips were last updated on 19 March 2024.
  • Make sure to check with your Australian car hire company before taking your vehicle across state and territory borders. Most companies allow some cross-border travel, particularly between Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. However, some companies may not allow you to take a vehicle from New South Wales across the border into Queensland or the Northern Territory. If you're planning on travelling on a car ferry from Victoria to Tasmania, let your car hire company know first. Most will allow it, but you usually need to get written permission and may need to pay for additional insurance.
  • Make sure you're aware of the ways road rules differ between states (and sometimes between cities) in Australia. For example, if you're driving in Melbourne, you'll need to stop at the back of a stopped tram to allow passengers to disembark, and you can't drive on tram tracks for more than 50 metres at a time. Victoria is the only state where U-turns are allowed at traffic lights unless signed, and in New South Wales, drivers are required to maintain a three-second gap between their car and the vehicle in front of them. Across Australia, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%.
  • When driving in more rural areas, keep an eye out for animals on the road, especially at dawn and dusk. There will often be road signs indicating areas where animals are frequently present. This is especially true on stretches of unfenced road in the countryside, where you may encounter large wild animals like kangaroos, emus and camels. Be prepared to slow down when necessary. It's also a good idea to keep an eye out for signs with the animal rescue phone number, which you can call if you encounter injured wildlife.

Top hire agencies in Australia

Explore the leading car hire agencies in Australia known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in Australia. Reviews were last updated on 19 March 2024.
Book your reservation with one of the top hire car agencies located in Australia, including those serving the greater Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart area. Browse through some of the top car hire agencies in Australia, including locations around Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart.

Thrifty

364 locations

Firefly

276 locations

Hertz

266 locations

keddy by Europcar

213 locations

Sunnycars

196 locations

Avis

186 locations

Budget

169 locations

Sixt

161 locations

Best Australia car hire deals found

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in Australia. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in Australia with an average daily rate of $37. Data was last updated on 19 March 2024.
Take a peek at some options we've found for car hires in Australia, including locations near Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart. If these deals don't appeal to you, check back very soon as they are being updated frequently.
Hyundai i30$21/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i30
Kia Picanto$21/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto
Toyota Corolla$23/day
5
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in Australia, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 19 March 2024.
  • Should I hire a car in Australia?

    Hiring a car is one of the best ways to see everything Australia has to offer. There are several excellent road trips throughout the country, such as The Great Ocean Road in Victoria and the Red Centre Way in the Northern Territory. Rest stops are common throughout Australia, making it easy to find somewhere safe to pull over and rest overnight or for a few hours. With your own vehicle, you can travel on your own schedule and easily adjust your plans when you want to.

  • What is driving like in Australia?

    Driving conditions can vary greatly throughout Australia, depending on whether you’re driving in big cities, through stretches of desert in the outback or through dense forest in the bush. In major cities, you may want to avoid rush hour (usually from 07:00 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 18:00), and it's often easiest to avoid the city centres altogether, as some roads in these areas may be pedestrian zones at certain times. Roads throughout the country are generally well-maintained, including several major highways that can take you through the countryside. However, if you're venturing off the beaten path, you may encounter dirt roads and potholes. Avoid driving on dirt roads when possible.

  • How old do I have to be to hire a car in Australia?

    In Australia, you need to be at least 21 years old to hire a car. Most companies will also add a young driver's surcharge for drivers under the age of 25. This is usually an additional daily fee. When you pick up your vehicle, you'll need to bring your driving licence and a credit card in your name. You may be able to pay via debit card or cash, but a credit card is generally required so the car hire company can place a hold charge. While an International Driving Permit is typically not required if your licence is written in the Latin alphabet, it may still come in handy. Conversely, if your licence uses a different writing system, such as Cyrillic or Arabic, an International Driving Permit is usually required.

  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in Australia?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, MINI Car Rentals (10.0 rating), Fox (10.0 rating) and Sunset Rent a Car (10.0 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in Australia.

  • What is the most popular car hire provider in Australia?

    With an average price of $47/day, Bargain Car Rentals is the most popular car hire provider in Australia, booking 169% more hire cars than any other provider.

  • What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in Australia?

    At $36/day, the cheapest car hire price in Australia was found in Brisbane. On average, Maroochydore has the cheapest daily rental car price ($57/day), which is 35% below average price for cities in Australia.

  • What side of the road do you drive on in Australia?

    Cars travel on the left side of the road in Australia.

See more FAQs

Small car hires in Australia

Find small car hire deals in Australia from well-known providers in the area and save on gas mileage with the options provided below. small car hires in Australia cost an average of $29 per day. Price data was last updated on 19 March 2024.
Nissan March$28/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan March
Nissan Micra$28/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan Micra
Nissan March$28/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan March

Car hires by fuel type in Australia

Browse car hires by fuel type in Australia. Currently, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in Australia. Deals were last updated on 19 March 2024.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in Australia. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest ($17+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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