One Way Car Hire Canberra to Sydney

Free comparison tool · 1000s of rental cars · Major brands · No booking fees

DriverAustralia · age 30
Used for driver eligibility and pricing.
Dates
  • Enterprise
  • Hertz
  • Budget
  • Avis
  • Sixt
  • National
  • Dollar
290 km (180 mi)
Canberra to Sydney on the Federal and Hume highways
about 3 h
driving time without stops
from A$510
small car for 4 days, one-way fee included
8 companies
offer one-way rentals on this route

Compare Car Rental Canberra to Sydney

Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Redspot and Routes rent cars one way from Canberra to Sydney. To book, enter Canberra as the pick-up and Sydney as the drop-off. The results show only cars you can leave in Sydney.

There are no booking fees. Most cars come with free cancellation and unlimited kilometers.

Canberra to Sydney One Way Car Rental Prices

The drive takes about 3 hours, so a short rental is often enough. A small car costs about A$390 for 1 day and A$590 for 2 days in total. An SUV costs about A$500 for 1 day and A$710 for 2 days.

For 4 days, a small car costs about A$820, an SUV about A$1,060 and a minivan about A$1,270. A small car for 7 days costs about A$970.

For a 4-day rental, November and early December are the cheapest time. Christmas week costs about 20 to 30% more. From January to March, prices are about 30% higher than in November. The January school vacation costs only a little more than February and March.

Cheapest to typical price for the whole rental, one-way fee included, in Australian dollars. Pick-up at Canberra Airport, November 2026 to March 2027, except Christmas week. Checked October 19, 2026.
Rental lengthSmall carSUVMinivan
2 daysA$340 to A$590A$530 to A$710A$680 to A$760
4 daysA$510 to A$820A$740 to A$1,060A$1,000 to A$1,270
7 daysA$650 to A$970A$850 to A$1,320A$1,120 to A$1,630
Typical price for the whole rental, one-way fee included, in Australian dollars. Pick-up at Canberra Airport, November 2026 to March 2027. Checked October 19, 2026.
Pick-upSmall car, 4 daysSUV, 4 days
Mid-NovemberA$690A$850
Late NovemberA$700A$890
Early DecemberA$590A$840
Christmas weekA$820A$1,100
Mid-January, school vacationA$890A$1,220
Early FebruaryA$890A$1,130
Early MarchA$890A$1,150

Canberra to Sydney One Way Fees

Are there one way car rental fees?

Usually, yes. Most companies charge a fee to leave the car in a different city. The prices in our search include the one-way fee, so you can compare companies side by side. Before you book, check what your total price covers.

Distance Between Canberra & Sydney

How far is it from Canberra to Sydney?

About 290 kilometers (180 miles) on the M23 and M31, or about 3 hours of driving. The coast road through Batemans Bay is about 430 km (270 mi) and 5.5 hours.

Satellite map of south-east New South Wales. The Federal and Hume highways run from Canberra to Sydney in dark blue past Goulburn, Mittagong and Campbelltown. A lighter line shows the coast road through Braidwood, Batemans Bay and Wollongong.
Ways to drive from Canberra to Sydney: the Federal and Hume highways (290 km) with the Southern Highlands as a short detour, or the coast road through Batemans Bay (430 km).

Federal Highway and Hume (M23, M31)

Via Lake George, Goulburn, Campbelltown

290 km · about 3 h · half a day

The direct way, on divided highway or freeway the whole way.

Southern Highlands

Leave the Hume for Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong

about 300 km · about 3.5 h · a day

The old highway towns, for about 10 km (6 mi) extra. You rejoin the Hume at Mittagong.

Coast Road (Kings and Princes highways)

Via Braidwood, Batemans Bay, Nowra, Wollongong

430 km · about 5.5 h · 1–2 days

Down Clyde Mountain to the coast at Batemans Bay, then north on the Princes Highway. With a night on the South Coast, it takes 2 days.

Canberra to Sydney Drive: Attractions on the Road

At about 3 hours, the direct drive needs no overnight stop. The 2 detours below make it a longer day.

On the Direct Route

The Federal Highway runs along Lake George, often a dry lake bed. Once you join the Hume, the Big Merino at Goulburn is a short exit away.

Southern Highlands

Berrima is a Georgian village a few minutes off the Hume. Bowral has the Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame.

Coast Road

The Kings Highway passes the old gold town of Braidwood, then winds down Clyde Mountain to Batemans Bay. Heading north on the Princes Highway you pass Ulladulla, the turn-off for Jervis Bay and Kiama’s blowhole. The Grand Pacific Drive over the Sea Cliff Bridge is the last detour before Sydney.

Picking Up in Canberra, Dropping Off in Sydney

  • From November to March, a 4-day Avis or Budget rental costs A$170 to A$250 less at their Braddon location than at Canberra Airport. The location is at 51–53 Mort Street, Braddon, near downtown. Europcar costs A$150 to A$220 less at its location at 5/26 Essington Street, Mitchell. Search "Canberra – All areas" as the pick-up to see them.
  • Canberra Airport is about 8 km (5 mi) east of downtown. The Majura Parkway takes you from the airport to the Federal Highway.
  • You can drop off at Sydney Airport or downtown. Coming from Canberra, you reach the airport first, at the end of the M5.
  • Check the Sydney drop-off address before you book. Avis, Budget and some Hertz cars go back to a location in Penrith or Blacktown, 30 to 50 km (19 to 31 mi) west of downtown.
  • You pay no tolls until Sydney. The M5 and M8 freeways there are toll roads. Rental cars usually carry a toll tag. The company bills the tolls after the rental, often with an admin fee.

People Also Ask: Canberra to Sydney Car Rental

What types of vehicles are available?

The search shows the car types each company offers for your dates. They usually include compact cars, sedans and SUVs. Some Canberra locations also offer 8-seater minivans.

Can I rent a car in Canberra and drop it off at Sydney Airport?

Yes, with some companies. Choose Sydney Airport (SYD) as the drop-off instead of Sydney – All areas. The results show which companies take cars back there and their prices.

Is car rental from Sydney to Canberra cheaper?

Yes. A typical car costs about 10 to 20% less from Sydney. The cheapest cars cost up to 10% less. 7 companies rent one way from Sydney, compared with 8 from Canberra. See Sydney to Canberra car rental.

Which companies offer one way car rental from Canberra to Sydney?

Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Redspot and Routes.

Do one-way rentals include unlimited kilometers?

Nearly all do. Each result shows its kilometer allowance.

What is the excess on a one-way rental?

The excess (the deductible) is the most you pay if the car is damaged. Most cars have a standard excess of A$5,000 to A$6,000. Each result shows the excess for that car.

Other Routes

Other one-way trips that start in Canberra or end in Sydney:

See all one-way car rentals in Australia.

Prices updated October 2026

Flying into Canberra? Compare pick-ups at Canberra Airport (CBR). Flying home from Sydney? See Sydney Airport (SYD).