Terms & Conditions

Rental Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 18th August 2025

1. Introduction

1.1 This contract to hire a Vehicle from Lion Car Rental (Rental Contract) consists of:

1. the agreement (Rental Agreement) you have signed to hire the Vehicle from us; and
2. these rental Terms and Conditions (Terms and Conditions).

1.2 The Rental Contract is governed by the laws of Victoria and you agree that courts in that state have non-exclusive jurisdiction to determine any dispute that arises between you and us.

1.3 The Australian Consumer Law applies to the Rental Contract and it provides you with rights that are not excluded, restricted or modified by the Rental Contract and any provision in this contract is subject to the specific protections and guarantees in that and any corresponding Federal, State or Territory legislation.

1.4 We may use electronic signatures as a means of entry into the Rental Contract. When you insert an electronic signature you consent to the use of this means of acknowledgment and acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and your obligations under the Rental Contract.

2. Drivers & Licence Requirements

2.1 Only you or an Authorised Driver can drive the Vehicle. Allowing anyone who is not an Authorised Driver to drive constitutes a Major Breach of the Rental Contract that excludes you and any Authorised Driver from all entitlement to Damage Cover indemnity under clause 7 of these Terms and Conditions.

2.2 We set a minimum and maximum age limit for those renting our Vehicles. You and any Authorised Driver must be at least 21 and not over 75 years of age and have no less than 12 months driving experience, unless we have agreed to a variation of that restriction before the Start of the Rental and it is shown in the Rental Agreement.

2.3 You and any Authorised Driver must also have a valid licence to drive the Vehicle which is:

1. issued in an Australian state or territory or an international licence (with a valid International Driving Permit or an approved translation into English if the licence is not issued in English);
2. appropriate for the class of the Vehicle; and
3. not subject to any restriction or condition.

2.4 Learner drivers and provisional and probationary licence holders are not acceptable and must not drive the Vehicle.

2.5 The Vehicle must not be driven if your licence or the licence of any Authorised Driver has been cancelled within 2 years of the date of the Rental Agreement.

3. Prohibited Use

3.1 The Vehicle must not be driven by you or any Authorised Driver:

1. whilst intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol or with a blood alcohol content or level of drugs present in blood, urine or oral fluid that exceeds the limit set by law;
2. recklessly or dangerously; or
3. whilst the Vehicle is damaged or unsafe.

3.2 You and any Authorised Driver must not fail or refuse to undergo any breath, blood, urine or oral fluid test or drug impairment assessment.

3.3 You must not use the Vehicle:

1. for any illegal purpose;
2. to move dangerous, hazardous, inflammable goods or substances that pollute or contaminate, in quantities above that used for domestic purposes;
3. to propel or tow another vehicle or a trailer;
4. to carry illegal drugs or substances;
5. in connection with the motor trade for experiments, tests, trials or demonstration purposes; or
6. in an unsafe or un-roadworthy condition.

3.4 You and any Authorised Driver must not:

1. damage the Vehicle deliberately or recklessly or allow anyone else to do so;
2. modify the Vehicle in any way;
3. sell, rent, lease or dispose of the Vehicle; or
4. register or claim to be entitled to register any interest in the Vehicle under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009.

3.5 You and any Authorised Driver must not use the Vehicle to carry:

1. passengers for hire, fare or reward or for rideshare purposes;
2. more than the number of passengers for which the Vehicle is licensed; or
3. any load that exceeds the limits for which the Vehicle was designed, constructed, registered or licenced.

3.6 You and any Authorised Driver must not:

1. use the Vehicle to transport any pets or animals except assistance animals; or
2. smoke in the Vehicle and you must prevent any passenger from doing so. Additional cleaning and deodorising costs must be paid if there is a breach of this clause.

3.7 You and any Authorised Driver must not use a mobile phone or a GPS unit whilst the Vehicle is in motion or stationary but not parked unless the body of the phone or GPS unit is affixed to the Vehicle and the phone or GPS unit is not being held or touched at any time whilst being used.

4. Geographic & Road Use Restrictions

4.1 The Vehicle must never be driven on an Unsealed Road unless it is a 4 wheel drive Vehicle except in Western Australia where it may be driven on Unsealed Roads provided the road is maintained in a condition that will not cause Damage to the Vehicle.

4.2 The Vehicle must not be used in any area that is prohibited by us. Prohibited areas include:

1. Off Road;
2. roads that are prone to flooding or are flooded;
3. beaches, streams, rivers, creeks, dams and floodwaters;
4. any road where the police or an authority has issued a warning;
5. any road that is closed; and
6. any road where it would be unsafe to drive the Vehicle.

4.3 The Vehicle must never be driven or taken:

1. to the Gove Peninsula;
2. any island off the coast of Australia (including, but not limited to, Kangaroo Island, Bruny Island, Fraser Island, Magnetic Island, Groote Eylandt or the Tiwi Islands);
3. into or out of the Northern Territory, Western Australia or Tasmania;
4. In Queensland:
   1. on Highway No. 27: beyond Chillagoe in a westerly direction;
   2. on Highway No. 1: beyond Normanton in a southerly direction and no further north than Karumba;
   3. if the Vehicle is a passenger vehicle or truck, beyond Cooktown to the North or Lakeland to the West and no further north than Cape Tribulation on the Coast Road; or
   4. on the Coast Road from Helenvale to Cape Tribulation, or from Laura to Lakeland, unless the Vehicle is a 4 wheel drive Vehicle;
5. in the snow (at anytime and anywhere including Tasmania, Jindabyne in New South Wales, and Bright in Victoria) from the beginning of June until the end of September;

unless we have given our prior written permission prior to the Start of the Rental and it is noted on the Rental Agreement.

5. Payments, Deposits & Security Bond

5.1 A booking deposit of $100 is payable when you make your booking. This deposit is non-refundable in the case of cancellation and is otherwise credited to your Rental Charges if the rental proceeds.

5.2 At the Start of the Rental and before collecting the Vehicle you must also pay the anticipated Rental Charges (less the booking deposit) and the Security Bond shown in the Rental Agreement.

5.3 The Security Bond is fully refundable to you provided that:

1. all amounts due to us under the Rental Contract have been paid, including toll road charges and refuelling costs;
2. the Vehicle has been returned to the Rental Location at the date and time set in the Rental Agreement;
3. there is no Damage or Third Party Loss;
4. the exterior and interior of the Vehicle are clean;
5. the Vehicle has a full tank of fuel; and
6. there has not been a Major Breach of the Rental Contract,

We reserve the right to retain all or part of the Security Bond if there is a breach of any of these conditions.

5.4 At the Start of the Rental you must also inspect the Vehicle to make sure that any pre-existing damage is noted and shown in the Rental Agreement.

5.5 You and any Authorised Driver must pay all tolls, speeding and traffic fines and infringements as well as any fines or charges imposed for parking or using the Vehicle or release of the Vehicle if it has been seized by a regulatory authority.

5.6 You must comply with all mandatory seat belt and child restraint laws.

5.7 You and any Authorised Driver must make sure that the Vehicle is locked when not in use or unattended and the keys or remote control device must be kept in your possession at all times and are never left in the ignition when the Vehicle is unattended.

5.8 You and any Authorised Driver must take reasonable care of the Vehicle by:

1. preventing it from being damaged;
2. making sure that it is protected from the weather;
3. maintaining the engine and brake oils and coolant level and tyre pressures;
4. using the correct fuel type; and
5. making sure it is not overloaded.

5.9 You must inform us immediately if a warning light appears, you see low fluid levels, or the Vehicle develops any fault during the Rental Period. If you fail to notify us and continue to use the Vehicle you will be responsible for any Damage or Third Party Loss.

5.10 You must not let anyone else repair or work on the Vehicle or tow or salvage it without our prior written authority. Where we have given prior authority, you must produce original tax invoices and receipts; reimbursement (if authorised) is subject to there being no Major Breach.

5.11 You must not leave the Vehicle unattended following an Accident and before the arrival of a tow or salvage operator.

6. Tolls & e-Tag

6.1 An electronic tag (e-tag) is not fitted to the Vehicle and it is your responsibility to fit an e-tag or purchase a day pass for payment of tolls when using the Vehicle on toll roads.

6.2 If you fail to do so and we are required to nominate you as the responsible party we will charge you an administrative fee for each nomination.

7. Damage Cover & Excess

7.1 Standard Damage Cover is included in the Rental Charges. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, we will indemnify you and any Authorised Driver for the theft, any Damage or Third Party Loss but you must pay up to the Damage Excess shown on the Rental Agreement for each Accident or theft unless:

1. we agree you were not at fault; and
2. the other party was insured and their insurance company accepts liability.

7.2 An additional Damage Excess applies to you or any Authorised Driver who is 21 to 24 years of age.

7.3 If you have not authorised us to charge your card at or before the End of the Rental, the Damage Excess payable will be charged:

1. for single vehicle Accidents, after a repairer’s estimate or tax invoice is sent to you;
2. if the Vehicle has been stolen, after we have made reasonable enquiries and in our opinion it is unlikely the Vehicle will be recovered; and
3. for Accidents with Third Party Loss, after a reasonable estimate of the Third Party Loss has been made, a repairer’s estimate obtained, and all documents verifying the Third Party Loss and Damage have been sent to you.

7.4 All Accident and theft claims will incur a claims administration fee in addition to the Damage Excess.

8. Damage Cover Exclusions

8.1 There is no Damage Cover, and you and any Authorised Driver are liable for:

1. Damage or Third Party Loss arising from a Major Breach of the Rental Contract or the use of the Vehicle by any driver who is not an Authorised Driver or who is less than 21 or more than 75 years of age;
2. Overhead Damage;
3. Underbody Damage; and
4. Damage caused by immersion of the Vehicle in water.

8.2 There is also no Damage Cover for:

1. the full cost of replacing or repairing any accessories supplied by us including, but not limited to GPS units, lost keys, keyless start and remote control devices; or
2. any injury, loss or damage to goods or property carried in the Vehicle (you agree to fully indemnify us for any such loss or damage);
3. personal items that are left in or stolen from the Vehicle or for loss or damage to property belonging to or in the custody of you, your relatives/associates, or your employees.

9. Rental Period, Return & Fees

9.1 The Rental Agreement shows the Rental Period and Rental Charges.

9.2 You must return the Vehicle on the date and by the time shown. If you fail to return it, we may terminate the Rental Contract and recover or report the Vehicle as stolen after reasonable attempts to contact you.

9.3 If you return the Vehicle earlier than the date shown, the daily rate may be adjusted (higher rates apply to shorter rentals) and there is no entitlement to a refund.

9.4 If you wish to return the Vehicle to a different location, we will advise the ‘one-way fee’. If you do not inform us in advance, you must pay a ‘one-way fee’ of up to $2 per kilometre (depending on the Vehicle type and distance) determined and paid at the End of the Rental Period, and you will be liable for any Rental Charges calculated under clause 6.4.

9.5 You must return the Vehicle to the Rental Location during normal business hours.

9.6 If you return the Vehicle:

1. more than one hour after the due time, we will charge $25 per hour up to one full day’s rental and then a further full day’s rental at the standard rate for each 24-hour period or part thereof until the Vehicle is returned; or
2. outside normal business hours, you must pay for the daily Rental Charges and all Damage until the Rental Location next opens for business unless we have agreed to an after-hours drop off and it is shown on the Rental Agreement.

9.7 Refuelling: if the Vehicle is returned with less than a full tank, a refuelling charge of $55 (incl. GST) plus fuel cost applies.

9.8 Kilometre limits: Commercial Vehicles 100 km/day; all other Vehicles 250 km/day. Excess distance is charged at $0.20 per km (calculated over the Rental Period).

9.9 At the End of the Rental you must:

1. return the Vehicle in the same condition as at the Start (fair wear and tear excepted) and with a full tank of fuel; and
2. pay any balance of Rental Charges; the Damage Excess if applicable; any costs we incur (including extra cleaning); all Damage arising from a Major Breach; all Overhead Damage; all Underbody Damage; and any Damage caused by immersion in water.

Credit card/debit card authority: If any amount is due to us (including Damage Excess) or remains unpaid, you authorise us to debit your card within a reasonable time after the End of the Rental.

Interest on outstanding amounts: Amounts owing under clause 9.9(b) accrue interest at 10% per annum commencing 14 days after the End of the Rental.

Default in payment: If you default in payment, you authorise us to provide information of that default to a credit reporting body and to obtain an up-to-date consumer credit report on you. Personal information may be used and disclosed by the credit reporting body in accordance with the Privacy Act.

10. Cancellations

10.1 If you cancel your booking the $100 booking deposit is forfeited.

10.2 In addition, if your booking is cancelled within 24 hours prior to the Start of the Rental, or you fail to notify us of cancellation and fail to pick up the Vehicle, you will be charged the Rental Charges for the Rental Period as booked unless we are able to rent the Vehicle to another renter for an equivalent term and rate.

10.3 A cancellation is not effective until acknowledged and confirmed by us.

11. Breakdowns & Roadside Assistance

11.1 We will provide you with a Vehicle that is of acceptable quality and in good working condition taking into account the age of the Vehicle, but breakdowns do occur. Twenty-four hour roadside assistance is provided free of charge for breakdowns (but not for Accidents). If the Vehicle breaks down, contact us on the number on the keytag. We will recover and repair the Vehicle as soon as possible; if it cannot be repaired we will use best endeavours to provide a replacement where available.

11.2 We are not responsible for: Damage as a result of incorrect fuel; flat battery because lights/entertainment were left on; tyre changing; lost keys or remote; or keys/remote locked in the Vehicle. Extra charges apply if these services are provided at your request.

11.3 Subject to the Australian Consumer Law, we are not responsible for: missed flights; disrupted holiday plans; loss of enjoyment; or consequential or economic loss.

12. Accidents & Theft

12.1 If you or an Authorised Driver has an Accident or if the Vehicle is stolen you must report it to us within 24 hours and fully complete an Accident/Theft report form.

12.2 You must also report to Police if: any person is injured; the other party failed to stop/left the scene without exchanging details; or the other party appears under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

12.3 If you or an Authorised Driver has an Accident you/they must:

1. exchange names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses with the other driver;
2. take the registration numbers of all vehicles involved;
3. take as many photos as is reasonable showing: the position of the Vehicles before movement; Damage to the Vehicle; damage to any third-party vehicle or property; and the general area including any road or traffic signs;
4. obtain the names, addresses and phone numbers of all witnesses;
5. not make any admission of fault, promise to pay, or release the other party from liability;
6. forward all third-party correspondence or court documents to us within 7 days of receipt; and
7. co-operate with us in any legal proceedings, including attending our lawyer’s office or any Court hearing.

13. Termination & Major Breach

13.1 If you or any Authorised Driver commits a Major Breach in a way that causes Damage, theft of the Vehicle or Third Party Loss; or drives the Vehicle in a reckless manner so that a substantial breach of road safety legislation has occurred, then you and any Authorised Driver:

1. have no Damage Cover;
2. are liable for all Damage, theft of the Vehicle and Third Party Loss; and
3. are liable for and must pay any additional costs or expenses we incur as a direct consequence.

13.2 Acting reasonably, we may terminate the Rental Contract and take immediate possession of the Vehicle if a breach of any part of clause 13.1 has occurred.

14. Privacy

14.1 We are committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles. When we collect your personal information we will do so only for the purpose of providing rental services to you. If you choose not to provide this information we may not be able to provide those services.

14.2 We take reasonable steps to make sure your personal information is accurate, up to date and complete and that it is protected from misuse, loss or unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

14.3 We may fit a GPS Tracking Device to the Vehicle to enable us to track the Vehicle when it is out of our possession. When you sign the Rental Agreement you authorise us to use the GPS Tracking Device to track the Vehicle until it is returned to us.

15. Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA)

15.1 The following terms have their respective meanings in the PPSA: ‘financing statement’, ‘interested person’, ‘register’, ‘proceeds’, ‘security agreement’ and ‘security interest’.

15.2 You acknowledge that by renting the Vehicle, you may be granting a security interest in the Vehicle (and any proceeds) to us, and that this Rental Contract may constitute a security agreement; that any security interest arising attaches when you obtain possession of the Vehicle; and that we may perfect our security interest by lodging a financing statement on the PPS Register.

15.3 We do not need to give you any notice under the PPSA (including a notice of a verification statement) unless required by the PPSA and that requirement cannot be excluded.

15.4 You must do anything we reasonably require to enable us to register our security interest with the priority it requires, and to maintain the registration.

16. Definitions

Accident means an unintended and unforeseen incident, including: (a) a collision between the Vehicle and another vehicle or object, including animals and roadside infrastructure; (b) rollovers; or (c) a weather event, including hail Damage, that results in Damage or Third Party Loss.

Authorised Driver means any driver of the Vehicle who is approved by us and who is recorded on the Rental Agreement prior to the Start of the Rental.

Commercial Vehicle means a Vehicle that is a van, utility, truck, mini-bus or bus that is constructed and used for the carriage of goods or property or the transport of passengers.

Damage means: any loss or damage to the Vehicle including its parts, components and accessories, including the GPS unit, that is not fair wear and tear; towing and salvage costs; assessing fees; claims administration fee; and Loss of Use (and any Damage to windscreens, headlights, lights or tyres that makes the Vehicle unroadworthy is not fair wear and tear).

Damage Excess means the amount, including GST, up to which you must pay us in the event of an Accident or attempted theft that causes Damage or Third Party Loss or the Vehicle has been stolen and not recovered.

End of the Rental means the date and time shown in the Rental Agreement or the date and time the Vehicle is returned to us, whichever is the later.

GPS Tracking Device means a GPS or other device that is fitted to the Vehicle that has electronic tracking capabilities to determine its location and other data including speed and fuel levels.

Loss of Use means our loss calculated on a daily basis at the daily rate shown in the Rental Agreement because the Vehicle is being repaired or replaced if it is written off as a result of an Accident or it has been stolen.

Major Breach means a breach of any of clauses 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, or 5.12, that causes Damage, theft of the Vehicle or Third Party Loss or a breach of clause 12 that prevents us from properly investigating a claim arising from an Accident or theft or from prosecuting or defending any Accident or theft claim.

Off Road means any area that is neither a sealed nor an Unsealed Road and includes but is not limited to unformed roads, fire trails, tracks, river and tidal crossings, creek beds, beaches, streams, dams, rivers, flood waters, sand, deserts, rocks, fields and paddocks.

Overhead Damage means: (a) Damage at or above the level of the top of the front windscreen of the Vehicle; (b) Damage to any part of the Pantech or box section of a Commercial Vehicle; or (c) Third Party Loss, caused by contact with overhanging/obstructing objects, objects placed on the roof, or standing/sitting on the roof.

Rental Charges means the charges payable for renting the Vehicle together with GST and any other taxes or levies which are fully set out in the Rental Agreement.

Rental Location means the location from which the Vehicle is rented, as shown on the Rental Agreement.

Rental Period means the period commencing at the time shown in the Rental Agreement and concluding at the End of the Rental.

Security Bond means the amount we collect at the Start of the Rental as security for Rental Charges and other fees. If paying by credit card the amount is $250 and if by debit card, $500, refundable subject to clause 5.3.

Start of the Rental means the date and time that the rental commences as shown in the Rental Agreement.

Third Party Loss means loss or damage to third party property, including other motor vehicles and any claim for third party loss of income.

Underbody Damage means any damage to the Vehicle caused by or resulting from contact between the underside of the Vehicle and any part of the roadway or any object or obstruction (including kerbs, gutters, humps, barriers or wheel stops) and does not arise as a result of an impact with another vehicle.

Unsealed Road means a road, other than a road undergoing temporary roadworks, that has been formed and constructed but is not sealed with a hard material such as tar, bitumen or concrete.

Vehicle means the Vehicle described in the Rental Agreement and includes its parts, components and accessories, including the GPS unit.

We, Us, Our means Lion Rentals Pty Ltd trading as Lion Car Rental ABN 11 610 621 997.

You, Your means the person (individual, firm, company or government agency) that rents the Vehicle from us and whose name is shown in the Rental Agreement.