Perth Airport Car Hire for Families: What to Book in Advance

Travelling to Perth with young children? You are not alone. Western Australia draws thousands of families each year — and for most of them, the trip begins at Perth Airport. Between wrangling prams, managing luggage and keeping toddlers entertained after a long flight, the last thing any parent needs is confusion at the car hire counter.

The good news is that hiring a family-friendly vehicle at Perth Airport does not have to be stressful. With a little planning — particularly around child restraints, vehicle size and advance bookings — you can be out of the terminal and on the road within minutes of landing.

This guide covers everything families need to know about car hire at Perth Airport, from legal child seat requirements in Western Australia to choosing between a 7-seater SUV and a people mover, and the extras worth booking before your flight.

Child Car Seat Laws in Western Australia: What Families Must Know

Australia’s child restraint laws are strict — and they apply equally to hire cars. Under WA law, every child aged 0 to 7 must be secured in an age-appropriate, Australian Standard-approved restraint (AS/NZS 1754) while travelling in a vehicle. The rules are straightforward, but the penalties for non-compliance are not: fines can exceed $500 and attract four demerit points.

Age-Based Restraint Requirements

Birth to 6 months: Rearward-facing infant capsule with an inbuilt harness. The capsule must be secured in the back seat of any vehicle with two or more rows.

6 months to 4 years: Rearward-facing or forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness. Children under four cannot sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.

4 to 7 years: Forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness, or an approved booster seat used with a lap-sash seatbelt. Children under seven should not sit in the front unless all rear seats are occupied by younger children in restraints.

7 and above: Must wear a seatbelt. A booster seat is recommended until the seatbelt sits correctly across the shoulder and lap — typically around 145 cm in height.

You can also find official restraint guidelines on the WA Road Safety Commission website.

Does My Own Car Seat Meet Australian Standards?

If you are arriving on a domestic flight, you can bring your own child restraint — provided it carries the AS/NZS 1754 mark. International visitors should be aware that car seats purchased overseas (including those meeting US FMVSS 213 or European ECE R44/R129 standards) are not legally approved for use in Western Australia. You will need to hire a compliant seat from your car rental provider or purchase one locally.

This is one of the most common mistakes families make when arriving at Perth Airport domestic arrivals or the international terminal. Double-check your seat’s compliance sticker before you fly.

How to Book a Child Seat With Your Car Hire at Perth Airport

Most car hire companies at Perth Airport offer child restraints as an optional extra — but availability is limited, especially during school holidays and peak travel periods (December to February). Booking in advance is the single most important step for families.

What Ace Rent A Car Offers

At Ace Rent A Car, we provide three types of child restraints to suit every age group:

Infant capsule (birth to 6 months) — rearward-facing, suitable for newborns and small babies.

Convertible child seat (6 months to 4 years) — can be used rearward-facing or forward-facing depending on your child’s age and size.

Booster seat (4 to 7 years) — used with the vehicle’s lap-sash seatbelt for older children.

Child seats can be requested when you make a booking online or by calling our team on 08 9472 4222. We professionally fit every seat before you leave our depot — so you can be confident it is correctly installed and safe for your child.

Tips for Booking Child Seats in Advance

Book at the same time as your vehicle. Restraint stock is finite. Leaving it until check-in day means you may miss out, particularly if you need two or three seats.

Confirm the seat type matches your child’s age and size. A common error is requesting a booster for a two-year-old — legally, children under four must use a harnessed seat.

Ask about ISOFix compatibility. Many modern vehicles (including those in Ace’s fleet) feature ISOFix anchorage points, which make installation faster and reduce the risk of incorrect fitting. The RoadWise WA resource on child car seats has further detail on ISOFix standards.

Choosing the Best Car Hire at Perth Airport for a Family Trip

Vehicle choice makes or breaks a family holiday. The right car has enough seats for everyone, enough boot space for luggage and prams, and enough comfort for long stretches between rest stops. Here is how the most popular family vehicle categories compare.

Sedans and Hatchbacks: Compact Families

A standard sedan (such as a Mazda 3 or Kia Cerato) suits a family of three to four with a single child seat. Boot space is adequate for a couple of suitcases and a collapsible pram. This is the most affordable option and works well for city-based stays. Browse our full range on the car hire Perth page.

SUVs and 7-Seaters: Larger Families and Road Trips

For families with two or more children — or anyone planning to venture beyond Perth — an SUV or 7-seater is the better choice. Models like the Isuzu MU-X and Subaru Crosstrek in our fleet offer three full-size rear seats (enough for two child seats plus an adult), a raised ride height for visibility, and significantly more cargo room.

A 7-seater is particularly useful when travelling with grandparents, another family, or older children who need their own seat. Third-row seating folds flat when not in use, giving you the flexibility to switch between passenger mode and cargo mode as the trip demands. Explore our SUV hire Perth options.

If your family trip involves longer distances — the South-West, Margaret River, or down to Albany — an SUV also handles highway driving with greater stability and fuel efficiency than a people mover.

Minibuses and People Movers: Group and Extended Family Travel

Travelling with more than six passengers? A minibus hire is the practical solution. Our Toyota Commuter buses seat up to 12 passengers, making them ideal for sports teams, school groups, or multi-generational family reunions. Keep in mind that child seat installation in minibuses requires seats with seatbelt anchorage — confirm this at the time of booking.

What to Book in Advance: A Family Car Hire Checklist for Perth Airport

Running through this checklist before your flight ensures there are no surprises at the counter:

Vehicle size: Confirm the number of passengers, child seats required, and luggage volume. If in doubt, size up — a slightly larger vehicle costs marginally more but removes the stress of fitting everything in.

Child restraints: Book every seat you need. Specify infant capsule, convertible seat, or booster based on each child’s age.

Pickup terminal: Perth Airport has two precincts roughly 15 minutes apart by road. T1 and T2 (eastern precinct) handle most international and some domestic flights. T3 and T4 (western precinct) are the Qantas domestic terminals. A free transfer bus runs between the precincts, but if you have young children and luggage, knowing your terminal in advance saves time. Our airport car hire Perth page has full pickup instructions.

Arrival time: If your flight lands outside standard business hours (early morning red-eyes or late evening internationals), confirm your provider’s after-hours collection process. Ace Rent A Car operates from Victoria Park, a short transfer from the airport — contact us to arrange your pickup.

Insurance and excess: Understand your damage excess and what optional cover is available. Our car hire excess guide explains the options in plain language.

Navigation and accessories: If you do not have a data-enabled phone for GPS, request a navigation unit when booking. Also consider a sunshade for rear windows — essential for keeping children comfortable in Perth’s summer heat.

Arriving at Perth Airport Domestic Arrivals With Kids: What to Expect

Most families arriving from interstate will land at either T1/T2 (Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Rex) or T3/T4 (Qantas, QantasLink). If you are picking up your hire car from an off-airport provider like Ace Rent A Car, the process works like this:

Step 1: Collect your luggage and child restraints (if you have brought your own) from the baggage carousel.

Step 2: Call Ace Rent A Car on the number provided in your booking confirmation. Our team will arrange your transfer to our Victoria Park depot.

Step 3: At our depot, we complete the paperwork, fit any child seats you have booked, walk you through the vehicle, and hand over the keys.

The entire process typically takes 20 to 30 minutes from landing — similar to waiting in the queue at an in-terminal counter, without the airport concession surcharges. Families with very young children can request that our team have the child seats pre-fitted before arrival, eliminating wait time entirely.

For tips on what to check before driving away in any hire car, see our guide on familiarising yourself with a new rental vehicle.

Family-Friendly Driving Tips After Picking Up Your Car Hire at Perth Airport

Once you are behind the wheel, a few practical tips will make the drive easier with children on board:

Pack snacks and water in your carry-on. Little ones get hungry between the terminal and your accommodation. Having supplies within reach means you do not need to stop on the way.

Pre-load your GPS destination before leaving the depot. Perth’s road network can be unfamiliar — particularly the freeways and Mitchell Freeway merge points. Setting your route before you move avoids fumbling with your phone in traffic.

Schedule rest stops on longer drives. If you are heading south to Mandurah, Bunbury, or Margaret River, plan a break every 90 minutes to two hours. Children travel better with regular stops, and WA’s roadside rest areas are generally clean and well maintained.

Check your child’s seat after the first 10 minutes. Straps can loosen during the initial drive. Pull over safely and re-check harness tension and buckle position.

For a broader overview of safe driving in WA — including speed limits, school zones, and wildlife hazards — read our road safety tips for driving in Australia.