Driver's Licence

Before You Book

Understand the essential driver's licence requirements for car hire in Australia, including rules for international visitors and additional drivers

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Driver's Licence Requirements for Car Hire in Australia

What Licence Do You Need to Hire a Car?

All drivers must hold a current, full and unrestricted driver's licence that has been held for at least 12 months. Your licence must be presented in person when collecting your rental vehicle. Learner permit drivers (L Plate) are not accepted by any car hire supplier in Australia. Probationary licence holders (P Plate) are accepted by Redspot only — all other suppliers require a full unrestricted licence.

Most suppliers require the licence to be written in English or in the Roman (Latin) character set. If your licence is not in English, you will need either an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified English translation — carried alongside your original licence.

Expert Tip

If your licence has expired, is suspended, or has any restrictions, you will be refused the vehicle at the counter — no exceptions. Always check your licence expiry date before booking.

Supplier-Specific Licence Requirements

While the general rule is a full licence held for 12 months, some suppliers have additional or different requirements.

Supplier	Licence Hold Period	Non-English Licence Rule	Other Notes
Avis	12 months (full, unrestricted)	IDP required if licence is not in Roman characters	—
Budget	12 months	IDP or international licence	—
Dollar	12 months	IDP or certified translation for non-English licences	—
Europcar	12 months (full, unrestricted)	IDP or certified English translation if not in Roman characters	—
Hertz	12 months (full, unrestricted)	IDP or certified English translation	Tasmania: must have held full licence for 3 years. China: Notarial Certificate accepted in place of IDP
Keddy by Europcar	12 months (full, unrestricted)	IDP or certified translation	Provisional licence holders explicitly excluded
Thrifty	12 months (full, unrestricted)	IDP or certified English translation. If no photo on licence, IDP required	—

All suppliers require the original physical licence to be presented at pickup. A photocopy, photo, or screenshot is never accepted.

Learner and Provisional Licences

No car hire supplier in Australia accepts Learner (L Plate) licences. Almost all suppliers also exclude Probationary (P Plate) licence holders — including both Red P (P1) and Green P (P2). The one exception is Redspot, which welcomes provisional licence holders. Simply present your valid P licence at the counter.

This differs from campervan hire, where some suppliers accept Green P2 holders. If you hold a provisional licence and Redspot does not suit your needs, you will need to wait until you have a full unrestricted licence before hiring a car with other suppliers.

International Visitors and Overseas Licences

Do You Need an International Driving Permit?

Whether you need an IDP depends on your licence:

English-language licence (e.g. UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand) — you can drive on your overseas licence alone. No IDP needed, though carrying one is still recommended.
Non-English licence — you must carry either an IDP or a certified English translation alongside your original licence. The IDP does not replace your licence; both must be presented together.
China — Hertz accepts a Chinese Notarial Certificate in place of an IDP. Other suppliers require a standard IDP.

An IDP is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and must be obtained in your home country before travelling to Australia. It is typically issued by your national automobile association (e.g. AAA in the USA, JAF in Japan).

How Long Can You Drive on an Overseas Licence?

Australian states and territories have different rules for how long overseas visitors can drive on a foreign licence:

State/Territory	Visitors (temporary visa)	Non-English Licence Requirement
ACT	Indefinitely while visiting	IDP or NAATI translation
NSW	Up to 6 months of continuous residence	IDP or English translation
NT	3 months maximum	Official English translation required
QLD	Indefinitely while licence is current	IDP or NAATI translation
SA	Indefinitely while visiting	IDP or English translation
TAS	Indefinitely while visiting	IDP or official translation
VIC	Up to 6 months	IDP or English translation
WA	Indefinitely while visiting	Translation certified by consulate or diplomatic office

The Northern Territory is the most restrictive at just 3 months. If you are picking up a car in the NT (e.g. Darwin or Alice Springs), ensure your overseas licence is still within the 3-month window.

Expert Tip

If you are visiting Australia for a holiday and returning home, the time limits above are unlikely to affect you. They mainly apply to temporary residents who stay beyond the limit without converting to an Australian licence.

Digital Driver's Licences

Several Australian states now offer digital driver's licences through smartphone apps (NSW, QLD, VIC, SA). However, acceptance by car hire companies varies:

Supplier	Accepts Digital Licence?	Notes
Avis / Budget	Yes (conditionally)	Accepts digital licences from NSW, QLD, SA, VIC — must be verified live in the app. Screenshots or photos of a physical licence are not accepted
Enterprise	No	Requires the original physical licence
Europcar	Yes	Accepts Australian and NZ digital licences at all locations
Hertz	No	Requires a physical licence card even if you have a digital licence
SIXT	Yes (conditionally)	Accepts digital licences presented through the official state government app (e.g. Service NSW, myVicRoads, Queensland Digital Licence app). Screenshots or photos are not accepted. SIXT still recommends carrying your physical card as a backup, especially when driving across state lines — police in WA or NT may still require the physical card during roadside checks
Thrifty	No	Requires you to present your physical, plastic driver's licence at the counter

Because acceptance is inconsistent, always carry your physical licence card when picking up a rental car. A digital licence may not be accepted, and you could be refused the vehicle.

Additional Drivers

All additional drivers must be present at the counter on the day of collection, provide their own valid driver's licence, and sign the rental agreement. Additional drivers are subject to the same licence requirements as the primary driver.

Most suppliers charge a daily fee for each additional driver:

Supplier	Additional Driver Fee
Alamo	$10.00 per day
Avis	$7.50 per day (max $37.50)
Budget	$7.50 per day (max $37.50)
Dollar	$5.50 per day (max $27.50)
East Coast	$12.10 per rental
Enterprise	Included
Europcar	$5.75 per day (max $28.75)
Firefly	Included
Hertz	$5.50 per day (max $27.50)
Keddy by Europcar	$5.75 per day (max $28.75)
Thrifty	$5.50 per day (max $27.50)

If you are travelling as a couple or family and planning to share driving on a long trip, adding a second driver is often worthwhile — particularly with suppliers like Enterprise or Firefly where it is included at no extra cost.