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Car hire and road trips in Victoria

Melbourne Airport has six rental companies sharing a ground-floor hall in the T123 car park. Avalon Airport, 55 km from the CBD, is the toll-free alternative for Geelong, and the Great Ocean Road begins about 35 minutes away. The three things that catch visitors out are Melbourne's cashless tolls, the compulsory snow chains on alpine roads in winter, and ferries, where your rental agreement decides what is allowed.

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Map of Victoria car hire pickupsGeelongAvalon AirportMelbourne Airport
Map of Victoria car hire pickups
Car hire and road trips in Victoria illustration showing a parked car overlooking sea stacks, coastal water and snowy mountains.

Where to pick up a hire car in Victoria

Melbourne Airport (MEL)Best for: Melbourne, Phillip Island and the start of most Victorian routesAvis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and Sixt have counters on the ground floor of the T123 car park, opposite Terminal 2. Europcar describes the airport as 20 to 25 minutes from the CBD outside peak time.Avalon Airport (AVV)Best for: Geelong, the Bellarine and starting the Great Ocean Road without crossing MelbourneThe airport says its routes to Geelong (25 minutes) and Melbourne (50 minutes) are toll-free, and lists the start of the Great Ocean Road as 35 minutes away. Rental counters are staffed only when a booking has been made online.Melbourne CBD and Southern Cross StationBest for: Trips that start after a few days in the cityBudget and Sixt have counters at 99 Spencer St, beside Southern Cross Station. Hertz lists a Franklin Street branch in the CBD.GeelongBest for: Picking up after the Spirit of Tasmania arrives, or starting the Bellarine and Surf Coast loopBudget and Hertz list Geelong branches. The Spirit of Tasmania terminal is about 5 km from the Geelong CBD.

Rules that catch hire drivers in Victoria

Melbourne's tolls are cashless

Linkt sells a Visitor's Pass (a $3.50 online opening fee, valid for up to 30 days) and 24-hour passes for cars: $24.25 for CityLink and $17.31 for the West Gate Tunnel at current prices. Whether rental cars can use the pass depends on the rental company, so ask first whether the car already has a tag or toll package. Melbourne Airport's own guide warns that using a toll road without a pass can lead to extra admin or fines. Avalon's routes to Geelong and Melbourne are toll-free.

Snow chains are compulsory, even for AWD

During the declared snow season (6 June to 6 September in 2026) all vehicles entering Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Mt Stirling must carry chains, including all-wheel-drive and 4WD vehicles. Only diamond-pattern chains count: ladder chains, spider chains and snow socks cannot be used at any resort. Failing to comply with an officer's directions can bring an infringement notice or a penalty of 20 penalty units, and chains are not available for hire once you are on the mountain. The dates above are for 2026, and whether a rental company allows its cars in the snow is answered by your rental agreement.

Overseas licences

You can drive on a current overseas licence for the right vehicle class if you are in Victoria for less than 6 months. If the licence is not in English you must also carry an English translation or an international driving permit in English.

Hook turns in the CBD

In Melbourne's CBD and inner suburbs a 'right turn from left only' sign means a hook turn: move to the left lane, indicate right, enter the intersection keeping to the far left without blocking the crossing, and wait for the lights on the road you are entering to go green. They exist to keep intersections clear for trams.

Kangaroos at dawn, dusk and night

Searoad says hire cars are fine on its Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry (about 40 to 45 minutes), noting that many rental companies exclude ferry routes that serve an offshore island. The Spirit of Tasmania boarding page says nothing about hire cars, so take Bass Strait only if your rental agreement expressly allows it.

Ferries and hire cars

Searoad says hire cars are fine on its Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry (about 40 to 45 minutes), noting that many rental companies exclude ferries only where they serve an offshore island. The Spirit of Tasmania boarding page says nothing about hire cars, so take Bass Strait only if your rental agreement expressly allows it.

When to drive Victoria

Late December to January, and Easter

The Great Ocean Road is at its busiest. Visit Great Ocean Road suggests autumn or winter for fewer crowds.

6 June to 6 September (2026 snow season)

Chains must be carried on all vehicles into the five declared alpine resorts; Lake Mountain is decided daily. Dates shown are for 2026, so check the current dates before you book.

Autumn and winter

Fewer crowds on the Great Ocean Road. Check the forecast before driving it in winter, as Visit Great Ocean Road advises.

Year round

Kangaroos and other wildlife are most active around dawn and dusk.

Every Victoria pickup guide

Avalon AirportCloser to Geelong and the Great Ocean RoadGeelongSurf Coast and Great Ocean Road startMelbourne Airport (Tullamarine)Tullamarine desks and the CityLink run inMelbourne CBDCBD depots for day trips out of the city

Victoria drives and guides

Day Trips from Melbourne by CarElectric Car Hire MelbourneGreat Ocean Road self drive from Melbourne243 km along the Great Ocean Road; Melbourne to Apollo Bay is 187 km, About 3 hours Melbourne to Apollo Bay; about 4.5 hours Melbourne to the Twelve ApostlesMelbourne to Bright drive75 km from Wangaratta to Bright along the Great Alpine Road, About three and a half hours from MelbourneMelbourne to Grampians DriveMelbourne to Phillip Island drive20 minutes from island bridge to Penguin Parade, About 90 minutes to the island plus 20 minutes to the paradeMelbourne to the snow: drives to Buller, Falls Creek and Baw Baw248 km via Mansfield (Visit Victoria lists 240 km), About 3 hours (Visit Victoria lists 3 hours 15)Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Drive and One-Way Hire1,432 km, about 20 hours before stopsMornington Peninsula self driveQueenscliff to Sorrento Ferry with a Hire CarSnow chains and hire cars in VictoriaWilsons Promontory drive from Melbourne30 km from park entrance to Tidal River, About three hours to the park

Hire car rules across Australia

Car 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.One-way car hire in AustraliaHow one-way car hire works in Australia: when a fee applies, what the rental terms say about interstate drop-offs, NT, WA and Tasmania, and kilometre limits.Child 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 in Australia as a TouristVisitors can often drive on a valid overseas licenceOverseas Licence Rules by Australian StateVisitor driving periods differ across AustraliaCar 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 driversUnsealed roads and hire carsA 4WD does not give a hire car access to every gravel road, beach or trackHire Car Fines in AustraliaTraffic and parking fines can follow a hire car driver after returnCar Hire with a Debit CardA physical Visa or Mastercard debit card may be accepted, but a bond can reduce available funds

Cost the trip before you book

Road trip fuel cost calculatorLitres and dollars for your routeWhole rental costRate, extras, tolls and the bond kept separateAirport or city pickupWhich saves more on your dates

Other states and territories

New South Wales & ACT7 pickup guidesQueensland10 pickup guidesWestern Australia4 pickup guidesSouth Australia3 pickup guidesTasmania4 pickup guidesNorthern Territory4 pickup guidesAll of AustraliaLicences, tolls and seasons nationwide

Victoria car hire questions

Where the answer depends on your rental agreement, we say so rather than guess.

What is a good Victoria road trip itinerary for 7 days?

A workable shape: spend three days on the Great Ocean Road touring route (Melbourne to Apollo Bay is 187 km, about 3 hours; Apollo Bay to Port Fairy 189 km; the whole loop 664 km, about 9.5 hours of driving), add a Phillip Island day (90 to 120 minutes from Melbourne) and keep the rest for Melbourne or the Yarra Valley. A five-day Great Southern loop is also possible, adding the Grampians and the goldfields.

How do I do a road trip around Victoria?

Visit Victoria lists a range of touring routes, from the three-day Great Ocean Road to the Great Alpine Road, the Bays and Surf Coast route (Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, the Bellarine) and the eight-day Mighty Murray. Pick one region per trip rather than a full circuit, because the Great Ocean Road alone is 243 km of coast road and its own tourism body advises against a Melbourne to Twelve Apostles day trip.

Which airport should I fly into for the Great Ocean Road?

Avalon is closer: the airport lists the start of the Great Ocean Road as 35 minutes away. From Melbourne you need just over an hour to reach Torquay, where the road starts. Melbourne's rental counters mostly open to match flight hours, while Avalon's are staffed only when a booking has been made online.

Do I need an international driving permit in Victoria?

Only if your overseas licence is not in English and you do not carry an English translation. A current licence in English for the right vehicle class is valid for visitors staying less than 6 months.

Do I need snow chains in a hire car in Victoria?

Yes, if you enter Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham or Mt Stirling in the declared snow season. This applies to AWD and 4WD as well. Chains are not available for hire once you are on the mountain, so get them before you arrive.

Can I take a hire car on the Spirit of Tasmania?

At its Geelong terminal, the Spirit of Tasmania closes check-in 45 minutes before departure, and its lowest listed car fare in September 2026 was $104 each way. Ask your rental company for written permission first, or return the car in Geelong or Melbourne and hire another in Tasmania.