Renting a car under 25 in Brisbane

Can I rent a car in Brisbane if I'm under 25?

At Rentzy the cut-off isn't 25. Drivers aged 21 to 75 with a full licence held for at least 1 year (no learner or provisional licences). Those are the rules in clause 2.2 of the rental terms, and they apply to every driver of the car, not only the person who books. So a 21-to-24-year-old can rent on the same footing as anyone older, provided the licence part is met.

The licence part is where most young drivers fall short, and it depends on which stage of Queensland's graduated licensing scheme you're at. That's the rest of this guide.

What are Queensland's licence stages?

Queensland's Graduated Licensing Scheme runs from a learner licence through two provisional stages, P1 and P2, to an open licence.^[1] The minimums at each step are:

Two adjustments matter for young drivers. If you're 25 or older when you pass the practical test, you skip P1 and go straight to P2.^[2] And time your licence spends expired, suspended or cancelled doesn't count towards the next stage; the progression page's example is a P2 renewed late, which pushed the open licence out by the length of the gap.^[1] P2 upgrades also stall if, for example, your licence is close to expiry or you need a medical certificate that isn't on record.^[3]

What can't P1 and P2 drivers do?

Both provisional stages carry conditions. Drivers on either must display their plates, carry their licence (the card or the Digital Licence app), stay at zero alcohol and not drive a high-powered vehicle. Reaching 4 demerit points in any 1-year period forces a choice between suspension and a good driving behaviour period.^[2][3]

• P1 under 25, phones: no use at all, including hands-free, Bluetooth or loudspeaker; passengers can't use loudspeaker either. P2 drivers may use a phone hands-free.^[4]
• P1 under 25, late nights: between 11pm and 5am, no more than 1 passenger under 21 who isn't an immediate family member.^[4]
• High-powered vehicles: restricted for P1 and P2 holders under 25; for cars built from 2010, that means a power-to-weight ratio over 130 kW per tonne or certain approved engine modifications.^[4]
• Late-night restriction after an offence: under-25 provisional drivers who are suspended for demerit points or high-speed offences can be banned from driving between 11pm and 5am for a year.^[4]

General road rules for every driver (speed, phones, alcohol, roundabouts) are in Queensland road rules that catch visitors; demerit points have their own guide, speeding fines and demerit points.

Why can't I rent on P-plates?

Because our rental terms require a full licence: clause 2.2 excludes learner and provisional licences, whatever the driver's age. A P2 licence is a provisional licence, so a 22-year-old on green plates can't rent from us until the open licence comes through and has been held for 1 year.

Here is the arithmetic for someone who moved through every stage at the earliest age. An open licence comes at 20,^[5] so 1 year on it reaches 21; with our minimum age of 21, the first age a Queensland driver can rent from us is 21. Start learning later, or lose time to a lapsed licence, and the date moves.

On an open licence you drive under the general alcohol limit (below 0.05) rather than zero,^[5] and the extra passenger and phone limits, which apply only when you drive on a P1 or P2 licence, no longer bind you.^[4]

What about young drivers from interstate or overseas?

Interstate and overseas licence holders in Queensland follow Queensland's mobile phone rules for the equivalent licence type, plus any conditions from where the licence was issued.^[4] For renting, the test is the same as for a Queensland driver: a current full licence held long enough. An interstate P-plate licence is still a provisional licence, whichever state issued it.

At the time of writing, clause 2.2 counts years held on an overseas licence towards the 1 year. Overseas licences are accepted, and years held on an overseas licence count towards the minimum; a licence not in English must be carried with an International Driving Permit or an accredited English translation. For the legal side of driving here on a foreign licence, read driving in Queensland on an overseas licence; students should also read renting as an international student.

What should I check before I book?

• Your age on the pickup day, not the booking day: at least 21.
• The date you went onto your open licence: at least 1 year before pickup.
• Everyone who'll drive. A friend on P-plates can't take a turn, even on a long drive; extra drivers need our written approval first (adding a driver).
• The money. An A$100 deposit is paid online when you book. It is part of your rent, not an extra charge. A refundable A$500 security bond is paid at pickup, separate from your rent. We return it within 7 business days of the return, less any charges allowed by the rental terms.
• What damage would cost you: up to the A$2,500 excess per incident, more if the terms are broken (clause 9).