Parking in Australia

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Parking a Hire Car in Australia: Rules, Fees & Tips

Parking rules in Australia are specific to the local council you are travelling in. When parking it's important to check for any road signs or markings on the road.

Roadside parking is allowed in most locations unless otherwise signed and excluding major roads and motorways. When parking there must be space without blocking objects like mailboxes, fire hydrants, traffic lights, tram and bus stops.

Tips for parking in Australia

Park within the parking bay lines if there are any.
Park in the same direction of the traffic for the side you are parked.
Check for cyclists and allow them to pass before opening your door.
Lock your doors and remove all valuables from the vehicle.
Check mirrors, Indicate and check blind spots before driving away. Give way to all pedestrians and vehicles on the road when leaving.
Leave 3 metres between your car and any driveway.

Overnight Parking

Australian law states you cannot stop and sleep anywhere in your car unless it’s a specific place that allows you.

Find Rest Areas and Driver Reviver sites along your route where you can stop, rest and refresh yourself. Pulling over to sleep without checking if it’s okay can result in hefty fines and parking bans.

Some permitted areas where you can park overnight include:  

National parks  
Holiday parks  
State forests 
Campsites  
Motorhome sites  
RV-friendly towns  
Roadside campervan camping  
Beachside areas

However, not all these types of places will allow you to stay overnight either. It just depends on the specific rules of each location.

Parking and Road Signs 

Here are some parking road signs you should watch out for: 

No Stopping – No stopping your vehicle unless because of traffic conditions.  
No Standing – You can stop your car only for three minutes while remaining inside.  
No Parking – Your vehicle cannot be left unattended.

The green letter “P” parking signs mean you’re allowed to park for certain times, for example:  

1/2P – Half an hour.  
1P – One hour.  
3P – Three hours.  
P – Permissive parking zone.  
Arrow – Parking applies in the direction the arrow is pointing. 
7.30AM-6.30PM Mon-Fri – Vehicles can park at the specified time.  
Ticket – You must purchase a parking ticket. 
Permit zone – Only permit holders can park.

Parking Tickets

Remember, if you receive a parking ticket, the ticket gets assigned to the vehicle, not the person. As you will have a rental vehicle, the car provider will receive the fine and they will contact you. Tickets may result in charges post-hire. If you know you have received a ticket, please present the ticket upon vehicle drop off for further steps on how to pay.

The fines for illegal parking range from an on-the-spot fine of $110 to a maximum of $2,200. For significant breaches, or for repeat offenders, Council can issue Court Attendance Notices that have a maximum penalty of $110,000. 