Perth is one of the most drivable cities in Australia. Wide roads, clear signage, low traffic density compared to Sydney or Melbourne, and an abundance of free and paid parking across the metropolitan area make it an ideal city to explore by hire car. But if you have never driven here before, a few things are worth knowing before you leave the car hire depot.

Burswood Car Rentals has been helping visitors get behind the wheel in Perth for over 42 years. We are located in Burswood, moments from the Crown Casino precinct, and our team knows these roads inside out. Here is what will make your first drive in Perth smooth, safe, and genuinely enjoyable. When you are ready, view our full range of hire cars and get a quote online.

Ready to Hit the Road in Perth? Burswood Car Rentals: 42+ years, 4.8-star reviews, no hidden fees. From $25/day. Get an instant quote today. Get an Instant Quote

Australia Drives on the Left

This is the most important reminder for any international visitor. In Australia, all traffic drives on the left side of the road. Steering wheels are on the right-hand side of the vehicle. If you are arriving from a country that drives on the right (such as the USA, most of Europe, or Asia), this requires active adjustment in the first few days.

The moments that catch new left-hand drivers off guard are typically: turning out of a car park onto a quiet road, pulling into a petrol station and instinctively drifting right as you exit, and roundabouts. Take extra care at each of these situations in your first few days.

💡  Left side reminder: Paste a small note on your hire car dashboard that says ‘KEEP LEFT’ for the first day or two. It sounds overly cautious, but it has saved many visitors from a moment of disorientation on a quiet suburban street. The reflex you have built over years of driving in your home country does not disappear the moment you cross a border.

Getting Your Bearings: Perth’s Road Network

Perth’s road network is built around a north-south freeway spine running along the coastal plain. Understanding this structure means you can orient yourself quickly from almost anywhere in the city.

• The Mitchell Freeway runs north from the Perth CBD through the northern suburbs to Joondalup and beyond. It is the main route for visitors staying in or visiting the northern beaches and suburbs including Scarborough, Trigg, and Hillarys
• The Kwinana Freeway runs south from the CBD through the inner south, connecting Fremantle, Cockburn, and Mandurah to the city. Most travellers heading to Rockingham, Mandurah, or the Peel region will use this route
• Great Eastern Highway connects Perth to the Darling Range and is the primary route for visitors heading to the Swan Valley wine region, the Hills, and ultimately to the Eastern Goldfields
• Stirling Highway connects the CBD to Fremantle via the riverside suburbs of Claremont, Cottesloe, and North Fremantle. This is a key route for visitors to the western suburbs and Cottesloe Beach

Perth’s streets are generally well signed. Street names change frequently as roads pass through different suburbs (a quirk of Perth’s development), so using GPS navigation is recommended. Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze all work well in Perth.

Understanding Perth’s Distances

Perth is an extraordinarily spread-out city by international standards. The metropolitan area extends approximately 130 kilometres from north to south and 50 kilometres from east to west. This matters for planning: what appears close on a map may involve 30 to 45 minutes of driving.

Key distance references from the Perth CBD:

• Fremantle: approximately 20 to 25 minutes by freeway
• Cottesloe Beach: approximately 20 minutes
• Scarborough Beach: approximately 25 minutes
• The Swan Valley (wine country): approximately 30 minutes
• Mandurah: approximately 50 to 60 minutes
• Margaret River: approximately 3 hours
• Rottnest Island: ferry from Fremantle or Hillarys Boat Harbour (no cars allowed on Rottnest)

💡  Plan driving days generously: Perth visitors frequently underestimate how much ground they want to cover. Build in extra time on any day involving multiple stops. Many popular tourist regions in WA involve long drives on regional highways that are enjoyable but time-consuming.

Parking in Perth

Parking in Perth is generally easier and more affordable than in most major Australian cities, though the CBD does have paid parking. Here is a useful overview:

• Perth CBD: metered and ticketed parking operates across most inner-city streets. Multi-storey car parks are available in the city centre. City of Perth Parking manages a number of facilities with competitive rates. Council House on Hay Street and the Wilson Parking network provide central options
• Fremantle: metered parking applies in the core Fremantle area. Free parking can generally be found within a short walk of the main shopping and dining precinct
• Suburban areas and beaches: free parking is the norm in most Perth suburbs. Major beach car parks (Cottesloe, Scarborough, City Beach) may have time limits on busy summer weekends but are generally free
• Shopping centres: virtually all Perth shopping centres offer free undercover parking. Major centres such as Westfield Carousel, Garden City, Karrinyup, and Whitford City all have extensive free car parking

Perth’s parking system uses ticket machines in metered zones. Card payment is standard. Some areas use Pay by Plate technology or app-based parking such as the CivicPay Parking app and CivicPay Online.

Driving to the South West: What to Expect

One of the most popular reasons visitors hire a car in Perth is to drive to Western Australia’s famous South West: Margaret River, Dunsborough, Busselton, and Augusta. The drive south from Perth follows the Kwinana Freeway and then transitions to the Forrest Highway and South Western Highway.

The roads are well maintained and clearly signed. Fuel stops are available regularly on the South West route. A few points worth knowing:

• Kangaroos are most active on regional roads at dawn and dusk. Take extra care during these periods, particularly if driving on the highway after sunset
• Mobile coverage becomes patchy once you leave the main highway. Download offline maps or check conditions before you go
• Distances between South West towns are longer than they appear. Margaret River is approximately 270 kilometres from Perth, which typically translates to around three hours of driving

⚠️  Wildlife on rural roads: Kangaroos, emus, and wandering livestock are a genuine hazard on WA regional roads, particularly at dawn, dusk, and night. Avoid driving on regional highways after dark where possible and reduce speed when wildlife warning signs are posted.

Fuel: What You Need to Know

Perth runs primarily on unleaded petrol (ULP) and diesel. Most hire cars in Burswood’s fleet are petrol vehicles. Perth has a well-known fuel price cycle: prices tend to drop on Tuesdays and rise toward the weekend. Apps such as Fuel Watch WA (a government service) let you check current prices at stations across the metropolitan area.

Self-service petrol stations are standard across Perth. Full-service stations are essentially non-existent. The pump, payment, and windscreen wiper services are all self-service. Card payment at the bowser is standard; cash payment typically requires you to pre-pay inside the station.

Before You Drive Away: A Quick Checklist

Before leaving our Burswood depot, take a few minutes to check the following with the hire car team:

• Confirm the vehicle condition report is completed and signed
• Check that you understand the fuel policy (most Burswood rentals are return-full)
• Set your phone navigation to your first destination before moving
• Identify the nearest petrol station to your accommodation
• Check your kilometre allowance and confirm what applies to your booking

Our team at Burswood Car Rentals is always happy to answer questions about Perth driving before you go. View our FAQs for answers to common hire car questions, or contact us directly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an international driving permit to hire a car in Perth?

If your driver’s licence is issued in a language other than English, you will generally need to carry an international driving permit (IDP) alongside your original licence. If your licence is in English, your overseas licence is generally accepted in Western Australia for short-term visits. Check with the Department of Transport WA for the current requirements applicable to your specific country of origin, as conditions can change. See the Burswood Car Rentals FAQs for more information on licence requirements for hiring with us.

Is it easy to find petrol stations in Perth?

Yes. The Perth metropolitan area has an excellent network of petrol stations. You are unlikely to be more than 5 to 10 kilometres from a petrol station anywhere in the metropolitan area. On regional routes heading south to Margaret River or east toward the Goldfields, fuel up when you have the opportunity as gaps between stations become longer.

Can I drive to Rottnest Island?

No. Rottnest Island does not permit private or hire vehicles. You travel to Rottnest by ferry from Fremantle, Hillarys Boat Harbour, or the City of Perth ferry terminal, and then explore the island on foot, bicycle hire, or electric cart hire. Drive your hire car to the ferry terminal and park in the terminal car park for the duration of your visit.

Is GPS available with hire cars from Burswood?

Your smartphone navigation apps (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze) work reliably throughout the Perth metropolitan area and on major WA highways. We recommend downloading offline maps before departing on longer regional drives where coverage can become intermittent. Contact us to discuss any specific GPS requirements for your hire.