10 Mistakes First-Time Supercar Hirers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

We see the same handful of mistakes again and again. None of them are dramatic, and all of them are easy to avoid once you know about them. Here are the ten that matter.

1. Not checking eligibility before booking

A full licence is required — not learner or provisional — and the minimum age varies by car. Check before you book, especially if the hire is a gift. Our requirements guide has the full list.

2. Booking too late

Weekend dates in spring and summer typically go four to six weeks ahead. Leaving it to the week before usually means compromising on the car or the date.

3. Planning a city day

A supercar in CBD traffic spends most of its time idling between lights. The roads that make the day are out of town — the Black Spur, the Yarra Valley, the Peninsula.

4. Forgetting the nose lift

The single most common cause of damage. Lift the nose for every driveway, speed hump and steep car park ramp. Make it a habit within the first ten minutes.

5. Approaching driveways head-on

Even with the nose up, take steep entries slowly and at an angle so one wheel climbs first. It keeps the splitter off the concrete.

6. Overpacking

A two-seat supercar has room for very little — often a small soft bag. If you are going away overnight with real luggage, the Urus or G63 is the honest answer.

7. Using the wrong fuel

These cars need premium unleaded — 98. Fill up at a proper station before heading into the country, where premium can be harder to find.

8. Rushing the handover

The handover covers drive modes, the gearbox, the nose lift and the car's width. It takes about fifteen minutes. Ask every question you have; nobody minds.

9. Having no destination

An out-and-back drive with nowhere to arrive gets thin by the third hour. Book lunch somewhere worth driving to and the day takes shape.

10. Self-driving when drinks are involved

A vineyard lunch, a wedding, a birthday dinner — if there will be a drink, book chauffeured instead. Not negotiable, and the right call every time.

And one bonus

Not taking photos. Everyone means to. Few people do. Bring someone with a good phone and stop somewhere scenic in good light.

For a sense of the day itself, read what it's like to drive a supercar for the first time. Then see the range.