Driving a rental car in Australia

If you are coming to Australia from overseas or even if you are going interstate, the driving experience may be different from what you are used to when driving in Australia . That is why we have listed some general, sound advice for you when driving a rental car in Australia . This should be seen in conjunction with our rental car tips as we will only cover the general driving advice in this section, while the tips specifically relating to rental cars will be covered on our rental car advice page.

Alcohol and Driving

The rules regarding drinking and driving differ from country to country, and in Australia the road rules are determined by each state so they may differ slightly. However, when it comes to alcohol and driving under influence the Australian states follow similar rules.

It is legal for drivers with a full licence (not a probationary) to have a blood alcohol level of 0.05 in most places and 0.02 in NSW, however, if you are a younger driver or still on driving with a probationary licence there is a zero tolerance when it comes to driving under influence.

The New South Wales Road and Traffic authorithy has developed some tips on how you can avoid drink and drug driving.

Distances

Because of the great distances you may have to travel when driving in Australia it is sometimes necessary to plan ahead. Gas stations may be few and far between so extra petrol may be needed. Furthermore, you may want to take some additional provisions such as bottles of water and some food. If you break down in a rural area it may take some time before help arrives. The great distances also make it more important to take frequent breaks to avoid driver fatigue. Driving while fatigued may be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, so remember to take breaks for your and your fellow drivers' safety.

Speeding

Speeding is a big problem in Australia and the police are cracking down on any breaches of the road rules. The fines often double during peak season, so not following the rules may give your wallet a nasty surprise.

Police are equipped with a number of methods for speed detection. These range from: