Car Rental Darwin

We’re all about you.
Call or email our Darwin City team to discuss after-hours pick-up, we’ll happily arrange something that works for you. Unfortunately, we do not accept after-hours drop-offs at this location. Please return your vehicle the next business day or return your vehicle to Redspot Darwin Airport ( 17-minutes drive from our Darwin City branch)
Branch Information
Find our Darwin City branch near the city centre at 102 Esplanade, on the ground floor. Whether you need a 4WD for the outback or a road-trip-ready sedan, we have the perfect car for your journey around the Top End.
Quick and easy car rental
Looking for an easy, speedy car rental for your NT adventures? Redspot is your local Darwin City expert, ready to help you hit the road in style. With our awesome value packages and convenient add-on accessories, it’s easy to find the right vehicle for the road.
Darwin has a few restricted areas where, unfortunately, we cannot cover you for damage liability or 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 can discuss your travel plans and guide you through any specific details you will need to get rolling.
Returning your rental car
Head to our Darwin City branch and park your rental car in our designated parking area. After parking, just drop your keys off at our office desk and you’re ready to go. Easy as pie!
After hours pick-up
Call 1300 668 810 or email [email protected] to arrange after-hours pick-up. We’ll happily organise something that works for you.
After hours drop-off
Unfortunately, we do not offer after-hours drop-offs at Redspot Darwin City. Please return your vehicle the next business day, or head to our Darwin Airport branch. Park in the airport car park, then visit the Redspot desk inside the terminal building on the ground floor. Pop your keys into the 24/7 drop box and we’ll take it from there!
One-way car hires
Redspot’s Darwin branches offer one-way car hires* between Darwin branches. If you’ve picked up the car from Darwin City, you can drop it off at Darwin Airport or Holtze before you take off!
Load up with Redspot’s red-hot value packages!
We’ve got your back with 24/7 roadside assistance so you never have to worry about being stranded. For an even smoother car rental experience, we have designed two packages for damage and liability coverage and extra services!
Package prices will be calculated based on your vehicle selected and rental period. Proceed to the car rental booking page for a quote.
All-Inclusive Package
This iconic Redspot package stands strong as the first all-inclusive car rental product in Australia! Designed with peace-of-mind built-in, our good value car rental package includes:
- No hidden costs, we are upfront about the inclusions in this package!
- $0 standard liability excess*
- Additional windshield and headlight cover
- GST-inclusive
- Unlimited km allowance
- Free additional drivers
- No cancellation fees
- No amendment fees
- Contract fee**
- Premium location fee* Registration recovery fee**
- Book now, pay later
Standard Package
Need something a little more simple but with all the expert local support? Redspot’s Standard Package might be for you. This includes:
- No hidden costs, we are upfront about the inclusions in this package!
- Standard damage liability excess*
- GST-inclusive
- Unlimited km allowance
- Additional drivers fee
- No cancellation fees
- No amendment fees
- Contract fee**
- Premium location fee* Registration recovery fee**
- Book now, pay later
Terminology Key:
Let us break down our package terms so you know exactly what may appear on your invoice:
*Damage liability excess: ‘Amount reduced by’ is dependent on the vehicle type and hire itinerary selected.
**Contract fee: We have a small surcharge to cover our costs to draw up our rental agreement with you.
***Premium location fee: Sometimes a premium airport or downtown location will charge us an additional surcharge for each rental and we are upfront about this cost in your package! The price will depend on the location selected.
****Registration recovery fee: We pay a surcharge to cover our vehicle registration and compulsory third-party insurance costs and we highlight this clearly in your package breakdown.
At Redspot, we believe in straight-up honesty! Just so you’re in the loop, all the nitty-gritty on damage liability and extra charges can be found in our terms and conditions.
At Redspot, we believe in straight-up honesty! Just so you’re in the loop, all the nitty-gritty on damage liability and extra charges can be found in our terms and conditions.
Redspot Driver Facts
Rev-Up for Young Drivers
We are one of the few car rental companies to have a minimum driver age of 21!
Note that drivers under 25 will pay a daily surcharge on their car rental fee. Car hire is limited to small to medium-sized sedans and hatchbacks.
Maximum age is no barrier
With Redspot, age is just a number! There is no maximum age to hit the road.
Local P-Platers and Full Licences
Redspot Car Rentals gives P-platers the green light – one of the few Aussie companies that do! Our safety rules include:
- You must have held your provisional driver’s licence for a minimum of 1 year.
- Your full driver’s licence must be valid for a minimum of 12 months from the date of rental collection.
Overseas visitors welcome
Explore every Aussie hotspot with Redspot! Temporary overseas visitors can hire a car with:
- A full valid driver’s licence and passport
- Licences must have photo identification
- If the licence is not in English then you will need an official translated document from your embassy or road traffic authority in your home country
- Some countries may need to apply for an international driver’s permit
Credit Card Condition
Cover your back and ours. All rental cars require a credit card at pick-up for a pre-authorisation.
Share the ride with additional drivers
We can easily add additional drivers to your car rental booking. The driver will need to show their full valid driver’s licence in any branch and provide a credit card for a daily surcharge. Too easy!
Family-friendly car hire
Redspot is a family-run business and selects modern SUVs, sedans and people carriers for family comfort. With a range of baby, child and booster seats available to hire, the little ones don’t miss out.
Toll-road Tricks
Buy peace-of-mind with a Redspot toll road waiver and say goodbye to unexpected charges.
Fuel Flexibility
Pre-pay, post-pay or refuel your rental car yourself. Redspot make it easy to keep a full tank for an Australian adventure.
Don’t sweat the paperwork
All you need to bring for collection is your valid driver’s licence and credit card. We will take care of the rest!
Proudly serving the people of NT’s capital city!
Redspot has 35 years of satisfied customers and experience in the car hire industry. But don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what some of our happy customers have to say:
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does it cost to rent a car in Darwin?
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 and choose from a wide range of well-maintained, quality vehicles and hit the road with a perfectly matched pair of wheels.
Is it cheaper to take a taxi or car?
Taking a hire car on your journey is cheaper if you plan to do a lot of travelling. A taxi hire in Darwin has a higher cost per journey than an NT car rental. You can also enjoy much more freedom with a rental car!
What is a cross border fee for rental cars?
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.
Do rental cars have a km limit?
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.
Explore Darwin City with Redspot
Darwin City is the perfect gateway to the rugged Australian outback. This coastal city offers you a great taste of sunny Australian beaches right next to lush, wild forests. From Charles Darwin National Park to the Tiwi Islands, you won’t regret exploring Darwin with a reliable rental car!
Doctors Gully

Darwin Aviation Museum

Charles Darwin National Park

Tiwi Islands

Red-hot Darwin City tips from our local staff
‘About a 90-minute drive from Darwin, Litchfield National Park is known for its stunning waterfalls, swimming holes and giant termite mounds. Visit spots like Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole for a refreshing swim, or hike the scenic trails.” Richard, Darwin City Manager.
“Visit the Darwin Military Museum at East Point Reserve to learn about Darwin’s role in World War II, particularly the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces in 1942. The museum offers interactive exhibits and a film that provides a vivid account of the event.” – Steve, Rental Agent, Darwin City.
“A popular weekend market, the Rapid Creek Market is Darwin’s oldest and offers a great selection of fresh tropical produce, Asian food, and plants. It’s a local gem, especially for those looking to taste authentic flavors from the Top End.” – John, Rental Agent, Darwin City.
Meet Our Fleet at Darwin City Airport
Grab a minivan with legroom for your whole crew, or try a compact car for city parking. No matter what your travel plans are, your perfect partner on the road is ready for you at Redspot!