Thinking of hiring a car from Adelaide to Sydney

Hi,

Im considering hiring a car when I get to Adelaide and driving to
Sydney on a 5 (or there abouts) day driving adventure. Its just myself
but really want to see a little of the outback and blue moutains from
the open road. A couple of things, however, Im unsure about:


- I have a UK driving licence, do I need to apply for anything that
allows me to drive in Australia?

- Has anyone had any good/bad experiences hiring cars or from any
particular hire company? What should I be looking out for in the small
print that may come back to bite me in the ass in the event or, for
example, an accident?

- Do I need insurance or is this included in the cost of the hire?

- The average price I have found is about $45 a day for something like
a Toyota Yaris. Is this reasonable? Its not a problem affording it but
if there are better deals then Ill look into them.



Anyway, thats about as much as I can think of just now. If anyone can
help out that would be great. Its not something Im doing like next week
so i have time to re think stuff. Thanks

Burnsy

Licence: A current UK Licence is fine (as is any other English language
driving licence. International Licences are really just certified
translations of your home licence into several other languages).

Company: Stick to a 'major' or semi-major (Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Hertz,
Abel etc). Avoid the cheap local operators; they're sometimes creative in
their use of your credit card imprint!

Insurance: You sure do need comprehensive Insurance. It will not be
included in the Hire price, unless it is specified as an inclusion - with
most companies it is not. Some credit cards provide automatic insurance if
you charge the hire through them.

Nice choice of route - there's a wide range of country through that area;
ranging from the Adelaide Hills and wine country, through the irrigation
areas around the Murray, to Broken Hill and Silverton - and on through the
Blue Mountains. Worth more than 5 days.


wrote in message
ps.com...
Hi,

Im considering hiring a car when I get to Adelaide and driving to
Sydney on a 5 (or there abouts) day driving adventure. Its just myself
but really want to see a little of the outback and blue moutains from
the open road. A couple of things, however, Im unsure about:


- I have a UK driving licence, do I need to apply for anything that
allows me to drive in Australia?

- Has anyone had any good/bad experiences hiring cars or from any
particular hire company? What should I be looking out for in the small
print that may come back to bite me in the ass in the event or, for
example, an accident?

- Do I need insurance or is this included in the cost of the hire?

- The average price I have found is about $45 a day for something like
a Toyota Yaris. Is this reasonable? Its not a problem affording it but
if there are better deals then Ill look into them.



Anyway, thats about as much as I can think of just now. If anyone can
help out that would be great. Its not something Im doing like next week
so i have time to re think stuff. Thanks

Burnsy

Hi thanks for the reply. Very helpful.


Insurance: You sure do need comprehensive Insurance. It will not be
included in the Hire price, unless it is specified as an inclusion - with
most companies it is not. Some credit cards provide automatic insurance if
you charge the hire through them.

Where would I get insurance for, for example, one week? Do the hire
company offer this in addition or would I use a regular insurance
company? How much should I expect to pay? As you may tell I have never
owned a car :-)

Thanks

The hire companies provide insurance.

Check rates he

http://www.avis.com.au

http://www.hertz.com.au

http://www.thrifty.com.au/

http://www.carhire.com.au/

Try a Travel Agent in the UK - sometimes they will have insurance inclusive
car hire rates. It is often better to arrange car hire from your home
country (dunno' why!).

Cost - Typically expect to pay car hire of $40 to $60 or so per day. You
want unlimited km. Basic Insurance should be included. Additional insurance
you might want could be another $20 per day. Read their insurance offerings
very carefully. They will want to sell you everything possible. A good
Travel Insurance Policy will cover you for Insurance excess. Some Credit
Card Gold cards include insurance for hire cars also - though read the
conditions carefully.


Good Luck.


...
Hi thanks for the reply. Very helpful.


Insurance: You sure do need comprehensive Insurance. It will not be
included in the Hire price, unless it is specified as an inclusion - with
most companies it is not. Some credit cards provide automatic insurance
if
you charge the hire through them.

Where would I get insurance for, for example, one week? Do the hire
company offer this in addition or would I use a regular insurance
company? How much should I expect to pay? As you may tell I have never
owned a car :-)

Thanks