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Driving Tips

We want to make sure every driver is adequately prepared and understands what’s different about driving in Australia. Follow our guide to Australia’s road rules and regulations to make your time driving in Australia safer and more enjoyable.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:
To hire a vehicle from JUCY in Australia, your Drivers License will need to meet our criteria. JUCY accepts drivers 18 years and over who hold:

  • A Full Driver Licence in English
  • An Australian Green P Plate (P2) Licence. Please check out our Terms & Conditions for more information, we do NOT accept Learners Licence or any probationary Licences, including a Red P Plate or a P1 Licence.

If the Drivers Licence is not in English, then you will need an International Driver Permit or a Certified Translation of the home country Driver Licence. This must accompany the home country Driver Licence.

SAFETY:

  • Keep left. Australians drive on the left side of two-way roads, keep this front of mind at all times when driving in Australia.
  • Wear your seatbelt. Everyone in your vehicle must wear a seatbelt, and children under 7 must be secured in an approved child restraint. You can hire these from us!
  • Take rests. Plan to take at least a 15-minute break after every 2 hours of driving and drive for a maximum of 8 hours per day. Rest areas are located every 80-100 kilometres on main highways and roads for people to pull over and rest when needed. Add an additional diver, or two, to your booking and share the load.
  • Do not drink and drive. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is against the law in Australia and strictly enforced by police, severe penalties apply.
  • Do not use your mobile phone. It's illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in Australia. If you need to make a call or send a text message, pull over in a safe place off the road (e.g., a rest area or in a car park).
  • Obey signs. Pay attention to all signs and traffic lights, obeying their commands and adhering to the recommended speeds. Regulatory signs control traffic and are almost always red and/or black on a white background. Warning signs are usually yellow with black diagrams, they alert you to possible dangers ahead. Information signs come in a range of colours and sizes and inform you of relevant information for your journey, like distances to the next town, state highway numbers or special road conditions.
  • Drive to the conditions. Australia is home to a diverse range of environments. Do research in advance of setting out to get clued up on what to expect on your journey. Always check for weather warnings before hitting the road and change your plans to align with their instructions. Completely avoid areas being affected by fires, flooding or other extreme weather conditions. Don’t forget that Australia is home to some amazing wildlife - keep an eye out for kangaroos, emus, wombats and koalas when driving in rural areas and share the road responsibly.
  • Plan ahead. While we love spontaneity, and going with the flow, but all within reason. Plan ahead to estimate driving times and ensure you have enough fuel. Service stations are spread roughly 100 - 300 kilometres along motorways, many of them open 24 hours, however, in rural areas these are less frequent.
  • Road rules differ between states. Familiarize yourself with those applicable to the areas you’ll be driving in and, be aware of points where you cross state boarders. You can learn more about the individual road rules here.