Canberra car hire
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Cheap car rentals in Canberra
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Canberra
- An electric vehicle can be an excellent choice for cheap car hire in Canberra. There are dozens of electric vehicle charging stations in Canberra with plans to introduce even more throughout the city and surrounding areas. A number of hotels have EV charging stations, such as Ovolo Nishi Hotel, close to Australian National University, and Mercure Canberra, close to Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve. Canberra Centre has some chargers, and you'll also find them at many of Canberra's top tourist attractions, including the National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House.
- How busy the roads are in Canberra will often depend on the timing of your visit. When Parliament is in session, you may want to avoid the peak hours entirely; but when it's not, you'll find very little congestion. Parliament usually only sits for around two weeks each month and frequently doesn't sit on Fridays. Typically, there are more tourists between September and November, with the Floriade Festival drawing visitors between mid-September and mid-October. During this period, roads around the festival (including Canberra Avenue) often impose stricter speed limits and some car parks may be closed off to the public.
- There are a number of scenic drives and charming destinations that you can explore via cheap car hire in Canberra. For example, if you want to head to the coast, you can take the King's Highway to Bateman's Bay in a little over 2 hours. If you prefer the scenic countryside, visit Yass Valley, less than 1 hour from Canberra. Of course, you can also take the M31 Highway all the way to Sydney. The trip takes around 3 hours, and you can take detours along the way to Goulburn, Lake George and Bowral.
- There is plenty of beautiful nature to explore on the outskirts of Canberra, which is best reached by car. A hire vehicle will let you travel to Bullen Range Nature Reserve and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in less than 1h, while public transport is not directly connected to these sites. Buses are the primary public transport service in Canberra and take roughly 45min to reach Red Hill Nature Reserve, while driving only takes 15min. With inner-city attractions located on both sides of the Molonglo River, having a hire car will ensure you don’t have to wait for buses to cross to the other side of town. The commute to GIO Stadium in the northern suburb of Bruce is approximately halved to 15min when travelling by car instead of public transport.
- Once you land at Canberra Airport (CBR), exit the terminal on the lower level and you will see offices for hire companies to the left of the taxi rank. Enterprise, Thrifty, Europcar and Hertz are all represented, with pick-up directly behind the reception desks in a designated parking area.
- Canberra has one of Australia’s highest concentrations of roundabouts. Approach the intersections with care and give way to cars approaching from the right, while remembering to indicate when entering and exiting. Be aware that Canberra often experiences fog patches that limit visibility, so headlights should be switched on in such conditions regardless of the time of day.
- Road traffic in Canberra is rather minimal considering it’s the capital, though you’ll experience the worst congestion between 08:00–09:00 and 17:00–18:00. Cars especially slow down around City Hill during these periods. Allow extra time when using Kings Hwy during long weekends, as it is a major arterial for holidaymakers visiting the coast.
- Book your rental car in Canberra at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Intermediate rental cars in Canberra are around 59% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Canberra
What type of car is recommended for driving in Canberra?
Roads are wide and parking spaces are rather accessible in Canberra, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice on comfort or taste when choosing a hire car. Larger people movers and 4x4 cars navigate the city without issue, while compact models provide budget-friendly prices and are very fuel efficient.
What’s the speed limit in Canberra?
Unless otherwise indicated, the maximum speed is 50 km/h. The reduced school zone limit of 40 km/h is enforced longer than most states across Australia: from 08:00–16:00. Speed and red light cameras are common throughout the city, so be vigilant while behind the wheel.
Where are the best places to park in Canberra?
Canberra Centre Car Park is located right in the heart of the shopping district and offers 3h of parking for approximately A$ 6. If you’re visiting on the weekend, make use of cheaper Sunday parking which is only about A$ 2 for the whole day. Citywest Car Park has a flat rate of about A$ 15 if you’re happy to park on the rooftop and is open Monday to Friday.
How much is the price of fuel in Canberra?
The average price of fuel in Canberra is AED 15.41 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between AED 185 and AED 247, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Canberra?
Intermediate (Suzuki Vitara or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Canberra.
How can I find car hires near me in Canberra?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Canberra?
An Intermediate car hire in Canberra costs AED 113 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car hire cost in Canberra?
A Compact car hire in Canberra costs AED 133 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car hire cost in Canberra?
A Full Size car hire in Canberra costs AED 148 per day, on average.
Should I get a sat nav for my hire car in Canberra?
If you're staying in Canberra, then a dedicated sat nav will likely be unnecessary. The city is quite easy to navigate and your phone should be enough (just make sure you can use it hands-free). If you're heading into rural areas of the ACT and NSW, you may find you don't have internet coverage. You can check with your Canberra car hire provider on whether you’re likely to need a satellite GPS.
What do I need to look out for on Canberra roads?
When driving your hire car in Canberra, be aware that you may encounter animals such as kangaroos and deer, even in built-up areas. Stay vigilant, particularly at dawn and dusk, and if you see animals on the road, slow down or brake while continuing to drive straight.
Canberra car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Alamo
8.0
Very Good
Read 26 reviewsCleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.2
Value for money
8.3
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Canberra International Airport
+61 2 6248 9966
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Andrew, Jun 2024
Compact
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Sep 2023
Mini
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Jul 2023
Compact
10.0 Wonderful
Angela, May 2023
Compact SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2023
Compact
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Apr 2023
Standard SUV
Europcar
9.2
Wonderful
Read 3 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
9.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.2
Value for money
9.6
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Terminal Building
+61 2 6213 0300
Filters
Reviews
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Jul 2023
Supplier choice
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2023
Mini
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2022
Avis
9.0
Wonderful
Read 1 reviewCleanliness
9.0
Comfort
9.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
8.0
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Terminal Building
+61 2 6219 3031
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2024
Standard
Budget
8.8
Very Good
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
6.0
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Terminal Building
+61 2 6219 3041
Filters
No reviews available
Sixt
8.4
Very Good
Read 6 reviewsCleanliness
9.5
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.0
Value for money
8.0
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Terminal Building, Canberra
+61 2 6248 8134
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Deon, Jun 2023
Compact SUV
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, May 2023
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2023
Standard
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Feb 2022
Hertz
7.0
Good
Read 5 reviewsCleanliness
8.1
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.7
Value for money
6.1
4 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
4 Yallourn St
+61 2 6169 4730
8 Kemble Court
+61 2 6242 0100
84 Northbourne Ave
+61 437 833 446
Pialligo Ave
+61 2 6267 2390
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Vanessa, Jun 2022
2.0 Poor
sam, Jul 2024
Compact SUV
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Mar 2023
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Sep 2022
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Jul 2022
4 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
29 Lonsdale St
+61 2 8337 2700
4 Yallourn St
+61 2 5112 2836
Canberra Ap
+61 2 6248 9081
Pialligo Ave
+61 136139
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2024
Economy
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Passenger van
9.6 Wonderful
Kathryn, Oct 2019
Pros:
Upon return the agent was very helpful getting us to where we needed to go. Went beyond expectation.2.0 Poor
Real, Oct 2019
Pros:
NothingCons:
The reservation was cancelled after I booked the advertised car online through a 3rd party website. It was a very disappointing experience to have to try again 5 times to actually have the booking accepted. Why don't the 3rd party rental companies and Thrifty communicate better so customers actually have a good experience instead of tearing out their hair?10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2023
Compact
2.0 Poor
Mani, Feb 2022
2 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
1 Binara Street
+61 884 459 714
Canberra International Airport
+61 2 6248 9966
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
1 Binara Street
+61 884 459 714
Canberra International Airport
+61 2 6248 9966
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
29 Lonsdale St
+61 2 8337 2700
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Novotel Hotel - 65 Northbourne Ave
+61 262 845 170
Terminal Building, Canberra Airport
61 2 62130300
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
27 Kembla St
+61 262 804 524
Pialligo Ave
+61 262 496 211
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Terminal Building
+86 10 6064 1387
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Canberra
Locations in Canberra
Filters
No reviews available
Car hire locations in or near Canberra
Good to know
Most popular car type | Intermediate |
|---|
When to book a car hire in Canberra
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Canberra
Car rental at airports serving Canberra
Canberra car hire information
| Pick-up location | Canberra |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 27 |
| Airport locations | 16 |