Darwin car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Darwin
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Darwin
- If you plan on heading out of Darwin and into the outback, there are a few extra things you may want in your Darwin hire car. Consider adding a satellite GPS to your hire agreement. Once you head outside the major cities and towns, you won't want to rely on your phone for directions. Additionally, always bring a paper map as a final backup. If you're heading into national parks or other remote areas, it's also a good idea to have an emergency communication device such as a satellite phone or an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
- Driving in and around Darwin can be very different depending on the season you’re visiting in. The dry season typically lasts from May to October and generally has the best conditions for driving. The coolest (though still very warm) months are June, July and August. If you're visiting during the rainy season, from November to April, you may encounter road closures due to heavy rain. The Northern Territory government provides up-to-date information about road closures on its Road Report website. It displays both closed roads and hazardous roads where extra care should be taken.
- Getting cheap car hire in Darwin makes it easy to explore other towns, attractions and national parks in the Northern Territory. Stuart Highway, for example, connects Darwin to South Australia and goes through Alice Springs along the way. The trip between Darwin and Alice Springs takes at least two days, but there are a number of beautiful places along the way. Around 4 hours after leaving Darwin, you can take a quick detour to Nitmiluk Gorge; here you can hike, swim and canoe while you explore. Around 5 hours from Alice Springs, you can stop at Tennant Creek, with the stunning Barkly Tablelands to the east.
- As the most tropical climate out of all Australian capital cities, having a temperature-controlled car in Darwin is vital. Hiring a car in Darwin also offers superb freedom to explore the surrounding nature reserves that are not connected by public transport. Go hiking and discover waterfalls in the famous Litchfield National Park, which can be reached with a 1h drive, or get a look out over the city in Charles Darwin National Park, which is only 15min away. Bus services in Darwin generally finish at around 20:00, meaning a hire car will open up more night-time activities. Attractions in the city of Darwin are also spread out, with places such as the Military Museum and MAGNT more than 4 km from the CBD, and it is not quite time-efficient to visit all of them on public transport.
- The offices of car hire companies, including Avis, Budget, Europcar and Thrifty, are located on the ground floor at Darwin International Airport (DRW). The reception desks are directly across from the baggage claim in the Arrivals Hall, while the pick-up area is only a short walk outside the terminal.
- Be aware that trucks carrying multiple trailers, known as road trains, are common on major highways around Darwin. Take extra care and keep a safe distance from the vehicles when driving, remembering that you need plenty of space and time to overtake. Familiarise yourself with the windscreen wipers in your hire car as dust often rises off the road and impairs visibility. Keep a watchful eye out for wild animals and livestock, especially at night, as they are known to wander onto the road in rural areas.
- Traffic flows freely throughout most of the day in Darwin; however, increased congestion is certainly noticed between 07:30–08:30 and 16:00–17:00. Stuart Hwy handles the majority of commuters entering and leaving the city for work, thus it’s best to avoid it at peak periods on weekdays.
- Book your rental car in Darwin at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Mini rental cars in Darwin are around 84% more expensive than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Darwin
What type of car is recommended for driving in Darwin?
Compact cars offer fantastic prices and fuel efficiency, making them a popular choice for visitors planning to travel out of Darwin. Smaller models of hire cars will also navigate the inner-city streets best, though you won’t have to handle many tight alleyways or corners.
What’s the speed limit in Darwin?
Unless otherwise indicated by signage, the default speed limit is 60 km/h. Many streets in Darwin’s city centre are, however, reduced to 40 km/h, which is the same limit for school zones between 08:00–17:00. The maximum speed outside of built-up areas is 110 km/h.
Where are the best places to park in Darwin?
Paid parking spaces are metered in the city centre from 08:00–17:00 on weekdays, with hourly fees at roughly A$ 2. State Square Car Park is a short walk from the waterfront precinct and has flat daily rates of about A$ 11, open 24h. Parking throughout the CBD is free and unrestricted on weekends and public holidays.
How much is gas price in Darwin?
The average gas price in Darwin is ₱234.90 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₱2,819 and ₱3,758, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Darwin?
Mini (Kia Carnival or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Darwin.
How can I find car rentals near me in Darwin?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Mini car rental cost in Darwin?
A Mini car rental in Darwin costs ₱6,119 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car rental cost in Darwin?
A Full Size car rental in Darwin costs ₱3,832 per day, on average.
How much does a Premium car rental cost in Darwin?
A Premium car rental in Darwin costs ₱5,580 per day, on average.
What charging stations for electric vehicles are in Darwin?
There are a number of EV charging stations in Darwin's city centre as well as the surrounding suburbs. While EV charging stations will be harder to find if you're heading out of the major towns, there are also stations outside many national parks in the area.
Which Darwin car hire offices are available outside of the airport?
While you'll find most companies offering cheap car hire in Darwin at the airport, a number also have offices in the city centre. You'll find most close to the Waterfront Precinct, with Enterprise offices on The Esplanade. Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar all have offices on Mitchell Street, just a few blocks back from The Esplanade.
Darwin car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Hertz
10.0
Wonderful
Read 1 reviewCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
7.9
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
55-59 Mitchell St
+61 8 8925 5890
Mcmillans Rd
+61 8 8982 6690
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Amanda, Sep 2021
Thrifty
10.0
Wonderful
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
10.0
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
50 Mitchell St
+61 8 8924 0000
64 Stuart Hwy
+61 8 8924 0000
Filters
No reviews available
Dollar
9.3
Wonderful
Read 2 reviewsCleanliness
9.3
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.3
Value for money
8.6
4 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
50 Mitchell Street
+61 8 8981 5599
55-59 Mitchell St
+61 1800 501 934
Mcmillans Rd
+61 1800 501 934
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Jason, Sep 2024
Supplier choice
Alamo
9.2
Wonderful
Read 5 reviewsCleanliness
8.9
Comfort
8.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.9
Value for money
8.9
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
In Terminal
+61 1300 106 666
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Compact SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Margaret, May 2023
Intermediate SUV
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Mar 2023
Supplier choice sedan
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2022
Budget
9.0
Wonderful
Read 1 reviewCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
9.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
8.0
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Cnr Smith & Mclachlan Streets
+61 8 8981 9800
Terminal Building
+61 8 8945 2011
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Jun 2024
Intermediate
Europcar
8.0
Very good
Read 2 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.0
Value for money
8.0
3 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
77 Cavenagh Street
+61 889 410 300
Shop 31 / 55-59 Mitchell Street
+61 8 8941 0300
Terminal Building
+61 8 8945 3261
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
Staff were very friendly. Pick up and drop off easy.8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Jun 2023
Standard
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Terminal Building
+61 8 7914 7011
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
YUEN, Jun 2022
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Mar 2022
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
102 Esplanade
+61 1300 106 666
In Terminal 1 Henry Wrigley Dr
+61 1300 106 666
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2022
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
In Terminal1 Henry Wrigley Way
+61 1300 106 666
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
89 Smith St
+61 8 8936 0600
Terminal Building
+61 8 8936 6166
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
55-59 Mitchell St
+61 889 410 944
Mcmillians Road
+61 889 450 999
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
14, Larkin Avenue
+61 1800 620 408
Shop 41, Mitchell Centre, 51/59 Mitchell Street
+61 1800 620 408
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
285 Bagot Road, Coconut Grove, NT
+61 1800 028 881
Filters
No reviews available
3 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
1/8 Osgood Drive
+61 1300 729 230
99 Mitchell St
+61 889 111 959
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
3 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
77 CAVENAGH STREET
+61 889 410 300
Mcmillan's Road
61 8 89453261
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
99 Mitchell Street
+61 1300 729 230
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
4 locations in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
77 Cavenagh Street, Darwin, Australia
+61 435 214 104
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Darwin
Locations in Darwin
Terminal Building
+86 10 6064 1387
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Darwin
Good to know
Most popular car type | Mini |
|---|
When to book a rental car in Darwin
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Darwin
Car rental at airports serving Darwin
Darwin car rental information
| Pick-up location | Darwin |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Rental locations | 45 |
| Airport locations | 23 |