Car Hire Canberra to Melbourne

Can you rent a car from Canberra to Melbourne?

Yes, absolutely! If you need to pick up your rental car from Canberra and return it in Melbourne, Redspot’s got your back (and your boot) with our flexible one-way rentals. Simply contact our friendly team via phone, email, or online contact form to get your plans rolling.

One-way car hire Canberra to Melbourne

Drive your way with our convenient one-way rentals, steering you from Canberra Airport to any of our Melbourne branches with ease (or vice versa). Saving you time, effort and fuel costs – all in one go. 

Simply go to the Extras section on your online booking form, check the ‘One Way Fee’ box, and you’re ready to go!

Fuel your trip to Melbourne with your choice of Redspot refuel options. Whether you prefer to pre-pay, post-pay, or fill it up yourself, we’ve got you covered. Not to mention our rental car accessories, from baby seat hire to Toll Pass Waivers, are designed for the smoothest of rides. 

Unlimited km for standard passenger and leisure Redspot vehicles around Australia also means you can keep the adventure going for longer – distance is no issue. If you’re hiring a van, truck or ute however, km restrictions may apply depending on your plans. Please get in touch with our friendly team on 1300 668 810 to confirm, so you can get going with ease. 

Note: 24/7 vehicle drop-offs are available unless specified. After-hours pickup available upon request (subject to availability).

One-Way Rentals Made Easy – A Small Relocation Fee for Huge Convenience

To help us keep our fleet moving, a small relocation fee may apply. This fee covers the cost of relocating your vehicle back to its original location. But if your route helps us too, we may be able to waive it – simply contact our friendly team on 1300 668 810 (toll-free) to find out.

How long does it take to drive from Canberra to Melbourne?

It takes about 7 to 7.5 hours to drive from Canberra to Melbourne using the most direct route (via Hume Highway). Perfect for when time is of the essence!

If you’d rather slow down and take in the sights, there are plenty of scenic route options to suit your speed. Ranging from 1 to 3-day road trips, choose from these popular drives:

• Direct route: 7 hr 30 min, 663 km, best for a quick drive with minimal stops via Hume Highway
• Inland route: 2 days (8 hr 45 min driving time), 788 km, perfect for art and history lovers and enjoying picturesque country towns
• Coastal route: 3 days (12 hr driving time), 960 km, great for scenic ocean views and lush national parks
• Alpine route: 3 days (10 hr 15 min driving time), 823 km, ideal for exploring charming country towns and hitting the slopes in Perisher and Thredbo

Is it better to drive or fly from Canberra to Melbourne?

This all depends on your priorities. Flying is faster, but driving offers scenic views and the freedom to discover charming country towns and sweeping Aussie landscapes along the way to Melbourne. 

By driving, you can also skip airport baggage checks, long queues and public transport to the city centre. Costs vary too – fuel prices, your car hire, and flight deals all play a role. 

Try comparing both options before you go to see what works best for your time and budget. (We may be biased, but we love the drive, but then again we have over 35 years experience in Aussie car rentals!)

Redspot Driver Facts.

Rev-Up for Young Drivers:

We are one of the few car rental companies to have a minimum driver age of 21 (mine-spec and commercial vehicles included).

Maximum Age is No Barrier:

With Redspot, age is just a number! There is no maximum age to hit the road.

Local P-Platers and Full Licences:

Redspot Car Rentals gives P-platers the green light for leisure, commercial and mine-spec vehicles – one of the few Aussie companies that do!
Our safety rules include:

• You must hold a Provisional P2 driver’s licence (green Ps).
• Your full driver’s licence must be valid for a minimum of 12 months from the date of rental collection.

Overseas visitors welcome:

Explore every Aussie hotspot with Redspot! Temporary overseas visitors can hire a car with:

• A full valid driver’s licence and passport
• Licences must have photo identification
• If the licence is not in English then you will need an official translated document from your embassy or road traffic authority in your home country
• Some countries may need to apply for an international driver’s permit

Family-friendly car hire:

Redspot is a family-run business and selects modern SUVs, sedans and people carriers for family comfort. With a range of baby, child and booster seats available to hire, the little ones don’t miss out.

Credit Card Condition:

Cover your back and ours. All rental cars require a credit card at pick-up for a pre-authorisation.

Fuel Flexibility:

Pre-pay, post-pay or refuel your rental car yourself. Redspot makes it easy to keep a full tank for an Australian adventure.

Local P-Platers and Full Licences:

Redspot Car Rentals gives P-platers the green light – one of the few Aussie companies that do! Our safety rules include:

• You must hold a Provisional P2 driver’s licence (green Ps).
• Your full driver’s licence must be valid for a minimum of 12 months from the date of rental collection.

Maximum age is no barrier:

With Redspot, age is just a number! There is no maximum age to hit the road.

Toll-road Tricks:

Buy peace of mind with a Redspot toll road waiver and say goodbye to unexpected charges.

Meet Our Fleet

Pick up your Redspot rental from any of our 5 branches across Sydney. From 12-seater minibus hires to classic sedans, our versatile fleet has your dream set of wheels ready to cruise all the way to sunny Queensland.

Small Car Hire

Small car, big impact! Gear up for adventure in a Redspot small car rental, offering affordable, fuel-efficient rides perfect for solo travellers, couples, small groups and young families.

Sedan Hire

Spot your trusty Toyota Camry, Hyundai i30 models and more, with our versatile sedan fleet. Get rolling from Canberra to Melbourne in the classic 5-seater rental car we all know and love.

Hybrid and Electric Car Hire

Go further on fewer litres (or none at all) with our fuel-saving hybrid and EV fleet! With standard hybrids to hybrid SUVs, you can save more on petrol with every kilometre.

Baby seats and other accessories

We’ll have you fully loaded with Redspot’s rental car add-ons, making your Canberra to Melbourne trip a smooth ride from start to finish!Travelling with little ones? Check out our child seat hire to get your kids strapped in safely for adventure. Or discover our handy Toll Road Waiver, great for hitting the motorway to Melbourne with ease.

Redspot: Where every rental is spot-on.

Fully Aussie-owned and operated

Founded, owned and operated by local Aussie family for over 35 years!

Personalised care

Our small, dedicated teams in over 40 spots around Australia are here to help out wherever the road takes you.

Amazing value

Get the most bang for your buck with our all-inclusive packages and customisable options in between. 

No hidden costs

All taxes and GST with no extra fees are included in our rates.

24/7 roadside assistance

All our rental cars are covered by 24-hour mechanical breakdown assistance.

Load up with Redspot’s red-hot value packages!

We’ve got your back with 24/7 roadside assistance so you never have to worry about being stranded. For an even smoother car rental experience, we have designed three packages for damage and liability coverage and extra services!
Package prices will be calculated based on the rental period and the vehicle you select. Proceed to the car rental booking page for a quote. 

Standard Package

Need something a little more simple but with all the expert local support? Redspot’s Standard Package might be for you. This includes:

• No hidden costs, we are upfront about the inclusions in this package!
• $5,200 to $6,200 damage liability excess*
• GST-inclusive
• Unlimited km allowance
• Additional drivers fee
• No cancellation fees
• No amendment fees
• Contract fee **
• Premium location fee***
• Registration recovery fee****
• Book now, pay later

Super Package

More cover, less cost. Redspot’s Super Package gives you reduced damage liability and extra perks—perfect if you want more peace of mind without going all-out. This includes:

• No hidden costs, we are upfront about the inclusions in this package!
• $1,950 to $2,750 damage liability excess*
• GST-inclusive
• Unlimited km allowance
• Free additional drivers
• No cancellation fees
• No amendment fees
• Contract fee **
• Premium location fee***
• Registration recovery fee****
• Book now, pay later

Executive Package

This iconic Redspot package stands strong as the first all-inclusive car rental product in Australia! Designed with peace-of-mind built-in, our good value car rental package includes:

• No hidden costs, we are upfront about the inclusions in this package!
• $0 standard liability excess*
• Additional windshield and headlight cover
• GST-inclusive
• Unlimited km allowance
• Free additional drivers
• No cancellation fees
• No amendment fees
• Contract fee **
• Premium location fee***
• Registration recovery fee****
• Book now, pay later

Terminology Key.

Let us break down our package terms so you know exactly what may appear on your invoice:

*Damage liability excess: ‘Amount reduced by’ is dependent on the vehicle type and hire itinerary selected. See our Car Rental Cover page for more information.
**Contract fee: We have a small surcharge to cover our costs to draw up our rental agreement with you.
***Premium location fee: Sometimes a premium airport or downtown location will charge us an additional surcharge for each rental and we are upfront about this cost in your package! The price will depend on the location selected.
****Registration recovery fee: We pay a surcharge to cover our vehicle registration and compulsory third-party insurance costs and we highlight this clearly in your package breakdown.

At Redspot, we believe in straight-up honesty! Just so you’re in the loop, all the nitty-gritty on damage liability and extra charges can be found in our terms and conditions.

BOOK WITH US!

6 Popular Stops from Canberra to Melbourne

Hop into your rental car and cruise from Canberra to Melbourne in style. Experience culture, history, wine valleys and classic Aussie country towns on the road from the heart of our nation to our famous coffee capital.

From holidays and family car rentals to business trips and relocation, Redspot has the perfect ride to get you where you’re going!

Yass

Just under an hour’s drive from Canberra, Yass is a well-loved pit stop in Country NSW that you won’t want to miss. Discover this scenic riverside town and explore its heritage through gorgeous streetscapes, fossil tours, top wineries and vibrant food scene. It’s a ‘Yass’ from us!

Gundagai

Swap city lights for starry nights in Gundagai, where folklore meets fine wine and rodeo thrills. Beyond the famous Dog on the Tuckerbox Pioneer Monument, this Riverina gem tempts road-trippers with its rich history, Aussie heritage pubs, and timeless country charm.

Albury-Wodonga

Steer off the beaten path to Albury-Wodonga, where twin cities meet on the banks of the Murray River. Explore like a local by cycling along the Wagirra Trail, visiting the Murray Art Museum (one of Australia’s best regional galleries), and picking up fresh produce at the farmers’ markets!

Yarrawonga Mulwala

Cruise into Yarrawonga Mulwala, where sun-soaked days drift across wide waters and golf swings echo through red gum country. Straddling the Murray River, these twin towns are the perfect pit-stop to enjoy shimmering lake views, top-notch fishing, and farm-fresh flavours at every turn.

Nagambie

Nagamabie is a great stop for anyone who loves vineyard vistas, waterways, and wildlife. The nearby lake is a hot spot for paddling, fishing and other outdoor water activities. Wrap your visit with a tour of the local fine wines and gourmet produce, including locally-grown olive oil!

Bendigo

Roll into Bendigo, a former gold rush town serving bold bites and creative flavour. With gorgeous Botanic Gardens, an epic regional art gallery, bustling laneways, and Australia’s only UNESCO City of Gastronomy title to its name, this regional gem dishes up culture and cuisine from every corner.

Any other questions? Contact our Redspot team for all the details for your next Canberra to Melbourne car rental.