What You Need to Know Before Renting a Car in Brisbane

Renting a car in Brisbane is a great way to get outside of the city and explore the beaches and parkland of Queensland Australia. 

What to know before renting a car in Brisbane

Australia drives on the left

Before driving in Australia for the first time or renting a car in Brisbane,  you need to know that in Australia, cars are driving on the left hand side of the road.  For anyone that is not from Australia, the UK or a commonwealth country, driving on the left side of the road can be confusing and challenging.  But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rent a car in Brisbane or elsewhere in Australia, you just need to be more aware of where and how you drive. 

The obvious challenge is that for anyone used to driving on the right side of the road, is that all your movements are backwards. Not only that, the buttons and controls in the vehicle are backwards as well.  This however varies with car manufacturers.  In Brisbane, the turn signals and windshield wipers were opposite to those in America, so every time I went to put on my signal I accidentally turned on the wipers instead.  However, when I rented a car in Ireland, the signals were in the same spot which was much easier to use.  Gas and brake pedals remain in the same order regardless of country. 

Australian road rules

Most of the rules of driving are similar in Australia as in the United States or other countries. There are road signs designating the speed limits which are in kilometers per hour.  General road safety doesn’t change much in Australia.  Obey the speed limits, wear seat belts, and always stay to the left. 

Do not drink and drive in Brisbane or Queensland!  While driving out to visit a nearby national park, there was a police checkpoint for drunk driving.  This meant at 10am on a Tuesday I had to do a breathalyzer (my first ever) to continue on my route.  I do not know the legal limits in Queensland, but do not risk the consequences.  

Renting a car in Brisbane

It is very easy to hire a car in Brisbane.  The Brisbane Airport has most of the popular car rental companies such as Avis, Hertz and Europcar.  

What documentation do I need for renting a car in Australia?

When renting a car in Brisbane you will need a valid driving licence and major credit card.  An International Driving Permit may not required for rental cars in Brisbane Australia.  However, it doesn’t hurt to have it as policies may vary between companies. 

International Driving Permit (IDP): What to know

• May be issued up to 6 months prior to travel dates
• The International Driving Permit (IDP) must be issued in your home country
• The IDP is valid for 12 months
• The IDP is valid in 150 countries around the world

How to get an IDP?

In the US you can apply in person at a AAA location or apply by mail. The cost for the IDP is $20.  Requirements can be found here.  

Rental car pick up at the Brisbane Airport

For those traveling internationally, the international rental car companies (Budget, Enterprise, etc.) will have customer service booths outside of customs.  In Brisbane, there are many local rental companies, but they do not have booths in the main terminal building.  Once you have all your baggage, you will need to call them for pick up to an offsite location.  If you don’t have cell phone service, check with one of the other car companies or the information stand to contact them.  They will usually arrive within 10-15 minutes or less at the designated pick up zone. 

Crazy Clark’s Car Rental

One local car rental company in Brisbane is Crazy Clark’s Car Rentals.  They are a popular rental agency as they offer cheap car rentals while still providing safe new vehicles.  If you rent through them, you will need to call for pick up as they are located outside of the airport.  They offer a free shuttle to and from the airport. 

They offer two car rental locations, the Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast Airport.

Pros

I rented a Suzuki that was clean and easy to drive. The driver that provided the drop off service was extremely friendly and we had a great conversation on the drive to the airport. The price was extremely affordable at around $85 for 6 days. 

Cons

As I went to fill up my gas before returning the car, the gas tank mechanism was stuck, so I was unable to put in gas.  The fee for filling the car was waived, but I was still charged the rental rate for gas (which is much higher than at a gas station) and for a full tank when it was still ¼ full.  Since I was running late, and with the exchange rate it wasn’t quite as expensive, I chose not to argue in order to have enough time to get to my flight. But since the fault was with the car, I think they should have charged me less than the full tank.  

Despite my issue at the end, I still had a good experience so I would recommend them especially for a budget friendly rental cars.  But check the gas caps before you drop off your vehicle. 

Renting a car in Brisbane: Car insurance recommendations

You need to have insurance with your rental car in Brisbane.  I always decline the car rental insurance provided by the rental agency.  The first reason is that I have a few different travel cards that include international rental insurance in the annual fees.  For this trip I used my Chase Sapphire Card.  Always check with your card prior to the trip to make sure that the country you are traveling to is included in the coverage.  American Express cards DO NOT include coverage for Australia. 

The Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners

If you don’t have a travel card that includes car insurance, you can also get car insurance added onto travelers insurance.  I’ve used Visitors Coverage on my last three international trips and had to use the car insurance during my trip to Guatemala.  Why Renting A Car in Guatemala City is the Best Way to Ruin a Vacation

I never recommend travelers insurance purchased through the airline because it is always going to be very expensive and highly limited.  It only will cover travel related to the flights whereas a more comprehensive insurance has travel, medical and you can add on rental coverage for a much lower cost. 

Car rental Brisbane: how much does it cost?

Hiring a car in Brisbane is quite cheap compared to car rentals in Sydney or Melbourne. If booked in advance, you can rent an economy 4 door vehicle for a price of $20-30 USD per day.  The rates for renting a car in Brisbane for a week start as low as $80.

Vehicle type

The cost of your rental will vary based on the type of vehicle you rent.  An SUV will almost always cost more than a small or midsize sedan.  

When deciding what type of rental car you need in Brisbane, consider how many people and how much luggage you have.  

Where are you parking the car?  My apartment rental had underground parking with very tight spots to enter and exit.  

Where are you driving?  Are you staying in the city and highways or are you venturing out further into the country and back roads? 

Consider all of these questions first to figure out what type of car you need and then find one that fits within your budget. 

Renting a car in Brisbane FAQS

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