Australia traffic rules and self driving car rental tips

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. Do not overtake on the left-hand side and do not overtake if there are solid white lines. At roundabouts, you must give way to vehicles already on the roundabout and select your lane early.

Speed Limit

There are speed limits of 100-130 km/h on freeways and 50 km/h in built-up areas.

Traffic Signs

These are some specific signs you may encounter and be unfamiliar with when driving in Australia. Even though most of them are self-explanatory, it is strongly advised to make sure you can understand them before taking the road.

Australian regulatory signs have different shapes.

Give Way

Stop

No U-turn

50 km/h Speed Limit

Speed Derestriction

Warning signs are diamond-shaped and mostly with a yellow background.

Speed Limit Ahead (Used in Western Australia)

Steep Descent

Two-way Traffic Ahead

Pedestrians

Railway Level Crossing on Road Ahead

Railway Level Crossing on Road Ahead (Skewed) (Left)

Railway Level Crossing on Road Ahead (Skewed) (Right)

Information signs are rectangular with red or green backgrounds.

Exit	Reduce Speed Now

For a complete traffic and road signs, you may refer to this Australia road user handbook.

Seatbelt and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

All passengers are required to have their seatbelt fastened at all times when the vehicle is moving. Failure to do so can result in a fine of AU$250.

Booster Seat Laws

Babies up to 6 months must be installed on a rear-facing car seat, and children from 6 months to 4 years are allowed on both forward and rear-facing seats.

Please be aware that children up to 4 years old cannot travel on the front seat unless the car is a two-seater.

Finally, a booster seat or forward facing seat must be used for children between 4 and 7 years old. A child of this age is only allowed on the front seat if there is no other seat available for them.

Parking, Fuel and Toll

Parking

· Forbidden Parking

Cars are not allowed to be parked on the following spots as doing so can result in a fine:

- On the footpath or nature strip as these places are for people.

- On a yellow line.

- In a way that blocks other cars from entering or exiting the driveway. In an emergency, the car may be towed away.

- Less than10 metres (approximately 2 large car lengths) from an intersection so that other cars can safely pass without causing danger.

- In a place that has been marked with ‘No Stopping’ or ‘No Standing’. A ‘No Standing’ sign indicates motorist may not park a car unless they remain in the vehicle and for no more than three minutes.

· Parking Signs

Parking signs in Australia may specify multiple times, places, durations, restrictions and vehicle categories in a condensed form on a single sign. Letter P signs are 'permissive' parking signs where parking is permitted for the time specified. A guide to the most common parking signs is below:

- '1/2P', '1P', '3P': Vehicles can be parked here for half an hour, one hour, or three hours.

- '630AM-730 PM Mon-Fri': Vehicles may be parked here only at the specified times - in this case, between 06:30 and 19:30 from Monday to Friday.

- 'P'(no number): Permissive parking zone

- '15 minute', '20 minute', '45 minute': Vehicles may be parked here only for the specified number of minutes

· Paid Parking

There are municipal parking garages and lots, metered parking alongside the road and ticket machine parking in most towns and cities.

Australia Parking Metre (Image from alphaairportparking.com.au)

Fuel Prices

The average value for Australia gasoline price during July to October 2017 is AU$1.26, while diesel is 3 cents higher.

Toll

Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are the only three cities in Australia featuring toll roads. Toll roads in Australia use free-flowing tolling, with no toll booth along the entire length of the system to optimize traffic flow. An electronic toll collection system is usually used instead.

If you plan to use toll roads in Australia, we suggest you rent an e-toll/e-pass device from the car hire company, enabling an automatic payment of the toll fee directly from your credit card. Please note that e-toll/e-pass devices are subject to availability at the rental desk. Australia E-Toll Device (Image from australiahereandnow.com)

If you have any question related to your toll fee billing, feel free to contact QEEQ' 24/7 customer service team for assistance.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

In all states of Australia, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers is below 0.05%. Drink driving is treated as a major offence and any person driving a vehicle over the legal limit may face penalties ranging from the suspension, disqualification or cancellation of their licence, fines to imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offence.

Traffic Fines

Failure to pay the road or parking violation fines can have some long-term consequences, especially for international travellers. Not paying fines could affect your next visit to Australia as infringement notice are inserted into the Police Central Names Index (CNI) and the National Names Index (NNI).

However, paying fines is not a challenge for renters since the car hire company will pass on the offence information to the authorities and a post or email notification will be sent to you if some traffic laws have been breached. Note that the fine usually comes with a service/administration fee as well.

It is advisable for you to contact EasryRentCars' 24/7 customer service team if you have any question on this matter.

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

Foreigners on short-term visit may rent a car and drive with a valid foreign driving licence for up to 3 months in Australia. Longer than that, you need to get an Australian driving licence from an Australian state. To drive in Australia, the licence should be a full driving licence held for at least 2 years with no major endorsements.

To hire a car in Australia you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category). If you are 21-25, you are likely to have to pay a young driver fee. There is no maximum driving age in Australia.

Guest reviews

1 /

A.Pekin

April 14, 2021

Destination: Brisbane

10Trouble free

Bargain staff were friendly and efficient. We will definitely use them again.

D.Schofield

April 12, 2021

10Great rental experience

Great experience and good budget rental company , affordable and friendly staff

A.Srivastava

Destination: Hobart

8.7It was awesome and hassle free. I would definitely use QEEQ for booking in future as well.

The inside of the car was dirty and there were spider webs on the side mirror.

Nash Bakhit

Destination: Gold Coast

9.3absolute pleasure to deal with QEEQ!

Very friendly staff, great support, will go there again for sure

9.3Not great

Alpha could not find our booking to begin with. Spent a while to track it down as QEEQ did not send through my surname. Said the insurance booked through the app was less than their basic

Gautam Thapar

April 11, 2021

10Super easy

Brand new car, Got Kia Cerato, all the features in it.

D.Yorke

Destination: Melbourne

9O.K.

I booked a Toyota, but got a very underpowered Hyundai instead. Also I thought I had booked Melbourne Airport drop off, but they don’t have a drop off point there.

S.Ehrle

April 1, 2021

9.7Good car but overpriced

9.7Cheap and easy

Free upgrade - thank you Thrifty

e.lewis

10Perfect.

car was great more then expectations, hybrid ,fuel economy great. Staff friendly and helpful. efficient .

J.McIntyre

6.7Car was old but sufficient for a single day. Would not use this company for a longer hire

The vehicle I received was an old Volvo v60 which would best be described as well used. The leather on the seats was cracked and the exterior was not even clean. Also in the pick up office EVERY sign was written in Mandarin.

Vi Vic

March 22, 2021

8Everything was good except price

It was very expensive

Marie

Destination: Rockhampton

10Good value

As I went to the counter after the arrival of a flight the counter staff were busy with customers. The staff were pleasant and I was processed quickly and was on my way.

Destination: Adelaide

10Excellent

Car was upgraded to a larger vehicle with more space at no cost - this was very welcome as we had a lot of luggage and made things much easier for us

Destination: Gladstone

9.7Excellent experience as always!

The counter stuff is helpful and friendly, easy fast pick-up and drop-off.

G.Kaskoutas

10Very quick and painless

Perfect, very quick and streamlined service, very minimal waiting time, clean vehicle, friendly staff.

G.Linford

Destination: Perth

8.7Great price, just dissapointing that the desk was not manned on a week day. I needed to ring to get

The counter staff not at desk, had to wait 45 minutes for someone to arrive at 10.45am

March 18, 2021

Destination: Broome

9.7Excellent

Excess was excessive with AUS5,500! Buying insurance at $40/day was removing the good deal I get from QEEQ.

Adrian

March 17, 2021

Destination: Launceston

10Wonderful

Got an upgrade from small to compact SUV. Fantastic

M.Rooney

March 14, 2021

9Good overall.

Service was good but disappointed that 2 of the seats had cigarette burns in them. I always get a bit miffed by the surcharge for airport pick up.

Destination: Newcastle

9Friendly staff and easy process.

The car was upgraded, which was nice.

G.Thapar

March 12, 2021

9.3Love it

Perfect experience and easy and smooth.

d.cloud

March 11, 2021

10Good value, excellent service

Brilliant value

Les Moore

10Best experience that I have had for a car rental.

Counter staff were excellent. Pick-up took a long time due to long queue at the counter - not much business being done at the other car rental desks!

C.Werner

March 9, 2021

Destination: Sydney

10Highly recommend

The car was brand new, spacious and fantastic to drive. great customer service.

A.Wydro

March 6, 2021

Destination: Cairns

10Great

All good. Keep up good work.

Yean kwong Alex tan

No comment

W.Dallas

March 5, 2021

9.3Great experience.

The staff were excellent.

s.h

February 28, 2021

Destination: Geraldton

The car was upgrading

8.7Very Good

It was good car to drive

Kamal Paudel

February 25, 2021

10Excellent service

Excellent service

G.Rule

10Good for overnight could be cheaper

Got an upgrade vehicle was clean tidy and new

Glenn

February 20, 2021

10Great platform to find the best car hire rate.

Everything was perfect. The car was in great condition and ran very smoothly.

S.Ogale

January 22, 2021

Thrifty upgraded our vehicle for free and it was a great experience!

j.mason

January 21, 2021

10Top booking firm Top car rental company

Free upgrade on arrival to large Ford 4WD lovely lady on reception top experience from start to finish.

D.Clough

10Overall, the car was great. The booking system was easy but the pick up process for me should of bef

I was a little surprised and to be honest a little scared that I was left on a side road when I was picking up the car. If it had been explained to me beforehand that this process would happen because I was from Melbourne and could not enter NSW then it would of been ok. Dropping it off I knew the same process was to happen.

M.nusbajtel

December 30, 2020

10Easy and enjoyable plus value

Very very good service and they gave us a brand new car.I will definitely use europcar again

A.Cowen

December 28, 2020

8Very Good

Great.. exceeded expectations !

E.Schumann

December 22, 2020

9.7New fleet, great experience!

New fleet, easy to use. Would use next time in Adelaide (airport office)

S.Yip

December 17, 2020

9Excellent value and service

There was a minor delay in collecting the car, the office ran out of paper rolls for the EFTPOS terminals. The branch manager was extremely nice; we had been misinformed about the drop-off time to get a shuttle bus ride to the airport so we arrived too late. Justin acknowledged the mistake was Jucy's, so he arranged for alternative transportation on the spot, at no cost to us.

10A nice car at a great rate

The Kia Cerato had done 20,000 Km and was in great condition. It was spacious and economical. The staff explained the terms clearly, on pick-up. Apex handled a cracked windscreen very well.

B.Carpenter

10Easy and good value

Great service, upgrade on car, easy process. Only issue is that I had to leave a $400 bond which hasn't been refunded - even though I handed back the vehicle 4 days ago.

L.Appleford

10The best car rental

Everything was excellent

P.shrivastav

December 15, 2020

8Long wait to pick up car. No person at counter

Car was well maintained and upgraded too. What really bothered me was- no person at the counter neither did I receive any info before hand. After a long wait, security at the terminal empathised my situation and guided me to the workshop where I finally found someone from Alamo washing the car. He was unaware of any booking and contacted the manager. Finally, someone arrived after 30-45 mins wait to complete paperworks and handover keys. I understand the issue of short staffing bcoz of covid but I felt it could have been handled much better and organised

A.T

9.7Car hire Launceston

No complaints about Avis. Great service. Thank you.

SMG

10A good experience

Great service and vehicle. Prompt pickup and drop off to terminal

P.Roberts

December 14, 2020

10Great experience and big savings.

Great car, service and counter staff. Very easy to deal with.

J.Bourke

9All ended up well in the end but I wasn’t happy for the run around and time wasted

There was an issue with pick up as the confirmation number sent to me by QEEQ related to Thrifty in the city for pickup and not the airport even though the pickup address was down at the airport. The young gentleman from thrifty was wonderful, he mentioned this had been a problem before amd was able to organise another car for me.

Genevieve

December 11, 2020

10Good rental company and friendly service.

They were so nice and welcoming to Tasmania. Really nice gentleman at the service desk. Car was in very good condition.

Geoff

10Good value for money

The car we received was a lot larger than we booked, although this wasn’t a problem. Service was friendly and efficient.

Australia Car Rentals

The Complete Australia Driving and Rental Guide