Drivers in Victoria, Australia, drive on the left-hand side of the road, and most of the hire vehicles you will find there are equipped with right-hand steering. This makes driving in Victoria easy to adapt to for British drivers, as you do not have to change which side of the road you drive on. Roundabouts in Australia also run clockwise, so just like in the UK, you must approach in the right-hand lane if you want to turn off at any exit beyond the first.
If you are travelling with children when you hire a car in Victoria, there are a few rules about child seat belts and restraints that you should be aware of. When driving with children in Victoria, remember that children under the age of four are not allowed to sit in the front seat and must have the appropriate child safety seat to ride in the back. Children aged four to seven should also use an appropriate and properly fastened booster seat. Children this age may sit in the front seat, but only if the back seats are taken by younger children. Children aged seven and up can sit in the front seat with a booster seat, but it is generally safer for them to travel in the back.
Remember that when you are driving in Victoria, speed limit signs may be written in kilometres per hour rather than in miles. School zones have special speed limits in Victoria, so you must travel at 40 km/h (25 mph) or under when driving past a school. When driving in other urban or built-up areas in Victoria, the speed limit is usually set at 50 km/h (35 mph). For single-carriageway rural roads, the speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph), and for motorways, it is generally 110 km/h (68 mph). Drivers who are caught breaking speed laws may face substantial fines or risk receiving demerits on their licence. Licence suspension can also be recommended for serious speeding offences.
25% of our users found rental cars in Victoria for $58 or less
Book your rental car in Victoria at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Off-airport rental car locations in Victoria are around 109% more expensive than airport locations on average
Intermediate rental cars in Victoria are around 58% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Victoria
Hiring a car in Victoria is a great option if you want to get out of the city and explore more rural areas. Although public transport in cities, such as Melbourne, is extremely developed, once you get to the more rural areas, you may struggle to find transport links that connect without long waits in between. Victoria also has plenty of beautiful rural scenery that drivers will enjoy while passing through. Visitors to the area can take a drive out to Phillip Island Nature Parks, which is located around a 2h drive from Melbourne.
If you are driving in Victoria, you will find that there are long stretches of rural road or highways between many of the urban centres. These roads are generally well maintained but can be winding and narrow at points. Drivers should be aware that maps sometimes underestimate distances in Victoria, so it is a good idea to build some extra time into your journey, just in case. You should also ensure that you have water in the car with you when you travel, as temperatures can soar during the day. Travellers should also pack emergency breakdown equipment, such as a reflective triangle or high-visibility jacket, in case they break down on the road at night. Many of the rural roads are not well lit and this can make it difficult for breakdown services to see you.
If you want to hire a car in Victoria, you must be at least 21 years of age. Drivers must also have held a valid driver’s licence for at least one year in order to legally hire a vehicle. You can hire a car in Victoria with a valid UK driving licence, which you will need to provide when you go to pick up your vehicle. Drivers should also take their British passport with them to collect their vehicle.
On average a car hire in Victoria costs $55 per day.
Compact (Hyundai i30 or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Victoria.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Bargain Car Rentals ($29/day), East Coast Car Rentals ($37/day) and Alpha ($46/day).
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Victoria are Melbourne (95% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Victoria), Warrnambool (1%) and Geelong (1%).
On average a car hire in Victoria costs $483 per week ($69 per day).
On average a car hire in Victoria costs $2,069 per month ($69 per day).