Darwin City Car Rental FAQs

Depends on your plans! Vehicle type, booking duration, useful add-ons, seasonal factors and more will affect the cost of renting a car. 

Check out our handy Redspot rental car booking tool to scope out the latest rates. Pick which vehicle from our Darwin City fleet suits you and hit the road with a perfectly matched pair of wheels.

A cross-border fee may be charged when driving a rental car across state or national borders to cover additional insurance costs and taxes. With Redspot, we don’t charge cross-border fees. However, one-way rental fees may apply if you wish to arrange different pick-up and drop-off points for your rental.

That said, crossing the border in a Redspot Darwin City rental is unfortunately not possible. This is because one-way car hires are only available between Darwin branches within the Northern Territory. In this case, you won’t have to worry about cross-border fees at all! Drop off a car hired in Holtze at Darwin City or Darwin Airport, and fly out with no problem.

Yes, at Redspot Darwin City, our rental cars have a kilometre (km) limit during your hire period. You can enjoy 200 km free per day on all vehicle classes. Additional kilometres will just be $0.275 + GST per kilometre. 

Please note that Redspot cars may have unlimited km available from our other Aussie branches. For more information, contact our friendly team by phone or email to get roaming.

Your car rental rate will depend on factors such as:

• The type of car
• How long you’re renting for
• Where you are picking it up (certain locations impose location fees, such as airports).
• Insurance options
• Other additional fees (Relocation fees, moving equipment hire, etc.)

Put your trip details into our handy Redspot booking tool to get an estimate of your rental rates and budget accordingly. 

Be sure to check the fine print, ask questions and compare local prices to ensure you’re getting the best value out of your car hire!

Yes, you can take a hire car on a ferry. For Darwin, this means you can easily access places like Wagait Beach or the Cox Peninsula with the Mandorah ferry! 

Please note that there are a few special considerations that apply:

• The elected damage liability does not apply while on the ferry i.e. in the event of the ferry sinking or the hire car being damaged while on the ferry, the customer is up for car replacement/repair costs.
• There must be a gazetted road (a sealed or unsealed road regularly maintained by the Australian government) on the other end of the ferry. 

Questions? Contact our friendly Darwin City team on 1300 668 810 (toll-free number) or [email protected] to discuss details.

No, unfortunately, for liability reasons we are not able to install baby seats in your hire car. 

Safety is our Number 1 priority at Redspot. We voluntarily comply with Australian state laws and safety policies and therefore cannot install child seats for customers. However, we do offer detailed instructions on how to install a baby seat as safely and securely as possible during vehicle pick-up.

No, refunds are unavailable for any fuel left in your hire car after you’re done exploring Darwin. For other refuel options, you can choose to only get charged for the fuel you’ve used. Please note that this comes at a higher rate than prepayment. You can also refuel your rental vehicle before you return it to avoid any extra charges. (We’ll also be really grateful!)

If you’ve put the wrong fuel into your rental car, don’t panic. Instead, try the following steps:

• Stop safely ASAP and turn off your engine
• Call Redspot’s 24/7 roadside assistance for a tow to the nearest workshop*
• Wait for the tow and don’t start the engine again. 

Here’s a good tip: Always double-check the fuel type displayed in the fuel tank opening of your car rental! This is located either on the fuel cap OR lid flap. Still unsure? Your hire car fuel type is also listed on the vehicle’s key tag.

*Darwin has a few restricted areas where, unfortunately, we cannot provide 24/7 roadside assistance. Please see our terms and conditions (Page 8) for the exact non-permitted areas of use. 

Certain vehicles, like 4WDs, may still be covered for damage liability in restricted areas. For further information, please contact our staff on 1300 668 810. We’ll try to help as much as we possibly can.

To rent a car in Australia, you will need the following: 

• A valid credit card OR debit card* OR purchase order/prepaid voucher** in the renter’s name.
• A valid, physical driver’s licence in the renter’s name. Note: Digital licences, photos or copies are not accepted.
• You must present a valid driver’s licence/s for any additional drivers, who must be present at the time of vehicle pick-up.
• You must be over 21 years old.

*Debit cards: Must have the customer’s name displayed, and the ability to make online payments e.g. Visa or Mastercard debit cards.

**Purchase order or prepaid vouchers: Customers must also supply a valid credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card for any incidental expenses (extensions, fuel charges et

It’s best to secure your car rental between 4-6 months in advance. Prices generally surge during holiday seasons like Christmas, you can avoid the extra costs by booking in advance. 

You’ll especially need to book a specific car if you are travelling with a large group and need a vehicle with enough seats. Sort out your car rental early to enjoy peace of mind before you zoom off on your adventures!

You absolutely can! Redspot is one of the few Aussie companies that let local P-Platers over 21 hire with us. This includes mine-spec and commercial vehicles. 

Our top priority is keeping you safe, so we have a few rules designed to make sure you get from point A to point B in one piece. 

If you are a P-plater, you must:

• Hold a Provisional P2 licence (green Ps).
• Hold a driver’s licence that is valid for a minimum of 12 months from the date of rental collection.

Please remember to factor in a daily surcharge when you rent with us under 21 and/or hold a provisional driver’s licence. P-platers can also reduce damage cover up to a maximum of $330. 

Aged between 21 and 24? You have access to our range of small to medium-sized sedans and hatchbacks. Provisional drivers over the age of 25 can enjoy renting any vehicle available from our entire fleet. 

See our Provisional Drivers guide for all the details to get ready for the road.

Booking with us directly? Then you don’t have to worry about cancellation fees, as we don’t charge any! Life happens and we know how important it is to be flexible on your travels. 

Please keep in mind that this may be different if your booking is prepaid. Additionally, if you’re booking with a third-party agency (like a broker or OTA), then you will need to request a refund from them directly. We unfortunately cannot refund third-party rentals ourselves. 

Be sure to contact our friendly Redspot staff on 1300 668 810 if you have any questions!

Do rental cars have GPS in Australia?

Unfortunately, Redspot rentals don’t come with sat nav (satellite navigation) or GPS systems. If you need navigational help though, we’re still here for you!

Most of our cars have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for hands-free navigation. This helps keep you safe while driving- we don’t recommend using your mobile phone in the car without one. 

Please be sure to bring a USB or USB-C connector to use the navigation features in our cars. We do not provide mobile phone connectors, so it’s best to be prepared if you’d like to make full use of these services.