Beaches and Surfers Paradise. Most access roads from Brisbane Airport towards the Gold Coast charge a toll. A one-way hire that ends at the Gold Coast is an alternative to returning here, but drop-off availability and fees depend on the company, so check before booking.
Brisbane Airport car hire
Eight brands serve Brisbane Airport, but their domestic counters and cars span the terminal and nearby car parks. International partners have counters in Level 2 arrivals. Check the booked brand and terminal before following its collection directions. Off-airport providers use separate transfer pick-up areas.
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Brisbane Airport at a glance
- Airport code
- BNE, with separate domestic and international terminals
- International rental counters
- On-airport partners use Level 2 arrivals; check your booked brand
- Off-airport providers
- Domestic: pick-up area adjacent to the P1 car park, reached via the Skywalk then the lift to Level 1. International: from Level 2 at the northern end, follow signs down the ramp
- Avis counter hours
- Sun to Fri 5:30 am to midnight; Sat 5:30 am to 10 pm (other brands vary)
- Airtrain to the city
- About 20 minutes to Brisbane City; trains every 15 minutes at peak and 30 minutes off-peak
Compare cars at Brisbane Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Picking up your car at Brisbane Airport
The named airport operators use different domestic counters and car parks. Exact locations for Dollar, Hertz and Thrifty still need confirmation from the booked branch.
Domestic counter opposite baggage claim; car on P1 Level 1. International counter in Level 2 arrivals; car in front of terminal.
- Avis
- Budget
Domestic counters beside baggage reclaim; car on P1 ground floor. International counter in Level 2 arrivals.
- Redspot
Domestic counters opposite Qantas and Virgin baggage carousels; car-park booth at Level 1. International counter in Level 2 arrivals.
- Europcar
Domestic P1 ground-floor branch and cars; International Level 2 arrivals counter with cars beside the multi-level car park.
- Sixt
Other rental companies
- Dollar
- Hertz
- Thrifty
Your booking identifies the collection point for these operators.
Collecting the car
- 1
At Domestic Arrivals, follow your booked brand's directions. Avis, Budget, Redspot, Europcar and SIXT have terminal or P1 collection points. Other rental facilities are signed from P2 Level 1.
- 2
At International Arrivals, on-airport rental counters are on Level 2. Cars may be in the open-air area in front of the terminal or beside the multi-level car park, depending on the brand.
- 3
If your provider is off-airport, go to the separate pick-up area instead. At the domestic terminal that is adjacent to the P1 car park: use the Skywalk, then the lift at the end of the walkway down to Level 1. At the international terminal, go to Level 2 at the northern end and follow signs down the ramp.
- 4
Ask at the counter how tolls are handled on your car. Most rental companies fit an electronic tag, with the toll plus a service fee charged to you.
Returning your car at Brisbane Airport
- 1
Fill up before you arrive. The airport points drivers to the BNE Service Centre (Shell Coles Express) to avoid extra refuelling fees on drop-off.
- 2
Returns differ by brand and terminal. Avis and Budget use the domestic P1 slip road or the international rental area under the arrivals ramp. Check the assigned bay and key return on your agreement.
- 3
If you used toll roads, expect the toll and the company's service fee to appear on your account after the hire, under your rental company's toll arrangement.
Drives from Brisbane Airport
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Sunshine Coast
About an hour's drive north of Brisbane
A beach base, with Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola as the main gateway.
Tamborine Mountain
About 80 km south of Brisbane
A rainforest plateau in the Scenic Rim. From the Gold Coast, drive along the Pacific Highway to the Oxenford-Tamborine Road, or go through Nerang on the Nerang-Tamborine Road.
Toowoomba
An inland day trip. The Toowoomba Bypass is tolled, with the toll point at Cranley, east of the Mort Street Interchange, so read the toll note below before you go.
Guides for trips from Brisbane Airport
Brisbane to Cairns drivePlan Brisbane to Cairns or the reverse on the Bruce Highway: long driving legs, one-way return quotes, kilometre limits, road conditions and airport pickups.Brisbane tolls in a hire carWhich Brisbane drives use toll roads, how to calculate each motorway trip and what to ask about your rental car’s tag, Linkt billing and company charges.Glass House Mountains hinterland drivePlan the roughly 70 km Sunshine Coast Adventure Drive from the Glass House Mountains via Australia Zoo to Caloundra, with the Brisbane approach and Maleny.Outback Queensland road trip in a hire carBrisbane to Longreach is about 1,180 km on sealed roadsStradbroke and Moreton Island car ferry with a hire carCan you take a hire car to Stradbroke or Moreton Island? How the SeaLink car ferry and Micat barge work, 4WD permits and what Hertz and Avis terms say.Day Trips from Brisbane by CarCompare Brisbane day trips by car to Ipswich, Caloundra, Toowoomba, Mount Mee and Queen Mary Falls, with drive times and a note on Moreton Island vehicle rules.K'gari (Fraser Island) hire car and 4WD rulesCan you take a hire car to K'gari (Fraser Island)? Rental terms, 4WD rules, barges from Hervey Bay and Inskip Point, the permit fee and beach driving limits.Car hire age rules in AustraliaCan you hire a car under 25 in Australia? Avis and Hertz set a 21-year minimum, with vehicle limits and a surcharge for younger driversCar Hire Cost in AustraliaThere is no fixed cheapest month for car hireCar hire excess insurance in AustraliaRenting a car in Australia: what the rental rate covers, what counter excess reduction, standalone excess cover and travel insurance pay, and what they exclude.Car Hire with a Debit CardA physical Visa or Mastercard debit card may be accepted, but a bond can reduce available fundsChild car seats in Australian hire carsChild car seat laws for hire cars in Australia: age bands, booster seat age by state, why overseas seats are not allowed, and what a rental company's terms say.
Driving around Brisbane Airport
Tolls on Brisbane roads
Queensland's toll roads are AirportlinkM7, Clem7, Gateway Motorway, Go Between Bridge, Legacy Way, Logan Motorway and the Toowoomba Bypass. A Linkt pass covers any toll road in Queensland, but most rental cars are already tagged, so confirm with your provider before buying anything yourself.
Gateway Motorway near the airport
The Gateway Motorway links the Pacific and Bruce Highways and lets traffic bypass the Brisbane CBD. Moreton Drive (Airport) is one of its listed toll points.
Tag fees in a hire car
The toll plus a service fee is charged to you using the same method used to pay for the hire vehicle.
Taxi tolls are on the passenger
If you decide against hiring for the first night, the airport quotes about $67 to $82 for a taxi to Brisbane City, about 20 minutes outside peak times, plus a $4.86 airport fee and any tolls.
Brisbane Airport car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Are car hire desks in the terminal at Brisbane Airport?
Airport options include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Redspot, Europcar, Hertz, SIXT and Thrifty. Domestic collection varies by brand: Avis and Budget have counters opposite baggage claim and cars on P1 Level 1; Redspot and SIXT also use P1. International terminal counters are on Level 2 in Arrivals. Follow the booked operator’s directions rather than assuming all companies share one car park. Off-airport offers need their own transfer instructions.
Where do I return a hire car at Brisbane Airport?
There is no single return point, so follow the instructions in your rental agreement, which differ between on-airport and off-airport providers. Refuel at the BNE Service Centre (Shell Coles Express) to avoid extra fees.
What are the car hire opening hours at Brisbane Airport?
Hours are set by each company. As one example, Avis's airport counter opens Sunday to Friday 5:30 am to midnight and Saturday 5:30 am to 10 pm. Check your own booking, especially for late flights.
Do I pay tolls in a Brisbane Airport hire car?
Yes, if you use tolled roads. Most rental companies fit an electronic tag so you can go through tolls without pre-purchase, and the toll plus a service fee is charged to you.
Can I drop a hire car at the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast after picking up at Brisbane Airport?
Sometimes, but it depends on the company and is normally priced as a one-way hire. Choose your drop-off location in the search box to see the terms before you book.
Do I need an international driving permit to hire a car in Brisbane?
In Queensland, carry an approved English translation if your overseas licence is not in English; an international driving permit is another option. Carry your original licence as well.
Nearby and often combined
Compare Brisbane Airport car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.