Car Rental in London
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Cheapest Car Rental Rates
London Heathrow Airport
Mini
Fiat 500
or similar
$15.97
per day
London Heathrow Airport
Economy
Kia Rio
or similar
$16.13
per day
London Stansted Airport
Compact
Kia Ceed
or similar
$18.32
per day
London Heathrow Airport
Intermediate
Kia Optima
or similar
$21.70
per day
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
London Heathrow Airport
Standard SUV
Vauxhall Insignia
or similar
$27.37
per day
London Heathrow Airport
Compact Elite
Mercedes Benz A Class
or similar
$32.25
per day
London South Bank
Premium
Mercedes C Class
or similar
$39.44
per day
Downtown
Full-size SUV
Volvo XC60
or similar
$45.30
per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 4:05 AM on 12/3/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader, we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (4 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 175k+ total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.
Travel Information
Languages
English
Currency
GBP
Drive on
Left-hand side
Country code
+44
Average car rental price
$27 per day
Average car rental length
7 days
Speed limit within town
48 km/h or 30 mph
Speed limit out of town
96 - 112 km/h or 60 - 70 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Average gas price
$1.90 per liter or $7.19 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$1.70 per liter or $6.42 per gallon
Highest gas price
$2.15 per liter or $8.14 per gallon
Why rent a car in London?
One of the great cities of Europe and the world, London is a place that everyone should experience at least once. Both historic, modern, diverse and yet maintaining a unique local character, its neighborhoods, buildings, and attractions can be explored for days. Getting a rental car is your best bet to see as much as possible.
One-Way Car Rentals in London
The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in London and drop off in another city include:
- From London to Manchester - 307 offers from $29.01 per day
- From London to Edinburgh - 183 offers from $39.78 per day
- From London to Luton - 90 offers from $38.53 per day
- From London to Bristol - 165 offers from $39.78 per day
- From London to Glasgow - 254 offers from $30.76 per day
Top ways to enter London
- London Heathrow Airport. The largest in Europe and among the top 10 in the world, Heathrow Airport feels like a city in its own right. The airport is located just west of London.
- London Gatwick Airport. Offering flights to and from destinations all over Europe, as well as North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, Gatwick Airport serves nearly 50 million passengers every year. The airport is in West Sussex county about an hour’s drive south of London.
- London City Airport. The only international airport serving London that’s located inside the city’s boundaries, London City Airport is a base for British Airways and is also served by a handful of other airlines.
- London Stansted Airport. A huge base for Ryanair and also served by a number of other low-cost carriers, flying to Stansted is often the cheapest way to reach London. The airport itself is about an hour’s drive northeast of the city proper.
- Luton Airport. Often also branded as London Luton Airport thanks to its proximity to the capital, but located in the neighboring city of Luton, this airport is served by nine different airlines.
- Southend Airport. Yet another small airport located outside the British capital but serving its wider area, London–Southend is a small, but notable hub for the low-cost carrier easyJet and provides connections with destinations in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, some year-round and some on a seasonal basis. The drive from Southend to the center of London takes anywhere between 50 and 90 minutes depending on the time of day.
- By rail: If you’re arriving in London by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at many of London’s train stations. London Bridge, Croydon South, Hammersmith, Victoria, and Paddington are just some of them.
City facts
London has a temperate oceanic climate and is warmer than most of the other large cities of the United Kingdom. The average temperature is 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) in July and 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) in January. Despite its reputation for being very rainy, London actually has less precipitation than Lisbon, Rome, New York City, and Sydney.
London is made up of 32 boroughs or local authority districts. 12 boroughs are within Inner London while 20 are in Outer London. The most populous London borough is Croydon in South London.
Top sights and activities
- Buckingham Palace. The home of the Royal family and, for many, the number one landmark of London, Buckingham Palace is only open for tours during the summer months, but even if you visit during another time of year, it’s magnificence can be observed from outside.
- British Museum. London has countless world-class museums, such as the National History Museum and Tate Modern, but the British Museum is probably the crown jewel of them all, both for its immensity and for the awesome quality of its exhibitions. From the history of the inhabitants of the British Isles to Ancient Greeks and Romans to equally impressive civilizations outside Europe, it really covers human history in its fullness.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral. Arguably the most famous Anglican church in the world, St Paul’s Cathedral is located on the site of a much older church dating back to AD 604. Rebuilt after the great fire of London in 1666, nowadays the cathedral provides an especially impressive sight when illuminated after dark.
- Natural History Museum. With a truly vast and impressive collection, the Natural History Museum stands out from its counterparts around the world. Whether you marvel at the skeletons of Diplodocus, take in the size of the blue whale, or explore specimens found by none other than Charles Darwin, this is one place that can all but guarantee to inspire awe. Better yet, there is no entrance fee. The Natural History Museum is located near two other museums, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum of decorative arts and design.
- Notting Hill. Located in West London's wealthy Kensington & Chelsea neighborhood, this is one of the most iconic areas of London. It became popular when the famous film Notting Hill was released in 1999, featuring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The area itself has a wonderful blend of Georgian architecture and colorful gardens along with chic cafes and clothing stores that attract visitors from all over the world. Notting Hill is a wonderful place to spend a day just strolling around, taking in all its sights, or to enjoy some delicious cuisine in one of its many fantastic restaurants.
- Science Museum. Another world-class institution of its kind, the Science Museum has been open since 1857, and is made up of the Energy Hall, Exploring Space, the Secret Life of the Home, Information Age, Wonderlab, Future Planet, and many other fascinating, interactive galleries. The museum is centrally located on the Exhibition Road in South Kensington near several other cultural institutions.
Traffic and parking
- The United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side of the road.
- On-street parking is usually heavily restricted. Never park on a white, double yellow or double red line (stopping on motorways and next to red lines is illegal).
- You are not allowed to use your mobile phone while driving, unless you use a hands-free system.
- Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 112 km/h (70 mph) on motorways, 112 km/h (70 mph) on dual carriageways, 96 km/h (60 mph) on single carriageways and 48km/h (30 mph) in residential areas and areas with street lightning.
- In England and Wales, the legal alcohol limit is 0.08% for both experienced and novice drivers. Do keep in mind, however, that in Scotland the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, a suspended license, or even imprisonment.
- The insurance and documentation of the car needs to be in it whenever you’re driving.
- If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
- The emergency numbers are 999 and 112.
Toll roads
The main toll road in the United Kingdom is the M6 toll. Find out more on the M6 Toll official website. You also have to pay a toll for using a number of bridges and tunnels, as well as for entering the central areas of London. For example, the Dartford Crossing Bridge in East London applies the Dart charge between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Find out more about the Dart charge on the Government website.
Find out more about toll roads in the United Kingdom on the European toll road website.
Ideas for day trips
- Windsor Castle. Claiming to be the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, this royal residence is nearly as important as the Buckingham Palace. Besides its important inhabitants, it also houses beautiful artworks by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Canaletto. Unlike Buckingham, Windsor is open for visitors throughout the year. The castle, located in the town of the same name, is about 40 km (23 mi) west of London.
- Stonehenge. The prehistoric ring of stones has been standing since the Bronze Age. Its meaning still hasn’t been fully deciphered, which only adds to its mystery. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is in Wiltshire Country and can be reached from London in about two and a half hours.
- Cambridge. Home to one of the world’s most famous universities, Cambridge is also a surprisingly green and cozy city. Befitting a great academic center, it also houses a large number of amazing museums, from the Folk Museum and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to the University Museum of Zoology and the Polar Museum. With only 60 miles (90 km) to cover, it makes an ideal day trip from London.
- South Downs National Park. Home to 14 million people, Greater London is one of the largest and most densely populated urban areas in Europe — but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide access to nature. Located just a 90-minute drive southwest of the capital, South Downs is a supremely calm and scenic area of chalk hills, valleys, and woodlands. Other nature areas not far from London include the Surrey Hills, Kent Downs, and Chiltern Hills.
- Oxford. Just like its grand old rival Cambridge, Oxford is both a classical university city (the oldest in the United Kingdom) and a popular tourist destination. Known for the Gothic spires of its many houses of prayer and learning, Oxford is also home to such cultural institutions as the Ashmolean Gallery, Christ Church Picture Gallery, and Oxford University Museum of Natural History, among many, many others. Situated about 95 km (59 miles) northwest of London, reaching Oxford by car takes anywhere between 90 minutes and two hours.
Most popular cars
The most popular rental car in London is the Peugeot 108, although many travelers also pick the Ford Fiesta and the Volvo V40. The most popular rental car types are mini, intermediate, and economy.
Further destinations
- Manchester. Embracing its industrial past rather than trying to avoid it, Manchester is a unique and vibrant cultural center. Come here for its beautiful historic buildings, unique neighborhoods, great museums and art galleries, and two world class football clubs. Manchester is less than four hours drive north of London.
- Edinburgh. The capital of Scotland might not be quite as immense as its English counterpart, but what it lacks in size, Edinburgh more than makes up for in charm. A city with a truly unique historic feel, Edinburgh is about seven hours drive north of London. That might seem like a long drive, but you’d be crossing all of England where there are countless opportunities for stopping along the way. And besides, the final destination will be worth it.
- Birmingham. Primarily known for its industrial and working-class roots that have affected how it looks and how the rest of Britain perceives it, Birmingham is not often thought of as a hub of tourism but can be a wonderfully under-the-radar destination if you give it a chance. Sometimes called the City of a Thousand Trades, it boasts many heritage buildings, art and science museums, and even some of its factories, such as the Jaguar Castle Bromwich Assembly and Coffin Works in the Jewelry Quarter, have been turned into tourist attractions. The drive from London to Birmingham takes about three hours.
- Devon. A large county in the southwest of England, Devon is home to the Jurassic Coast, an area so rich in dinosaur bones and other fossils that a whole geologic period of the Paleozoic was named after it. There are plenty of other attractions too, not least of which are historic sites related to the human habitation of the British Isles, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, and the sophisticated cathedral city of Exeter, which is about a 3-hour-and-30-minute drive from London.
Car rental prices in London
- Station wagons - from $19 per day
- Large cars - from $20 per day
- Medium cars - from $17 per day
- Vans - from $51 per day
- Premium cars - from $37 per day
- Small cars - from $16 per day
- SUVs - from $20 per day
Money-saving and other tips
There are many things you can do to get a good car rental deal in London. Start with:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting London is the cheapest in February when renting a car is about 39% cheaper than the yearly average and about 60% cheaper than renting in May.
Fact checked by
Suze and Paul
This article was reviewed and updated by Suze and Paul, the founders of LuxuryColumnist, one of the most widely read luxury travel blogs in the world. They are avid travelers, writers, photographers, drone operators and video editors. You can find them online at LuxuryColumnist.com and ChocolateCherryKisses.com.
Top 20 cities near London
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Top 20 locations near London
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Map of Car Rental Locations
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in London?
Car rental prices in London vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in London
The cheapest month to rent a car in London is January (when prices average $25.31 per day). This is 43% cheaper than the yearly average and 58% cheaper than renting in July (when prices average $59.62).
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
What’s the usual rental length in London?
How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in June, the average renter keeps their car for 8 days, and in January, they keep their car for 6 days.
Average number of rental days in London
What's the most popular month to rent a car in London?
Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in London is December, and the least popular is April.
Monthly searches in London by pick-up date relative to the average
Car rental information
| Car rental locations | 40 |
| Airport locations | 3 |
| Popular suppliers | Drivalia, Keddy, GreenMotion, Alamo, Enterprise |
| Popular car categories | Small cars, SUVs, Medium cars, Vans |
| Lowest price | $16 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | Surprice |
Most popular car models of rental suppliers
| Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drivalia | Volkswagen Polo | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Drivalia | Renault Captur | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Drivalia | Fiat 500 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Keddy | Vauxhall Astra | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Surprice | Volkswagen Golf | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Keddy | Citroen C3 Aircross | 5 | 1 | SUVs |
| Alamo | Nissan Qashqai | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Alamo | Nissan Juke | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Arnold Clark | Renault Kadjar | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Surprice | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
Our customers' reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.
RB
Chile
Opel Crossland
9/22/24 
KS
United States of America (USA)
Vauxhall Corsa
9/17/24
Really great car with all the safety options and great mileage and wonderful power. England has great motorways and much more courteous drivers than most European countries. Loved touring the country.
MV
India
Fiat 500
8/14/24
Scotland road trip -Amazing
RL
United States of America (USA)
MG 4
8/10/24
Hiking. Nature. Museums
IK
Barbados
Peugeot 3008
8/9/24
Seeing family and friends from Brighton to Chelmsford to Manchester
PI
Hong Kong
Peugeot 3008
7/7/24
Nice view , Good weather ! Amazing 
BH
New Zealand
Fiat 500
6/17/24
Catching up with friends and relatives spread throughout southern England.
LS
Canada
Nissan Qashqai
5/3/24
Wonderful nature, vibrant cities!
FL
Malaysia
Vauxhall Corsa
4/20/24
Car didn't furnish with floor mats 
LW
Australia
Kia Ceed
3/18/24
Enjoyed our trip driving around England, despite difficulty finding our accommodation in Norwich & Lincoln, due to their street layout. Driving to Princetown in pouring rain & thick fog very stressful & ground flooding present on many smaller roads, due to previous & current rainfall.
JF
United Kingdom
Renault Kangoo
1/3/24
Car was annoying it kept turning off at traffic lights
DK
United Kingdom
Nissan Leaf
12/28/23 
AB
Malaysia
Peugeot 208
12/19/23
Scenery in UK
MK
United Kingdom
Vauxhall Crossland
12/5/23
I travelled to the north . Manchester and Sheffield to visit my close friends and back again to London. The car helped me a lot that in this short time
JW
United Kingdom
Peugeot 208
11/19/23
Warner bros studio, central London attractions.
ML
Canada
Fiat 500
10/29/23
Dunnotar castle and Crovie
LC
Malaysia
Volkswagen Golf
10/23/23
Parking not friendly to foreigner ...
App payment.
And expensive.
MR
Australia
Nissan Qashqai
10/22/23
Bath with Roman baths was spectacular. Bath itself as a city was beautiful with building architecture mixed with old English village charm.
CB
United States of America (USA)
Fiat 500
10/20/23 
JM
Australia
Volkswagen Golf
10/19/23
London to Hastings to Cardiff to Liverpool to Dublin so far. Too many amazing scenery sights and history to describe. Heaps of suggestions on YouTube and google
JM
United States of America (USA)
Ford Focus
10/6/23
not much to report because of the short rental duration -- 2 day -- Saturday use and Monday early morning return
SA
Australia
Peugeot 208
9/30/23
Roads in Cornwall too narrow therefore risky. Also $$$ needed just to park almost anywhere
SD
New Zealand
Peugeot 308
9/21/23
We had great time in the UK with the car. Very succesful , we watched our son payedi last game of primier cricket match and he scored ton.
DK
Ireland
Ford Fiesta
9/14/23
Went to a wedding
MJ
United Kingdom
Fiat 500
8/31/23
Used car for work. Not a holiday.
AB
United States of America (USA)
Renault Clio
8/21/23
Went to my parents 70th wedding anniversary
SH
Australia
VW Golf Estate Aut.
8/20/23
We visited some wonderful towns on our travels, saw amazing sites & stayed at great accommodation & ate at some fabulous restaurants.
MM
Australia
Ford Focus
7/19/23
I had a great time driving to Bradford. Unfortunately we contracted Covid the following day and not able to use the car and the car is just parked. We have extended the rental and hoping to use it when we feel better.
SB
Ireland
Ford Focus
6/27/23
Steve Earle in The Barbican - amazing. Stayed in The Tribe Hotel, Canary Wharf. Loved the area and wonderful staff in hotel.
AS
Australia
Peugeot 3008
6/15/23
We live overseas now but travel back to the UK regularly to visit family and friends. Great to have a car to get out and about visiting people and places with ease.
PM
Canada
Kia Sportage
5/28/23
watching my soccer team
LP
United States of America (USA)
Fiat 500
5/26/23
England is lovely in the springtime.
VD
Canada
Ford Focus
5/22/23
Staff was polite, efficient and helpful.
JW
Australia
Fiat 500
5/19/23
It was our first time driving around southern England and Drivalia made it stress free. Discover cars made booking and finding a locally-based cheap car option easy.
GM
Canada
Kia Ceed
5/12/23
We were able to see incredible places all over the United Kingdom (Aberdeen, NewCastle, Nottingham...)
MN
United States of America (USA)
Ford Fiesta
5/11/23
The Cotswold & Bath were great
JB
United States of America (USA)
Ford Fiesta
4/26/23
London to BATH area was great.
WD
Australia
Kia Sportage
4/21/23
We had a great car for our trip. It was very comfortable, economical, and suited us perfectly.
JB
Hungary
Ford Fiesta
4/16/23
Lots of time spent with friends and family. Priceless!
JW
United States of America (USA)
Kia Rio
4/14/23
Oxford. Blenheim Castle. Evesham found a quiet abbey with beautiful grounds.
FL
Italy
Fiat 500
4/12/23
Nature, cities
CS
United States of America (USA)
Ford Mondeo
4/10/23
Loved North Wales but charging the electric car took time away from enjoying it because you are hanging out in parking lots.
GK
Israel
Peugeot 3008 (2 wheel drive)
4/8/23
I took the car from the UK into france and all was great.
EG
United Kingdom
Ford Focus
3/22/23
I went to collect my bike. This was the key purpose of driving 700 miles. As I was given a different car, I couldn't fit my bike rack (I picked a particular model for a reason), soooooo I kindq spent hundreds on a wasted trip. So honestly, I made the most of it, but the carhire experience made the trip pointless and the tyre pressure issue made the driving less enjoyable.
SC
United Kingdom
Ford Fiesta
3/16/23
Booked rental from Turkey where I reside. Got to pick up told I need 2 utility bills for my English address as shown on my driving licence. Told I was living in Turkey car hire refused
ST
Cyprus
Vauxhall Crossland
3/6/23
Visited bath and oxford and some villages on the way and along the river thames
SA
Oman
Ford Focus
1/21/23
It was great,, thanks
CK
Australia
Fiat 500
1/14/23
We visited Windsor Castle on our way from London to Manchester 
ES
Portugal
Nissan Qashqai
1/2/23
We travelled to Edinburgh and retuned the car in Manchester. Half of the time, it was raining, but we felt secure on the car. The navigation system was limited and was not possible to find some of the addresses.
RY
Malaysia
Ford Fiesta
1/2/23
Interesting and amazing esp with the car we had driven
Car Rental Statistics
Highest-rated company
Arnold Clark
9.1 / 10
Lowest-rated company
Surprice
5.9 / 10
Total number of reviews
126
Total rental companies
18
Average daily price
$27.06
Lowest daily price
$15.97
Total cars available
2664
Top 18 suppliers in London in 2024
Arnold Clark
1 location
$28 - $62
Enterprise
14 locations
$22 - $511
Alamo
8 locations
$20 - $220
Hertz
8 locations
$24 - $63
Europcar
13 locations
$23 - $150
Budget
6 locations
$25 - $168
SIXT
15 locations
$28 - $145
Keddy
10 locations
$19 - $171
Avis
6 locations
$25 - $168
National
10 locations
$24 - $547
Thrifty
7 locations
$24 - $547
Dollar
8 locations
$24 - $44
EZ Drive Car Rentals
2 locations
$54 - $81
Drivalia
4 locations
$16 - $225
U-Save
1 location
$16 - $39
Routes Car Rental
13 locations
$55 - $126
GreenMotion
9 locations
$17 - $231
Surprice
1 location
$16 - $143
Awards
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2023
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking App 2023
Magellan Awards Gold Winner 2023
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 300 Companies 2021
FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2020
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2022
Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies 2019
Trustpilot - Top 10 Car Rental Agencies
SimilarWeb - Top 50 Car Rental Websites
Highly recommended by our customers
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