Sydney car hire

Most car hire companies will only rent to drivers aged 21 and over, although you might find some that are willing to rent to customers aged from 18 years old. In this case, however, expect to pay higher insurance premiums.

Visitors are permitted to drive in Australia on a valid international driving licence.

Unless you opt for full insurance with zero excess, you’ll have to provide a valid credit card from which a deposit will be taken. The deposit is returned when the car is brought back in the same condition as when it was hired.

Sydney is a busy city, and the shape of the harbour makes for a somewhat haphazard movement of traffic at times.

As with any big city, you can expect congestion, especially at peak commute times.

Generally, it’s not an overly stressful place to drive. Having said that, it’s certainly a good idea to rent a GPS with your rental car, as it will make getting around much easier.

1. Be conscious of speed limits. Within the CBD, the speed limit is 40 kmh (25 mph), and in other areas of the city it’s 50 kmh (30 mph). Outside of the main urban area, the maximum speed limit on motorways is 110 kmh (68 mph), while other rural roads are limited to 100 kmh (62 mph).

2.Most cars are automatic – manual cars are available, but in more limited numbers.

3. Sydney is home to several major toll roads, most of which use electronic tags known as e-tags. If you plan on using these roads, have your car hire company arrange an e-tag for you.  

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.