Car Hire in Perth

Part of our guide to car hire in Australia.

Driving and Parking in Perth: What You Need to Know

• Side of the road: Australia drives on the left, and you give way to the right at roundabouts and intersections. If you normally drive on the right, collect the car at a quiet time and take the first few minutes slowly.
• Licence for visitors: A valid overseas licence is generally accepted for visitors, subject to its conditions. If it is not in English, carry an International Driving Permit or an official English translation, and check your booking confirmation for the documents the supplier requires at collection.
• Speed limits: Limits are in kilometres per hour. Unless signed otherwise, the default is 50 km/h in built-up areas and about 100 to 110 km/h on highways. School zones drop to 40 km/h during school hours, and red light and speed cameras are common.
• Alcohol, phones and seat belts: The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% for a full licence holder. Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited, and everyone must wear a seat belt. Children under seven need an appropriate restraint, so request a child seat from the supplier in advance.
• Toll roads: Western Australia has no toll roads, so there is nothing to arrange with the supplier for tolls anywhere on the routes in this guide.
• Peak-hour traffic: Expect delays from 7:00 to 9:00 am into the city and from 4:30 to 6:30 pm outbound. The Mitchell Freeway northbound and the Kwinana Freeway southbound slow considerably in the evening.
• Wildlife: Kangaroos are most active at dusk and dawn, and kangaroos and emus are common on rural roads. Avoid rural driving after dusk where you can, and take extra care at dawn and at night.
• Distances and fuel: Stations in regional and outback areas can be hundreds of kilometres apart, so refuel whenever you pass one and carry water. Confirm the fuel type on your booking confirmation before you refuel.
• Parking in the CBD: Metered street spaces in the centre carry time limits, with stays of between one and three hours in many places. City of Perth Parking garages and shopping centre car parks are the alternative, and many areas offer free metered parking on Sundays and after 6:00 pm, so read the sign at each space.
• Kings Park: Parking is free for visitors within the park boundaries, with the main car park at Wadjuk behind Fraser's Restaurant. A four-hour limit is enforced from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, at Wadjuk, Poolgarla and Jorang, and the park speed limit is 40 km/h generally. Do not leave valuables in the car.
• Fremantle: Most central spaces are paid, including on Sundays, and the Cappuccino Strip often has limits of one to two hours. Use a central car park for a longer stay.
• Beaches and parks: Free public car parks at the beaches fill quickly on summer weekends, so arrive early or late in the day. National parks charge a per-vehicle entry fee at the entrance station or honesty box.

Top Places to Visit from Perth by Car

• Fremantle — about 19 km south-west of the city, in roughly 20 minutes. Central parking is paid and limits apply on the Cappuccino Strip, so plan to use a central car park.
• Rockingham — about 47 km south, in roughly 36 minutes, most of it on the Kwinana Freeway. It is a straightforward coastal day trip outside the peak-hour windows.
• The Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park — about 190 km north, in roughly 2 hours 30 minutes, and closer to three hours on the slower of the sources. Entry to the park is charged per vehicle at the entrance station, and kangaroos are a risk on the return drive at dusk.
• Margaret River — about 265 km south, in roughly 3 hours. It suits an overnight stay rather than a single day, and kangaroos are active on the approach roads at dusk and dawn.

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

Peak season: December and January are the busiest months, with school holidays, Fringe World and Australia Day, and hotels book quickly. February is the hottest month, with summer averages of 30 to 35°C, though prices ease as people return to work and school, and the Perth Festival runs in February.

Shoulder season: Spring, from September to November, is often considered the best time to visit, with the wildflower season, mild weather and rain becoming rare by October. March to May is also quieter, with sunny days and lower prices, and accommodation stays high in September for the spring school holidays. Sculpture by the Sea takes place in March, when blue whales arrive, the Perth Comedy Festival begins in April, and the humpback whale migration begins in September.

Low season: June to August is the wettest period, with rain and sometimes storms, though daytime temperatures do not fall below about 18°C. Rates are at their lowest, Kings Park is often uncrowded, and the Perth Winter Arts Festival runs in July. Surf season starts in June.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for December and January and for the September school holidays, 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 Perth

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 Perth

Car hire in Perth is available through the following suppliers.

• Green Motion
• Surprice

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Perth

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.

• Perth Airport (PER)
• Perth Downtown