Hire Car Fines in Australia
A rental company can hold you responsible for fines, parking tickets and tolls incurred during the hire. In NSW, a fine under a company name must be transferred by an authorised person nominating the responsible driver, and some offences carry demerit points that require nomination. Avis may also charge an administration fee for transferring an infringement notice.
Updated
Key facts
- Company notice
- For an NSW fine under a company name, an authorised person from the company must nominate the responsible driver
- Camera offences
- Camera-detected offences and parking in a school zone carry demerit points, so nomination is required by law
- Nomination details
- Name, address, date of birth, licence number and state or country of issue; a passport number for an international driver
- Due date
- Nominate by the due date on the fine notice
- Avis obligation
- The renter is responsible for penalty notices, parking tickets, traffic violations and tolls during the rental
- Avis processing fee
- An administration fee may be charged to transfer infringement notices to the renter
Who receives a fine in a hire car?
A notice for a hire car can arrive with the company that owns the vehicle. Under Avis terms, the renter is responsible for parking tickets and traffic violations during the rental. In NSW, if a fine is under a company name, an authorised person from the company must nominate the driver or person responsible.
What happens with camera offences?
In NSW, some offences, such as camera-detected offences and parking in a school zone, apply demerit points to a driver licence, so the person responsible must be nominated by law. Nomination needs the driver's name, address, date of birth and licence details, plus a passport number for an international driver. It must be made by the due date on the fine notice.
Can the rental company add a fee?
Check the company terms. Avis may charge an administration fee to process the transfer of infringement notices to the renter, separate from the fine itself. Read the rental agreement before you contest a charge, and ask about the total cost of the hire, including extra costs.
How are tolls different?
Tolls are usage charges rather than traffic offences. When you drive a toll road in an Avis car, a Linkt Rental Account is set up in your name, and Linkt Sydney charges the trips to the card you gave at booking, plus a $3.30 fee for each day you use a toll road. Another company may use a different arrangement.
Compare cars at Sydney Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
Preparing live car hire search
Questions people ask
Who pays a speeding fine in a rental car?
The renter is responsible for fines during the rental under Avis terms. In NSW, the company can transfer a fine by nominating the person responsible.
Can a hire company charge an admin fee for a fine?
Some do. Avis may charge an administration fee to process the transfer of an infringement notice to the renter.
Do demerit points go to the rental company?
In NSW, offences that carry demerit points, such as camera-detected offences, require the person responsible to be nominated.
Are toll charges the same as fines?
No. A toll is a usage charge, and Avis adds a daily fee when you use a toll road.