Hobart City Car Rental FAQs

It takes approximately 22 hours to drive non-stop around Tasmania in an anti-clockwise direction, passing through the main cities and landmarks. Note that this does not account for toilet, food or rest breaks though! 

We highly recommend spacing your Tassie adventures over 7 to 14 days to thoroughly explore the island’s breathtaking national parks, charming towns and distinct wildlife. Check out our comprehensive 1-week Tasmania travel itinerary to get planning!

While Hobart City is quite compact with plenty of walkable areas, having a rental car offers greater flexibility to explore the rest of Tasmania! With a car, you can easily reach Mount Wellington and enjoy scenic drives along the coastline. You can also take your adventures further by exploring natural wonders like Bruny Island or Wineglass Bay.

No need to worry, your rental car will be full of fuel when you pick it up! When it comes to returning it, it’s up to you if you want to refuel or not! Here are your options: 

1. You can prepay for a full tank at a discounted rate at the start of your rental period. This will save you the hassle of filling it up later, just note that there’s no refund for unused fuel. 
2. Only get charged for the fuel you use. This will be at a higher rate than above.

To hire a car in Australia with Redspot, you will need:

• A valid credit card, debit card or purchase order/prepaid voucher.
• A valid driver’s licence and the licence of any other drivers using the car. Licence not in English? You will also need an official translation, as provided by your embassy or home nation’s traffic authority. 
• Does your licence show your current address? If not, you will need to provide documented proof of address, such as a utility bill.
• If you are not an Australian citizen, you will also need to provide your passport.

Your car rental rate will depend on factors such as:

• Type of car
• Rental duration
• Insurance options
• Any additional fees (moving equipment hire, vehicle relocation fees etc.)

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

Remember to read the fine print, ask questions and compare local prices to make sure you’re getting the best value out of your car rental deal!

Yes, tourists are more than welcome to rent a car in Australia! Temporary visitors can show their valid overseas driver’s licence and passport to rent vehicles from Redspot.

If you’re loving your time here and stay in Australia for longer than 3 months, that’s when you’ll need to transition to a local driver’s licence. This depends on the state or territory you’re travelling in, so check in with our friendly Hobart City team for local advice. 

Note: Make sure to bring a physical driver’s licence to the kiosk. Certain digital licences or passports are not accepted as valid documents.* If your licence is not in English, we’ll need a translated version from your embassy or traffic authority in your home country. 

For more information, see our complete guide to renting a vehicle with an overseas licence.

*Digital licences or passports are accepted from the USA, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

No credit card, no problem. We’re one of the rare Aussie rental car companies that don’t require credit card payment to book with us! 

Instead, you can pay using a valid debit card and/or purchase order or prepaid voucher. We understand that flexibility is key, so we offer alternative payment options to get you rolling ASAP.

For most Aussie car rental companies, the minimum age is 25. However, with Redspot, we don’t think age should keep you from getting out there! Drivers from 21 years old are welcome to rent with us.

Please be advised that there will be a few restrictions for young drivers. Hired cars available will be CDAR, ECAR and IDAR class vehicles. Provisional P2 licence holders can reduce damage cover up to $330, and there will be a small daily surcharge. Check our Young Drivers guide for all the details to get you rolling!

Unfortunately, Redspot cars do not come with GPS or sat nav (satellite navigation) systems. If you need navigational help though, never fear!

Most Redspot cars are equipped with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which allows hands-free navigation. This helps keep you safe while driving – we don’t recommend using your mobile phone for navigation otherwise.

Bring along a USB or USB-C connector to use the location services available in-car facilities. We do not provide mobile phone connectors, so it’s best to come prepared in case you’d like to make full use of these services.

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.

Yes, more than one person can hit the road with a hire car. Just make sure any drivers present their valid driver’s licence at vehicle pick-up and you’ll be ready to roam. Usual T&Cs apply. 

Please note that an additional driver’s fee may apply, unless you book our All-Inclusive package!

No, Redspot rental cars do not track your speed or monitor general activity in our vehicles to respect your privacy. That said, take it easy on the pedal! 

If you get a speeding ticket or a fine in one of our vehicles, we won’t be able to pay the fee ourselves. In this case, we will email the bill to you and charge a $55 admin fee. Ultimately, it’s easier to drive within the speed limit and adhere to local road rules to make your journey as hassle-free as possible.

We suggest contacting your friend to ask that they take care of the fine. If you can, keep any evidence that you were not driving when the speeding occurred. 

No matter who was driving at the time, we will need to send the fine to the address given to us at pick-up. In this case, please note there is an additional $55 administrative fee charged when this happens. To avoid the extra hassle and fees, please adhere to local road rules and keep your wallet and friendships intact!

Yes, you will need to pay a bond to rent with Redspot, just the same as you would with any other Aussie car rental company. The exact bond amount will depend on your booking plan and vehicle criteria. With Redspot, this typically ranges between $100-$1000. 

Provided there are no additional charges at the end of your rental, this bond will be returned to the same card you paid with. If there are any additional charges (damages, late returns etc.), these may be deducted from the bond before it is refunded. 

After your rental car is returned safe and sound, the bond is usually released within 3-5 business days. This may vary depending on your bank or debit/credit card provider.

Want more info? Contact your local Redspot branch or 1300 668 810 (toll-free number) and our friendly team is more than happy to discuss.

When it comes to refilling your Redspot rental car, we’re here to offer fuel options:

• Prepay for the full tank your vehicle contains at the start of your rental. You’ll pay a discounted rate, and you won’t need to worry about refilling the vehicle before returning it. (There’s no refund for unused fuel.)
• We can refill the vehicle for you and charge you for the fuel you’ve used. If you choose this option, you’ll pay a higher rate. 

You can refuel your rental vehicle before returning it. Please fill up the vehicle right before returning to avoid extra charges.

If you have filled your rental car with the wrong fuel, don’t panic. Instead, follow these simple steps:

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

Diesel petrol in an unleaded car can cause serious engine damage, so it’s best to get professional assistance as soon as you can. 

Hot 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.

Unfortunately, breakdowns can occur in vehicles of all types and get in the way of your road trip, business travel or errand run. That’s why we offer 24-hour roadside assistance for all our vehicles.

Prefer to be fully covered for everything from lost keys to punctured tyres to running out of fuel? You can prepay for our Premium Roadside Assistance.