Rules for overlanding in Australia

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 27 January 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — You may drive on an Italian licence for up to six months from arrival if it is accompanied by an official English translation or by an International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna model); carrying the international permit is advised because rental companies often ask for it. To rent a car you must be at least 21 and have held your licence for at least 12 months, and drivers under 25 may pay a supplement. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — A visitor must take out third-party liability cover in the state or territory where they landed, and no foreign insurance is accepted. If you are importing a vehicle, ask your insurer to arrange a policy with an Australian correspondent; failing that, get a certificate with your policy details, which makes buying local cover easier — expect difficulties if the vehicle is a make unknown in Australia. Note that Australian motor policies do not pay compensation to the families of people killed in road accidents.
Carnet de passages — A carnet de passages en douane is compulsory for a vehicle imported temporarily.
Left-hand traffic — Australia drives on the left and overtakes on the right. Lights must be on from dusk to dawn.
Helmets, belts, chains — Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and seatbelts for all passengers, with approved child seats matched to size: rear-facing up to 6 months, either direction from 6 months to 4 years, forward-facing only from 4 to 7 years or a seatbelt with an approved booster. Chains are compulsory on mountain roads when there is snow, and studded tyres are prohibited.
Alcohol — The limit varies by state, but in most it is 0% for newly qualified and professional drivers and 0.05% for everyone else. A driver can be pulled over for a breath test with no particular reason, and after an accident a test is almost always taken. Over 0.05% the driver is taken to the nearest police station and the vehicle is left parked where it is.
Fuel and distances — Even in the more densely populated part of Australia the distances between towns are long and fuel stations and service centres are rare, so always drive with a full tank and a reserve of water. The network is in good condition overall, but unpaved roads are frequent inland. Do not drive into dust clouds — wait for them to settle.
Road trains — Take maximum care on the roads of the Northern Territory, which carry road trains, articulated trucks 50 metres long, and check road conditions with the territory's road report service before setting off. Renting a car to visit the Northern Territory's main sights, Ayers Rock and Alice Springs, or areas far from settlements is advised against, because those roads are particularly dangerous and a high number of tourists have died in crashes; an organised trip or a meticulously prepared group is preferable.
Animals, water, stay put — Watch for wild animals along the road, especially in the evening and at night, and if you have an accident do not abandon the vehicle for any reason. Do not cross a flooded stretch of road unless you are sure of the water depth. The most frequent accidents involving tourists happen on off-road excursions, so be extremely careful if you drive on beaches or in forest.

What catches travellers out

Biosecurity — The rules on bringing in food, plants, animals and anything derived from them are very strict and come with fines. Since October 2023 a biosecurity breach can also get your visa cancelled.
Cash declaration — Carrying more than 10,000 Australian dollars must be declared, both on the way in and on the way out.
Drugs — Australian federal law severely punishes possession, use and dealing of drugs of any kind.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 27 January 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Australia before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 27 January 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.