What do rental contracts ban in Western Australia?
Road restrictions are set by each rental company, not by law, so read your own contract. As one example, Hertz's driving restrictions for Perth, checked in September 2026, say a non-4WD car must not be driven:
- on unsealed roads, except roads under repair and access roads to recognised camping or accommodation grounds;
- on the Tanami Track, Gunbarrel Highway, Gibb River Road or into the Bungle Bungles.
No Hertz vehicle, 4WD or not, may use the Canning Stock Route, the Old Gunbarrel Highway or the Kalumburu track, including Mitchell Falls. The same terms also exclude beaches and driving through flooded roads or any body of water, "including but not limited to a pothole, ditch or riverbed". If you breach a restriction, you are responsible for damage up to the full value of the vehicle and lose any optional protection you bought.
On the Perth to Exmouth route that mostly bites on side trips: gravel access roads to beaches and gorges, and crossings that flood after rain. Ask the desk, in writing, about one-way and remote-location fees if you plan to fly home from Exmouth or another northern town; the pages checked for this guide do not publish those amounts.
How do I pass a road train safely?
WA relies on road trains, and Main Roads notes that some are up to 60 metres long, roughly 12 car lengths. Its guide to safe stopping places asks drivers to wait behind a slower road train for the next overtaking lane. Where there is none:
- Check ahead for a long, straight stretch; never overtake on a curve or hill.
- Commit, and keep a steady speed as you pass.
- Leave plenty of space before pulling back in.
For oversize loads with pilot or escort vehicles, move left and follow the escort's directions. On gravel, the same guide says not to overtake at all when dust reduces visibility.
Fuel, fatigue and animals
The long legs are the risk. WA has almost 150,000 km of road, and Main Roads says fuel stops in remote areas can be hundreds of kilometres apart, with temperatures that can reach 45 to 50°C. It recommends carrying extra fuel on remote routes, at least three litres of water per person per day plus extra in case of breakdown, and a personal locator beacon, EPIRB or satellite phone.
The Road Safety Commission advises a break every two hours and at least 7.5 hours of sleep before a long drive. Being awake for 17 to 19 hours impairs driving about as much as a 0.05 blood alcohol level, and at 110 km/h a five-second micro-sleep covers the length of a football oval. Around 12 people a year die in WA crashes where police suspect fatigue.
Many rural highways are unfenced. Main Roads says about 83% of cattle-related crashes happen at dawn, dusk or night, when animals are hard to see or hear. If you see one cow near the road, slow down for more.
Worked example: Perth, Kalbarri and Exmouth in 10 days
Tourism WA's Coral Coast Highway itinerary runs from Perth via the Pinnacles, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Ningaloo to Exmouth and back: 3,277 km in 8 to 11 days. Take 10 days with two rest days, so eight driving days.
| Input | Figure | Source or assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 3,277 km | Tourism WA |
| Average per driving day | 3,277 ÷ 8 = about 410 km | Calculation |
| Time at 90 km/h average, including slower towns | about 4.6 hours per day | Assumption for planning |
| Breaks every two hours | 2 to 3 stops a day | Road Safety Commission |
| Fuel at 8 L/100 km (assumed small SUV) | about 262 litres | Calculation; check your car's figure |
The planning rule that falls out: start after full daylight and finish each leg at least an hour before sunset, so the dusk animal window is spent parked. A 410 km day at that pace fits comfortably; squeezing the same route into five driving days pushes legs past 650 km and into the dusk window.
Park passes on the Coral Coast
The Pinnacles (Nambung), Kalbarri and Cape Range national parks all charge entry. DBCA's fee page sets a day pass at $17 per standard vehicle (up to 12 occupants), $10 concession. Holiday passes cost $30 for 5 days, $50 for 14 days and $70 for 4 weeks; the All Parks annual pass is $130. Park passes cover private vehicles with up to 12 seated occupants, including the driver, at all WA parks, but not attractions such as Monkey Mia.
| Park days on the 10-day trip | Day passes at $17 | Best pass |
|---|---|---|
| Pinnacles only | $17 | Day pass |
| Pinnacles and Kalbarri | $34 | 5-day holiday pass ($30) only if both fall within 5 days; otherwise day passes |
| Pinnacles, Kalbarri, 2 days at Cape Range | $68 | 14-day holiday pass ($50) |
At Kalbarri, the Loop Trail closes after 7 am from November to March because of heat, so on a summer trip arrive at dawn or choose a coastal walk instead.
Check conditions every morning
The Main Roads Travel Map shows closures in red, roads open with caution or restricted to certain vehicles, detours, and rest areas; closures cover flooding, crashes and bushfires. The Main Roads phone line, 138 138, handles general road enquiries and reports of animals on the road. The long-distance driving page also links to the DFES Emergency WA map for fire and flood warnings.
A current licence from home works while you visit, according to the Department of Transport; carry it at all times, plus a certified English translation if it is not in English. For getting from the airport to your rental pick-up, see Perth airport to the city centre, and for general Australian road rules, the Melbourne renting and road rules guide.