Car trailer hire in Ballarat
Ballarat and the Central Victorian goldfields have a strong classic-car, 4WD and motorsport community — and not a lot of flexible car-trailer hire. Peer-to-peer fills that gap: proper 16-foot car trailers with winch and straps from $99/day, picked up locally at Smythesdale (about 20 minutes south-west of the Ballarat CBD), with a second option up at Bendigo. No depot fees, no kilometre limits, no yard-hours cutoff.
Browse Smythesdale car trailers, or see the Maiden Gully / Bendigo option if you're further north.
How much does car trailer hire cost in Ballarat?
Real prices from live listings:
- 16' car trailer (2T, 4.2m): $99/day — with tie-down straps and a 12V electric winch; ideal for a sedan, hatch or light 4WD
- 16' beavertail car trailer (1.4T tare, 4.8m): $99/day — low beavertail load angle for sports cars, lowered vehicles and machinery; straps + 12V winch included
- Car trailer — Bendigo (Maiden Gully): ~$100/day — the Central Victoria alternative if you're north of Ballarat
These are real local rates — usually cheaper than a Ballarat commercial yard once you factor in depot fees and kilometre caps, and far more convenient than driving to Melbourne for a car trailer.
Why hire a car trailer locally
Most Ballarat-region car transport ends up going one of two ways: an expensive tow truck, or a long drive to a Melbourne depot to collect a trailer. A local peer-to-peer car trailer removes both problems — you collect it minutes away, keep it for the day (or the weekend), and return it to the same spot. The winch and straps come with it, so a non-running project car is a one-person job.
What you can move
- Classic & project cars — the beavertail's low angle suits lowered and non-running vehicles
- Track & motorsport days — Winton, Phillip Island and Sandown runs
- 4WDs & utes — recovery and transport across the goldfields
- Small machinery — ride-on mowers, compact equipment on the flat deck
How it compares
- TrailerConnect (Smythesdale): $99/day, winch + straps included, instant online booking, local pickup
- Ballarat commercial yards: comparable or higher day rates, yard-hours pickup, kilometre limits, deposit hold
- Tow truck / transport service: convenient but many times the cost for a short local move
- Melbourne depot: cheaper daily rate maybe, but a 90-minute-each-way drive plus fuel kills the saving
Towing rules in Victoria
- No special towing speed limit in Victoria — travel at the posted limit (the old 100km/h towing cap was removed) and drive to conditions when loaded
- A standard car licence covers up to 4.5T GCM — check your tow vehicle's rated towing capacity against the loaded trailer weight
- Trailer brakes are required over 750kg GTM; check your vehicle has a compatible brake controller for the 2T trailers
- Secured load + safety chains mandatory; a loaded car must be tied down at four points
How to book
Search Smythesdale (Ballarat) or Maiden Gully (Bendigo) at trailerconnect.com.au. Confirm and pay online in two minutes, arrange pickup with the owner via in-app messaging, and return to the same spot. Not sure your vehicle can tow it? The size guide and safe-towing guide cover weights and setup.