Common Questions About Car Rentals

With some exceptions, you need to be over 21 to hire a car in Australia. If you are between 21 and 25, the rental company may ask you to choose a vehicle category that allows drivers under 25, or to pay a young driver surcharge. See age restrictions.

Rental companies generally require a current, full driver's licence held for at least 12 months without restrictions. Learner licences aren't accepted, and most rental companies don't accept provisional licences. Rules can differ, so check the licence conditions on your quote. You must show your licence when you collect the car, and every additional driver must show theirs.

If your licence isn't in English, carry an International Driving Permit or a certified English translation with it. Our driver's licence guide has the details.

Every vehicle is shown with "or similar". You are booking a vehicle category, not a specific model. Makes and models within a category can differ in seating, luggage capacity, equipment and engine size.

The car you collect will normally be from the category you booked. If none are available, the rental company will usually provide a car of similar size or one from the next available category. Read more about what "or similar" means.

No. Rental companies don't guarantee a particular make, model or colour, so DriveNow can't either. The vehicle types, images and specifications shown online are examples of the cars a rental company includes in that category.

Yes. Rental companies restrict how their cars are used. Common restrictions include driving only on maintained sealed roads, no off-road driving, and no ferry travel without permission. Breaking the restrictions can invalidate your insurance. Check with the branch staff before you set off, and read our road restrictions guide.

Yes. Your arrival flight number tells the rental company which terminal you are arriving at. If your flight is delayed and the rental company has your flight details, it is more likely to hold the car for you.

Without flight details, if you haven't collected the car at the booked time, the rental company may treat you as a no-show and give the car to another customer. See late pick-ups and delayed flights.

Where possible, yes. During busy periods such as long weekends, Easter, Christmas and school holidays, cars often sell out well in advance. Specialty vehicles, such as 12-seaters, people movers, luxury and sports cars and 4WDs, tend to sell out quickly and early.

Yes. DriveNow is a comparison website with live prices from the rental companies we work with. A rental company can change its prices, and prices can rise as other customers book. Once your booking is confirmed, the rates are locked in for your booked dates. See understanding pricing.

Yes. Rental companies offer child seats and booster seats, and you can request them when you make your booking. Use the comments section for any further details. Each rental company sets its own charges and conditions for seat hire, and fees can differ between airport and city locations. See optional extras.