4WD hire in Australia can be tricky. Some 4WD hire companies do not allow their 4WD vehicles to be driven on popular trails though there is more leniency if your vehicle is a full size 4WD. SUV's and mid sized 4WD's will not be allowed onto unsealed roads. Driving restrictions apply on Kangaroo Island, Bruny Island, Fraser Island, desert roads in central Australia, border roads into the NT, WA roads north of Carnarvon, Queensland roads north of Cooktown and Cape Tribulation and above the Victorian, Tasmanian and NSW snow line during Winter.

 

For more detail on NT road conditions and 4WD hire information see our NT 4WD overview. Read on for more info about offroad $WDs or if you are looking to keep your vehicles on sealed roads, compare 4WD prices and get any special offers using this form:

 

 

 

4WD Adventures

 

If you are going seriously off-road (i.e. +3 days, camping, isolated) we recommend a chat with our 4WD specialists from GetaboutOZ. GetaboutOZ includes a wider range of 4WDs to choose from with more equipment including for camping, emergencies and off road terrain.

One of the 4WD's available from 4WD rental specialist, GetaboutOZ.

 

Hertz 4WD Hire

Tasmania

 

Drivers are responsible for all damage by animals whilst driving at night. 4WD's from Tasmania cannot be taken outside of Tasmania. The following roads are prohibited from use:

• On the West Coast, further south than the Arthur River township
• Inland any further south than where the Kanunnah Bridge crosses the Arthur River
• The back roads between Oxford and Copping on the Southeast coast
• The Ben Lomond Road above the bottom of Jacob's Ladder
• The unsealed roads connecting Smithton and Zheehan

Queensland

• Fraser Island 4WD's are deemed a full responsibility destination. Fraser Island is only accessible by 4WD.
• In the Cairns region, 4WDs can travel around the Atherton Tableland area. Vehicles can cross the Daintree River and travel as far as Cape Tribulation, however cars must stay on the sealed section of these roads.
• Vehicles cannot travel to Chillago
• For Cape York 4WDs, "Economy" class 4WD's can be driven as far north as Cooktown and as far West as Normanton.
• "Full size" 4WD's are restricted to gazetted roads and tracks Australia wide.
• Due to extremely bad road conditions in the Mount Isa region, standard cars are not allowed to travel on unsealed roads.
• Standard cars can access 2 mine sites in Mt Isa - Cannington and Earnest Henry. All other mining sites must be accessed by 4wd only.
• 4WD vehicles are also available for tourist sites which are off sealed roads.

Northern Territory

4WDs are not allowed into Jim Jim or Twin Falls. Palm Valley is accessible only by 4WD vehicles. Areas without restrictions:

• Kings canyon: Accessible by car (2wd) using the Lasseter, Luritja highways. All other access to Kings Canyon requires 4WD.
• The Meerenie Loop road & the Ernest Giless Hwy are 4wd only.
• Litchfield park - there is bitumen access via Batchelor to Litchfield park as far as the main site of Wangi Falls. Customers can visit Litchfield Park using the Batchelor Access in and out. They cannot travel on dirt roads in the Park, however, majority of main sites are now bitumen.

Western Australia

WA 4WD driving restrictions for Kununurra and Broome:

• Groups B, C, D, E and V are available for travel within city limits and to travel on the Great Northern Highway
• Group R: Four Wheel Drive Access Only
• The Gibb River Road
• The Tunnel Creek Road
• The Windjana Gorge Road
• The Bungle Bungles
• Cape Leveque Road

South Australia

Rules for Kangaroo Island:

• Vehicles cannot be taken on the ferry to Kangaroo Island. Vehicles rented from Kangaroo Island cannot be driven off the Island
• Collision damage waiver (CDW) is included on all rentals subject to an accident damages excess (ADE).
• No vehicles are to be driven onto beaches, bush tracks or paddocks fields.
• An additional single vehicle accident (SVA) excess applies when rented from Kangaroo Island.

 

Avis 4WD Hire

 

You and any Authorised Driver must only use the Vehicle on a road which is properly formed and constructed as a sealed, metalled or gravel road. You and any Authorised Driver are not permitted, unless authorised in writing by Avis, to:

• Drive to Kangaroo Island, Bruny Island or Fraser Island;
• Drive into or out of the Northern Territory, Tasmania or to any points in Western Australia north of Carnarvon;
• Drive in the following restricted Queensland locations:

Highway No.27 beyond Chillagoe in a westerly direction. Highway No. 1 beyond Normanton in a southerly direction and no further North than Karumba. If the vehicle is a passenger vehicle or truck, driving is banned beyond Cooktown to the North or Lakeland to the West and no further north than Cape Tribulation on the coast road. On the coast road from Helenvale to Cape Tribulation, or from Laura to Lakeland, unless the Vehicle is Group W 4WD Other restricted areas include above the snow line in winter in Tasmania, New South Wales andVictoria (being Jindabyne in New South Wales and Bright in Victoria) and on beaches or through streams, dams, rivers or flood waters.

 

 

Europcar 4WD Hire

 

Queensland 4WD restrictions

 

• north of Chillagoe or Georgetown
• north of Cooktown or Laura
• on the Burke Development Road
• north of Maggieville
• on unsealed roads north and west of Mt Isa
• on the Bloomfield track
• on the Savannah Way

WA 4WDs restrictions

 

• on the Gibb River Road
• on the Cape Leveque Road and to Windjana Gorge
• on the Cardabia Ningaloo Road
• on the Tanami Track

 

NT 4WD restrictions

 

• on the road from Jim Jim Falls to Twin Falls
• on the Larapinta and Namitjira Drives, commonly known as the “Mereenie Loop”
• on the Tanami Track

 

Thrifty 4WD Hire

 

Western Australia

 

Prior written approval by Thrifty WA must be granted if vehicles are travelling interstate. Consideration must be given by the driver for their own safety and contactibility in the event of an accident or incident. Travelling into some areas of Western Australia require National Park Passes, these are available for sale from the Perth Tourist Centre. One-way rentals out of WA are not permitted; all vehicles hired from a location in WA must be returned to a location in WA.

 

South Australia

 

Travelling into some areas of the South Australia outback may involve the need for a National Park Permit. These are available for sale from the Adelaide Tourist Centre. All vehicles are permitted to travel to Kangaroo Island if collected from a Corporate location only and must be advised at time of booking and collection.

 

Car classes ECMR - FCAR (passenger vehicles) are only allowed on sealed roads, PFAR vehicles are allowed on government gazetted roads. Mechanical failure on the island - there is one breakdown service and location on the island therefore response times are not guaranteed. Customers will be required to sign a disclaimer when they collect the car.

 

Tropical North Queensland

 

Travel is permitted as far as Cooktown only via the inland road (Peninsula Development Road/ Cooktown Development Road). Travel to Cooktown via the coastal road (Cape Tribulation Road) is not permitted; customers can only travel as far as Cape Tribulation.

 

Fraser Island

 

Thrifty allows selected 4WD’s to be driven on Fraser Island but only when hired from Thrifty Hervey Bay. An additional $550 security bond is collected at the start of the rental and will be refunded on completion of the rental, subject to the vehicle being returned without damage. A $100 cleaning fee will apply to all rentals taken to Fraser Island. Exclusions: Undercarriage damage, roll over damage, submersion damage, reversing damage, tyre (including rim) and windscreen damage.

 

Tasmania

 

Vehicles cannot be taken onto the Spirit of Tasmania ferry and into or out of Tasmania.

 

NT, Broome and Kununurra

 

There are many areas and sites that Thrifty NT will not allow access to and where different damage liability conditions apply. Listed below are the areas where these vehicle types MUST NOT be driven at any time without Thrifty NT’s written permission and agreement. Should you decide to enter these areas Thrifty NT WILL NOT provide any damage liability coverage. Any damage to the vehicle, either mechanical or panel, sustained in these areas or as a result of being in these areas will be at the HIRER’S EXPENSE as will any costs relating to vehicle recovery.

 

Thrifty reserves the right to deny access to some areas due to road conditions without notice. Access is denied as per above to the areas listed within the following regions:

 

Kakadu Region Jim Jim and Twin Falls – all year.

 

Arnhem Land - Access to Arnhem Land including Gurig/Cobourg National Park is denied subject to Thrifty’s approval and on presentation of permits obtained from the relevant authority for entry to Aboriginal Land.

 

Katherine Region - Central Arnhem Road to Gove beyond Bulman.

 

Kimberley Region - Mitchell Plateau and Kalumburu. Gibb River Road travel between November and April is subject to seasonal road conditions and access limited to Large Manual 4WD’s only (LRMR and IFMR)

 

Litchifeld Region

 

Broome - Cable Beach

 

Central Australia - Tanami Track, Gunbarrell Highway, Plenty/Donahue Highway, Canning Stock Route, Oodnadatta Track, Strzlecki Track, Birdsville Track only when travelling with another vehicle and with Thrifty’s consent and knowledge.

 

Other Areas The Gulf Track, Cape York Peninsula, Fraser Island (for a vehicle rented from NT)

 

Larapinta and Namatjira Drive (Mereenie Loop Road & & Gibb River Road) - Any damage sustained to the vehicle whilst on these roads is subject to the standard damage liabilities of $5,500 for multi vehicle accident and $7,700 for a single vehicle accident. Any additional liability reducer purchased does not apply for travel on these roads.

 

Aboriginal Permit Land – any entry to Aboriginal Land without a permit is illegal. Access to any land requiring a permit for entry is denied without Thrifty’s approval and entry permit must be provided to Thrifty prior to entry to such lands. Collision Damage Cover is not valid in the event of an unauthorised entry into Aboriginal Land or breach of permit regulations.

 

Budget 4WD Hire

 

You are not permitted to take your vehicles:

 

• To Kangaroo Island, Fraser Island, Stradbroke Islands or Moreton Island
• Into or out of the Northern Territory, Tasmania or to any points in Western Australia north of Carnarvon, Magenetic Island, Groote Eylandt, Gove Peninsula & Tiwi Islands
• In Queensland west of Chillagoe on Highway 27, beyond Normanton in a Southerly direction on Highway 1 or any further North of Karumba
• If the Vehicle is a Passenger vehicle or truck it is not permitted North of Cooktown or west of Lakeland and no further north than Cape Tribulation on the coast road. Nor from Laura to Lakeland or Helenvale to Cape Tribulation, unless the vehicle is a Group W 4WD
• Above the snow line in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria (being Jindabyne in New South Wales and Bright in Victoria) from the beginning of June until the end of September
• In the Northern Territory and Western Australia, outside any city limits between dusk and dawn; or
• On beaches or through streams, dams, rivers or floodwaters.