Pack your bags and get ready to roll because here’s a way to do the great Aussie road trip on even the most minuscule of budgets.

Rental cars, SUVs and campervans that need to be relocated from one part of this mighty big country to another can be hired for free.

Sometimes with a free tank of fuel thrown in for good measure.

If not free, we’re talking about hiring a vehicle for $1 or so a day. In some cases you can hire the vehicle for extra days at a heavily discounted rate.

If it’s a campervan or motor home, that means accommodation on wheels. Find yourself a free campsite and you won’t have to pay to stay – you can’t get cheaper than that.

How it works 

One of the biggest relocation sites is Transfercar, which lists vehicles from 120 rental companies in Australia and New Zealand (and even has some in the United States in case you are thinking of following up with a TransAm trip).

You register for free, browse the vehicles on offer, the pick-up and drop-off locations (remember, they’re one-way only), check the dates, the fee and how many days the car is available.

Then you put in a request. You need to be flexible but there’s a surprisingly big range available.

For example, with Transfercar at the moment, you could toss your surfboard in and cruise a campervan up the coast from Brisbane to Cairns in six days – ­for free.

Or you could load up a station wagon, turn up the sound system and have seven days to make the long haul across the Nullarbor, from Perth to Melbourne ­– for free.

Vehicle relocation sites have a wealth of options for your next family road trip. Photo: Getty

Another option is to drive a campervan across the Red Centre from Alice to Darwin in four days for $5.

DriveNow’s relocation deals are updated on the site daily. Register for their watchlist as they have less vehicles than some sites and they are in high demand.

Landcruisers (a very cool look for the Outback) and campervans can be hired from as little as $1 a day, with most around $5 a day.

Coseats also specialises in campervan relocations from $1 a day and on their website you can even find someone to share the ride (and the further reduce costs).

Europcar has one-way relocation rentals. You don’t get to request a specific car, though the site says they are all new. At the moment their website includes six cars ready to be driven from Darwin airport to Adelaide Airport, allowing nine days and 3600 km, for $1 a day.

Fueling up

Although some deals include fuel, if not it can be a big cost on a long trip so download an app such as MotorMouth, which lists servos around the country with cheaper petrol. 

Drivers beware

You will have to pay a refundable bond on credit card before hiring the vehicle, even if it is free. Don’t forget to check the insurance details.

In most cases you have to be 21 years or older, with a full driving licence accepted in Australia.