Car Rental at Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport is commonly referred to as the Kingsford Smith Airport, and has the official airport code of SYD. It is Australia’s largest airport, handling over 44 million passengers per year, and is found in the suburb of Mascot, approximately 8 km from the Central Business District of Sydney. The large and important city of Sydney is found in New South Wales, Australia, and its airport is the only one serving the region. Passengers arriving at Sydney Airport will find three terminal buildings all well equipped with various facilities, and the airport offers a couple of options for transport. There are several car hire companies at Sydney Airport, and many passengers rent a car to explore this amazingly vibrant city and all its attractions. Car hire can be expensive, but it is also worthwhile to have your own vehicle.

The car companies can be found in the arrival areas of the three terminal buildings at Sydney Airport, which makes it most convenient for arriving passengers to rent a car. The terminals are named as Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is used for international traffic, while the other two terminals are for domestic airline companies, and are also within walking distance from one another. Terminal 1 is located further away, and can be accessed by the airport train or bus, or by taxi. The internationally recognized car rental companies at Sydney Airport include Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget, National, Alamo, Europcar, Easycar and Thrifty, and all these car hire companies offer competitive rental rates, excellent customer service and a wide range of rental options. It is recommended to make an advanced reservation for your ideal rented car from Sydney Airport, as car hire can sometimes be in high demand.

List of all Rental Car Companies at Sydney Airport:

• Aerodrive: +61 4 7394 0127
• Alamo: +61 2 9317 2233
• Alpha: 02 8355 1933
• Auto Europe: +1 207 842 2000 (Note this is a USA Number)
• Avis: +61 2 8374 2847
• Budget: +61 2 9207 9166
• Carhood: +61 1300 466 663
• East Coast: +61 7 5555 8908
• Easycar: +44 203 059 5684 (Note this is a UK number)
• Enterprise: +61 2 9317 2233
• Europcar: +61 2 9207 9400
• Firefly: +61 4 1376 8464
• Green Motion: +61 13 4733
• Hertz: +61 2 8337 7500
• Keddy By Europcar: +61 2 9207 9400
• National: +61 2 9317 2233
• Sixt: +61 7 5555 8908
• Thrifty: +61 2 9582 1762

Passengers will need to provide their car hire company with a valid drivers license, and all drivers should be at least 21 years of age in order to hire a vehicle. However, younger drivers between the ages of 21 and 25 will pay a higher rental rate, and may not be permitted to hire from certain vehicle categories that contain larger or specialty type vehicles. The reason for the higher rental rate is young drivers insurance, which is a small amount applicable per day of rental, and per ‘underage’ driver listed on the rental agreement. At Sydney Airport, the car hire companies accept most national driving licenses, but customers with a license printed in a foreign language may require an International Driving Permit. This document serves as a translation of the local licence only, and not as a license on its own. In Australia, some of the car hire companies will take a debit card for payment of the rental; otherwise, a major credit card will be required.

Vehicles from the Sydney Airport car hire companies may include the Hyundai Getz, which is one of the smaller cars available, and a great choice for single drivers or couples. Smaller cars come with affordable rental rates, and are also very easy to drive if you are familiar with a manual (stick-shift) transmission. Otherwise, automatic vehicles are hired as well, such as the Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon. Automatic cars are also used for disabled drivers in need of hand controls from Sydney Airport. Hand controls should be booked in advance, and are free of charge. Larger vehicles ideal for groups of travelers may be similar to the Kia Carnival, Hyundai Imax and the Toyota Commuter, able to accommodate up to twelve people.

Customers who will not be returning to Sydney Airport can arrange a one way hire, which will enable them to deliver the vehicle to another rental location of their car hire company. Customers should just confirm as to where their rented car may be driven, as the cars are often not permitted to enter Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and may also not be taken on ferries to the islands. A one way hire may incur additional costs if the vehicle is returned to different town or city.

Cars in Australia are driven on the right-hand side of the road, and all road rules should be strictly obeyed. The speed limits in Sydney are as follows: 110 km/h or 70 mph on motorways and highways, 100 km/h or 63 mph on open roads and 60 km/h or 38 mph in urban areas. Motorists will find that the fastest and most convenient link to Sydney is the M1 Southern Cross Drive, while the M5 South Western Motorway and M5 East Freeway link the south western suburbs. Although the road network in Sydney is good, and its possible to easily drive your rented car anywhere in the city, a satellite navigation system may be most useful for drivers who are unfamiliar with the area. Car hire companies offer GPS units at a small additional cost per day of rental. Other items of optional equipment may also be for hire, such as baby seats and luggage racks.

Having your own rented car from Sydney Airport is the ideal way to explore the many attractions of the city, as well as the surrounding areas. Alongside the airport is Botany Bay, and other nearby areas include Rockdale, Canterbury, Huntsville, Randwick and Le Perouse. Sydney’s attractions include, among many others, the famous Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Parramatta Stadium and all the wonderful beaches of the area, together with waterfront restaurants and good shopping opportunities. Further information regarding car hire from Sydney Airport can be obtained from the car hire company of your choice.