Car Hire From Melbourne to Brisbane

Can you rent a car from Melbourne to Brisbane?

Planning to pick up your car in Melbourne and drop it off in Brisbane? We make it easy. With our flexible one way rentals, you can hit the road without worrying about the return trip. Load up the boot, map out your stops, and enjoy the drive north. Got questions or ready to book? Get in touch with our team by phone, email, or through our online form and we’ll help you get moving.

One way rental Melbourne to Brisbane

Drive from Melbourne to Brisbane your way with our flexible one way rentals. Pick up in Melbourne, drop off in Brisbane, and skip the backtracking. It’s a simple way to save time, cut down on fuel costs, and keep your trip moving in one direction. Booking is easy. Just head to the Extras section when reserving your vehicle online, select the one way option, and you’re set. For fuel, choose what works best for you. Prepay before you leave, settle it after your trip, or fill up along the way. We also offer handy extras like baby seats and toll road cover to keep things running smoothly from start to finish. Planning a longer drive? Good news. Our standard passenger vehicles come with unlimited kilometres across Australia, so you can take your time getting from Melbourne to Brisbane. If you’re hiring a van, truck or ute, kilometre limits may apply, so it’s worth checking in with us before you go. Need flexibility with timing? We offer 24 hour drop offs at most locations, and after hours pick up can be arranged on request, depending on availability.

Booking is simple. When you make your reservation online, head to the Extras section and select the One Way Fee. That is all it takes to lock it in.

Sort fuel your way with Redspot refuel options to match your plans. Pre-pay, post-pay, or refill it yourself before drop-off. You can also add handy extras like baby seats or a Toll Pass Waiver to keep things running smoothly on the road.

Unlimited km is included on standard passenger and leisure vehicles, so the road trip won’t be a problem at all. If you are hiring a van, truck, or ute, km limits may apply. Give the friendly team a call on 1300 668 810 to double-check before you set off.

Note: 24/7 vehicle drop-offs are available unless stated otherwise. After-hours pick-up can be arranged on request, subject to availability.

Meet Our Fleet

Make the drive from Melbourne to Brisbane easier with our flexible one way rentals. We’re here to help you move between states without the hassle. Choose from our wide range of vehicles and enjoy convenient pick up in Melbourne with drop off options across Brisbane. It’s a simple way to turn a long drive into a trip worth taking.

We’ll get you set up with the right extras to make your drive from Melbourne to Brisbane feel easy from start to finish. Travelling with kids? Add a child seat to keep everyone safe and settled for the journey. Planning to pass through toll roads along the way? Our Toll Road Waiver helps you move through without the stress of separate payments. It’s all about keeping your trip simple, so you can focus on the drive ahead.

Small Car Hire

From economy and compacts to intermediate cars like the Toyota Corolla, you can’t go past our diverse small car fleet! These affordable, fuel-efficient rides are perfect for solo travellers and small groups.

Sedan Hire

Spot your road trip with our range of versatile sedans, featuring a rotation of your fave brands. Get rolling to Australia’s vibrant coffee capital in the reliable 5-seater car we all know and love.

Minibus and Minivan Hire

Round up your crew and hit the road with our spacious 8–12 seater minibus and minivan hire. Whether you’re on a family getaway or group adventure, we’ve got the right ride to back it.

Baby Seats & Other Accessories

We’ll have you fully loaded with Redspot’s rental car add-ons, making your travels between A & B a smooth ride from start to finish!

Travelling with little ones? Our child seat hire will keep your kids safely strapped in for the journey. Plus, our convenient Toll Road Waiver makes it easy to navigate the tolls along the way, so you can focus on the adventure ahead.

One-way Moving House Car Hire

Whether you need a spacious SUV or a dependable sedan, there’s plenty of room for everything you’re bringing along. Pick up your rental in Melbourne, load up your gear, and start the drive north to Brisbane. When you arrive, our team will be ready to take the keys so you can get straight into settling in. It’s a simple way to handle a big move without doubling back.

One-Way Trucks and Moving Accessories

Comfy couch you can’t live without? Sorted. Dream fridge you finally saved up for? Packed and ready. With a range of trucks, utes, and handy moving accessories, you can flex those muscles and do the big move your way. Our trucks come with a daily kilometre allowance of 100 km, with a small fee for extra distance depending on the vehicle.

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

Go further, without the detour! With Redspot’s flexible one-way rentals, you can explore Australia your way, no need to circle back. You’ll save on time, fuel, and effort, making the most of every journey on the open Aussie road.
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 Melbourne to Brisbane?

The most direct drive from Melbourne to Brisbane is around 1,700 km and takes roughly 18 to 20 hours non-stop via the Hume Highway and Pacific Motorway. Once you factor in breaks for fuel, food, and rest, most travellers spread the trip over a few days to keep things comfortable. Prefer to take it slow? This route is packed with coastal towns and inland detours, giving you plenty of reasons to stop, stay a night, and enjoy the drive as much as the destination.

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

Driving or flying? It really comes down to how you want to travel. Flying gets you there faster, but driving from Melbourne to Brisbane gives you the freedom to explore along the way. Think coastal views, country towns, and a few unexpected stops that end up being the highlight of your trip. Skip the airport queues, baggage limits, and waiting around. With a car, you’re on your own schedule from the moment you leave. If you’ve got the time, the drive is hard to beat. We’ve spent over 35 years helping people get on the road, so you can guess which option we’d pick.

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.

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

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!

Popular Stops From Melbourne to Brisbane

Canberra

Australia’s capital is an easy first stop. Stretch your legs around Lake Burley Griffin, grab a good meal, or check out a gallery before getting back on the road.

Hunter Valley

Swap highway driving for rolling vineyards. The Hunter Valley is a great place to slow things down with a relaxed lunch or an overnight stay.

Port Macquarie

A coastal favourite with plenty to see and do. Walk along the breakwall, visit the koala hospital, or just enjoy the ocean views before continuing north.

Coffs Harbour

A classic road trip stop. Snap a photo at the Big Banana, then unwind at one of the nearby beaches or walking tracks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent a car in Melbourne and leave it in Brisbane?

Yes, we offer one way car hire between Melbourne and Brisbane, subject to availability. Pick up in Melbourne, drop off in Brisbane, and finish your trip wherever it suits you. No need to loop back or adjust your plans. To get started, reach out to our team by phone or email and we’ll help lock it all in. Then you’re all set to hit the road.

Is it more expensive to rent a car one way in Australia?

When it comes to one-way rentals, fees will vary depending on factors including the requested pick-up and drop-off locations, plus vehicle availability. The one-way fee covers the cost of relocating the vehicle back to its original location. Typically, the further you want to travel, the more one-way rentals can save you on time and fuel costs that you’d otherwise spend heading back to your journey’s starting point!

We recommend comparing your total trip costs if you choose one-way vs standard returns. With Redspot, you can check rates and vehicle availability through our online booking tool so you can determine what’s best for your plans.

How many kilometres can I drive in a day in a Redspot car hire?

For maximum freedom, there are no km limits for our standard car rentals including compact, sedans, hybrids, and SUVs.
However, as Australia is such a big and beautiful country (bigger than Europe in land mass!), there are some instances where we have to impose a km limit to help maintain our vehicles:

• If you need a van, truck, or ute for a business car hire
• If you head to remote locations, such as Alice Springs or Darwin
  
  For more info, please contact our friendly team at 1300 668 810 (toll-free) to find the best fit for your plans.

Is it worth it to drive from Melbourne to Brisbane?

It all comes down to how you want to travel. If you’re short on time, flying might be the quicker option. But if you want to see more along the way, driving from Melbourne to Brisbane opens up a whole stretch of coastline, regional towns, and easy detours. For a more scenic route, head north along the coast. Pass through places like Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and Byron Bay, then roll into the Gold Coast before reaching Brisbane. Take your time with it and enjoy the drive. This is one trip where the journey is just as good as the destination.

What is the oldest age to drive a rental car?

At Redspot, there’s no maximum age limit! We say that age is just a number. Whether you’re a retiree, hold a seniors card, or you’re just young at heart, we welcome anyone over 21 to rent with us and keep their adventures rolling.

What is the minimum age to rent a car with Redspot?

For most Aussie car rental companies, the minimum age is 25. However, with Redspot, we don’t think age should keep you from getting the job done! Drivers from 21 years old are welcome to rent with us, including commercial and mine-spec vehicles.

Check out our Young Drivers guide for all the details to get you rolling. (Note: Vehicle size restrictions for Young Drivers do not apply to mine-spec and commercial vehicles. Speak with your employer to confirm details.)

What are the road conditions between Melbourne and Brisbane?

Road conditions from Melbourne to Brisbane are generally in good shape, with major highways like the Hume and Pacific Motorway offering a smooth drive for most of the journey. That said, it’s always worth checking for the latest updates before you head off. Roadworks, weather, or traffic incidents can affect travel times, especially on longer trips. For live updates, check: https://www.livetraffic.com/ (NSW) https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ (QLD) A quick check before you leave can help keep your trip running on schedule.

Want more info? Contact our Redspot team for all the details for your next Melbourne to Brisbane car rental.