FAQs

The Kidney Kar Rally stops at a variety of towns, large and small, along the way. Accommodation depends on what is available in each town. The rally organisers will provide entrants with a list of accommodation for each town and it is up to each entrant to organise and pay for their own accommodation.

Some days require more distance to be travelled than others. We set off early in the morning and usually wrap up in the mid-afternoon giving people time to relax or carry out any vehicle repairs.

The Rally follows the traditions of the Australian reliability trials from the 1970s. The Rally using a scoring system that applies penalties if you are unable to complete each day’s full course within the easily achievable median averages or for driving too fast.

This is not a race or time trial , participants drive according to the conditions while at all times abiding by all sate road rules

All teams must have a minimum number of two people - a driver and a co-driver and yes extra passengers can be registered subject to your car's seating capability etc.

Should you refer a someone to the Rally who registers, you will receive a Bonus 500 which will add 500 points to your fundraising total. Please note, referral must register for the 2024 Kidney Kar Rally before 30 June 2024.

The rally organisers provide official sweep vehicles that follow the course to not only keep track of everyone’s whereabouts but also assist if you break down. No one is left behind each day and if you need to take a day or so off to get your car repaired you can catch up and re-join the Rally at any time.

Since 2019, the Kidney Kar Rally has worked with RallySafe to follow each Rally Kar's progress via GPS to look after your safety and track your whereabouts.

Cars must be registered, insured and roadworthy as prescribed by Australian Laws. All vehicles must have Third Party Property Insurance as a minimum and will be scrutineered to confirm eligibility.

Any fully registered car is able to enter and participate in the Kidney Kar Rally. Cars built before 31 December 2002 get preferential treatment from the scorers whilst later model cars and four-wheel drive cars will be penalised 10 points.

Compulsory items:

• Fire extinguisher (needs to meet with Australian Standards) easily accessible and firmly mounted. No more than two years old or at least checked and certified within that time.
• A minimum five litres of drinking water. 
• A Snatchem strap (not tow rope or chain).
• De-ditching shovel. 
• UHF Radio. Fitted and in working order. 
• Large amber rotating light (approx 75 watt) on the roof of the vehicle (must be unobstructed and easily visible from the rear). 
• High vis safety vest for each member.
• A space of at least 800mm x 450mm must be kept clear on each front door, or an area approved by the organisers, for the official door decals supplied by Kidney Health Australia. No decals of any other event are to be displayed on Kidney Kar Rally vehicles.
• First aid kit which must meet Australian standards. 
• Hema Australia Road Atlas (B4 size -includes 4WD section). 
• Minimum Third Party Property (Vehicle) insurance.

Highly recommended:

• Speedo, or trip metre, that reads to at least one-tenth of a kilometre.
  Rally computers e.g. Halda or Terratrip, that read to one-hundredth of a kilometre, are optional.
• GPS Apps may be used if required.
• Sufficient fuel should be carried to cover at least 400kms. A 20 litre fuel container (meeting with Australian Standards)

Compulsory items:

• Fire extinguisher (needs to meet with Australian Standards) easily accessible and firmly mounted. No more than two years old or at least checked and certified within that time. 
• A tripmeter (rally computer) that reads to one-hundredth of a kilometre e.g. Halda, Terratrip or similar. (GPS Apps may also be used if required).
• A Rally Safe wiring and antenna kit available to purchase or hire. Nb. This unit can replace Terratrip etc. 
• A minimum of five litres of drinking water. 
• A good quality Snatchem Strap (not tow rope or chain). 
• Mud flaps or stout material for each driving wheel (mud flaps must be at least 100mm off the ground when vehicle is fully loaded). 
• If your vehicle cannot cover 400kms between fuel stops under rally conditions, sufficient fuel must be carried in one or more 20 litre fuel containers (meeting with Australian Standards). 
• UHF Radio. Fitted and in working order.
• A large amber rotating light (approx 75 watt), on the roof of the vehicle, for use in dusty conditions. Must be unobstructed and easily visible from the rear (strobe lights will not be allowed under any circumstances).
• High vis safety vest for each crew member
• Seat belts must be fitted to the vehicle for each krew member and worn at all times. Full harness seat belts are highly recommended.
• A centrally mounted tow ball is COMPULSORY for the front of the vehicle in case of breakdowns. Must not protrude from the front of the vehicle, hence the tongue and ball may be unbolted and stored in the boot. D-shackles (rated equal to 3½ tonne) are now compulsory when using snatch straps. Securely mounted (safety rated) rear towing point is also 
• A blue triangle sticker locating the battery position (approximately 50mm). 
• Cargo Barrier (or secure load). 
• First aid kit which must meet Australian standards. 
• Two reflective triangles. 
• De-ditching shovel. Safely stored. 
• Laminated windscreen. 
• Sump guard.
• A reliable watch/clock. 
• A space of at least 800mm x 450mm must be kept clear on each front door, or an area approved by the organisers, for the official door decals supplied by Kidney Health Australia. No decals of any other event are to be displayed on Kidney Kar Rally vehicles.
• A Hema Australia Road Atlas (B4 size – includes 4WD section). 
• An Engineer’s Certificate for NSW registered vehicles, or equivalent for vehicles registered in other states, for any major modification made to the vehicle, including a roll cage. For more information, contact your State Motor Registry Office.
• Garbage bags for rubbish.

A 4-point roll cage may be fitted should you feel it will increase the safety aspect of your vehicle.

If you’re new to the rally or a novice driver but want to come along for the ride, comradery and cause, you can register your everyday car as a Kruise Kar. These cars stay on the better roads, bitumen where possible and generally drive in a convoy with other Kruise Kars. Then meet up with everyone for meals and overnight stops. Kruise Kars cannot travel through the rally course at any time.

These cars are optional and can be nominated by a rally entrant to travel as their support vehicle. They must be a four-wheel drive and be able to help not only safely perform recovery duties for their own team but also assist as an official vehicle if required.

Back-ups are allowed to travel through the rally course, but ONLY at the back of the field with the Sweep Vehicles, or use the Kruise course. *

* (Failure to follow this rule will cause the nominating Rally Kar to incur penalty points for each violation).