Car Hire in Brisbane

Part of our guide to car hire in Australia.

Driving and Parking in Brisbane: What You Need to Know

• Side of the road: Australia drives on the left. If you normally drive on the right, collect the car at a quiet time and take the first few minutes slowly. The most common mistakes are at roundabouts and when turning out of a car park onto a main road, so keep to the left and give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
• Licence for visitors: A valid overseas licence is accepted in Queensland, provided you follow its conditions. If it is not in English, carry an International Driving Permit or an official English translation, and some guidance recommends a permit in every case. Keep both documents with you whenever you drive.
• Speed limits: Limits are in kilometres per hour. Unless signed otherwise, the default is 50 km/h in built-up residential areas and 100 km/h on rural roads and highways. Speed cameras operate around the clock.
• Alcohol and phones: The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% for a full licence holder, so the safest course is not to drink before driving. Hand-held phone use is illegal, including calls, texts and navigation, and mobile phone detection cameras operate 24 hours a day. Mount the phone in a cradle before you set off.
• Seat belts and children: Everyone must wear a seat belt, and children aged seven and under need a restraint suited to their size and weight. Only child seats approved to Australian standards may be used, so request one from the supplier in advance.
• Toll roads: Brisbane's toll roads include the Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway, AirportlinkM7, Clem7, Legacy Way and the Go Between Bridge. All Australian toll roads are electronic, with no cash booths, so ask your supplier at collection how tolls on your hire car are charged and billed before you drive off.
• Central Brisbane parking: The council runs Wickham Terrace Car Park (136 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill), which is open 24 hours with a clearance of 1.93 metres, and King George Square Car Park (100 Adelaide Street, with an exit at 87 Roma Street). At Wickham Terrace the published weekday rates include an early bird fee of $26 and a daily maximum of $49, with a flat $6 at weekends, so check the current tariff before you park. Both accept Visa PayWave and Mastercard PayPass.
• On-street parking: Time limits and paid hours vary by street, so read the sign at each space before you leave the car.
• Best time to drive: Weekday commuter periods on the approaches to the city and on the M1 are the slowest, and an airport transfer to the Gold Coast can take 90 minutes in the weekday peak. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are easier.
• Wildlife and fatigue: Kangaroos, wallabies and livestock can be on unfenced roads. Slow down rather than swerving sharply, and plan rest breaks on longer drives, as rest areas on main highways are typically 80 to 100 km apart.

Top Places to Visit from Brisbane by Car

• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary — about 12 km from the city centre, in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The sanctuary stands at 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm with last entry at 4:00pm, and has free on-site parking.
• Gold Coast — about 78 km south, in roughly 1 hour, usually by the M1 Pacific Motorway. The coast has Currumbin Beach, the theme parks and the hinterland rainforest, and Cedar Creek Falls and Tamborine National Park lie in the hinterland.
• Mount Tamborine — about 70 km south, in roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. Tamborine National Park is Queensland's oldest national park, with walking tracks, waterfalls and the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens.
• Sunshine Coast and Noosa — the Sunshine Coast is about 113 km north, in roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, and Noosa is about 155 km north, in roughly 2 hours, mostly by the M1. Noosa National Park has a coastal walk, Hastings Street has the shops and restaurants, and the Eumundi Markets run on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
• Byron Bay — about 165 km south in New South Wales, in roughly 2 hours by the M1. Cape Byron Lighthouse and Wategos Beach are the main sights.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Brisbane?

Peak season: The busy periods run from May to September and in January. School holidays, staggered across June and July, September and the January summer break, bring large crowds, and events such as the Ekka (Royal Brisbane Show) in August and Brisbane Festival in September add to demand. January is hot, humid and crowded with families.

Shoulder season: March, April and October are mild, with good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices, except over the Easter school holidays. Spring and autumn are the recommended seasons for the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

Low season: November, December and February are hot and rainy, with February the wettest month and storms common. Bargain accommodation rates are common, and you should allow extra time on the road after heavy rain.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for school holidays and event dates, and as soon as your dates are fixed for any hire that has to match a flight arrival. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty if plans change, and the balance is paid at the desk on collection, so nothing is charged in full at the time of booking.

Before you drive away: Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, including all four sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior. Dated photographs give you a clear record of the condition you received, and they are the quickest way to settle any question about marks that were already there.

Fuel: Confirm the fuel type shown on your booking confirmation before you refuel, and ask at collection which fuel policy applies to your hire, so that you return the car as the supplier expects.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Brisbane

Payment is made in two steps. A rental prepayment confirms your booking online, with Instant Confirmation from the supplier. You then pay the balance directly to the supplier on arrival, when you collect the car.

The price and vehicle class shown at booking are the terms you receive at the desk. Because the full rental amount is not charged at the time of booking, you keep flexibility if your plans change, and cancellation is free.

The supplier may place an excess hold on the main driver's credit card at collection, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit. The amount is shown in your booking confirmation.

Car Hire Suppliers in Brisbane

Car hire in Brisbane is available through the following supplier.

• Green Motion

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Brisbane

Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.

• Brisbane Airport (BNE)