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Car hire in India
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Driving in India on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for India.
India accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued in Australia, carried with your Australian licence.
Drives on the leftSame as Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$50-$90 with a driverTypical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in India worth it?
Self-drive hire exists but is uncommon for visitors.
Typical daily hire runs $50-$90 with a driver.
Where to hire a car in India
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
What Australian drivers need to know in India
- Self-driving is not recommended for most visitors. Hiring a car with a driver costs little more and is dramatically less stressful.
- A full day with a car and driver typically costs AUD $50-$90.
- Uber and Ola operate in all major cities and are cheap.
- Traffic norms differ radically from Australia - lane markings and right of way are advisory.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in India the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
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Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning India?
We will send you the India guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.