Townsville car hire
Search hundreds of hire car sites at once for hire car deals in Townsville
Save up to 39%Compare multiple travel sites with one search.
Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees
Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customise your results.
Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.
Cheap car rentals in Townsville
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Townsville
- Bear in mind that Queensland has very strict laws regarding alcohol and driving. For starters, there must be no open alcohol in the car, even if it is only being consumed by passengers. Additionally, just being in your car with the keys while intoxicated can result in a drink-driving charge. If you're travelling in a group of adults, consider adding additional drivers to your Townsville car hire agreement, so that you can switch up the designated driver throughout your trip. And remember, sleeping in your car is prohibited outside of designated rest stops or camping areas. Rest areas usually also have shelter, picnic tables, toilets and BBQs.
- With a Townsville hire car, you can reach the stunning Girringun National Park in just under 2h 30min. Most of the drive is on the A1/Bruce Highway. You can stop just before the park in the town of Ingham, famous for its sugar industry and Italian culture. Some parts of the park have road access while others will require you to park and walk. At the northern end of the park, you can take Cardwell Forest Drive, which takes you to Attie Creek Falls, Dead Horse Creek and Cardwell Lookout. This trip also makes a great stop if you're planning on taking the Bruce Highway all the way up to Cairns, which takes about 4h 30min.
- An electric vehicle can be a great option for cheap car hire in Townsville. There are numerous charging stations for electric vehicles throughout the city. Townsville City Council even has a free charging station on The Strand, near Strand Park. Charging is slower here but you can find faster chargers at the Horan & Bird Energy, opposite the Townsville RSL Club. Note that some chargers have time limits on them.
- Hire a car in Townsville and cruise around the many attractions the North Queensland city has to offer at your own rhythm. Having your own car opens up the option of taking the ferry to Magnetic Island, which can be navigated from top to bottom in 30min. Local buses are infrequent and don’t reach isolated corners, such as Florence Bay. Billabong Safari is also best accessed with a hire car, as alternative transport options include a costly taxi fare (roughly A$ 60) or coach transfer (about A$ 65).
- Hire companies Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty can be found inside the Arrivals Area at Townsville Airport (TSV). The hire car park is only a short walk from the reception desks and thus no shuttle is required.
- Random roadside breath testing is common in Townsville and all visitors should remember to stay below the 0.05 percent blood alcohol limit. Keep an eye out for mini convertibles known as barbie cars on Magnetic Island, as the small vehicles sit below standard height and can be missed in blind spots. Townsville attracts a lot of cyclists when the sun is out and drivers should remember to stay at a safe distance of at least 1.5 m. Be careful when driving across bridges during the wet season, as flooding can block crossings.
- Traffic is rather pleasant throughout the day in Townsville and causes nowhere near as much congestion as major cities across Australia. Douglas Arterial Rd and Bruce Hwy can experience significant traffic on weekends and public holidays as travellers make their way along the coast. Townsville’s central shopping district, including Flinders St and The Strand, are busiest in the late afternoon between 16:00–18:00.
- Book your rental car in Townsville at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Economy rental cars in Townsville are around 35% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Townsville
What type of car is recommended for driving in Townsville?
There’s plenty of space on Townsville’s roads so there’s no need to sacrifice on comfort when choosing a hire car model. Full-size makes and people movers are great for transporting several people, while premium models offer a lavish getaway. If you are intending on doing some off-road driving on the trails of North Queensland, a 4x4 is needed and the hire contract must allow driving on unpaved roads.
What’s the speed limit in Townsville?
The default limit is 50 km/h in urban areas and increases to 60 km/h in low-density suburban districts. A 40 km/h maximum is enforced between 07:00–09:00 and 14:00–16:00 in school zones, with flashing yellow lights indicating operation. Highways surrounding Townsville are usually set at 100 km/h but can be reduced to 80 km/h in congested areas.
Where are the best places to park in Townsville?
Metered parking can be found in the CBD along Flinders St, Denham St, Sturt St and Walker St. Spaces are limited to 2h and cost approximately A$ 1 per hour. Free all-day spots are available at Dean Street Carpark and the corner of Leichhardt Street and Eyre Street.
How much is the price of fuel in Townsville?
The average price of fuel in Townsville is RM 17.91 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between RM 215 and RM 286, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Townsville?
Economy (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Townsville.
How can I find car hires near me in Townsville?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Townsville?
An Economy car rental in Townsville costs RM 189 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Townsville?
A Compact car rental in Townsville costs RM 223 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car rental cost in Townsville?
A Full Size car rental in Townsville costs RM 356 per day, on average.
How old do I need to be to hire a car in Townsville?
The majority of providers offering cheap car hire in Townsville will require you to be at least 21 years old. You also usually need to have held your licence for at least one year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur extra fees and may have a higher damage liability fee. Some providers, such as Enterprise, may hire cars to drivers on a probationary licence, though this usually incurs an extra fee too.
Which road rules in Townsville are different to other states?
Compared to some other states, Queensland requires drivers to leave a larger gap while driving. You'll need to leave three seconds instead of two. You also need to use your indicators whenever you're exiting a roundabout, even if you drive straight through it.
Townsville car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Thrifty
10.0
Wonderful
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
4 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
289 Ingham Rd
+61 7 4725 4600
32 Bombala St
+61 136139
Stinson Ave
+61 136139
Townsville Ap
+61 7 4725 4655
Filters
No reviews available
Budget
10.0
Wonderful
Read 4 reviewsCleanliness
9.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
9.0
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Terminal Building
+61 7 4762 7433
Via Townsville Airport
+61 747 627 433
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jan 2024
People carrier
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jan 2024
People carrier
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jan 2020
Pros:
Yes Staff was very friendly, apologised that the vehicle I had booked was not available, but gave me another vehicle which suited my reason for hiring the vehicle. I was offered a ‘Mine’ vehicle with reflector strips, but when I advised staff that I wanted a vehicle to travel to Cairns for my brother’s funeral, staff went out of their way to secure a vehicle similar to the one I had booked online Well done and very much appreciated.Cons:
Just to make sure what one books online makes it happen that way. It turned out well in the end. Thank you.10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2022
Europcar
10.0
Wonderful
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.9
Value for money
8.9
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
305 Ingham Road
+61 7 4762 7050
Terminal Building
+61 7 4760 1380
Filters
No reviews available
Firefly
10.0
Wonderful
Read 1 reviewCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Stinson Ave
+61 747 754 821
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Brett, Mar 2022
Alamo
9.3
Wonderful
Read 16 reviewsCleanliness
9.3
Comfort
9.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.9
Value for money
8.6
One location in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Terminal Building Garbutt
+61 7 4779 3891
Filters
Reviews
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Economy
10.0 Wonderful
Ladybug Entertainment, Oct 2023
Economy
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2023
Compact
10.0 Wonderful
Val, Jun 2023
Intermediate
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Mar 2023
Compact
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2023
Intermediate
Avis
8.0
Very Good
Read 3 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.0
Value for money
8.0
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
81-83 Flinders St East
+61 7 4799 2022
Terminal Building
+61 7 4762 7400
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Aug 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2022
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
32 Bombala St
+61 7 4441 4890
Stinson Ave
+61 7 4441 4690
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Dec 2022
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Oct 2021
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Corner Ingham and Meenan St
+61 7 4725 4600
Terminal Building
+61 7 4725 4655
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jun 2022
One location in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Terminal Building
+61 7 4779 3891
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Terminal Building Garbutt
+61 7 4779 3891
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
32 Bombala St
+61 1800 501 934
Stinson Ave
+61 1800 501 934
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Terminal Building- Townsville Airport
61 7 47601380
Filters
No reviews available
3 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
329 – 333 Ingham Road Garbutt
+61 467 770 034
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Townsville
Locations in Townsville
Terminal Building
+86 10 6064 1387
Filters
No reviews available
Car hire locations in or near Townsville
Good to know
Most popular car type | Economy |
|---|
When to book a car hire in Townsville
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Townsville
Car rental at airports serving Townsville
Townsville car hire information
| Pick-up location | Townsville |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 28 |
| Airport locations | 16 |