Unlimited Kilometres and Kilometre Allowances
Most hire cars picked up in Australian cities come with unlimited kilometres. Pick up in the country or the outback and you may get a daily allowance instead, with a charge for every kilometre over it.
What unlimited kilometres means
With unlimited kilometres, you pay the same rental rate however far you drive. You still pay for fuel, and the usual road restrictions still apply. Unlimited kilometres doesn't mean you can take the car anywhere.
Where limits apply
Kilometre limits depend mostly on where you pick up the car. Hertz's Australian rental terms are a good example. They group branches into three kinds of location:
- Metropolitan: unlimited kilometres, except Hertz's Prestige Collection, which has a 200 km daily allowance.
- Country: 200 km free per day.
- Remote: 100 km free per day.
Other rental companies set their own allowances, and they can differ between vehicle types and rates at the same branch. For a long trip from a regional or outback town, such as Darwin, Alice Springs or Broome, check the allowance on every quote you compare.
How to check your allowance
- Before you book: check the kilometre allowance in the rental conditions for the quote. If two quotes are close in price, the one with unlimited kilometres is often better value for a road trip.
- After you book: your booking confirmation shows the kilometre allowance under the vehicle group.
- At the counter: your rental agreement records the allowance and the car's starting kilometres.
What extra kilometres cost
If you drive more than your allowance, the rental company charges a rate for each extra kilometre. The rate is set out in your rental agreement, and you pay it when you return the car.
An example with illustrative figures:
- You hire a car for 7 days at $30 a day, with 100 km a day included and extra kilometres at $0.28 each.
- Your allowance is 7 × 100 = 700 km for the hire.
- You drive 800 km, so 100 km is extra. At $0.28 a kilometre, that's $28.
- You pay $210 for the hire plus $28 for the extra kilometres, $238 in total.
Driving less than your allowance doesn't earn you a refund.
Extending your hire
If you keep the car longer, your allowance can change. Europcar's Australian terms, for example, say your entitlement to free kilometres may change when you extend, and you'll be charged for kilometres over the allowance for your rental period and vehicle. Ask the rental company how an extension affects your allowance before you agree to it.
Very short trips
A short trip can cost more to refuel than you expect. Under Hertz's terms, if you drive less than 120 km and don't return the car with a full tank, refuelling is charged per kilometre driven rather than per litre. Our petrol guide explains how to refuel near the branch before you return the car.
Check the odometer
When you collect the car, check that the starting kilometres on your rental agreement match the odometer. Take a photo of the dashboard at pick-up and again when you return the car, so you have a record if you're charged for extra kilometres. See vehicle inspection for what else to check.
Hiring a campervan?
Many campervan quotes include unlimited kilometres, but some campervan companies include a set number of kilometres per day and charge for extra kilometres. See understanding campervan pricing.
Next steps
- Features to consider when choosing a car: the other details that change the real cost of a quote
- Unexpected additional charges: what to do if a charge arrives after your hire
Part of Before You Book in the Car Hire Handbook.