What are the driving licence requirements for hiring a car?

In most cases, you’ll need a full driver licence (held for a minimum of 12 months) to rent a hire car in Australia. If your licence is not in English, you’ll be required to present an international or overseas licence translated into English. If you have a learner permit (L plates), or a provisional or probationary licence (P plates), you may not be able to rent a vehicle. You will not be able to rent a car if your licence is expired, suspended, or has been revoked. Keep in mind that you must provide the original copy of any required document — digitaland printed copies are not accepted.

As licence requirements may vary depending on the rental company you select, here’s what you need to know when looking to reserve a vehicle through the rental brands we compare.

Licence requirements

In most cases, you’ll need a full driver licence (held for a minimum of 12 months) to rent a hire car in Australia. If your licence is not in English, you’ll be required to present an international or overseas licence translated into English. If you have a learner permit (L plates), or a provisional or probationary licence (P plates), you may not be able to rent a vehicle. You will not be able to rent a car if your licence is expired, suspended, or has been revoked. Keep in mind that you must provide the original copy of any required document — digital and printed copies are not accepted.

If you want to drive a vehicle in the van category, a full Australian driver’s licence allows you to drive a vehicle up to a 12-seater van, though you will need to be over the age of 25 to be able to rent a van.

Enterprise allows provisional licence holders to rent a vehicle if they are over 21 years of age and have held their licence for at least one year. Restrictions will apply to the types of vehicles available, as will a daily provisional licence surcharge. Provisional drivers aged between 21 and 24 can only reduce their damage liability to a minimum of $300.

International licences

If you’re visiting Australia from overseas, you will need to present a valid driver licence from your country of residence (that you’ve held for at least 12 months). If your licence is not printed in English, you’ll also need to provide an International Driving Permit. Keep in mind that you must provide the original of any required document, foreign digital licences may be accepted, but printed or digital copies of a standard licence are not. You may also be asked to provide other forms of identification.

Driving in Australia with a foreign licence

With a three exceptions — being New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Victoria — overseas visitors who do not hold a permanent visa are considered to be “visiting drivers” which means they can use their foreign licence to drive in Australia for the duration of their stay — regardless of the length of the stay in Australia.

In the case of New South Wales and Victoria, overseas visitors are permitted to drive using their foreign licence (as long as it is valid) for no longer than six months, and for only three months in the Northern Territory. If a visiting driver’s stay is longer than these periods, the driver is required to get a local driver’s licence. In other Australian states and territories, this is only required if the driver’s visa status is changed to a permanent visa.

* Three months for visitors with a New Zealand driver’s licence.
** Six months for visitors with a New Zealand driver’s licence.

Driving in Australia on a UK driving licence

If you’re a UK tourist in Australia you’re permitted to both hire a car and drive in Australia with a full British licence, but are subject to the same rules as detailed above. Regarding your UK licence, you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Australia (subject to the above stay period rules), but if your licence is a paper one, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Driving in Australia on a US driving licence

As with drivers using a UK driving licence, you’re permitted to drive in Australia on your US licence (assuming the licence is current and valid for the type of vehicle you are driving) subject to the same state and territory stay rules detailed above. For most Australian states and territories, you’re permitted to drive indefinetely on a US licence (as long as you’re not in Australia on a permanent visa) while for New South Wales and Victoria you’re limited to six months, and three months in the Northern Territory.

Young drivers

If your licence indicates that you are under the age of 25, you still may be permitted to hire a car, but in most cases, you’ll need to pay a young driver surcharge. This is a daily fee charged by your selected rental brand, added to the total cost of your rental car. Check out our page on International Driving Permit. Keep in mind that you must provide the original copy of any required document — digital and printed copies are not accepted — and you may be asked to provide other forms of identification.