Safety Features You’ll Be Glad Your Rental Car Has in Australia

Planning car hire in Australia? Here’s a casual traveller’s take on safety tips and features your rental car should have for a worry-free road trip.

Imagine that you’re in Australia, your bags are packed, sunglasses on, and you’re all set for a big road trip. You get your rental car and start driving, but have you thought about safety rules in Australia, hardly people think about safety features when they are on vacation.
This has become a human nature, no one thinks about them on their first trip. For most of them, “As long as the car has aircon and good speakers, they will be fine.” But this is totally wrong.

As a car rental company we have heard many times from our clients regarding their car safety mistakes, recently one of our clients on their way from Perth to Exmouth, a kangaroo suddenly jumped onto the road. They had to hit the brakes hard. Luckily, the car had good brakes and stability control. If it didn’t, they might not be here telling you this story.

Why Safety Actually Matters

When you’re looking for car hire in Australia, it’s easy to get distracted by how cheap the car is, or whether it’s big enough for all your camping gear. But honestly, none of that matters if the car isn’t safe.

Australian roads are gorgeous but unpredictable. One minute you’re cruising along the coast, next minute you hit rain, gravel, or a curious wallaby. So, let’s get into the details about what to look for while renting a car.

Must Go-To Feature

Here are some must list that you should look while renting a car:

Does it have ABS?
That’s Anti-Lock Brakes for non-car nerds. You don’t want your wheels locking up if you must stop fast.

ESC or stability control?
If it is slippery roads or sharp corners. This stops the car from fishtailing like in a movie chase scene.

Cameras and sensors?
Reversing in a tight spot in Melbourne is less terrifying for them.

Adaptive Cruise Control?
On long Aussie highways, this is a game-changer.

Blind spot monitoring?
There are some people who don’t spot it at times so for them it would be useful.

Always Check Before Driving

Many times before in rush don’t check, this has happened with one of our recent clients who rented a super basic car up in Darwin once. There was no lane assist, no rain-sensing wipers, no nothing. Then came the tropical downpour, where he could not see anything. He was tensed whether he would be able to rent back home safely or not. His hands were sweating, his wipers were useless, and the car felt like it was skating on the road.

So, as an expert in car rental we always guide about road safety and show details about the car they are hiring.

Other Features Worth Asking About

Fatigue detection: Long stretches with no towns make you sleepy. This tech gives you a nudge when it senses you’re zoning out.
Tyre pressure monitoring: A system that warns you about low tyre pressure can save you from having your tyre burst in the middle of nowhere.
Automatic emergency braking: The car will brake faster than you if something jumps out.
Hill start assists: Useful in the Blue Mountains where steep hills are everywhere.
Traction control: Great for gravel roads if you’re heading off the beaten track.

Don’t Forget the Basics

Before you drive off:

  • Test the brakes and indicators.
  • Check the tires look healthy.
  • Ask the rental company how the safety features work (some are hidden behind fancy buttons).

The Bottom Line

Look, I’m not saying you need a spaceship full of gadgets. But if you’re going to rent a car for hundreds of kilometres of driving, at least make sure it’s got the basics covered. It’s your trip. You should be focused on the sunsets and surf, not worrying about whether your car can handle a sudden stop.

Dream Car Rental has a good range of vehicles with modern safety features, with proper guidance which is why we are top car rental company.

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