Revealed: Where most Aussie hire car accidents happen 

Australian airports have been identified as hotspots for prangs, with 1 in 6 car hire incidents occurring close to popular airfields, new data from car rental experts VroomVroomVroom reveals.? 

According to five years’ worth of internal data from leading car hire comparison site,?VroomVroomVroom,?hyper-urban areas such as city centres and airports are among the most common places to scuff up a rental car, with airports in general having the highest rate of accidents among rental car drivers, with 43 accidents logged over the last five years.  

VroomVroomVroom chief executive Mike Boyd, says, “People often assume accidents happen on long stretches of highway or remote outback roads, but our data shows that busy tourist hubs and even airports are among the most common spots, meaning traffic jams and slow-moving traffic must be approached with great caution, and extra care must be taken in urban areas.”  

Brisbane Airport and Melbourne Airport recorded the highest number of prangs with 17 and 11 accidents, respectively, accounting for 28 of the 43 total airport accidents counted in the study. 

The most commonly reported incident being ‘bumper, trim and panel damage’. 

Boyd says the result reflects the busyness of both airports and surrounding cities, in general. 

“Both Brisbane and Melbourne airports are among the busiest in Australia, handling high volumes of both domestic and international passengers, many of whom hire cars,” he tells carsales. 

“Their surrounding roads can be complex, with multiple highway connections, toll roads, and dense traffic. The sheer number of vehicles, combined with tourists trying to orient themselves post-flight, likely contributes to the elevated incident rates. Melbourne also experiences more variable weather, which can further increase risk.” 

Other airports to make the list include Sydney Airport, which came in third, with six reported incidents, Adelaide Airport was fourth with five, and Perth and Canberra Airports both had two reported car incidents. 

As well as the specific airports and the cities themselves, the type of flight drivers have been on before getting behind the wheel can have a significant influence. 

“International travellers are more likely to be affected by jet lag, fatigue, and even unfamiliar road rules - driving on the left side, for example,” Boyd says. 

“Domestic travellers may still face stress from early flights or tight schedules; however, they are typically more familiar with local traffic conditions. Both groups are vulnerable to reduced focus upon arrival, especially if driving begins immediately after landing,” Boyd adds. 

Other car rental incident hotspots include metropolitan and regional cities and beach towns, with Melbourne City and Hobart both topping the list with 19 incidents each, while Cairns had 17 and Launceston and Port Douglas both with 15 reported incidents. 

To help reduce the likelihood of a prang while behind the wheel of a hire car, Boyd suggests the following tips: 

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