Every year, thousands of families touch down at Perth Airport with the same plan — collect the luggage, wrangle the kids, and get on the road to start the holiday. What separates a smooth arrival from a stressful one almost always comes down to preparation, particularly when it involves hiring a car at Perth Airport with young children in tow.
Western Australia is one of the most rewarding family destinations in the country. From the turquoise waters of Rottnest Island to the ancient forests of the South-West, it is a state built for road trips. But unlike a solo trip or a weekend away as a couple, travelling with children means the vehicle you choose, the child restraints you book, and the timing of your pickup can make or break the first few hours of your holiday.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about car hire at Perth Airport for families — from WA child seat laws and vehicle sizing to the practical details that most travel blogs skip entirely.
Why Car Hire at Perth Airport for Families Needs a Different Approach
Renting a car as a couple or a solo traveller is straightforward — pick a size, sign the paperwork, drive away. Families operate differently. There are child restraint requirements that vary by age, boot space calculations that depend on how many prams, bags and boosters you are carrying, and timing pressures that become real when a toddler is overtired after a four-hour flight from Melbourne or Sydney.
Perth Airport itself adds a layer of complexity. The airport operates across two precincts — T1 and T2 in the eastern precinct (international flights, Virgin, Jetstar, Rex) and T3 and T4 in the western precinct (Qantas domestic). These precincts sit roughly 15 minutes apart by road, and while a free shuttle connects them, navigating that with a stroller, two suitcases and a car seat is not a smooth start for anyone.
Getting the car hire details sorted before you board your flight eliminates the variables. Here is how to do it.
WA Child Car Seat Laws: What Every Visiting Family Must Know
Australia’s child restraint laws are among the strictest in the world, and they apply to hire cars exactly as they do to private vehicles. In Western Australia, every child aged 0 to 7 must travel in an age-appropriate, Australian Standard-approved restraint (AS/NZS 1754). Penalties for non-compliance include fines exceeding $500 and four demerit points.
Here is how the requirements break down by age group:
Birth to Six Months
Rearward-facing infant capsule with an inbuilt harness. The capsule must be secured in the rear seat of any vehicle with two or more rows. No exceptions.
Six Months to Four Years
Rearward-facing or forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness. Children under four cannot legally sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats.
Four to Seven Years
Forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness, or a booster seat used with a properly fitted lap-sash seatbelt. Children in this age group should not sit in the front unless every rear seat is already occupied by a younger child in a restraint.
Seven and Older
A seatbelt is mandatory. Paediatric safety guidelines recommend continuing to use a booster seat until the child is approximately 145 cm tall and the seatbelt sits correctly across the shoulder and lap without adjustment.
You can find the official guidelines on the WA Road Safety Commission website. If you are arriving on a domestic flight, you may bring your own restraint, provided it carries the AS/NZS 1754 compliance sticker. International visitors should be aware that car seats manufactured to 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 rental provider.
Choosing the Right Family Vehicle at Perth Airport
Vehicle choice is where most families either get it right or spend the entire trip regretting it. The temptation is to book the cheapest option available and assume it will work. For a family of three with one child seat, that might be fine. For anyone travelling with two or more children, grandparents, or enough luggage for a week-long road trip through the South-West, vehicle size matters.
Sedans and Hatchbacks
A standard sedan suits a small family — two adults and one child — with enough boot space for a couple of suitcases and a collapsible pram. Models like the Mazda 3 or Kia Cerato are fuel-efficient, easy to park in the CBD, and the most affordable option for city-based stays. Browse the full range on our car hire Perth page.
SUVs and 7-Seaters
This is the sweet spot for most family trips. An SUV provides the boot space for luggage and prams, a raised ride height that makes it easier to install child seats, and enough cabin room for two restraints plus an adult in the back row. Models like the Isuzu MU-X offer third-row seating that folds flat when not in use, giving you flexibility between passenger mode and cargo mode depending on the day.
If you are heading beyond Perth — down to Margaret River, across to the Valley of the Giants, or south to Albany — an SUV handles highway driving with greater stability and fuel efficiency than a people mover. Explore SUV hire Perth options.
Minibuses and People Movers
Travelling with more than six passengers? A people mover or minibus seats up to 12 and is the practical choice for multi-generational holidays, sports teams, or two families travelling together. Keep in mind that child seat installation requires seats with lap-sash seatbelt anchorage — confirm compatibility when booking.
How to Book Child Seats With Your Perth Airport Car Hire
Availability is the single biggest issue. Most car hire providers at Perth Airport stock a limited number of child restraints, and during school holidays (particularly the December to February summer break), they run out. Booking in advance is not a suggestion — it is the difference between driving away safely and scrambling to find a retailer on arrival.
At Ace Rent A Car, we offer three types of child restraints:
Infant capsule (birth to 6 months) — rearward-facing, designed for newborns and small babies.
Convertible child seat (6 months to 4 years) — can be used rearward-facing or forward-facing depending on the child’s age and size.
Booster seat (4 to 7 years) — used with the vehicle’s lap-sash seatbelt for older children.
Every seat is professionally fitted by our team before you leave the depot, so you can be confident it is correctly installed and ready for the drive. You can request child seats when you book online or by calling 08 9472 4222.
Practical tip: If your vehicle has ISOFix anchorage points (most modern SUVs do), mention it when booking. ISOFix installation is faster and significantly reduces the risk of incorrect fitting. The Australian Government’s child road safety page has further detail on approved restraint standards.
What to Sort Before You Fly: A Family Car Hire Checklist
Running through this checklist for car hire at Perth Airport for families before you board eliminates the most common causes of delay at the rental counter.
Confirm your passenger count and luggage volume. If in doubt, size up — the cost difference between a sedan and an SUV is marginal compared to the stress of trying to fit three suitcases, a pram, and a booster into a boot that was not designed for it.
Book every child seat you need. Specify infant capsule, convertible seat, or booster based on each child’s age. Do not leave this to the counter.
Know your terminal. Perth Airport’s two precincts mean your pickup location depends on which airline you fly. T1/T2 handles Virgin, Jetstar, Rex, and most international carriers. T3/T4 is Qantas and QantasLink. Our airport car hire Perth page has full pickup instructions for both.
Confirm after-hours arrangements. If your flight lands after 9 PM or before 6 AM, check your provider’s collection process. Some in-terminal desks close by 11 PM. Off-airport providers like Ace Rent A Car can arrange late-night pickups with advance notice.
Understand your excess and insurance options. Damage excess varies between providers and can be a nasty surprise if you are not prepared. Our car hire excess guide explains the differences in plain language.
Five Family-Friendly Day Trips That Start at Perth Airport
One of the biggest advantages of picking up a hire car at the airport is the freedom to explore beyond the CBD from day one. Western Australia’s best family experiences sit within a few hours of Perth, and having a vehicle means you set the schedule — not a tour bus.
Rottnest Island (Day Trip from Fremantle)
Drive to Fremantle (about 35 minutes from the airport), park near the ferry terminal, and take the 25-minute crossing to Rottnest. No cars are allowed on the island, so bikes are the way around. The quokkas, the clear-water snorkelling at The Basin, and the absence of traffic make this WA’s best single-day family outing. Book the ferry before you arrive — popular departure times sell out during school holidays.
Swan Valley Wine and Food Region
Just 25 minutes north-east of the airport, the Swan Valley combines family-friendly attractions — chocolate factories, wildlife parks, and playgrounds — with some of WA’s best food and wine. Margaret River Chocolate Company and Caversham Wildlife Park are standout stops for children under 10. It is also an easy half-day trip if you arrive on a morning flight and want to explore before checking in.
Kings Park and Elizabeth Quay
For a first afternoon in Perth, Kings Park’s Rio Tinto Naturescape is one of the best urban nature playgrounds in the country — children dig, build dams, and explore semi-wild bushland right in the heart of the city. Combine it with Elizabeth Quay’s splash park and carousel for younger kids, and you have a free, full afternoon sorted.
Mandurah and the Peel Region
About 75 minutes south of Perth, Mandurah offers dolphin-watching cruises, the famous Thomas Dambo Giants sculptures hidden along walking trails, and family-friendly beaches along the estuary. It is an ideal first or last day trip that does not require a long drive. Check out our scenic drives around Perth for route suggestions.
Yanchep National Park
Roughly an hour north of Perth, Yanchep is home to crystal caves, a koala boardwalk, and wetlands teeming with kangaroos. Guided cave tours are available and suitable for children aged five and up. Entry is covered by a standard national park pass, and the drive itself along Indian Ocean Drive is one of Perth’s most scenic coastal routes.
For more destination ideas, the Tourism Australia family guide to Perth is an excellent starting point for planning your itinerary.
Driving Tips for Families After Collecting Your Hire Car
Once you have the keys and the kids are buckled in, a few small habits make the drive easier.
Set your GPS before leaving the depot. Perth’s freeway system — particularly the Mitchell Freeway and Kwinana Freeway merge points — can catch unfamiliar drivers off-guard. Programming your destination before you move avoids fumbling with your phone in traffic.
Pack snacks and water in your carry-on. The stretch between the airport and most accommodation in Perth’s western suburbs takes 20 to 40 minutes. Hungry, overtired children do not travel well. Having supplies within reach saves an unplanned stop.
Re-check the harness after ten minutes. Child seat straps can shift during the initial drive, especially if the seat was fitted immediately before departure. Pull over safely and adjust the harness tension and buckle position.
Plan rest stops on longer drives. If you are heading south to Margaret River or beyond, schedule a break every 90 minutes. WA’s roadside rest areas are generally clean, well maintained, and clearly signposted.
For a broader overview of safe driving in Western Australia — including speed limits, school zones, and wildlife hazards — read our road safety tips for driving in Australia.
What Makes Ace Rent A Car Different for Families
We are a locally owned provider of car hire at Perth Airport for families, with two depots — Victoria Park and Redcliffe (near Perth Airport). Unlike the in-terminal desks that charge airport concession fees on top of the daily rate, we offer a complimentary shuttle from all terminals and keep our pricing transparent.
For families, the details matter. We pre-fit child seats before your arrival when requested, so there is no waiting at the depot while a seat is installed. Our fleet includes SUVs and 7-seaters with ISOFix anchorage in the second row, and we do not charge credit card surcharges or add hidden fees.
We also offer a price-match guarantee — if you find a lower rate for the same vehicle category from another Perth provider, we will match or beat it. For families watching their holiday budget, that matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Only restraints carrying the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1754 compliance mark are legal in WA. Car seats manufactured to US or European standards do not meet this requirement. You can hire a compliant seat directly from your car rental provider — book in advance to guarantee availability.
Most sedans accommodate two child seats across the rear bench. Fitting three in a row depends on the model and the width of the restraints. If you need three seats, a 7-seater SUV or people mover is the more practical choice.
For domestic travellers with a compliant seat, bringing your own eliminates the daily hire charge. For international visitors, hiring locally is almost always necessary. Factor in airline excess baggage fees when comparing costs.
Check your provider’s after-hours policy before flying. Some in-terminal desks close by 11 PM. Off-airport providers like Ace Rent A Car can arrange after-hours collection with advance notice — get in touch to discuss your arrival time.
Most modern 7-seater SUVs include ISOFix anchorage in the second row. ISOFix is not typically available in third-row seats. If ISOFix is important to you, mention it when booking so a compatible vehicle can be allocated.
Yes. Ace Rent A Car permits travel throughout Western Australia within our standard area of use. For trips beyond 500 km from Perth — such as Esperance, Exmouth, or Broome — a small additional fee applies. See our FAQ page for current details.
For most families, an SUV strikes the right balance between space, comfort, and fuel efficiency. If you are travelling with more than five people, a 7-seater or minibus is the better option. For city-only stays with one or two children, a sedan is perfectly adequate.
Absolutely. Take five minutes to adjust mirrors, find the indicator and wiper stalks, and locate the fuel cap before you leave. This is especially important if you normally drive a different type of vehicle. Our guide on familiarising yourself with a new rental car walks you through the process.