Driving in Australia

On a tour to Australia, you’ll experience unique and outstanding landscapes with scenic coastlines, magnificent natural phenomena and exciting towns and cities.

An excellent way to explore this magnificent country is to drive yourself around – to go on a road trip! The drive itself is a great experience.

Have you considered getting behind the wheel and experiencing the gems of Oceania?

In this blog post, we give you our best advice on self-drive in Australia.

Frequently asked questions about driving in Australia

Australia has to be one of the most popular countries for fans of self-drive, and it’s a great way to explore a country’s culture and exciting sights.

But it can also be overwhelming to drive in a country you’ve never visited before and where you’re not familiar with the local laws and regulations.

We’ve tried to answer some of the questions we’re most frequently asked by our guests here

What is the advantage of self-drive?

One of the biggest advantages of self-drive in Australia is the freedom.

When you’re the driver, you decide when you want to set off in the morning, and you have more freedom to make stops at sights you want to see.

The drive itself is also packed with unique experiences. You’ll experience spectacular landscapes through the car windows, as you drive from A to B. The time spent travelling therefore becomes part of the travel experience itself, and you make full use of all the time you have.

Can you drive in Australia with a British driving licence?

Yes, absolutely.

As long as you’re there on a temporary basis and your licence is valid, it can be used in Australia.

What side of the road do they drive on in Australia?

They drive on the left side of the road in Australia, just like at home.

So there’ll be no big surprises when it comes to driving in Australia.

How old do you have to be to drive in Australia?

You have to be 17-18 years old to drive a car in Australia, depending on where you are in the country.

However, in most parts of Australia, you have to be between 21 and 25 to rent a car, depending on the model. You must also have held a driving licence for at least 1 year to be able to rent a car.

In some places, special insurance rules and higher rental prices will apply if you’re under 25 when you rent a car.

What are the roads like in Australia?

The roads are generally good in Australia.

Visitors and locals often drive long distances, so there are good, large motorways that take you around between the cities. However, a self-drive tour will often also include excursions or days of travel when you’ll drive on less travelled roads, where you (also) have to be aware of the speed and road condition.

However, if you bear these things in mind, driving in Australia is no problem.

Do I Need a GPS?

A GPS can be your best friend when you’re on a self-drive tour in Australia. In addition to helping you find the best routes to your destination, a GPS can also assist you in locating petrol stations, restaurants etc.

Please note that GPS is not included in the car rental for our self-drive tours in Australia. Therefore, we recommend purchasing an eSIM card before arriving in Australia or an Australian SIM card upon arrival. This allows you to use various navigation services, such as Google Maps, while on the go. It’s also possible to download maps in advance so you can use them even in areas with poor coverage.

Are there other rules I should be aware of?

Speed limits may vary between states, so be aware of local regulations. Generally, however, unless otherwise stated, you can expect a speed limit of 50 km/h in the cities and 100 km/h outside the city limits. In some places, you’re allowed to drive at 110 km/h on motorways.

There are many places in Australia where tolls must be paid, e.g. on motorways near major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. These can be paid electronically with a so-called E-tag. With most rental companies, you register your credit card when you pick up the car, and the amount is then automatically deducted using the E-tag placed in the car when you drive through a payment zone.

In Australia, you give way to the right. This means that you have to give way to those approaching from the right at unmarked junctions or when entering a roundabout, which you have to enter from the left, just like at home.

Where can I refuel my car in Australia?

There are service stations, or servos, along most major roads in Australia.

But there may sometimes be long stretches where it’s not possible to refuel your car. So we recommend that you set off with a full tank and make sure you have water and snacks with you if you know you have a long drive ahead of you.

Most service stations are self-service, so you can fill up your car around the clock. However, you will often have to pay inside the service station and not at the pump itself.

You can check websites like FuelPrice for updated petrol prices in Australia. Our two self-drive tours in Australia are approximately 600 km (The best of Australia with a self-drive on the Great Ocean Road) and nearly 2.000 km (Self-drive on Australia’s east coast). Please note that this is the direct route as described in the itinerary. The distance increases if you choose alternative routes along the way.

How do I park in Australia?

Look out for road signs that tell you if you can park in a given place.

You must always park your car in the direction of the traffic flow, i.e. on the left side of the road in Australia, and it is therefore illegal to park on the side of oncoming traffic.

There will typically be parking signs nearby telling you how long you can park for. 2P, for example, means that you may park there for two hours, while 3P means 3 hours, and so on.

You can check websites like FuelCheck for updated petrol prices in Australia. Our two self-drive tours in Australia are approximately 600 km (The best of Australia with a self-drive on the Great Ocean Road) and nearly 2.000 km (Self-drive on Australia’s east coast). Please note that this is the direct route as described in the itinerary. The distance increases if you choose alternative routes along the way.

Are there animals on the roads?

In Australia, just like here at home, there can be animals on the roads that you have to be aware of when you’re out driving.

There will often be signs alerting you to stretches where there is a greater risk of kangaroos or wallabies, for example.

There is a higher risk of animals on the roads around sunrise and sunset. We therefore recommend that you drive in daylight and avoid driving at night, especially on smaller roads where most wildlife is present. If you have to drive, slow down, keep a safe distance and look out for signs alerting you to animals in the area.

Want to self-drive in Australia?

When you choose one of our road trips in Australia, you have the option of a tour where the route is set, but where you can select/deselect experiences according to what you wish to experience.

Ready to get behind the wheel and head off on an adventure?

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller!