Cairns car hires from £21/day

Cairns is not the biggest of cities, so drivers will find that most vehicles -- even large SUVs -- will be comfortable to drive in Cairns. However, sedans and compacts are certainly the most popular vehicles in both Cairns and Australia in general. So, perhaps it is best to follow common practice and stick to a smaller vehicle. Streetside parking will certainly be more manageable in a smaller vehicle.

Speed limits in Cairns, and in the state of Queensland in general, run between 40 km/h (25 mph) and 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas, unless otherwise specified. On rural roads the speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) and on highways and motorways it is 110 km/h (68 mph).

Fortunately for visitors to Cairns, parking is widely available and easy to find throughout the city. Streetside parking is abundant, albeit more suited for smaller vehicles rather than large ones. There is also plenty of private parking in garages and lots. Drivers should have no issues finding parking, even in the central business district.

On average a car hire in Cairns costs £49 per day.

Car hire companies onsite at Cairns airport include Bargain Car Rentals, Europcar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ace Rental Cars, Budget, keddy by Europcar, Sixt and Dollar.

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Cairns airport to off-airport locations include Europcar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ace Rental Cars, Budget, keddy by Europcar and Avis.

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

A Compact car hire in Cairns costs £33 per day, on average.

A Standard car hire in Cairns costs £58 per day, on average.

A Mini car hire in Cairns costs £74 per day, on average.

In Cairns, cars are most frequently hired at Bargain Car Rentals 410, Sheridan Street (2 miles from city centre).

Most car hire providers in Cairns offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car hire in Cairns, check out KAYAK's car hire insurance guide.

When considering Cairns car hire, you will need to think about what your holiday itinerary looks like and how it will affect your fuel budget. If you are planning on staying local and not driving that much, do not invest in the full tank policy, as you may not use it all and will not get refunded on the fuel balance. Rather, opt for a full-to-full policy, which will see you filling up as you please and returning the vehicle with the same level of fuel you started with.

In order to qualify for car hire in Cairns, you will need to be a minimum of 21 years of age. Drivers under 25 years old will likely be liable for a young driver's surcharge too from certain companies. There is no upper age limit on car hire in Cairns, but the car hire companies do reserve the right to refuse anyone over 70.