Australia has a vast territory, developed highway system and car rental industry, with several world-class self-driving routes, including Ocean Road, Blue Ocean Road, Limestone Coast and so on. Australia`s recognition of Chinese driver`s license is also more friendly to Chinese tourists, all favorable conditions make self-driving become Australia`s first choice of travel.
Here are some things you need to know before renting a car in Australia.
The famous Ocean Road is considered to be one of the best self-driving routes in the world.
Rent a car online
Australian car rental companies, which mainly have the following: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar, Enterprise, a global chain of car rental companies, recommend using car rental websites for price comparison bookings, which are cheaper and have more model choices than temporary car rental to stores.
Car rental price comparison website
- VroomVroomVroom: Australian car rental price comparison website, previously focused on the Australian and new car rental market, has been extended to the global scope, booking free, cancel free, counter pay-as-you-go website: https://www.vroomvroomvroom.com
- Car rental: domestic car rental website, Chinese interface, a variety of payment methods, web site: https://www.zuzuche.com
- RV country: RV comparison platform, optional Chinese, https://www.motorhomerepublic.com
VroomVroomVroom website interface
Vehicle type selection
Australian car rental companies are generally Japanese, German and American brands, as well as Australian brands. General cities, coastal roads and other road conditions are very good, the choice of economic type, compact and medium-sized cars, the rent is not high but also more fuel-efficient, high performance-to-price ratio. In the Northern Territory, Western Australia and so on can consider SUV, sand and stone, muddy road surface is easier to pass. Cross-country vehicles must be chosen in inaccessible areas, and some roads are required for models. The size of the model should also take into account the number of people and the number of luggage. Holding a Chinese C photo, driving a motor vehicle with less than 12 seats in Australia is allowed.
Pick up and return the ca
Pick-up process
- Arrive at the rental counter: pick up the car at the airport, follow the terminal sign, find the corresponding rental counter; in the town rental store, according to the address information can arrive.
- Sign contract key: show electronic reservation order, driver`s license, driver`s license translation, passport and credit card; purchase car insurance / navigation / child seat at the counter; pay attention to the safe custody of all contracts and documents;
- Parking lot lift: according to the given location, pick up the car in the parking lot on your own, or seek the help of the staff in the parking lot. The contract will include the car has scratched damage, lift the car to confirm, if there are more scratches or injuries, please find the staff to verify, otherwise the scratch or injury even in your name.
Return process
- Fill up the oil in advance (unless the fuel charge has been prepaid);
- At the airport, there will be a clear return sign Rental Car Return, to the car park / area of the corresponding car rental company, if the urban rental network, drive to the store parking lot;
- There are staff in the parking lot, return the car, return the keys to the staff. If it is late at night or non-working hours, there will usually be a special key delivery box.
About credit cards.
Domestic UnionPay credit card, even with VISA or Master channel, can not be used in some car rental company stores. For example, Budget and Europcar, must confirm before renting a car, so as not to find that no credit card can not rent a car when they arrive at the counter. It is recommended to apply for a pure VISA or Master foreign currency credit card in advance (there is no UnionPay on the credit card.) tell your credit card bank that you need to apply for a pure foreign currency card. They know).
Pick up the car Q / A:
Q: can there be more than one driver?
The rented vehicle is only allowed to be driven by the lessee (main driver). If you need more than one driver, you need to register an additional driver in the store and show your passport and corresponding driver`s license and translation. A fee will be charged for each additional driver. Note: the vehicle is insured only if it is registered as a driver in the car rental agreement.
Q: can I pay cash for renting a car in Australia? What are the requirements for credit cards?
Car rental companies generally do not accept cash payments. The lessee is required to produce a credit card registered in his name and entitled to pay the full amount. The credit card is valid for at least three months after the car is returned.
Q: can I provide a credit card payment for my peers? Is there an additional charge for credit card payment?
Generally require the main driver`s credit card, peer credit card can look at the specific store. Credit card surcharge 1.35%. The charge is payable at the counter.
Q: if the flight is late and you have to pick up the car later, what should I do with it?
If you rent a car at the airport, the rental company will pay attention to all late flights if the flight number is stated at the time of the reservation. If the flight is not specified, it is recommended to call the rental office in advance.
Q: can I change the lease period after picking up the car?
In general, any rental order information, including the length of the lease, can be modified before picking up the car. Note that car rental quotations may vary with the change of car order information; if you want to change the rental period after taking a car, you can contact the staff of the rental office. There is a contact information between the car rental agreement and the reservation confirmation.
Return the car to Q / A
Q: can I return the car in different places?
To rent a car in Australia, you can choose to return the car in different stores. You may have to pay a fare in different places; choose to return the fare when you book it online, and automatically calculate the fare in different places.
Q: can I return the car outside business hours?
Most of the car rental companies provide return service after closing, generally there will be a special key box delivery box; it is recommended to check the business hours of the car return network before returning the car, and whether the network still provides the return service after the closure.
Q: is there a problem to return the car later than the scheduled return time?
Contact the store in time to change the lease period, generally will only charge additional car rental fees. If you do not contact the store to return the car directly later than scheduled to return the car, the rental company will also charge an overtime surcharge in addition to the additional rental fee.
Q: how do you calculate a "car rental day"?
A car rental day usually refers to 24 hours in a row, each day starting with the rental time. When the return time is more than 24 hours, whether it is more than 2 hours or 24 hours, the rental company charges an extra day. Some car rental companies may give guests a little grace time, such as Hertz return time of 29 minutes, guests only if more than 29 minutes have not returned the car, the guest will have to pay an additional day, depending on the rental company rules.
Q: can I get a refund if I return the car in advance?
Car rental companies are charged by day (24 hours), if the time to return the car in advance is more than 24 hours, contact the car rental company to see if it can be refunded, specifically look at the car rental company.
About vehicle insurance
VroomVroomVroom cooperative car insurance: Allianz Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance, is divided into different Plan, corresponding to different claims. For example, Plan B, $6000 Cover, Nil excess (25 years old): if the claim does not exceed A $6000, the insurance company will pay the claim, the excess will not be claimed; the corresponding claim amount and the number of car rental days, the cost is different.
Car rental company insurance:can be purchased at the store when picking up the car.
Comparison:VroomVroomVroom has cooperative car insurance, which belongs to external insurance;Car rental companies all have their own car insurance. In case of an accident, we need to pay for the relevant maintenance expenses first, and then claim to the insurance company;If you buy the car rental company insurance, do not need to pay, directly contact the car rental company, let the car rental company handle. Recommend to buy car rental company insurance, otherwise it will pay trouble.
The basic insurance (Basic insurance). Is already included in the offer for rental of vehicles The deductible amount of basic insurance is generally 4000 ≤ 8000 Australian dollars (minimum liability), which varies according to the car rental company / model; in excess of the deductible amount, the car rental company shall pay for the deductible amount, which shall be borne by the lessee.
Car rental companies offer different types of insurance Excess Reduction: (each rental company will vary) for example, the Accident Excess Reduction: fee is generally around $25/day, which can be reduced to about AUD500, that is, the accident as long as the excess of the payment of about AUD500, will be paid by the insurance company.
Full settlement Full/Maximum Cover, is full insurance: (the name varies from company to company. For example, the insurance of Hertz full settlement is called Max cover), fee is generally about $35/day, which can reduce the deductible amount to 0. 5%). Is that they do not have to pay, all by the insurance company to pay.
Taking into account the right driving in Australia and the need to be familiar with the new traffic rules, it is recommended to take out accident insurance. Even if you are very confident in your car skills, to be on the safe side, it is recommended to at least buy insurance that reduces the exemption limit, reduces the risk and pays the amount.
Vehicles offered by different suppliers are generally similar, slightly different, for Hertz.
Hertz offers car insurance options in Australia:
Hertz`s vehicles in Australia have enforced third party liability, car damage and theft rescue.
1, reduce minimum liability insurance (Accident Excess Reduction-AER) 24AUD Day: this insurance applies to Australia, and after buying the insurance, the charterer will only have to bear a minimum liability of A $500.
2, Comprehensive Protection Scheme (Maximum Cover-MAX) 34 AUD Day: this insurance applies to Australia and the tenant will no longer be liable for the purchase of the Comprehensive Protection Plan. (other than the loss and loss of any vehicle caused by careless driving, except for the loss of Hertz special equipment and the loss of vehicle keys due to the wrong addition of fuel to the vehicle)
Note: insurance provisions in remote areas of Australia can be different from those in other parts of Australia. Read the terms carefully before buying insurance. If there is an additional driver, be sure to show the relevant information and register at the store, otherwise the additional driver driving accident, the insurance will not be settled.
About driver`s license and translato
The Australian car rental company accepts the Chinese driver`s license. If it is a new driver`s license, it has its own content in English (unfortunately the name has not been translated into English). It can be notarized or translated without the driver`s license, which has been confirmed by Australian Tourism Board officials.
The rest is the specific requirements of the car rental companies, if you have a NAATI qualified driver`s license translation, then certainly no problem, but most car rental companies do not force NAATI translation, such as Hertz, on the official website translation template can be downloaded, download their own translation.
Specifically, NAATI translation, template translation, or simply do not translate, these options, it is best to consult the car rental company in advance to decide; if you want to find NAATI translation, Taobao has a lot, the price is less than 100 yuan.
Chinese driver`s license English translation:
- Hertz online self-help: https://gohertz.cn/driving_license
- AVIS online self-help: http://i.avischina.cn/license
Both Hertz and Avis provide English translation of the Chinese license online, which is also applicable to other Australian car rental companies.
Chinese driver`s license translation sample, click here to download the Word version
Chinese driver`s license and translator Q / A:
Q: what are the requirements for a driver`s license to rent a car in Australia?
Chinese driver`s license holder, at least one year of driving age (Thrifty does not have this requirement), also needs Chinese driver`s license English translation.
Q: does the Chinese driver`s license need notarization?
I don`t need it.
Q: do you require an international driver`s license to rent a car in Australia?
Renting a car in Australia does not require an international driver`s license. Chinese driver`s license and English translation can rent a car.
Q: what exactly is an international driver`s license?
The international license refers to the International Driving Permit(IDP). IDP is a translation that cannot replace the national license, mainly used to solve the language problem(e.g., to drive the license written in Korean and take the Korean language to Japan...IDP uses 10 language, solve the problem). The IDP is issued to the national citizen, and it is clear that China citizen cannot apply to the IDP. At present, the domestic car rental platforms and the``international license`` provided on the Taobao is International Driver License License(IDL). IDL is nothing in itself! No law effect, no one approved, nor replace IDP! But...what exists is reasonable.
About Navigation GPS
Select 1:Free APP navigation.
- In the case of Google Map:, Google Map is an artifact, which is very accurate, including road condition information, and has Chinese voice broadcast. Note that after setting up the route and starting navigation, even if you enter the area without network, it will not affect the use.
- Maps.me: offline navigation, completely free. Some remote areas in Australia do not have mobile phone signals, so offline maps are also necessary.
- Here WeGo: special navigation App, so the function is relatively strong, and the main function of Google Map and maps.me is map browser, navigation is only one of the additional functions, so the navigation function is not as good as the former, but basically can. You can all come down and compete.
Option 2: vehicle navigato
Rent or buy yourself, rent a car can rent navigator free of charge. The navigation cost of renting a local car rental company in Australia is about 12 to 15 Australian dollars per day (the price of the rental company is slightly different). .
Tips:
Avoid Toll can be set up to avoid toll roads when navigating.
About refueling.
Self-help refueling
Australian labor is expensive, mostly for self-service refueling.
Self-help refueling process:
- Park the car by the oil pump and choose the number of the oil.
- Unplug the gun, insert the fuel tank, pull the handle to refuel, the machine screen will synchronously show the amount of fuel and price.
- When the oil is filled, the handle will pop up automatically, or when the screen amount reaches a certain amount, release the handle actively, and the refueling will stop.
- After adding oil, put back the oil gun, close the box cover, and remember the oil gun number.
- Enter the gas station store and inform the staff of the gas gun number, swipe your card or pay in cash. No one oversees it all by consciousness. There are cameras at the gas station. If you find a ticket escape, you will be punished very heavily.
Most gas stations in Australia are self-filling.
Three common types of gasoline for refueling in Australia
- # 91 Unleaded Petrol (ULP): most commonly used unleaded gasoline
- # 95 Premium Unleaded Petrol (PULP): high quality unleaded gasoline, usually each oil company will give their home 95, 98 have a specific special name, such as Caltex`s Vortex, BP Ultimate
- # 98 98 RON (Research Octane Number) (RON) of 98: high octane unlead gasoline, that is, high number gasoline, the higher the octane number, the stronger the explosion resistance of gasoline.
- The higher the label, the higher the purity, the higher the price! Usually choose the cheapest # 91 Unleaded.
Road condition
Most of Australia`s roads are in good condition, most of them are free roads, and only in downtown Melbourne and Sydney there are toll roads that can be bypassed by "avoid tolls" when navigating search routes.
Note that if you are driving a two-drive car, do not easily enter an unpaved road, Australians call it "Unsealed Road", let alone enter the beach, mud, swamps, etc., it is very easy to get in and can not get out, if called for rescue, it is easy to start with hundreds of Australian dollars; Other car rental companies have restrictions on their destination, such as Adelaide, where some car rental companies are not allowed to drive rented cars into kangaroo island (Kangaroo Island), to avoid disputes before renting a car.
Speed limit and violation
rate-limiting
When driving, be sure to pay attention to the speed limit signs on the side of the road. Generally speaking, the speed limit is 40 km / h in the urban area and 90 km / h in the suburbs or highways, whichever is the sign. Australia is very strict with speed limits, even if it is only one kilometer faster, it can be stopped by the police or sent a ticket after being photographed by the electronic police.
Driving in the urban area, we must pay attention to the school area (School Zone), school day and school time, in the school area speed limit will be lower than usual, different state rules are slightly different, in short, must always pay attention to roadside signs, a little negligence may violate the rules.
The image above shows the school area sign in Sydney, where the lights on the sign flicker within the specified time frame, when the vehicle cannot exceed 40 kilometers per hour until it leaves the school area (there will be an end sign).
Other violations
For Chinese tourists, the common violation is to use a mobile phone while driving. It is illegal to note that even if the driver touches the screen of the phone, it is illegal to stop at a red light and wait for a fine if the touch of the phone is seen by the police.
Police car Pull Ove
Always pay attention to the rear during the driving process, if there is a police car flashing lights to follow you, then need to find a place to park as soon as possible, sitting in the car waiting for the police to come to you, may be because you violate the rules, or may only be the police routine wine rack spot check (Australian police generally do not turn on the alarm when following the car, just flash and so on, unless you have been with you for a long time);
How to fine
If you are stopped by the police while driving, or stop illegally, then you will get a ticket with payment terms, you can pay by credit card online, or ask the car rental company to pay for you when you return the car; In addition, in addition to speeding, the use of mobile phones and other common violations are supposed to be deducted points, but the overseas driver`s license used by tourists does not matter, but if you emigrate to Australia and apply for an Australian driver`s license in the future, then when you get your driver`s license, from the moment you get your driver`s license, your withholding branch will be directly detained on your Australian driver`s license.
Traffic regulations and road safety
Australians drive according to the rules, as long as they drive according to the rules, it is usually very safe. Please understand the main traffic rules before driving.
Drive in the suburbs and pay attention to kangaroos, especially at dusk and night. the chances of bumping into kangaroos rise in geometric order. Please refer to the following:
