Dreaming of an adventure through charming English villages, to coastal Cornish castles, or across the rugged Scottish Highlands? Renting a car in the UK is your best plan for trips off the beaten path.
I’ve lived in the UK since 2021 and I drive here almost daily. I’ve rented cars for road trips and have helped friends and family find the best car rental deals for their UK visits. In this article, I’ll show you the exact process I use to rent a car in the UK. I’ll also cover how you can prepare yourself for UK driving before you arrive.
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Americans Renting a Car in the UK
US Americans are allowed to drive any small vehicle (such as a car or motorcycle) that they would be allowed to drive in the US with their American driver’s license. Rental car companies are used to renting to American tourists, so you should have no issue setting up your rental with your US license.
Many UK destinations like the Cotswolds, Yorkshire, Cornwall, and much of Scotland are best explored by car. Special events like summer music festivals are also sometimes away from reliable public transportation. So if you want to explore off the beaten tourist track, renting a car is a good idea.
Preparing to Drive in the UK
Driving on the left, navigating roundabouts, and trying to understand unusual road signs can make driving in the UK intimidating. Start out by reading my driving guide for Americans.
For a more in-depth look at what you should expect when driving in the UK, I recommend Tripiamo Guides. Their UK video guide shows you exactly what to expect on the road and includes simple explanations of even the most confusing scenarios. I wish I’d had this before I started driving here!
Renting a Car in the UK with Discover Cars
You’re probably wondering about the best place to rent a car in the UK. I recommend and use Discover Cars to find the best car rentals. I find they are the best for several reasons:
- They search across multiple international and local companies, so you can find the best deal.
- They offer FREE cancellation up to 48 hours before your rental starts.
- They offer inexpensive full coverage car insurance (in case of any surprise pothole disasters).
Here is the exact process I use to book a rental car with Discover Cars:
1. Reserve Your Car Online
Open the Discover Cars website, and input your travel dates and preferred rental location.
Travel Tip: If you will be renting from the airport, make sure you select the airport you are flying into. Flying into London can mean one of six major airports! The last thing you want is to realize that your rental car is waiting on the other side of the city.
Discover Cars lets you set filters on your search, and I recommend that you filter by ratings. I only rent from companies with at least a ‘Good 7+’ rating – with a preference for those with ‘Very Good 8+’.
It’s great to get a good price, but don’t sacrifice your experience. The rental companies with lower ratings also tend to be the ones that add fees and extra costs for everything. I’d rather spend a little more to have good customer service when I’m traveling.
Discover Cars secures competitive prices by reserving cars in bulk. UK car rental prices start at £8 (~$10) per day.
2. Choose Full Coverage Insurance
I’ll never forget the time we got a flat tire on our way to visit Windsor Castle with family. Potholes and uneven road edges are unfortunately very common on British country roads and we were unlucky. The repair for a flat tire is not covered by many standard car rental insurance policies, including those provided by US credit card companies.
I now always opt for full coverage insurance to avoid surprise charges. We ultimately had to pay for a tow to get the car back to our house and a taxi since we couldn’t all fit in the tow truck. That was all before repairing the tire. All of this would be covered by Discover Car’s Full Coverage policy.
Full Coverage from Discover Cars covers up to £2,600 (about $3,300) of damage to the rental car and associated fees like taxi fares or lost key fines. The cost of Full Coverage is lower than most competitors and usually runs between £7-10 per day.
Remember that standard coverage won’t help you with the most common damage. It’s typical for rental companies and credit cards to exclude coverage for tires, mirrors or windshield damage.
Guess where I’ve experienced the vast majority of damage when driving? Yep – tires (potholes), mirrors (scraping that side wall) or windshield (thanks, random road rock).
What’s covered with Discover Cars (and what’s not covered?)
When you pick up your car, the rental company representative may offer to sell you the company’s insurance. You can decline this if you purchased coverage through Discover Cars. I don’t usually find car rental companies to be anywhere near as pushy in the UK as they are in the US.
You will need to have a deposit hold on your credit card during the course of your rental. When you bring back the rental car without damage, this hold is released. If the car is damaged when you return it, then they will deduct the cost of the damage from your deposit.
Travel Tip: Some rental companies will place a smaller hold on your credit card if you purchase rental insurance from them directly. If you’re worried about having access to funds on your credit card during your trip, then buying coverage directly can make sense. For me, it’s always been a better deal to pay less for insurance through Discover Cars.
After the rental company charges your deposit for damage, you make a claim with Discover Cars through the website. They average 48 hours or less to process claims. Damage costs are then reimbursed to you from Discover Cars up to the policy maximum of £2,600 (this covers a lot).
I’ve only had good experiences with Discover Cars, but cannot guarantee a result for you. The most important factor for securing a smooth car rental in the UK is to only rent with well-rated companies. Don’t forget to use those filters when searching!
Driving in the UK on an American Driver’s License
Americans need a valid US driver’s license from any state to drive in the UK. Most rental companies will require you to have had your US license for at least two years. Americans do not need an international driver’s license to drive or rent a car in the UK.
Renting a Car in London
If you are only visiting London, do not rent a car. Public transportation, taxis, and your own two feet are more than sufficient to explore London as a tourist.
Travel Tip: If you want to pick up a rental car in London to head out to the English countryside, then I recommend taking public transportation outside of London’s congestion charge zone. This will avoid fees charged for driving in London’s center. You’ll also have less traffic to navigate when you’re starting out.
Where To Rent a Car Near London
The most convenient places to pick up a rental car near London are Heathrow or Gatwick airports. Both have plenty of rental companies on site and are easy to reach by train from central London.
Types of Cars for Rent in the UK
The most commonly rented car in the UK is the Hyundai i30 – a small family car that comes as either a sedan or hatchback. Besides Hyundai, you’ll find other brands familiar to Americans, like Kia, Ford, Nissan, and Toyota. British brand Vauxhall, and French Peugeot, are also common.
Rental cars in the UK are often smaller than you find in America, so it’s best to assume trunk space will be limited. Car rental booking portals should tell you how many bags (full-size luggage) can fit in the car type you are booking.
Manual vs. Automatic Car Rentals in the UK
It is possible to rent either an automatic or manual stick shift vehicle in the UK. Automatic cars typically cost a bit more to rent than manual shift vehicles.
Travel Tip: Booking at an airport typically makes it easier to find automatic cars available. Smaller rental locations sometimes have limited automatic vehicles available.
If you do not regularly drive a manual vehicle, I recommend booking an automatic to avoid stress. If you do book a stick shift, remember that you will be on the opposite side of the car and shifting with your left hand rather than your right.
Driving Safely in the UK
The UK has significantly fewer car accident fatalities each year when compared to the US, even when adjusted for the difference in population. Driving in the UK as a tourist can still be nerve wracking though.
To fully prepare yourself for safe and stress-free driving in the UK, check out Tripiamo. In one hour you’ll have reviewed everything you need to know about UK driving rules in simple engaging videos.
My number one tip for driving in the UK as a tourist is to stick to major roads as much as possible. Roads that start with an “M” or an “A” are closest to American-style highways and freeways. Meanwhile, country roads can vary between narrow and “is this still a road” levels of difficulty.
Driving on the Left in the UK
In the UK, you drive on the left side of the road. When you book a rental car in the UK, the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle. This can be a little disarming if you’ve only driven on the right before. Read through my guide to driving in the UK for tips on adjusting.
Top UK Car Rental Companies
These are the best rated car rental companies in the UK for customer satisfaction.
Discover Cars searches all of these companies, as well as smaller local suppliers.
Renting a Car in the UK to Drive to Europe
There are ferries and trains that will carry cars between the UK and Ireland, France, or the Netherlands. However, most car rentals in the UK do not allow renters to take the vehicle outside of the UK. In my opinion, it’s better to rent separate cars for your travels around the UK and Europe.
When you rent a car in Northern Ireland, the rental company may allow border crossings into Ireland. For example, many people rent a car in Belfast and drive down to Dublin. Check your rental agreement to be sure of where you are allowed to travel.
UK Car Rental Insurance Explained
In the UK, all car rental companies provide you with basic insurance. This is usually either Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). Both of these cover damage to certain parts of the car or theft of the car – check what is covered on any policy you are offered.
Damage to vulnerable parts of the car like tires, windshields, and mirrors are often excluded from CDW and LDW coverage.
You can usually find what a rental company covers through their website or by contacting customer service.
The type of insurance I recommend for renting a car in the UK is called car hire excess insurance. Excess insurance often covers the whole car (always check your policy to be sure) and will reimburse you for damage costs charged by the rental car company.
As a reminder, here is what full coverage from Discover Cars includes:
UK Car Rental Insurance Pricing
Basic CDW or LDW car insurance is usually included in the cost of the rental. Full coverage with an excess insurance policy starts from £7 per day. That daily price can save you from hundreds or even thousands of pounds to cover vehicle damages.
The most common car damage I see is flat tires caused by potholes and paint scrapes from navigating narrow spots near walls. These types of damage are usually only covered by full coverage insurance.
UK Car Rental Insurance Through a Credit Card
Credit cards sometimes offer CDW or LDW coverage if you use the card to pay for the rental. This can be helpful, but again is limited to only covering certain parts of the car or types of damage. Check with your credit card provider for full details before you rely on this.
10 Travel and Driving Tips for Renting a Car in the UK
- Always rent from a reputable company. I use Discover Cars to search rates at multiple companies, but only rent from sources rated 7 or above on their user review score.
- Look over your rental car before you leave with it. Take photos of any damage like scratches or dents on the exterior or stains or fabric rips on the interior.
- Take a few photos again when you drop the car off.
- The UK driving age is 17, but most car rental companies will not rent to anyone under 21. Drivers under 26 are often charged a higher rate.
- If you need a booster seat or infant car seat, add it when you book your rental or contact the rental company to confirm it will be available.
- Mind your speed when driving in the UK. Speed traps set by police are uncommon, but speed cameras can be found on most major roads. If you are mailed a speeding ticket through the rental company, they will likely charge the fine to your credit card.
- Speed limit signs in the UK are in miles per hour. Keep an eye out for variable speed limit signs that adjust speed limits as you approach areas of congestion.
- Always yield to the oncoming vehicles on your right at a roundabout.
- If you encounter another vehicle coming toward you on a narrow road, you may need to reverse to a spot in the road wide enough for them to pass you. If they reverse, follow them at a safe distance until you can pass.
- Most petrol stations will require you to pay inside at a register, rather than paying at the pump.
Driving in the UK can be a challenge on your first outing, but the rewards are many beautiful corners of the United Kingdom you might otherwise miss. Happy exploring!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Renting a Car in the UK
Can foreigners rent a car in the UK?
Visitors to the UK regularly rent cars. You’ll need to bring a valid driver’s license that you’ve held for at least one year, as well as your passport or another form of identification.
Is it a good idea to rent a car in the UK?
Yes! There are many parts of the UK you cannot reach easily on public transportation. Unless you plan to only visit large cities like London and Edinburgh, renting a car is a good idea.
How much does it cost to rent a car in the UK?
The average car rental price in the UK is £21 per day, according to Discover Cars. Small cars start as low as £12.92 per day.
Will my US car insurance cover my UK car rental?
Most US car insurance policies only cover you in the US and Canada. Check with your insurance provider if you have an international plan, but this is uncommon.
Where To Go in the UK with a Rental Car
Ready to hit the road? Here are a few of the best UK spots that are easily visited by car.
- The Cotswolds. This famous area of lovely English villages is best navigated by car. My three-day Cotswolds itinerary will take you to top spots and a few hidden gems.
- Scottish Highlands. Don’t miss the breathtaking vistas in Glencoe and further afield in the Highlands. See my guide to day trips from Edinburgh for options by car, train and tour.
- King Arthur’s Castle. Cornwall is England’s home of many myths and legends. Tintagel Castle is rumored to have once been home to King Arthur and Merlin. This area is stunningly beautiful and only reachable by driving.
Wherever you pick, don’t miss my seasonal packing guides for exactly what to bring along on your trip!