Cairns Car Hire
We’re all about you.
*NOTE: Call or email our friendly Cairns team to arrange after hours pick-up. For after hours drop-off, head to our branch in Cairns Airport, only 11min drive.
Branch Information
Our Cairns City branch is located in the heart of the CBD, a stone’s throw away from Cairns Central Shopping Centre and Cairns Railway Station. Hop into one of our trusty vehicles and get ready to unlock tropical North Queensland, one road at a time! Whether a hybrid car, 4WD or SUV suits your adventure best, we have the car for an unforgettable journey.
Quick and easy car rental
Looking for a quick and easy Cairns car rental to take you from rainforest to reef? Redspot is your local expert on the ground, getting you where you need to go. With our package options and helpful services, we’ll steer you in the right direction!
Returning your rental car
Head to our Cairns City branch and park your rental car in the designated parking area. Drop your keys off at the counter and you’re good to go. Easy-peezy!
After hours pick-up
Call (07) 4249 3331 (branch direct) or 1300 668 810 (toll-free number) to discuss after-hours pick-up with our Cairns City team. We’ll do our best to get you safely on the road.
After hours drop-off
Unfortunately, we do not accept after-hours drop-offs at Redspot Cairns City. Please return your vehicle the next business day, or to our Redspot Cairns Airport branch (an 11-minute drive north of the Cairns City office).
One-way car hires
Want to keep the good times rolling? Redspot offers one-way car hires (aka vehicle relocation) depending on availability. Reach out to our Cairns City team by phone or email to discuss!
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!
A track record of satisfied customers in Australia
With over 35 years of homegrown Aussie experience, Redspot knows how to navigate a smooth ride! Check out why our customers love driving with us, season after season:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you need a hire car for Cairns?
While public transport is available in Cairns, why not take your adventures by the wheel on your own time? Hiring a rental car gives you the flexibility to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
From the Daintree Rainforest to the Atherton Tablelands, Cairns’ natural beauty is at your fingertips. Not to mention, hiring a car allows you to experience some of the country’s most stunning scenic drives on your own schedule!
How much does car hire cost Cairns?
Long story short, it depends. You can check out Redspot’s red-hot deals like our Mystery Vehicles offer for affordable rentals as a starting point for car hire in Cairns.
Can I rent a car in Australia as a tourist?
Yes, absolutely! Tourists are more than welcome to rent a car in Australia to explore our beautiful country. 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 Sunshine Coast team for local advice.
Note: Make sure to bring a physical driver’s licence to the kiosk. E-licenses 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.
What are the rules for renting a car in Australia?
Renting a car in Australia requires that you:
- Be over 21 years old.
- Present a valid credit/debit card OR purchase order OR prepaid voucher in the renter’s name.
- Present a valid, physical driver’s licence in the renter’s name. Note: Digital licences, photos or copies are not accepted.
- Present valid driver’s licence/s for any additional drivers, who must be present at the time of vehicle pick-up.
If you are an international visitor, you must also present your physical passport and valid full driver’s licence at vehicle pick-up. Please bring a translated version of your driver’s licence if it is not in English.
Explore Cairns with Redspot
Kickstart your adventure from Port Macquarie Airport with a road trip to some of the region’s most breathtaking spots! Explore pristine beaches, ancient rainforests and charming vineyards that make NSW’s Mid-North Coast a must-see.
Great Barrier Reef
Daintree Rainforest
Palm Cove
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Red-hot Cairns tips from our local staff
“Best coffee in the Cairns CBD (Central Business District) is at Billy’s, 100 metres from the Redspot Cairns branch! They are also located at Rusty’s Markets on Friday to Saturdays, right across the road from our office.” – Nickolas, Cairns City Branch Manager
