Wizz around the capital or explore beyond Canberra to scenic areas for as little as $46 a day by hiring a car.
Expect to find national parks, glistening streams, wildlife, a foodie trail and a town from the 1800s when you venture past Canberra's city limits. Visit during the right few months and you can even reach a winter wonderland within a short time.
We share the top road trips to take from the capital along with helpful information that will help you budget a smooth road trip.
Compare hire cars and prices in Canberra
We've sussed out how much you can expect to pay for car hire. Our figures are based on a quote from our engine for a rental car from Hobart for 5 days, booked a month in advance for a driver aged 30+.
Small, economy car
- Car: Toyota Yaris
- Seats: 4
- Luggage: 1 large bag and 1 small bag
- Rental company: Firefly
- Cost: $91.18 for 2 days or $45.59 per day
Medium car
- Car: Toyota Corolla
- Seats: 4
- Luggage: 1 large bag and 1 small bag
- Rental company: Firefly
- Cost: $94.37 for 2 days or $47.18 per day
Large car
- Car: Kia Cerato
- Seats: 5
- Luggage: 1 large bag and 1 small bag
- Rental company: Thrifty
- Cost: $155.29 for 2 days or $77.65 per day
Estate car
- Car: Nissan Qashqai
- Seats: 5
- Luggage: 1 large bag and 1 small bag
- Rental company: Firefly
- Cost: $126.03 for 2 days or $63 per day
Prices mentioned above were retrieved on 8 October 2018 and change constantly. Get the latest prices for your car hire today.
Car hire locations in Canberra
Car rental companies such as Avis, Europcar and Thrifty are available in Canberra. These companies and more can be found at Canberra Airport and main streets throughout the city such as:
- Mort Street
- Northbourne Ave
- Binara Street
3 popular driving routes in Canberra
Canberra to Kangaroo Valley
- How long is the drive? 210km each way
- How long do I need? 2–3 days (2.5 hours of driving)
- Must-sees along the way: Hampden Bridge, Manning's Lookout, Upper Kangaroo River Road
A quick trip to Kangaroo Valley is a treat where you'll be rewarded with sparkling creeks, lush green rainforests and bushlands in "Australia's most beautiful valley". A craft beer festival and barbeque festival are held here but it's also the perfect romantic getaway.
Murrumbateman Foodie Trail (Canberra to Murrumbateman)
- How long is the drive? 104km round trip
- How long do I need? 1–2 days (30 minutes of driving)
- Must-sees along the way: Murrumbateman Village Market, Robyn Rowe Chocolates, Four Winds Vineyard Cellar Door
On the way to Murrumbateman you'll surely be sidetracked by the amount of restaurants and pubs laying fresh food in front of you such as beets, cheese and smoked meat platters, among other things. But once in Murrumbateman you'll be able to take it easy at one or two of the vineyards for wine tasting.
Braidwood
- How long is the drive? 87km
- How long do I need? 1–2 days (1 hour of driving)
- Must-sees along the way: Royal Mail Hotel, Monga National Park, The Big Hole walking track
Braidwood is like stepping back in time as it's a historic gold rush town where colonial architecture, pubs, antique shops and more date back over 100 years inviting visitors along the footsteps of the past.
I'm ready to book my car hire!
Tips for driving in the Canberra
- Be ready for roundabouts. Canberra has over 400 roundabouts, each of which has a "halfway round" rule which requires drivers to use the left lane if turning off before the halfway point. Drivers intending on exiting halfway must use the right lane.
- Keep your eyes peeled for cyclists. Canberra is known as the cycling capital of Australia so be sure to be aware of cyclists on the road. Most intersections will have a clearly marked cycling lane that give cyclists the right of way.
- Watch out for wildlife. Wildlife in the surrounding areas of Canberra is common. Keep your eyes on the road and brake instead of swerving when you see an animal. Kangaroos, wombats and possums are common, especially around dusk or dawn.
- Drive on the left. As with the rest of Australia, Canberra is no exception when it comes to driving on the left-hand side of the road. Keep to the left when driving on a multi-lane road and only move to the right when passing another vehicle.
Car hire FAQ
- Provisional licence holders may not be able to rent and drive cars. Most of the best-known car hire companies won't rent a car to a driver on their provisional licence. Redspot is one exception.
- All hire cars in Canberra come with a basic level of insurance. Check the excess on your policy, though. Figures can be high, but you can pay your hire company extra to reduce the excess. Alternatively, you can organise your own car hire rental excess insurance which may save you money.
Car hire deals in Canberra
Ola
$20 off first ride
Valid on all dates in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Canberra, enter the promo code into your app to redeem. T&Cs apply.
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UBER
$20 off your first ride
Valid on your first Uber ride anywhere in Australia (T&Cs apply). Only available through finder.
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Coupon code ends
Europcar
15% off car hire
Valid for rentals until 21 July 2019 at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand. Minimum of 5 days rental. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
DriveNow
Campervan hire from $5/day
Available on select routes, dates and locations in Australia and New Zealand.
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Europcar
$1/day one-way car hire in Australia
Valid on select dates on select car hire relocations in Australia. Destinations updated regularly.
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Budget Car Rental
Free upgrade car hire
Valid from 7 January - 7 April 2019 across Australia. Minimum rental of three days. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Europcar
Up to 20% off car hire
Valid for rentals until 1 August 2019 at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand. Minimum of 2 days rental and must be booked 21 days prior vehicle pick up. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Avis
7-day Australia car hire for the price of 6 days
Valid from 7 January - 7 April 2019. Minimum rental of seven days. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Avis
Double upgrade car hire
Valid for rentals from 28 January - 30 April 2019 across Australia. Minimum of three days rental. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
DriveMyCar
Car hire from $23 per day
Hire cars across Australia from as little as $32 per day.
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Europcar
25% off premium hire insurance
Get up to 25% off on your car rental when you purchase GoZen Cover. Valid at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand. T&C's apply.
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Popular Car Hire coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 2019 | $30 off on car rental | SAV**** |
| 14 Jan 2019 | Third weekend free car hire | TPN**** |
| 14 Jan 2019 | Earn double Qantas points | MPN**** |
| 14 Jan 2019 | Free upgrade car hire | UPN**** |
| 14 Jan 2019 | Up to 20% off Europe and UK car hire | AWD**** |
| 17 Jan 2019 | $20 off first ride | ******** |
