London car hire information
| Pick-up location | London |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, Mini, People carrier, Premium |
| Hire locations | 332 |
| Airport locations | 75 |
| Popular agencies | GREEN MOTION , Sixt, Europcar, Ace |
Cheap car rentals in London
| Economy | S$ 20/day |
| Compact | S$ 20/day |
| Intermediate | S$ 24/day |
| People carrier | S$ 43/day |
| Mini | S$ 19/day |
| Premium | S$ 72/day |
| Luxury | S$ 87/day |
| Intermediate SUV | S$ 24/day |
| Compact SUV | S$ 28/day |
Top tips for hiring a car in London
- The English capital is an extremely busy city, which means driving around central London can be incredibly stressful. But, while public transportation is the best option when discovering the city center, a hire car is the perfect option for those looking to leave London and explore the English countryside or coastal towns such as Brighton.
- London has five airports: London City (LCY), London Stansted (STN), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), and London Gatwick (LGW). At City Airport, car hire counters are located next to the main terminal building. At Heathrow Airport, car hire companies have desks in all the arrivals terminals. At Gatwick, you'll find car hire desks in both the North and South terminal. Stansted Airport's car hire companies operate from the Airport Car Rental Village, which is outside the terminal building (free shuttle buses that will drop you off there depart from the terminal forecourt every 10 minutes). The Car Hire Center at Luton Airport is accessed via the free APCOA shuttle bus, which you can catch at Bay 1A.
- The main thing you have to know about driving in the United Kingdom is that traffic runs on the left-hand side of the road. If you're brave enough to drive around the city center, beware that the streets are constantly bustling with tourists. Take into consideration that certain areas in the city are subject to the Congestion Charge, which means you must pay £11.50 (approximately $14.70) per day if you drive in said zones between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., which is applicable Monday to Friday.
- Driving during London's rush hour can easily add 40 minutes to an hour to your travel time, so avoid going into and out of central London between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and again in the evening, between 4 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. Roads leading to the city's many airports are often busy during these times as well, so take that into consideration if you're driving back to the airport.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in London for S$ 55 or less
- Book your rental car in London at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Compact rental cars in London are around 1% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in London
What type of car is recommended for driving in London?
A mini or compact car is the recommended option in London for travelers who don't require much space for passengers or luggage, as they are easiest to drive and park around the city.
What’s the speed limit in London?
The speed limit in the UK is 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) on urban roads with street lighting, 60 mph (97 kph) on single roadways, and 70 mph (115 kph) on dual roadways and freeways. However, in some parts of inner-city London, speed limits are set at 20 mph (32 kph).
Where are the best places to park in London?
Street parking can be both extremely hard to find and pricey in central London. However, parking in The City of London, the central district, is free after 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, after 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays. Most street parking spots will be metered, and depending on the areas, it can cost anywhere between £1 and £5 per hour (approximately $1.30-$6.40).
How much does it cost to rent a car in London?
On average a rental car in London costs S$ 74 per day.
What is the cheapest car hire company in London?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at GREEN MOTION (S$ 19/day), Ace (S$ 29/day) and Europcar (S$ 56/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at GREEN MOTION London Regatta Centre, Dockside Road - In Terminal E16 2QT (12 kilometres from the city centre).
How much is the price of fuel in London?
The average price of fuel in London is S$ 9.80 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between S$ 118 and S$ 157, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in London?
Compact (Class Compact SUV or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in London.
Which car rental companies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
Car hire companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Sixt, Ace, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, Europcar, Hertz, Easirent, Firefly and keddy by Europcar.
Which car rental companies are at Gatwick airport (LGW)?
Car hire companies onsite at Gatwick airport include Europcar, Hertz, Easirent, keddy by Europcar and Budget.
Which car rental companies are at Stansted airport (STN)?
Car hire companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Alamo, Hertz, Easirent, keddy by Europcar, Budget and National.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Sixt, Alamo, Ace, Advantage, Europcar, Hertz, Easirent, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Budget.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Gatwick airport (LGW)?
Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Sixt, Alamo, Ace, Advantage, Europcar, Hertz, Easirent, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and keddy by Europcar.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Stansted airport (STN)?
Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Sixt, Alamo, Europcar, Hertz, Easirent, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, keddy by Europcar, Budget and INTERRENT.
How can I find car hires near me in London?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in London?
A Compact car rental in London costs S$ 118 per day, on average.
How much does a Standard car rental cost in London?
A Standard car rental in London costs S$ 105 per day, on average.
How much does a Luxury car rental cost in London?
A Luxury car rental in London costs S$ 74 per day, on average.
What is the most popular rental car location in London?
In London, cars are most frequently rented at GREEN MOTION Holiday Inn M4J4, 239 Sipson Road (23 km from city centre ).
How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in London?
On average a car hire in London costs S$ 516 per week (S$ 74 per day).
How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in London?
On average a car hire in London costs S$ 2,213 per month (S$ 74 per day).
Which car rental companies in London have updated their vehicle cleaning and safety policies because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Some car rental companies in London which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Alamo, Europcar and Hertz
London car rental reviews and directory
Hertz
7.3
Good
179 reviewsCleanliness
8.2
Comfort
7.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.2
Value for money
6.9
15 locations in London
Locations in London
Filters
Reviews
6.0 Okay
Sep 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2022
6.0 Okay
Jan 2022
4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Cons:
We rented the car for 9hrs, put 230 miles on it and it cost us over $400 for a Vauxhall Corsa. VERY expensive.10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2020
Pros:
I still have my car rental. Not sure why I am receiving this email now.10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2020
Pros:
It was a bit slow but not a problem.Cons:
I don't remember what car I got but, it wasn't what we asked for. It was another "similar" car that they always give a renter.Easirent
4.6
Mediocre
191 reviewsCleanliness
5.8
Comfort
5.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
4.5
Value for money
4.9
17 locations in London
Locations in London
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Jan 2020
Pros:
At pickup the vehicle was given away and we had to pay for an upgrade. We also had to buy insurance, as we could not show proof that our credit card covered excess insurance laibility. Shuttle buses run every 45 minutes, so there is a long wait2.0 Poor
Nov 2019
Pros:
Nothing! Stay away and help put disreputable businesses out of business!Cons:
Bait and switch. Got a price that looked great, but when I got there not only did they have an inferior car to the one I booked, that they tried to pass off, but the price they charged was over 40% higher than when I booked online. (Looking at the other reviews, I'm not the only one in this position) I walked out after confirming that they wouldn't charge me anything, and they charged me over 90 dollars (in dispute with credit card). I then went to a big name brand like I should have in the first place.4.0 Mediocre
Sep 2019
Pros:
The Pickup was the worst pickup scenario I've ever seen. There's a kiosk to 'skip the line' that you can use, but you need to get in the line after anyway. We had to deposit about $1200. The pickup process took about 2 hours. The car we received wasn't the class we requested, nor clean.Cons:
Clearer indication of where to go when arriving. More staff. Working Kiosks. A real waiting area. Quicker service. Most importantly advance information on required deposits (I would never have rented from here had I known it was a $1200 USD deposit required).2.0 Poor
Aug 2019
Pros:
The young teenager working there was probably the only person that was courteous and understanding there.Cons:
Booked car for 11am. Didn't get car until 1:45pm. Car was wall banged up and cut on tire. They said it's all good. Protested to get another car as I didn't feel safe. Returned car at 11:45amnext day to be scold by clerk who said needed to be returned by 11 and others waited for 3h for it. Scammers!2.4 Poor
Aug 2019
Pros:
I can't think of anything.Cons:
A clean car, not waiting for an hour to, a car that had been serviced and didn't breakdown on the M4, better customer service, clearer information on using a travel credit card for accident coverage.3.6 Poor
Jul 2019
Cons:
This was the nightmare experience I have heard about but always thought was exaggerated. On the third day of our rental, the clutch went out on our car. They charged me $3000 and left me on the side of the road for 5 hours. No replacement rental.Sixt
7.6
Good
83 reviewsCleanliness
8.2
Comfort
8.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.4
Value for money
7.1
17 locations in London
Locations in London
54 Buckingham Gate
+44 20 7018 8246