Spirit of Tasmania and your hire car
A mainland hire car generally cannot cross Bass Strait. Europcar bans travel between mainland Australia and Tasmania, Avis bans taking the car off the Mainland or out of Tasmania without its written approval, and Hertz requires prior permission before a car goes on a ferry. The usual plan is to return the car in Geelong or Melbourne, sail as a foot passenger and hire a separate car in Tasmania. A ferry ticket for the car is not enough: the ferry will sell you the space, but your rental agreement decides whether you may use it.
Updated
Key facts
- Europcar terms
- Its prohibited-areas clause lists travel "between mainland Australia and Tasmania in either direction"
- Avis terms
- Without Avis's written authority you must not take the vehicle off the Mainland (unless linked by road) or out of Tasmania
- Hertz terms
- It permits vehicles on certain ferries, but you must have prior permission from Hertz first
- Check-in
- Closes strictly 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time
- Terminals
- 136 Corio Quay Road, North Geelong, and Esplanade, East Devonport
- New ships
- Spirit of Tasmania IV and V start on 31 October 2026, and the schedule will then include only night sailings
- Devonport Airport rental desk hours
- Roughly 8am or 9am to 5pm. Avis is closed on Saturday and opens 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, and Budget is open 8am to 1pm on weekends
Can you take a hire car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
The ferry sells space for cars, 4WDs, motorbikes, motorhomes, caravans and bicycles, but the fare does not decide whether a rental car may go on board. That comes from the rental agreement, and the three national agreements below are all restrictive. Europcar's clause lists "between mainland Australia and Tasmania in either direction" among places you must never take the vehicle, and it applies even to 4WDs with unsealed road cover.
Avis's terms say drivers must not, unless authorised in writing by Avis, take the vehicle off the Mainland (unless linked by road) or out of Tasmania. Hertz is the softer wording: it permits vehicles on certain ferries but requires prior permission from Hertz first. Other companies, and small local operators, have their own terms, so get any permission in writing before you buy a ferry ticket.
The usual plan: sail as a foot passenger and hire in Tasmania
Because a mainland hire car normally has to stay on the mainland, most people who want a car in Tasmania return the mainland car before sailing and pick up a new one after the ferry lands.
Pick-up options depend on your route. Devonport is 79 km from Cradle Mountain. If you want to drive the island one way, a hire from Launceston Airport to Hobart Airport avoids backtracking; whether a one-way fee applies is set by the company and shown in the search results.
How do you hire a car in Devonport after the ferry lands?
Devonport Airport lists five rental brands in its terminal building: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty. Desk hours are short: Europcar and Thrifty daily 9am to 5pm (Europcar also offers after-hours service at extra charge), Hertz daily 9:30am to 5pm, Avis Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm but closed Saturday, and Budget Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and weekends 8am to 1pm.
That matters because of when the ferry arrives. On the current timetable the day sailing arrives in Devonport at about 7pm, the evening departure at about 6am and the late-night departure at about 8:30am. From 31 October 2026 the schedule will include only night sailings. Arrival times can also shift with weather. Check your arrival time against the desk hours, and if you land outside them, ask the company about out-of-hours collection before booking.
- Book the car for the morning after arrival if your sailing lands before the desks open.
- A weekend arrival can limit your choice, because Avis is closed on Saturday and Budget closes at 1pm.
How much is the Spirit of Tasmania with a car, and without?
Get a real quote on your dates from the operator's booking page, and remember that cabins cost extra.
For a hire car the comparison is not the ferry fare alone. If your agreement forbids the crossing, the choice is between returning the mainland car (possibly with a one-way fee) and hiring a new car in Tasmania, against paying for a vehicle space on a car you are not permitted to take.
Geelong side: drop-off before you sail
The Geelong terminal is at 136 Corio Quay Road, North Geelong, and check-in closes strictly 45 minutes before departure. It is roughly 70 km from Melbourne, so allow at least an hour to drive there. A shuttle bus runs from Geelong station to the quay and also links the quay with Avalon Airport, with fees and a minimum passenger number.
If you are returning a hire car first, plan the drop-off so you are back on foot with time in hand. A Melbourne hire car returned in Geelong is a one-way hire, so compare that against returning it in Melbourne.
What changes on 31 October 2026?
Spirit of Tasmania IV and V start services on 31 October 2026, in line with the completion of the new Devonport terminal, and once they run the schedule will include only night sailings. The crossing between Devonport and Geelong is 242 km, and the new ships add 40 per cent more capacity.
For hire-car planning the takeaway is to check the arrival time on your booking against your Tasmanian pick-up desk's hours, and book the pick-up for after you disembark rather than the evening before.
Compare cars at Devonport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
Can you take a hire car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Usually not without permission. Europcar's terms ban travel between mainland Australia and Tasmania, Avis's terms bar taking the car off the Mainland or out of Tasmania without written authority, and Hertz requires prior permission for ferries. Check your own rental agreement.
Can you hire a car at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Devonport?
The rental desks are in the Devonport Airport terminal building, not at the ferry terminal, and their hours end at 5pm (earlier on weekends for some, and Avis is closed on Saturday). Check pick-up details for your company before you sail.
How much does it cost for a car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Get a quote on your dates from the operator's booking page, and remember cabins are extra. A hire car may not be allowed on the crossing at all, so check the rental agreement first.
Can you go on the Spirit of Tasmania as a foot passenger?
Yes. Passengers can travel without a vehicle. Check-in closes strictly 45 minutes before departure.
Where is the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Geelong?
136 Corio Quay Road, North Geelong, about 70 km from Melbourne. A shuttle bus runs from Geelong station.
What time does the Spirit of Tasmania arrive in Devonport?
On the current timetable the evening departure arrives at 6am, the late-night departure at 8:30am and the day sailing at 7pm. From 31 October 2026 the schedule will only include night sailings.