London Car Hire

Choose from over 65 car rental locations across London with our Holiday Extras comparison tool and get FREE cancellation and amendments.

Pre-book your London Car Hire now and get up to 15% off DISCOUNT applied! make a search to see your savings.

So whether you're a local looking for a break from the city, or a holidaymaker wanting to see for yourself what makes London one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world, you'll not be short of choice for cheap London car rentals.

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Compare car hire in London vehicles

From budget friendly Economy cars to medium sized vehicles, SUVs and luxury car hire, we compare all the top rated rental car providers such as Europcar, Avis, Sixt and Hertz all in one place so that you can find your ideal vehicle for the ideal price. Browse all the vehicle types Holiday Extras has to offer below:

How London Car Hire Works

Whatever the nature of your journey we can help save you time and money. Our 3 step online booking engine can help you find the most affordable car hire available.

Once you have booked and your payment has been authorised you will receive an automatic email confirmation with your booking reference number. It is important you keep all this information handy as you will need it along with your other documents when you collect the car at your pick-up location.

You will need:

• Driving license
• Booking Confirmation & Policy Documents
• Credit Card with full deposit amount available
• Passport

We also have a useful checklist to make sure you have everything you need before you set off.

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Car rental London

With our UK car hire comparison you can visit London and search over 65 pick-up and drop-off points across the capital including airports and train stations, as well as smaller, provincial locations, so you can be sure to find a rental location close to you.

London airport car rentals | London train station car rentals

Most airports in London will have car rental desks located in the arrivals terminal, alternatively you may be met by your car hire representative or need to take a shuttle bus to their office. This information will be presented to you as you compare different car hire options for your pick-up location.

Other rental locations

If you are picking up from any other location in London make sure you double check the exact address as some car rental offices have more than one location near by to one another.

*Prices correct at time of writing. Subject to change according to availability. Free cancellation applies to most rentals up to 48 hours before pick up, however some suppliers may charge. Please check supplier terms and conditions carefully.

Driving on London's roads*

London's roads are some of the best in the world and well maintained. If you're heading out of town you will also find some of the best roads that will link you across the UK in a matter of hours. Don't forget, if you're staying in London, you may have to pay the Congestion Charge (see below).

• Right hand drive - drive on the left-hand side of the road, overtake on the right.
• Minimum age to hire - at least 18. Under 25's may have to pay a young driver surcharge.
• Seatbelt - Compulsory for all occupants to wear a seatbelt. The driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers under 18 are wearing a seatbelt.
• Travelling with children - children under 3 years old and less than 135cm must use the correct child seat.
• Petrol stations - Many are open 24/7 and accept all major credit cards.
• Toll Roads - Ythe M6 is the only toll road in the UK. There are some toll bridges throughout the UK such as the Severn crossing between England and Wales.
• London Congestion Zone - if you drive through certain parts of central London you will be liable for paying the Congestion Charge (see below for more details).

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Road safety laws

Speed limits

• Motorway - 70mph/112kph
• Dual carriageways - 70mph/112kph
• Single carriageways - 60mph/96kph
• Built up/urban areas - 30mph/48kph

Driving licence

Important Information - Changes to the UK Driving Licence

Mobile phone use

You can receive a fixed penalty notice if you are caught using a hand-held phone while driving. You could also receive a £100 fine and 3 points on your licence. You can use hands-free devices and satnavs while driving, but if the police think you are distracted and not in control of the vehicle, you can be stopped and penalised.

London Congestion Charge

The Congestion Charge is a £10 daily charge for driving a vehicle within the Congestion Charge zone from 07:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

There is no charge on public holidays, between Christmas and New Years day inclusive or between 18:00 and 07:00.

It will be your responsibility to pay the Congestion Charge, not your car hire company. Failure to do so, may result in any unpaid charges and penalties being recovered from you by them.

How to pay the Congestion Charge:

• Online: www.cclondon.com
• Phone: 0845 900 1234
• At selected retail outlets

Drinking and driving

If you are stopped by the Police, they can ask you to use a breathalyser if they believe you to have been drinking. The limit for all motorists is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

It is important to note that drinking alcohol and then driving may invalidate your car rental insurance and holiday insurance, irrespective of local drink driving laws. Check your policy for full details.

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London Car Hire FAQs

How much to rent a car in London per day?

The price of a hire car in London per day can vary depending on the location, type of vehicle, how long you are hiring the car for and how far in advance you book. Prices can start from around £13.38 per day based on a 7 day hire from Heathrow Airport. With Holiday Extras car hire comparison tool, we bring you the best deals by comparing rental cars from over 900 car hire companies around the world.

Is it cheaper to rent a car from an airport or a local location?

It is generally cheaper to rent a car from an off-airport location, as airport car rentals often include higher taxes and fees that rental companies must pay for operating on airport property. However, this isn't always the case so it's always best to compare London airport car hire to city car rentals for the best deals. Holiday Extras award-winning car hire compares top car hire brands from over 65 car rental locations across London and gives you free cancellation incase your plans change.

Do I need a credit card to hire a car in London?

The vast majority of London car hire providers will need you to have a credit card upon collection of the rental car. A credit card allows the rental company to place a temporary "hold" or "pre-authorisation" on funds, rather than directly debiting your bank account. Whereas using a debit card will usually result in the full security deposit amount being charged to your account. Using a credit card is generally the best option for both you and the provider.

Can I get London car hire with no deposit?

Typically, it's hard to find car hire with no security deposit, but not impossible. Some of our top providers offer no deposits for a higher rate, or if you take out no excess waiver insurance. In most cases though, you will need to leave a refundable deposit on your credit card at pick-up. It'll be credited back to your account when the car is returned. Search London car hire in the booking engine at the top of the page to find all London rental car options along with security deposit information.

*This information should be considered as a broad overview of things to remember when hiring a car. It is therefore very important that you read the rental terms and conditions and associated policies for your own specific policy as well as doing your own research into the motoring laws of the country in which you will be driving.

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