Best Car Hire Tasmania

Choosing the best car hire in Tasmania will take your road trip from so-so…to woah!

Driving in the snow? Are dirt roads ok? There are a lot of options and it can be confusing… which is why I created this simple guide using my local experience to compare all the options, helping you choose the perfect car for your road trip.

This page contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure policy here.

You’ve stepped off the plane and said g’day to the friendly airport sniffer-dog. 

The bags have been collected and you’re jumping out of your skin because…

…YOU’RE IN TASMANIA!!!

So, what’s next?

In this guide to Tasmania car hire I not only show you how to save money on your rental car, but I also give you all the tips and info you need to make a hassle-free start to your Lap of Tasmania road trip.

Short on time and want to know the best Tasmania hire car company? 

My table summarises all the options, with the best ones at the top.

Check prices or make your booking by clicking on the link provided for each company – and don’t forget to grab a discount with my partner codes!

H = Hobart, L = Launceston, D = Devonport, B = Burnie

Best Car Hire in Tasmania – My Top Picks

When it comes to car hire in Tasmania you are spoiled for choice.

Choice is exactly what I love as a traveller, but when you’ve got a dozen or more options then it can quickly turn into analysis paralysis!

Which ones are reliable? Will they let you drive on unsealed roads? What about visiting alpine areas like Cradle Mountain in winter?

Tasmania’s unique environment means choosing a rental car can be tricky – but don’t worry, I’ve narrowed down my favourites to help make your decision as easy as possible. 

All you need to do is assess your budget, style of travel, and time of visit to choose the perfect rental car for your Tassie road trip.

Let’s get this show on the road!

1. Bargain Car Rentals – Best all-rounder

If you want the best all-round company for a hire car in Tasmania then I recommend Bargain Car Rentals. 

Why?

I always prioritise Tassie businesses wherever possible, and when you experience their fantastic customer service you’ll be hooked – just like me!

The team at Bargain Car Rentals strongly support Tassie road trippers and have generously offered the Lap of Tasmania community (that’s you!) with even more value – 5% discount on any car rental when you use my LAPOFTAS code!

I have partnered with Bargain for more than 5 years now and I’ve received nothing but complimentary reviews from my online community – something that is very rare in the ‘keyboard warrior’ world of online car rental reviews.

Service Locations: Hobart | Launceston

Unsealed Roads: Yes (except Western Explorer road)

Bruny Island: Yes

Special Offer: SAVE 5%
Discount Code: LAPOFTAS

2. LeisureRent – Fantastic value and service

LeisureRent has been a huge supporter of the Lap of Tasmania right from the start. 

It all began with campervans and motorhomes, but Ken has recently expanded his fleet to include some fantastic cars and SUVs at great rates – especially in summer when prices can go absolutely nuts with the bigger companies.

Being a small company, LeisureRent have introduced some really innovative and flexible approaches to car rentals, and their customer service is just that little bit more personalised compared to the other larger rental companies. 

Ken has also generously extended his offer to the Lap of Tasmania community for car rentals. That means you will receive a 5% discount when you use my LAPOFTAS code.

It’s a combination that has been getting fantastic reviews within our Facebook Group, and I know you will love LeisureRent as much as I do!

Service Locations: Hobart | Launceston

Unsealed Roads: Yes

Bruny Island: Yes

Special Offer: SAVE 5%
Discount Code: LAPOFTAS

3. East Coast Car Rentals – Low prices

Whenever questions get asked in our Facebook community about the best car rental company in Tasmania, it is inevitable that East Coast Car Rentals will get a recommendation.

Their prices are always extremely competitive – especially when you use my LAPOFTAS code for a 10% discount. Keep in mind  that driving on unsealed roads isn’t permitted.

To keep prices this low East Coast Car Rentals have located their office just a short distance from the airports in both Hobart and Launceston – important to factor into your arrival/departure logistics, as you will need to allow a bit of extra time for a transfer (they will shuttle you for free).

Service Locations: Hobart | Launceston

Unsealed Roads: No 

Bruny Island: Yes

Special Offer: SAVE 10%
Discount Code: LAPOFTAS

4. Explora – Car hire PLUS camping (if needed)

I was so excited to discover Explora because they provide a really interesting option for road trippers who are on a budget and maybe a little nervous about driving a bulky campervan, but they don’t want to let this stop them from experiencing Tasmania’s great outdoors and the free-camping lifestyle.

Explora provide you with two things – a vehicle for exploring Tasmania, and all the camping gear you need for plenty of relaxing nights under the stars.

The range of vehicles is perfect, from basic compact 2WDs all the way up to spacious and uber comfy AWD SUVs – and unlike many of the larger companies they have very flexible rental conditions:

It’s totally up to you if you would like to pay a little bit extra for camping gear. A lot of travellers just stick with a regular car hire, while others enjoy the flexibility of being able to camp around Tassie as well.

Camping kits include:

How nifty is that?

Explora are loving the Lap of Tasmania community, providing all Lappers with a $50 discount on all bookings that are 5 days or longer – just use the LAPOFTAS code to claim this special offer!

Service Locations: Hobart

Unsealed Roads: Yes

Bruny Island: Yes

Special Offer: $50 OFF
Discount Code: LAPOFTAS

Tasmania car rental restrictions

Just like everyone has their own favourite road trip soundtrack, not all Tasmania car rental companies are the same.

Each company has its own policy on where you can take their vehicles, and when you hire a car in Tasmania it is important to understand because some of them may charge you extra when you least expect it!

In this section I explain why some of these restrictions are necessary, and most importantly I also compare the companies so you can see which ones offer the best combination for your needs (you’d be surprised how many hide this information in the fine print).

This table provides an overview, and I go into each subject in more detail further down.

Spirit of Tasmania ferry

This one is very simple – none of the companies allow you to take a rental vehicle on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry.

If you plan to take the ferry to Tasmania then you will need to pick your car up on arrival in Devonport. My table at the top shows you which companies service Devonport.

Driving in the snow

The topic of driving in snow and alpine regions is a little bit confusing at first glance – but I’ve got some solid tips for you.

The reason it is confusing is because the terms & conditions (T&Cs) are normally written for mainland Australia, where the ‘alpine’ regions in NSW and VIC are very different to Tasmania.

Common terms or phrases you will see them use include, “…above the snow line…” or “…beyond snow gates…”.

It might be a surprise to you, but it doesn’t actually snow very often in Tasmania, and when it does it melts quickly. We also don’t have many roads that are at high altitude.

This means we don’t actually have a ‘snow line’. We also don’t have gates at the start of the alpine regions… which makes the T&Cs kind of meaningless for Tassie conditions…

So what does it mean for Tassie drivers?

Essentially, the car hire companies don’t want you driving in the snow.

So for me (not a lawyer!) I would summarise it as:

“You can drive anywhere in Tasmania’s alpine and mountainous regions as long as snow isn’t forecast with a high degree of likelihood.“

And if it is already snowing where you are? I wouldn’t drive in the snow unless absolutely necessary, or you can see that it’s all melting away and no more snow is forecast, because if you happened to have an accident then you would be liable for all damages, vehicle recovery and other costs.

Some companies explicitly provide snow cover that you can purchase for an additional fee. Personally, I think it’s a waste of money, but if you want that extra level of comfort then this is an option worth investigating.

I hope this guidance is helpful, but at the end of the day I am not a lawyer – so I strongly recommend speaking with your car hire company if you have any questions or concerns.

Driving on unsealed roads

This is another one where it’s easy to get confused when reading the T&Cs.

A few clearly state ‘no driving on unsealed roads‘, but after asking for clarification they then said it was ok, so long as the roads were ‘gazetted’ or maintained, and not off-road (ie. 4WD tracks).

Some also allow you to drive on unsealed roads for a small daily fee, or by accepting that you’ll pay more in the event of an accident.

I’ve designed the Lap of Tasmania route [here] so you don’t need to take your car onto unsealed roads – but there are still some places around Tasmania that you can’t reach without hitting the gravel.

Attractions in Tasmania that do require driving on unsealed roads include:

• Lake Dobson (Derwent Valley)
• Cockle Creek (Far South)
• Southern Bruny Island
• Friendly Beaches (Freycinet)
• Cape Raoul hike trailhead (Tasman Peninsula)
• Bream Creek Market (Tasman Peninsula)
• Western Explorer Road (West Coast)
• Fortescue Bay (Tasman Peninsula)

If you’d like to visit any of these places then I recommend having a chat with the car hire company to get the latest information regarding their terms.

Tasmania Airport Car Hire – On-site Pickup vs Shuttle Transfer

Both Hobart and Launceston airports have a large range of car hire options.

It is important to know that at each airport you will find some car hire companies have a presence inside the airport, while others have a presence outside the airport (usually nearby).

There are pros and cons to each.

Car hire inside Hobart Airport and/or Launceston Airport

These are the car hire companies that will greet you in the arrivals hall at Hobart Airport and Launceston Airport:

• Bargain Car Rentals (Hobart)
• Hertz (Hobart and Launceston)
• Europcar (Hobart and Launceston)
• Budget Car Rental (Hobart and Launceston)
• Avis (Hobart and Launceston)
• Sixt (Hobart and Launceston)
• Thrifty (Hobart)
• Enterprise/RedSpot (Hobart and Launceston)

Choosing one of these companies will mean you get your road trip started quicker and with less hassle than for the smaller companies (see below).

The drop-off process is usually simpler and quicker as well.

Car hire outside Hobart Airport and Launceston Airport

Some car hire companies are located close to both airports and operate a pick-up and drop-off system. 

The advantage of this is they don’t have to pay airport fees, and can keep their rates lower than their competitors.

• Bargain Car Rentals (Launceston)
• LeisureRent
• Apex Car Rentals
• East Coast Car Rentals

The system these companies use is fairly similar, and operates like this:

Arrival

1. Let them know your flight number beforehand
2. Contact them by phone after collecting your luggage
3. They pick you up from the airport and drive you to their nearby office where you collect your car

Departure

1. Drop the car off at either the airport or the company office
2. If dropping off the car at an office, they will then transport you and your luggage to the airport (after-hours you may need to book a taxi to transport you to the airport)

Rules for renting a car in Tasmania

The minimum requirements for hiring a car in Tasmania are similar to those around Australia. These will vary between companies, so make sure you ask, or check their FAQs online.

Age: Most require the driver to be at least 21 years of age.

Licence: A full licence is normally mandatory.

Experience: Some agencies require a minimum of 2 or 3 years full-licence driving experience.

Overseas Drivers: An International Drivers Licence or an English language licence from a foreign country is normally sufficient. If you have a non-English language licence then you may also need an International Driver Licence and/or a translation of your licence.

How to get from the airport to your accommodation in the city

You’ve got your new wheels – now it’s time to drive to your accommodation.

Driving from Hobart Airport to Hobart CBD

Distance: 18km | Driving time: 20-40 minutes

Driving from Hobart Airport into the city is easy.

• Follow the airport road (Holyman Avenue) past the petrol station before turning left at the big roundabout onto the dual carriageway Tasman Highway ‘A3’.
• Once you’re on the highway you simply follow it all the way into Hobart’s CBD
• Keep your eyes open as you approach the Tasman Bridge – the central lane over the bridge switches direction morning and night and may result in the need to merge left. Don’t worry though, green and red lights clearly mark the status at any particular time.

Driving from Launceston Airport to Launceston CBD

Distance: 15km | Driving time: 15-30 minutes

The drive from Launceston Airport into central Launceston is also quick and easy.

• Turn right at the airport gates onto Evandale Road and head north.
• Proceed straight through the large roundabout where you join the Midlands Highway – ‘National Highway No. 1’
• Follow the highway all the way into Launceston

Where to park in Hobart and Launceston

Outside the CBDs of both Hobart and Launceston you’ll find street-side parking to be plentiful and free. They are small cities and walking is an excellent option if you’d like to save a few dollars.

Car parking in Hobart

In Hobart, there are three multi-story carparks in the CBD within walking distance of Salamanca and North Hobart precincts – Centrepoint, Argyle Street, and Hobart Central.

Each offer the first 1.5hrs free (Mon-Sat), and the first 3 hours free on Sundays – how good is that?! Public toilets are also available.

Street parking is available throughout the CBD for a fee. A new high-tech system has recently been installed – EasyPark – and it allows you to pay using coins, cards or the EasyPark app. For more information and to download the app, visit the EasyPark website here.

Car parking in Launceston

EasyPark is also in use in Launceston.

There are many car parks and metered zones across the Launceston CBD.

Paterson Street East, Cimitiere Street, and Paterson Street West car parks are all conveniently located in central Launceston and are within walking distance of City Park, Royal Park and most other Launceston attractions.

If you’re planning on visiting Cataract Gorge (highly recommended!), your best parking options is at Cataract Gorge Reserve Car Park.

Launceston City Council have some terrific maps showing the locations, fees and other information for all these carparks and more, right here.

Car parking at Launceston Airport

If you need to park your vehicle at Launceston Airport for a half-day or longer, we recommend using our partners at Launceston DriveParkFly.

They are located right next door to the airport, providing affordable parking – both open and undercover – for cars, campervans and motorhomes.

We also love that they offer a vehicle washing and detailing service – perfect if you need to give your rental vehicle a clean before returning it for the final inspection!

Use our LAPOFTAS promo code and you will SAVE 5% on their entire range of services.

Click here to check prices and make a booking.

Petrol stations near Hobart and Launceston airports

Most rental agreements ask you to return the vehicle with a full tank of fuel, so it’s best to fill up as close as possible to the drop off location. 

Both Hobart and Launceston airports have a petrol station that is only minutes away. 

This is the closest petrol station to Hobart Airport:

Name: BP Hobart Airport
Company: BP
Hours: 7 days, 24 hours
Fuels: Unleaded, Unleaded 95, BP Ultimate, BP Ultimate Diesel
Address: 3 Holyman Avenue, Cambridge, TAS, 7170 [here]

This is the closest petrol station to Launceston Airport:

Name: United Breadalbane
Company: United Petroleum
Hours: 7 days, from 6am – 10pm
Fuels: Diesel, LPG, Unleaded E10, Premium 98, Unleaded 91
Address: 1 Translink Ave, Western Junction TAS 7212 [here]

11 tips and tricks for no-hassle car hire

Hiring a car is easy, and in almost all cases there is never a single problem.

By taking these 11 simple steps you minimise the chance of something going wrong in the first place, while also covering yourself in the unlikely event that something goes wrong.

1. Always read the Terms and Conditions before booking.
2. Inspect your vehicle and take photos on your mobile phone from all sides before driving away – even if you see nothing wrong. If anything at all that looks scratched, dented or damaged then let the agent know. This evidence could prove crucial in showing you weren’t responsible.
3. Confirm the rules for driving on unsealed roads and in alpine regions.
4. Ask about their process if you have a breakdown, lock your keys in the car, or are involved in an accident.
5. Write down any emergency contact numbers, but don’t leave them in the car – we suggest your purse or wallet.
6. Ensure your phone has mobile coverage in Tasmania.
7. Ask what type of fuel your car takes and get the agent to show you how to open the fuel flap
8. Check whether you need to return the car with a full tank of petrol and put a reminder in your phone for your last day, so you don’t forget.
9. Allow time to drop off your vehicle before checking in for your plane, especially if you need a transfer from the rental office to the airport.
10. Try to be there when the agent does the final inspection of the car, so that you can answer any questions on the spot.
11. In most cases there won’t be any problems at all, and in that case we suggest asking for written confirmation from the rental company – this can save you a lot of trouble in the even of any confusion after you’ve returned home.

Toll fares in Tasmania

It’s pretty simple – there aren’t any!

Other useful resources

Here are some excellent resources that may help with your road trip planning:

• Tasmania Police – Road Closures and Community Alerts
• Tasmania Police – Tourist Tips
• Information for Visiting Drivers
• Tasmanian Road Rules
• Weather Forecast
• Hobart Airport
• Launceston Airport

Start your Lap of Tasmania road trip!

Whether you fly in to Hobart or Launceston, it’s easy to start your Lap of Tasmania road trip.

Hobart

You can easily spend a couple of days in Hobart exploring its incredible history, vibrant markets and gastronomic delights [read more]

Launceston and the Tamar Valley

Launceston – ‘Lonnie’ to the locals – is Tasmania’s second largest city and it is your gateway to the wineries, restaurants and natural beauty of the iconic Tamar Valley [read more]

14-Day Itinerary

If you’re looking for an overview of all the sights, accommodation and dining options along the route, we recommend starting with our Lap of Tasmania 14-day itinerary. We call it the ‘Ultimate’ because it lets you experience everything this amazing island has to offer at a leisurely pace.

If you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to get in touch, either by email at andrew@lapoftasmania.com.au or at our friendly Facebook Group [click here].

Happy road tripping!

Andrew.