Fremantle
Fremantle Line train
The Fremantle Line runs trains between Perth and Fremantle, so the train is an option if you would rather not drive.
Car hire in Perth city
Central Perth is a good place to start a hire if you do not need a car for your first day or two: the Budget city depot keeps weekday and short Saturday hours, so an airport pickup may be easier if you land late or need Sunday collection. Fremantle is easy to reach by train, and Rottnest Island is car-free, so you will not need a hire car on either day trip.
Updated
Perth CBD at a glance
- Budget Perth City depot
- 960 Hay St, corner of Hay and Milligan Streets
- Budget depot hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm; Sat 8:00am-12:30pm; confirm Sunday collection with depot; after-hours returns not available
- Perth Airport
- A 20 to 30 minute drive from central Perth
- Fremantle
- On the Fremantle Line train route from Perth
- Rottnest Island
- 19 km off the coast of Fremantle, reached by ferry
Compare cars at Perth city
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 in the city
We could only verify one CBD depot from a rental company's own location page. Other companies have city and East Perth depots; check your booking confirmation for the exact address and hours.
| Company | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Local depot960 Hay St, Perth; Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-12:30pm; cars are behind the building; after-hours returns not available | 960 Hay St, Perth; Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-12:30pm; cars are behind the building; after-hours returns not available |
Collecting the car
- 1
Check the depot's opening hours against your plans. The Budget city depot opens on weekdays and Saturday mornings; confirm Sunday availability with the depot.
- 2
At Budget's Hay Street depot, the entrance is at the corner of Hay and Milligan Streets, with two entry doors and parking behind the building.
- 3
If you arrive by air outside city depot hours, pick up at Perth Airport instead, where seven companies have terminal counters.
- 4
Bring your driver licence and your booking confirmation.
Returning in the city
- 1
At Budget's Hay Street depot there is a dedicated rental return lot with directional signage: take the first driveway and follow the signs.
- 2
Return inside depot hours. After-hours returns are not available at Budget's Hay Street depot. It closes at 12:30pm on Saturday; confirm Sunday return options with the depot.
- 3
If your flight leaves from Perth Airport (a 20 to 30 minute drive from the CBD), check whether your rental company allows a return there or only at the depot you collected from.
Drives from Perth city
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Rottnest Island
19 km off the coast of Fremantle (by ferry)
Leave the hire car on the mainland. The island is predominantly car-free and you cannot bring a car over. Ferries run from Fremantle, Perth and Hillarys, and the trip takes about 25 minutes from Fremantle.
Margaret River
About 3 hours by road
South of Perth, the Margaret River Region is roughly three hours by road, which makes it a full-day drive there and back.
If your city stay comes first, compare Perth collection on departure day with flying to Busselton and hiring near the South West stops.
A visit centred on Kalgoorlie may need fewer rental days when collection starts at its airport rather than in Perth city.
Guides for trips from Perth city
Rottnest Island without a carVisitors cannot bring a car to Rottnest IslandCoral Coast Road TripPlan a Perth to Exmouth return over 3,277 km in eight to eleven days, with Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Ningaloo stopsDriving in Western AustraliaDriving in WA means long distances, left-side traffic and local speed limitsOne-way car hire from PerthSet Perth as pickup and Broome or Esperance as the return point to check one-way availability, total rental charges and regional driving conditions.Perth to Albany drivePerth to Albany is about 415 km, roughly four hours to Mount Barker then 51 km morePerth to Broome drivePerth to Broome by car: the coastal route via Kalbarri and Karratha, the inland route via Karijini, leg distances and times, best months and hire car rules.Perth to Esperance drivePerth to Esperance is about 714 km by road, or 7.5 hours direct, on sealed roadsPerth to Margaret River drivePerth to Margaret River is about three hours via the Forrest HighwayPerth to Monkey Mia drivePerth to Monkey Mia is about 847 km and close to nine hours by roadPerth to Pinnacles driveDrive from Perth to the Pinnacles via Cervantes and Indian Ocean DrivePerth to Exmouth drivePerth to Exmouth is about 1,250 km and a 13 hour drive
Driving around Perth city
Rottnest is car-free
The Rottnest Island Authority calls the island 'predominantly car-free' and allows driving only for work, research, official volunteering, mobility buggy use or special events, so visitors do not take hire cars over.
Airport to the city by train
The Airport Line runs from Airport Central to Perth Station in about 18 minutes, which suits a city stay before you collect a car.
Leaving town
Slow down from dusk till dawn for animals, and check the Main Roads WA Travel Map for closures before regional trips.
Perth CBD car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Is there car hire in Perth CBD?
Yes. For example, Budget's Perth City depot is at 960 Hay St, with hours Mon-Fri 8am-5pm and Sat 8am-12:30pm on its location page.
Do I need a car in Perth city?
Not for the CBD itself. Fremantle is on the Fremantle Line train route, and Rottnest Island is predominantly car-free, so a car is most useful for trips out of town.
Can I take a hire car to Rottnest Island?
No. The island is predominantly car-free; driving is allowed only for a short list of work and event purposes.
How far is Fremantle from Perth?
Fremantle is on the Fremantle Line train route from Perth, so you can go by train without a car.
Is it cheaper to hire in the city or at the airport?
We do not compare prices here. The one difference you can see in advance is hours: the Budget city depot closes at 12:30pm on Saturday and needs a Sunday availability check, while seven companies have counters at the airport terminals.
Can I hire a car at Perth Airport instead?
Yes. Perth Airport is a 20 to 30 minute drive from the CBD and has seven car hire companies: Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, SIXT and Redspot.
Nearby and often combined
Compare Perth city car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.