Road Rules Australia

Europcar is one of the Australia's largest car rental companies and has over 110 locations in our car rental network including major airports and cities throughout Australia.

To make your rental experience as easy and safe as possible, Europcar provides key information that will help you when driving in Australia.

Please click the headings below to view information on each of these topics. If you have a question that is not covered in the topics below please email us at info@europcar.com.au.

Driving in the Outback

Driving in the Outback

Travelling through the Northern Territory (NT) offers a very exciting experience of a unique climate, diverse landscapes and extraordinary people from many cultures. Excellent highways make access to attractions easy and comfortable. There are however some restrictions regarding where vehicles are not to be driven. These restrictions generally apply to driving vehicles on unsealed roads. Some vehicles are not covered by insurance in these areas.

Information on road conditions and driving standard vehicles (2-wheel drive) and 4 wheel drive vehicles in the Northern Territory:

  • Drivers should be aware that three quarters of the land is deserts and remote areas.
  • Many of the most popular places of interest can be reached in a standard 2-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Time is a major consideration when planning an NT trip. Considerable extra time is required to travel to some places where a 4WD is required.
  • All restrictions on where our vehicles can be driven can be found in Europcar's standard Terms and Conditions.
  • Between the months of November/December to April/May the Top End experiences the tropical wet season. All 4WD tracks become impassable due to the heavy rains. It is difficult to know exactly when the wet season will start and finish as it varies each year.
  • Flash flooding can occur and vehicles may become stranded and water damaged. Vehicle recovery costs and water damage are the responsibility of the renter.
  • Many roads in the Northern Territory (NT). are unfenced and stock or wildlife can create driving hazards, therefore it is not advisable to travel at dusk, dawn or throughout the night.
  • Road trains can be three trailers in length or over 50 metres. When overtaking, allow 1 to 2 kilometres of clear road ahead to be able to pass safely.
  • Whilst 4wd’s are designed to be driven on unsealed roads there are restrictions on where you can drive your Europcar 4wd. For further information on this please refer to section 3 of the Renters Guide. If after reading the renters guide you are still unsure if a Europcar 4wd is suitable for your itinerary please contact the Europcar office in the region you are travelling in.
  • For safety reasons we recommend vehicles not to be driven into remote areas on undefined roads or tracks, this will also void insurance.
  • It is an offence to travel on Aboriginal Land without a permit. This is the renters' responsibility. Permission is also required for travel through pastoral properties.

  • If you have any questions regarding driving in the Northern Territory please contact one of the Northern Territory Branches and our staff will be happy to help.

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Make sure you have a valid driving permit

If you have an International Drivers Licence it will be honored by Australian law provided you are in Australia for less then three (3) months. If you plan to stay in Australia for more than three months and intend to drive for that period you are required to obtain an International Drivers Permit.

An International Drivers Permit is written in nine languages and serves as an officially recognized translation of your licence.

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Know what petrol to use

Europcar’s fleet of vehicles is varied, whilst most passenger vehicles run on unleaded fuel there are other vehicles such as trucks, some buses and some 4wd’s that use diesel fuel. It is the responsibility of the renter to put the correct fuel in the rental vehicle, if you are unsure of what type of fuel your vehicle takes please ask a Europcar staff member.

Unleaded petrol is 2-3 times more expensive in Australia than overseas.

Prepaid fuel is available when picking up your vehicle, please check with the Branch Staff when collecting your vehicle for our special Fuel Price.

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In the event of an emergency

In the case of an accident where medical assistance is required dial 000 for emergency help.

All Europcar rental vehicles are covered by a 24 hour Road Side Assistance Service. This can be accessed by dialing 1800 625 035. For more information please read the 24 hour roadside assistance section of our vehicle rental services page.

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Observe the speed limit

Vehicle renters who deliberately speed may have their drivers licence confiscated immediately wherever they are stopped. Fines are often high and they must be paid.

If you leave the country before paying a fine, notification will be sent to your country of residence. Therefore it is important to observe all posted speed limits.

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Buckle up

Legislation in Australia requires both drivers and passengers to wear correctly fitted seat belts.

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Park only where it is permitted

In major cities, parking areas will often have pole signage advising of parking restrictions. During business hours some public parking areas are limited to a 1 or 2 hour parking zone. Please ensure you observe parking restrictions. Some cities also use parking meters, so be sure to check for and feed the meter if there is one

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Your rental vehicle

Please check that the vehicle conditions written on the rental vehicles statement are correct and if an apparent defect is noticed and not listed when examining the vehicle; please notify the Europcar employee. Check the seating position is the most suitable for you, with correctly positioned mirrors. Discuss the route you will take with a Europcar employee, particularly if leaving a Europcar car hire airport or city centre. If you require additional information on the vehicle please ask our staff to demonstrate the workings of the vehicle and to help you familiarize yourself with the controls

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