Your quick travel guide to London

Car Hire in London

Most first-time visitors to England or the United Kingdom start their travels in London, where they can really feel the pulse of the nation. London is a busy place, overflowing with cultural events, like plays at the West End, and historical monuments that are still functioning and full of life, like Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Travelling by car can be stressful in London, where 8 million people routinely fill the streets. But one of the most independent ways for you to truly experience English culture is to leave the city and explore the countryside by car. This guide will help you find cheap car hire in London, regardless of where you start your journey in this enormous city.

Left-Hand Driving in London

After you pick up your rental car in London, remember that traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road.

Driver’s License Requirements for Car Hire in London

Anyone with a valid driver’s license can drive in London and the United Kingdom at large for up to 12 months of their most recent entry to the country. While the minimum driving age in the United Kingdom is 17, remember that many rental car companies require drivers to be at least 21 years old in order to hire a car. Young drivers may be subject to surcharges until the age of 25.

Find Cheap Car Rental in London at EconomyBookings.com

Rental cars are available in over 75 locations throughout London. Car hire starts as low as £13 a day! Explore economy rental car options by geographical region to find the best deals:

Tips for Cheap Car Hire in Central London: In and Near “The City of London”

While EconomyBookings.com has rental car locations in over 15 locations throughout central London, you can typically find the best deals for cheap auto rental at:

  • London Marylebone
  • King’s Cross
  • Paddington
  • St. Pancras Railway Station.

Keep an eye out for EconomyBookings.com’s additional discounts of around 12%, which drive the price of economy car hire to as low as £13 a day!

Remember that parking can be very difficult to find and expensive in central London. Still, if you can find a parking spot in The City of London, the central-most district of this enormous city, parking is free after 18:30 Monday through Friday, after 13:30 on Saturday, and all day on Sunday.

Tips for Finding the CheapestCar Hire in North London

The outskirts of London offer visitors much more comfortable driving opportunities, and luckily, EconomyBookings.com also has over 10 auto hire locations north of London’s busy downtown. For the best northern London economy rental car deals, book your car from London Edgware or Euston, where rental cars typically start as low as £19 a day.

How to Find Cheap Car Hire in South London

If you prefer to stay south of city centre, you can still find economy auto rentals in South London with EconomyBookings.com. While most rental cars start at around €30 in South London, you can typically find the cheapest auto hire deals in London Orpington, where rental cars start as low as £22 a day.

Tips on Economy Car Hire in East London

East London features a lot of popular landmarks as well. Make the most of your travels by booking your car as cheaply as possible at more than 10 locations throughout East London. The cheapest location to book your car is at the London City Airport, where prices start as low as €17 a day!

How to Find the Cheapest Car Hire in West London

Visitors travelling to London via Heathrow Airport will likely want to book their cars in West London, where EconomyBookings.com offers more than 10 pick-up locations. Auto hire is cheapest in West London within 8 months of your arrival, and you can book rental cars for as low as £28 a day at London Hayes and Harlington.

Crossing Borders with Your London Rental Car

  • You can drive throughout England, Scotland, and Wales with the cheap car rental you book in London. However, ask your rental company if you are permitted to take the car on the ferry to Ireland or Northern Ireland. You may find it is less expensive to return your car in London and rent a new car in Ireland. Some ferries will require explicit permissions to allow rental cars to board.
  • Paris is a popular road-trip destination from London, as it is located only about 5 hours away by car. Ask your London rental car company if you are permitted to drive your car into continental Europe, whether you take the ferry from Calais (which is often the cheapest and fastest option) or drive the EuroTunnel. Remember that traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road in continental Europe, unlike in England!

Experience the top locations with car rental in London

London Heathrow Airport
Green Motion
7.4
London Gatwick Airport
EasiRent
7.6
London Stansted Airport
Enterprise
8.2

Discover the cheapest car rental in London

Cheap Car Rental in London Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
5
1
5
M
From US$ 10.24 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London Renault Clio
Renault Clio
5
2
5
A
From US$ 13.20 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London NISSAN QASHQAI
NISSAN QASHQAI
5
2
M
From US$ 29.39 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London Fiat 500
Fiat 500
4
1
3
M
From US$ 9.99 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London Honda CRV
Honda CRV
5
2
5
M
From US$ 24.52 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London NISSAN QASHQAI
NISSAN QASHQAI
5
2
M
From US$ 29.39 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London FORD GALAXY
FORD GALAXY
7
3
M
From US$ 63.51 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London FORD TOURNEO CUSTOM
FORD TOURNEO CUSTOM
9
1
M
From US$ 76.71 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London MERCEDES C-CLASS
MERCEDES C-CLASS
5
1
4
A
From US$ 83.71 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London Kia e-Niro Electric
Kia e-Niro Electric
5
1
5
A
Electric
From US$ 27.43 per day
*
Cheap Car Rental in London MERCEDES BENZ C 300D  AMG AUTO
MERCEDES BENZ C 300D AMG AUTO
4
1
2
A
From US$ 206.81 per day
*

* Disclaimer: Prices displayed may not reflect today's rates.

What our customers say

Car rental companies in London

We have prepared a shortlist of top rental companies in London. To save both time and money compare offers on EconomyBookings.com to find the best deal.

Green Motion
star
7.7 /178 reviews
Available in 9 locations
Time it took to drop your car off8.5
Cleanliness of the car8.5
Overall condition of the car8.8
Time it took to pick your car up6.4
Alamo
star
8.4 /91 reviews
Available in 7 locations
Time it took to drop your car off8.9
Cleanliness of the car8.5
Overall condition of the car8.8
Time it took to pick your car up7.7
EasiRent
star
7.1 /76 reviews
Available in 7 locations
Time it took to drop your car off9.1
Cleanliness of the car7.2
Overall condition of the car7.8
Time it took to pick your car up6.3