Driving a car in another country can be a challenge – which side of the road do we drive on, what are the rules, how do I read the signs in another language.
In Australia we drive on the left side of the road, all the signs will be in English, but first step – hire a car, and for that you need the right documentation.
Driver’s licence
This is the most important documentation you need regardless of where you have come from and where you are hiring.
- Overseas drivers
You need to make sure you have all components to your license as if you are coming from abroad and your license is made up of two parts, you will need both. Your license must also be written in English; check that your license is accepted and if in doubt, apply for an International Driver’s License from your home country before hiring.
- Age restrictions
Remember that to hire a car in Australia you need to be at least 21 years of age. That means that even if you have a full license from another country, if you do not meet this requirement you will not be allowed to hire a car. In addition, those between 21-25 may have to pay a ‘young driver’ premium so make sure you check before you choose who you are hiring your car with.
- Automatic vs manual
If you have an ‘automatic’ license you need to ensure that you hire the correct type of vehicle. Fortunately in Australia most hire cars are automatic which means that they are accessible for drivers from all over the world regardless of which license you have; remember manual drivers can drive either manual or automatic but drivers with an automatic license can only drive an automatic. Make sure that you confirm this at the time of booking.
Passport
If you are coming from overseas, you will be required to produce your passport as well as your driver’s license. You must ensure this is in the same name as your driver’s license (so in the case of recently being married or recently having a name change, make sure these match or that you and the relevant documentation to show this change).
Credit card
When you hire a car you will have to have some type of insurance on the car. This is usually offered by the car hire companies but there are different levels of liability depending on which type of cover you choose. Regardless of which level of cover you choose, and whether you have paid in advance or not, car hire companies will need to see a credit card in your name. In some cases, the car insurance company will put a ‘hold’ on a fixed amount on your credit card to cover an access in case of damage. This is just to ensure that you have the means to pay in the event of any damage. This is refunded upon you returning your car but you will need a credit card with a particular amount on it. This can be found out in advance by reading your hire agreement if you have pre-booked or by asking the hire company when you come to hire the car.
Remember that you can also get extra levels of insurance cover from independent companies; this will reduce your liability in the event of an accident or any damage and it may be cheaper to do this independently that directly with the car hire company.
With these documents hire a car from car or caravan hire in Perth and explore the outback at your leisure.
