One-Way Car Hire From Perth Airport: Routes, Fees & Booking Guide

One-way car hire from Perth Airport is a convenient option for travellers planning a road trip that ends somewhere other than Perth. Some of the best road trips in Western Australia are one-way journeys, from Perth to Broome along the coast to Perth to Esperance through the wheat belt. Instead of doubling back on the same road, you can collect your vehicle at Perth Airport and drop it off at another approved location. The problem is, a standard car hire booking assumes you will return the vehicle to the same location you picked it up from — and that does not work when your trip ends 2,500 kilometres from where it started.

That is where one-way car hire from Perth comes in. Instead of doubling back on the same road, you collect your vehicle at one location and drop it off at another — whether that is a regional depot, an interstate branch, or a different pickup point within the Perth metro area.

This guide explains how one-way hire works for car hire at Perth Airport, which routes and drop-off locations are available, what fees to expect, and how to book it properly so there are no surprises on the day.

How One-Way Car Hire Works in Western Australia

The concept is simple: you hire a vehicle from point A and return it at point B. The logistics behind it are more involved. The hire company needs to either have a depot at the drop-off location or arrange to have the vehicle transported back to its home base. That repositioning cost is what drives one-way fees — and it is why not every provider offers the service on every route.

In WA, one-way hire typically works in one of three ways:

Inter-depot one-way: You pick up from one company depot and drop off at another depot operated by the same company. This is the most common arrangement for the major national brands, which have branches in regional towns like Broome, Kalgoorlie, and Karratha.

Airport-to-city one-way: You collect from the airport and return to a city location, or vice versa. For providers based near the airport — like Ace Rent A Car, which operates from Victoria Park — this is often available at no extra charge, since both locations are within the Perth metro area.

Interstate one-way: You pick up in Perth and drop off in another state entirely — Adelaide, Darwin, or Alice Springs. This is the most expensive option and is only offered by large national operators with depots in multiple states.

Popular One-Way Routes From Perth Airport

Western Australia’s sheer size means one-way hire is not a niche product — for many of the state’s iconic road trips, it is the only practical option. These are the most commonly booked one-way routes departing from Perth:

Perth to Broome

Distance: approximately 2,200 km via the coast (North West Coastal Highway). Duration: 5 to 10 days depending on stops. This is WA’s signature one-way road trip, running through Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Karratha, and Port Hedland before reaching Broome. The highway is fully sealed, so a standard sedan or SUV handles the route comfortably — though a 4WD is necessary if you want to detour into Karijini or the Dampier Peninsula.

One-way fees for Perth to Broome are among the highest in WA due to the repositioning distance. Expect to pay between $300 and $800 on top of the daily hire rate, depending on the provider and vehicle class. The fee is a one-off charge, not a daily surcharge.

Perth to Exmouth

Distance: approximately 1,250 km. Duration: 2 to 5 days. The Coral Coast route through Geraldton, Kalbarri, and Carnarvon is sealed and scenic. Exmouth is the gateway to Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park, making this one of WA’s most popular holiday drives. One-way fees are lower than the Broome route — typically $200 to $500 — because the repositioning distance is shorter.

Perth to Esperance

Distance: approximately 700 km via Albany, or 390 km via the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. Duration: 1 to 4 days depending on route and stops. Lucky Bay, Twilight Beach, and the Great Ocean Drive make Esperance a must-see destination. Because the distance is manageable, some providers offer reduced one-way fees or waive them entirely for certain vehicle classes.

Perth to Kalgoorlie

Distance: approximately 600 km via the Great Eastern Highway. Duration: 1 to 2 days. This is a popular route for fly-in fly-out workers, mining contractors, and travellers heading to the Goldfields. The fully sealed highway makes it accessible in any vehicle type. One-way fees are typically modest — $100 to $250 — given the relatively short distance.

Perth Metro One-Way (Airport to City or Suburbs)

Not all one-way hires involve long distances. Some travellers simply need to collect a car at Perth Airport and return it to a city depot, or pick up from a suburban location and drop at the airport before a departing flight. Car hire near Perth Airport providers like Ace Rent A Car can often accommodate metro one-way arrangements without a surcharge, since both the pickup and return points are within a short distance. This is particularly useful for business travellers who fly in, drive for a few days, and return the car to a different location closer to their final meeting or hotel.

One-Way Car Hire Fees: What You Will Actually Pay

One-way fees are the single biggest variable in a one-way booking. They vary by provider, route, vehicle type, and season — and they are almost never included in the headline daily rate you see on comparison websites.

What Drives the Fee

The fee exists because the hire company needs to get the vehicle back to its home depot. For a Perth-to-Broome trip, that means either paying a driver to bring it back (fuel, wages, accommodation, tolls) or shipping it on a transport truck. The further the drop-off point from the pickup, the higher the repositioning cost — and the higher the fee passed to you.

Vehicle type also matters. A compact sedan is cheaper to reposition than a 4WD or a 12-seat minibus. If you are comparing one-way fees across providers, make sure you are comparing the same vehicle category.

Typical Fee Ranges for WA Routes

Perth to Kalgoorlie: $100 – $250

Perth to Esperance: $150 – $400

Perth to Exmouth: $200 – $500

Perth to Broome: $300 – $800

Perth metro (airport to city): $0 – $50 (often waived)

These are indicative ranges based on standard sedans and SUVs. 4WD vehicles, campervans, and minibuses attract higher fees. Always confirm the exact one-way fee at the time of booking — it should be itemised separately from the daily rate, insurance, and any other charges. The rates and charges FAQ on our website explains how Ace Rent A Car structures its pricing.

Can You Negotiate the Fee?

Sometimes. Hire companies occasionally need vehicles repositioned to specific locations to rebalance their fleet — Broome depots run low at the start of the dry season, for example, when tourists drive north but few drive south. If your trip happens to align with a repositioning need, some providers will reduce or waive the one-way fee. It is always worth asking.

How to Book a One-Way Car Hire From Perth Airport

Booking a one-way hire requires a few extra steps compared to a standard return booking. Here is the process:

Step 1: Confirm the route is available. Not every provider services every drop-off location. If you are heading to a remote destination like Broome or Exmouth, check availability early — one-way stock is limited, especially in peak season (April to October for northern WA).

Step 2: Get the one-way fee in writing. Ask for the total cost including the daily rate, one-way fee, insurance, and any kilometre allowances or area-of-use surcharges. At Ace Rent A Car, travel beyond 500 km from Perth attracts a small additional fee — full details are on our FAQ page.

Step 3: Choose the right vehicle. Match the vehicle to the route, not just the daily rate. A sedan handles the sealed highway to Kalgoorlie perfectly, but a 4WD or SUV is the better choice for Exmouth or Broome trips where you will want to detour onto unsealed tracks. For trade jobs involving tools and materials, a ute or van may be the only option that works.

Step 4: Confirm pickup logistics. If you are collecting from Perth Airport, confirm which terminal you are arriving at and your expected landing time. Ace Rent A Car’s airport car hire page has terminal-by-terminal pickup instructions. If your flight lands outside standard business hours, arrange your after-hours collection in advance.

Step 5: Understand the return process at your drop-off location. Regional depots operate differently to airport locations. Some have staffed offices; others use a key-drop lockbox system. Ask your provider exactly where to park the vehicle, where to leave the keys, and whether a fuel receipt is required at return. Photograph the vehicle from all angles at drop-off — this protects you if any damage disputes arise after the fact.

One-Way Hire vs Return Hire: When Does It Make Sense?

One-way hire is not always the right call. Here is a practical framework for deciding:

Choose one-way if: Your trip is linear (point A to point B with no return leg). The return drive would add a full day or more of driving that does not contribute to the trip. You are flying out of a different airport (for example, driving Perth to Broome and flying Broome to Perth). You are relocating for work and do not need the vehicle at your origin.

Choose return hire if: The one-way fee exceeds the cost of fuel and accommodation for the return drive. Your trip is a loop (Perth – Margaret River – Albany – Perth, for example). You want maximum flexibility to change your itinerary mid-trip without worrying about a fixed drop-off point.

For trips under 800 km, the maths is often closer than you think. A $400 one-way fee saves you roughly 8 hours of driving and one night of accommodation on the return — whether that represents good value depends on how you weigh your time against the cost. For anything over 1,000 km one-way, the fee almost always pays for itself.

What to Check Before You Drive Away on a One-Way Hire

Before leaving Perth for a long-distance journey, check the latest road conditions and closures through Main Roads Western Australia’s Driving in WA resources

Kilometre allowance: Some one-way bookings include unlimited kilometres; others cap it. If you are driving Perth to Broome (2,200 km), a booking with a 200 km/day limit on a 7-day hire gives you only 1,400 km — well short of the distance. Confirm the allowance covers your planned route with a buffer for detours.

Area-of-use restrictions: Certain roads may be excluded from your hire agreement, even on a one-way booking. Unsealed roads, national park tracks, and specific highways (such as the Gibb River Road) are commonly restricted. If your one-way route includes any unsealed sections, clarify this before signing.

Fuel policy: One-way hires typically require a full tank at return, just like standard bookings. The challenge is that petrol stations can be sparse near regional drop-off points. Plan your last fuel stop carefully — the fuel cost calculator on our website helps estimate what you will need for the final leg.

Insurance and excess: Confirm your damage excess amount and whether it changes for one-way hires or remote-area driving. The car hire excess guide on our website explains how excess works across different vehicle types and trip profiles.

Roadside assistance: On long one-way drives through remote WA, breakdown coverage is not optional. Confirm whether your booking includes roadside assistance and what the response time is in regional areas. Our guide on what to do if you have trouble with your hire car covers the essentials for breakdowns and emergencies.