Australia is massive. You drive across vast deserts, tropical forests, and endless coastlines, sleeping under a sky full of stars. It’s one of those dream road trips you want to experience at least once in your life. But there’s one big problem: cost. Because the country is so huge, you can’t really explore it in just a few days. Most people rent a car for several weeks, which easily costs around 2,000–3,000 AUD (about 1,500–2,000 USD). For backpackers, that’s simply too expensive. So here’s a powerful hack to dramatically reduce your road trip cost.
🚗 The ultra-cheap method: Relocation Cars
It’s called a relocation car. In simple terms, rental companies have cars that were dropped off in the wrong city and need to be driven back to a specific location. Instead of paying full price, they offer these cars for extremely cheap rentals.
💰 How much does it cost?
Sometimes as low as 1 AUD per day (around 0.65 USD). You pay for fuel, and there may be insurance rules and time limits, but even with that, it’s still far cheaper than standard car rentals. For backpackers, it’s honestly a no-brainer.
🛠 How it works
- Search for available relocation cars (select pickup and drop-off locations)
- Find a matching vehicle
- Book it
- Pick up the car and start your trip
🌐 Main platforms
👍 Pros
- Extremely cheap (around 1 AUD/day)
- Often includes camper-equipped vehicles (bed, camping gear, etc.)
- You can sleep in the car while traveling
👎 Cons
- Limited routes → Common ones include Melbourne–Sydney, Darwin–Perth, etc.
- Short duration (usually 3–7 days)
※ Extensions may be possible but cost extra
- Popular routes get booked quickly
- Availability often appears last-minute (about 1 week before departure)
🚐 Real experience & costs
📍 Darwin → Adelaide
- Mitsubishi Delica (camper version with bed)
- 1 AUD × 7 days
- Extension: 4 days × 100 AUD
- Deposit: 2000 AUD (≈ 1300 USD, refundable)
👉 Actual cost: Rental + extension: 407 AUD (≈ 264 USD)
📍 Adelaide → Melbourne
- Toyota HiAce (12-seater van)
- 1 AUD × 7 days
- Insurance: 50 AUD × 7 days
- Deposit: 200 AUD (≈ 130 USD, refundable)
👉 Actual cost: Rental + insurance: 357 AUD (≈ 232 USD)
💸Total cost (18 days) 764 AUD (≈ 496 USD)
So: 👉 You can do an 18-day road trip in Australia for around 500 USD
Compared to a standard rental costing several thousand dollars, the difference is huge.
⚠️ Things to know
- A deposit of around 2000 AUD (≈ 1300 USD) is required temporarily (refundable, but you need available credit)
- Fuel is not included
- Route flexibility is limited
🧭 Conclusion
A road trip in Australia is usually very expensive, but relocation cars completely change the game. Even though flexibility is limited, it’s one of the best options for people who want to travel long-term on a low budget. For backpackers and long-term travelers, this is one of those hidden hacks that can dramatically change your travel budget.
