Australian Car Rentals

Australia is a big continent nation having over 556,000 miles of highways that can take you all over this huge landmass. These roadways, stretching from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west, offer many beautiful sights that you won’t forget in a lifetime. Imagine encountering a kangaroo while driving along some remote parts of this country!

In Australia, ‘the car is king’ and Australians, by nature, are fond of driving. The vast majority of Australian adults is proud owners of cars and would hate to be without one.

You can travel through Australia by bus, ferry or by air. But if you are really interested in exploring this magnificent country, you have to get out of the main cities and towns and veer off the beaten track. And once you make up your mind and decide to hit the road, car rental is the best option for you, both financially and otherwise.

It can be said with a fair degree of conviction that if you want to use a car for less than a month, it is always convenient to go for car rentals in Australia. Perhaps buying would be a better proposition if you have to use a car for more than three months. When renting a car in Australia, you have to meet certain essential requirements.

Age bar

You can rent a car in Australia only if you have reached the age of 21 (age may vary depending on the category of the car) and have held your license for one year. Drivers below the age of 25 may have to pay what is called a young driver surcharge. Some car rental firms have fixed the maximum age for renting at 75 years. Use of seatbelts is mandatory for the driver and passengers in Australia.

License

You have to hold a valid drivers license. An international driving permit has to be valid for the entire term of your car rental and should be in English. Car rental companies in Australia usually do not refuse license holders from the UK, who have driven for six months in Australia and then taken a local driving test.

Speed limits and road rules

Don’t forget that speed limits in Australia are 35mph/60kph for cities and 68mph/110kph for highways. Cars have to follow the ‘keep to the left’ rule, i.e., move on the left hand side of the road with the steering wheel on the right hand side of the car. This makes driving easier for visitors from the UK who are accustomed to this rule.

Credit card and passport

Most car rental companies in Australia will ask you to provide a credit card as a form of security. In case you are a foreign national, they may also want to check your passport.

Rental restrictions

In Australia, there are curbs on certain vehicles traveling to Northern Territories, Western Australia and Tasmania. Cars are also not allowed to be carried on ferries.

Insurance

Australian car rental insurance is an extremely important consideration whenever you rent a car. You must always ensure that you will be adequately covered in the event of a mishap. You should always verify whether your own personal vehicle insurance policy covers rental vehicles, whether there are any geographical restrictions, and whether your travel insurance covers car rental. If you're not covered, a cheaper option is to add rental car insurance to your own policy than buying the additional coverage every time you rent. Carefully glance through your credit card terms and conditions and find out if the damage excess is covered by your credit card company.

Australian car rental companies normally offer three main types of coverage: CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), LDW (Loss Damage Waiver), and PDW (Physical Damage Waiver). CDW or LDW does not give a rental car company right to recover money from the renter if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. This (third party damage) does not cover damages caused to someone else’s car during your rental period. CDWs can, however, become irrelevant if you drive in a negligent manner or out of the state in which you rented the car if geographical restrictions apply in your rental contract.

Some agencies may also offer personal liability coverage such as LIS (Liability Insurance Supplement). In addition, they may also offer you supplemental or additional liability coverage. PAI (Personal Accident Insurance) provides a one-time payment for you or a passenger in case of death or maiming because of a car accident. With PEC (Personal Effects Coverage) or Personal Property Insurance, you get paid if something is stolen or lost from your car.

Gas, tolls and parking

Gas stations are many and most of them honor international credit cards. They remain open during varied hours depending on location. Gas is usually more expensive in country areas. You have to pay a toll to cross the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Tolls are charged on some of the highways going out of Brisbane also. Parking lots and meters are found aplenty in major Australian cities.

Car rental agencies

You will find a large number of australian car rental agencies, both local and international. Intense competition among them benefits renters as the agencies offer a range of prices and short-term specials. Leading car rental companies such as Avis, Hertz, Thrifty and Budget operate at most of Australia’s major airports. Although there is little to choose between them on typical round-the-city rentals, they make special offers with less typical and longer-term deals.

One of the most helpful sources for finding a suitable australian car rental company is a copy of the Yellow Pages (the Telstra telephone Business Directory) which lists all the companies in the local area. They can be also be accessed on the Internet.

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