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24/7 SupportOne Way Car Hire Canberra to Sydney
Free comparison tool · 1000s of rental cars · Major brands · No booking fees
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 kilometres.
Canberra to Sydney One Way Car Hire Prices
The drive takes about 3 hours, so a short hire is often enough. A small car costs about $390 for 1 day and $590 for 2 days in total. An SUV costs about $500 for 1 day and $710 for 2 days.
For 4 days, a small car costs about $820, an SUV about $1,060 and a people mover about $1,270. A small car for 7 days costs about $970.
For a 4-day hire, 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 holidays cost only a little more than February and March.
| Hire length | Small car | SUV | People mover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | $340 to $590 | $530 to $710 | $680 to $760 |
| 4 days | $510 to $820 | $740 to $1,060 | $1,000 to $1,270 |
| 7 days | $650 to $970 | $850 to $1,320 | $1,120 to $1,630 |
| Pick-up | Small car, 4 days | SUV, 4 days |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-November | $690 | $850 |
| Late November | $700 | $890 |
| Early December | $590 | $840 |
| Christmas week | $820 | $1,100 |
| Mid-January, school holidays | $890 | $1,220 |
| Early February | $890 | $1,130 |
| Early March | $890 | $1,150 |
Canberra to Sydney One Way Fees
Distance Between Canberra & Sydney
Federal Highway and Hume (M23, M31)
Via Lake George, Goulburn, Campbelltown
290 km · about 3 h · half a day
The direct way, on dual carriageway or motorway 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 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 hire costs $170 to $250 less at their Braddon depot than at Canberra Airport. The depot is at 51–53 Mort Street, Braddon, near the city centre. Europcar costs $150 to $220 less at its depot at 5/26 Essington Street, Mitchell. Search "Canberra – All areas" as the pick-up to see them.
- Canberra Airport is about 8 km east of the city centre. The Majura Parkway takes you from the airport to the Federal Highway.
- You can drop off at Sydney Airport or in the city. 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 depot in Penrith or Blacktown, 30 to 50 km west of the city centre.
- You pay no tolls until Sydney. The M5 and M8 motorways there are toll roads. Hire cars usually carry a toll tag. The company bills the tolls after the hire, often with an admin fee.
Canberra to Sydney Car Hire FAQs
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 depots also offer 8-seater minivans.
Can I hire 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 hire 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 hire.
Which companies offer one way car hire from Canberra to Sydney?
Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Redspot and Routes.
Popular One-Way Routes
Other one-way trips that start in Canberra or end in Sydney:
- Sydney to Canberra
- Canberra to Melbourne
- Canberra to Thredbo
- Melbourne to Sydney
- Brisbane to Sydney
- Newcastle to Sydney
- Gold Coast to Sydney
- Byron Bay to Sydney
- Perth to Sydney
See all one-way car hire in Australia.
Prices updated October 2026
If your trip begins in Canberra, see car hire in Canberra or the desks at Canberra Airport (CBR). Dropping off in Sydney? Compare Sydney car hire or the desks at Sydney Airport (SYD).
