London is the United Kingdom’s capital city and it attracts around 30 million visitors every year!
Famous for its iconic landmarks, free museums, and vibrant culture, this incredible place has so much to offer.
Not only are there plenty of things to do in London itself, but you’ll find a variety of awesome destinations within the surrounding area. As such, the capital is the perfect starting point for an epic road trip.
If you’re not planning to hire a campervan in the UK, then your best bet is to hire a car. This allows you complete flexibility when planning your visit.
There are plenty of options when it comes to hiring a car in London, so it can often feel overwhelming when you’re trying to make a decision.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best car rentals in London, so you don’t have to spend hours researching. This way, you can simply enjoy your trip!
Let’s dive right in!
When it comes to hiring cars in London, we’d recommend checking out Rentalcars. They’re an online comparison site, that will compare rental prices from over 500 different suppliers.
Rentalcars are available in over 145 countries, with over 10,000 locations, so you can use them all across the world. They’ll bring together the best rental deals available, and you can save up to 70% off rental prices.
Not only that, but they pride themselves on having no hidden fees, so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for. This is a huge bonus, as some companies can be naughty when it comes to extra charges and taxes.
Some other great reasons to book with Rentalcars include:
Enterprise has 20 car hire branches in the city, which makes them one of the best car rentals in London.
This company offers the largest and most diverse vehicle fleets in the world, so you’ll have tons of options to choose from. Mileage is also unlimited on UK rentals, so you won’t incur any extra costs when it comes to fuel.
Not only that but a damage waiver and 24/7 Roadside Assistance are included in your hire.
With Enterprise, you can choose from both automatic and manual transmission vehicles. There are also electric vehicles available.
The cars seat between 4 to 7 people, and you’ve got the choice of small cars all the way up to large people carriers. Makes include a Toyota Aygo, Nissan Juke, Ford Kuga, and Mazda MX30, among others.
Europcar is one of the best options when it comes to car rental in London. In fact, it’s rated by many as the number one car rental company in Europe so you know you’re in good hands.
Offering 24/7 service in the majority of airports, 24/7 roadside assistance with every rental, and no hidden fees, there are so many reasons to book with Europcar.
Some of the rentals also include unlimited mileage which is really handy. Not only that but third-party liability insurance and VAT are included in the price too.
Europcar offers one of the best choices when it comes to vehicle availability in London. There are tons of makes to choose from including a Fiat 500, Volkswagen Golf, MG 4, and a Tesla Model 3.
These seat between 5 to 7 people.
Boasting over 5,500 car hire locations across 170 countries, Avis is renowned for its rentals across the world. If you’re looking to rent a car in London then this company is a great choice.
First of all, they offer some fantastic deals when it comes to long-term rentals. Not only that, but Avis has a super flexible cancellation policy, a great loyalty program, and a free pre-registration service, which will save you lots of time.
When it comes to budget car rental in London, this company is one of the best options!
Avis has an extensive range of vehicles to choose from and many of them include unlimited mileage. They’ll also include plenty of features such as air conditioning.
You’ll have the choice of automatic and manual transmission, and the vehicles seat between 4 to 8 people.
When it comes to London car hire, you may want to check out Drivalia. It’s one of the UK’s leading car hire companies and they offer a free shuttle service when it comes to airport car hire.
Drivalia also offers a Key ‘n Driver Service, where you’ll benefit from 100% contactless car hire. All you have to do is book online, complete your rental agreement, and just pick up your keys from a pick-up smart box.
Drivalia is also a great option if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly approach. Many of their vehicles are low-emission or zero-emission, so you know you’re doing good by the planet.
They also offer electric vehicles with free unlimited charging. Not only that but there are both automatic and manual transmission cars available.
Hertz is one of the most popular rental companies in the world and it’s not hard to see why. Boasting a flexible cancellation policy, a best-rate guarantee, and a wide variety of vehicles, they have a lot to offer.
Their loyalty program (Hertz Gold Plus Rewards) is free to join, and it can save you up to 10% off your rental. That’s a great deal considering the majority of their rentals are already very affordable.
Hertz has plenty of vehicles to offer, including electric cars. To make your search easier, the vehicles are categorized, so you can go straight to what’s most suitable for you.
Whether you’re after a cheap get-around, a 4x4, or a luxury sports car, there’s sure to be something to your liking.
Boasting all-inclusive rates, no hidden fees, and a modern fleet, there are so many reasons to choose Alamo when it comes to car hire in London.
Another reason to choose Alamo is that many of the cars are extremely affordable. Not only that but a damage Waiver and extended Protection (with zero excess) are included in the rental cost.
With 10 locations across London, there’s flexibility in where you can pick up your rental car too.
With Alamo, the vehicles are split up into categories including economy, compact, standard, and premium. This makes it easier to see what’s suited to you.
The vehicles seat between 4 to 9 people, so they’re suitable for couples, groups, and families. Popular options include a Ford Focus, Vauxhall Corsa, Nissan Juke, and Volvo XC40.
Green Motion is another fantastic option! They offer some of the cheapest car rentals in London and are a world-leading brand when it comes to low CO2 rentals.
In fact, Green Motion is the only 100% zero-emission car rental company, which understandably attracts many renters.
There are four different rental packages available with this company; Basic, Plus+, Premium, and Premium Plus+. Each one has something different to offer, so make sure you do your research first, to see which one is most suited to you.
There are a variety of vehicles on offer at Green Motion. Brands include the Toyota Yaris, Citroen C3, VW Golf, Hyundai Kona, and Skoda Octavia among others.
Both automatic and manual transmission is available, and there are vehicles to suit everyone from couples to large families.
Last but certainly not least, there’s Sixt, a renowned rental company that’s located in 105 countries.
You’ll have third-party insurance included with your rental, and there are also one-way services available. This company offers monthly and long-term rentals too, where you’ll save a lot of money.
Not only that, but Sixt has some luxurious vehicles, and these are petty affordable considering! There are plenty of other great rental deals too.
From a small VW Polo to a 9-seater Ford Tourneo minibus, there are tons of options to choose from. Whether you’re traveling as a couple or a family, there’s a vehicle for everyone.
Sixt also offers electric vehicles and a ‘lucky dip’ option, where you won’t know what car you’re picking up until that day.
Arnold Clark is the largest independent car dealer group in Europe and has over 60 years of experience when it comes to rentals.
Thanks to its location at Heathrow Airport, it’s a fantastic option if you’re flying into London. That way, you can pick up your rental straight away, and head out to explore.
Even better, each hire includes insurance and VAT, roadside assistance, and unlimited mileage for car rentals of four or more days.
Just keep in mind that all drivers under the age of 25 will need to pay a young driver’s surcharge fee.
Arnold Clark has a wide range of vehicles to choose from, so there’s bound to be something suited to you. They also offer both manual and automatic transmission cars.
The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the smallest vehicles available to hire, while there are large cars too, including a Vauxhall Insignia Estate or Skoda Octavia.
Keddy is run by Europcar and strives towards offering customers fair prices, simplified car hire, and expertise. As such, it’s a popular option for car hire in London.
Even better, Keddy is the perfect option if you’re looking to explore more of the best places in Europe. You’ll benefit from Europcar's international network, so you can easily choose where to drop off your vehicle once you’ve picked it up in London.
Many of the cars are extremely affordable too!
There are plenty of vehicles to choose from with Keddy. This includes smaller vehicles such as the Kia Picanto, and large cars like the Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer, which seats 7 people.
There are both automatic and manual transmission cars available, but some vehicles have a minimum hire age, so just keep that in mind.
The cost of car hire in London depends on several factors including the company you choose, when you visit, and the size of vehicle you go for.
Typically, expect to pay between £35-£55 per day for a small vehicle, and between £60-£80 for a large vehicle. However, you can find some great deals on comparison sites such as Rentalcars or Discover Cars.
The minimum age for renting a car in the United Kingdom is 21. However, many companies won’t hire to you unless you’re over the age of 25 due to insurance purposes.
Some companies will hire to young drivers under 25, but you’ll likely need to pay a surcharge fee. Just make sure you check the terms and conditions before you book a rental.
The are plenty of fantastic London car rentals out there, but how do you choose which one to go for? First of all, you’ll want to research the prices online to see what each company has to offer.
In my opinion, the best way to rent a car in London is by checking out Rentalcars. This will allow you to easily compare prices, vehicle availability, and see what’s included with each rental.
If you’re planning to just explore the city, then you won’t need a car. Public transport is efficient in London, and you’ll be able to avoid the busy traffic this way.
However, if you’re looking to head out of London to explore more of the United Kingdom, then you’ll certainly want to hire a car. There are plenty of train routes available, but tickets can be very expensive.
If you’re planning to hire a car in London then it’s likely you’ll be exploring outside of the city.
There are plenty of fantastic day trips that you can take from the capital, so it would be a real shame not to! Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, visit ancient wonders, or explore historic cities, there’s so much on offer.
Some of the most popular places to visit from London include Brighton, Stonehenge, Bath, and the Cotswolds. You’ve also got Hastings, Oxford, Cambridge, and Eastbourne.
Although trains run to many of these destinations, hiring a car allows you much more flexibility. You also won’t be reliant on public transport, which can be very pricey in the UK sometimes.
If you’re planning a trip to London here are some other guides you may find helpful:
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