Effective from: 10/05/2025
Welcome to Cars4Mates.
These Terms & Conditions explain how things work when you use our website https://cars4mates.com.au/ or hire a vehicle from us. Please take a minute to read this page carefully — it’s all fair and square for both of us.
By booking or using our services, you’re agreeing to these terms.
1. Booking & Payment
When you book through our website, you’re making an offer to hire one of our vehicles under these terms. We’ll confirm your booking once we’ve sent you a confirmation email.
All prices are in Australian Dollars (AUD). We require either full payment or a deposit to secure your booking. The balance (if any) must be paid before or at vehicle pick-up.
Cancellations & No-Shows
- Cancelling less than 24 hours before your pick-up time, or not showing up at all, will be charged the full booking amount.
- If you return the car early, we’ll take it back, but we don’t refund for unused days.
- Refunds (if applicable) will follow our cancellation policy and take a few business days to process.
2. Who Can Drive
To keep everyone safe and insured, all drivers must:
- Be 21 to 75 years old.
- Hold a full, valid driver’s licence for at least 2 years (no learner’s or provisional licences).
- Provide their licence details before taking the car.
International visitors are welcome, but you’ll need to show your passport, a valid overseas licence and an International Driving Permit (if applicable).
If there are additional drivers, we need their details too. They must meet the same requirements.
3. How to Use the Car
We love seeing our cars on the road — but there are a few boundaries to respect:
✅ Allowed:
- Driving on sealed public roads
- Travel within approved areas (including Darwin & Palmerston regions)
🚫 Not Allowed:
- Off-road driving (beaches, flood zones, dirt tracks, etc.)
- Racing, towing, or carrying illegal/hazardous goods
- Smoking or carrying pets (unless we’ve agreed in writing)
- Letting anyone drive who’s not named in the rental
Follow all traffic and parking rules. Any fines, tolls or penalties during the rental are your responsibility.
Return the car with the same amount of fuel as when you picked it up. If it’s returned excessively dirty, a cleaning fee may apply.
4. Distance Limits
Most bookings include 200 km per day. If you go over that, there’s a small per km fee (listed in your booking). If you need unlimited km, just ask — we can usually arrange it.
5. Insurance, Excess & Security Bond
All Cars4Mates rentals come with basic insurance. If the car is damaged or stolen, you’ll usually only pay up to a fixed excess amount, provided you’ve followed the rules.
- The standard excess is $5,500.
- You can reduce this amount for an extra daily fee.
- Younger drivers (21–24) may have a higher excess.
- There’s also a small admin fee if we need to process an insurance claim.
A security bond (usually $250) is required before pick-up. This is refunded within 10 business days after you return the car in good condition.
Insurance doesn’t cover everything — for example:
- Damage caused by reckless driving or ignoring the rules
- Tyre blowouts, windscreen chips, or interior damage
- Wrong fuel, flat batteries, lost keys, or lockouts
- Personal belongings left in the car
6. Breakdowns & Emergencies
If the car breaks down, it’s not your fault; we will provide roadside assistance in the Darwin & Palmerston metro area free of charge.
If the issue was caused by misuse (e.g., wrong fuel, flat battery from leaving lights on, or getting bogged off-road), the call-out and repair costs will be your responsibility.
For any roadside issue, call us straight away — we’ll guide you through the next steps.
7. Pick-Up, Delivery & Return
We offer delivery and pick-up for a small fee. Whether it’s the airport, your home or a hotel, we can usually arrange it. You are responsible for the vehicle from the time it’s handed over until we inspect it on return.
Please return the car on time, at the location agreed. Late returns may incur extra charges, as we often have other bookings lined up.
When you bring the vehicle back, we’ll do a quick inspection together. Any new damage not previously noted will be your responsibility.
8. If We Need to Cancel
Very rarely we may have to cancel a booking — for example, due to unexpected maintenance or unavailability. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and provide a full refund. We won’t be responsible for any other costs (like flights or accommodation), so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.
9. Changes to These Terms
We occasionally update these terms to keep things clear and in line with the law. The version on our website at the time you book will apply to your rental. If major changes are made, we’ll highlight them.
10. Your Consumer Rights
Nothing in these terms takes away your rights under Australian consumer law. We aim to operate fairly, transparently and in accordance with all relevant regulations.
11. Privacy
We collect and store your personal information (like name, licence, and contact details) to process your booking, provide support and comply with legal obligations.
For full details see our Privacy Policy.
12. Disputes & Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Northern Territory, Australia. If there’s ever a dispute, we’ll do our best to resolve it with you directly. If needed, we’ll handle it through the NT courts.
