Car rental in the UK – Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring by Car

Individual suppliers have established their own age restrictions and associated policies to those who rent a car in the UK. In the United Kingdom the minimum age for renting a vehicle typically ranges from 18 to 22 years of age. It is important to note that young drivers that fall into this age bracket may incur an additional fee known as a Young Driver Fee. This fee will be levied by the supplier at the time of vehicle collection. Drivers regardless of age must also have held a valid driving license for a minimum of one year. Some suppliers impose this additional fee exclusively to those under the age of 21, whilst others apply this fee to drivers aged between 21 and 26. This is something to be aware of especially if it’s your first car rental.

For individuals who intend to rent a vehicle but are aged 69 or older, an additional fee may apply known as a Senior Driver Fee. Additionally, greater restrictions may apply to your rental. It is common among various car rental providers for senior drivers to present a medical certificate attesting to their fitness to drive. We recommend carefully reviewing the product information section during the booking process by clicking on the blue info icon (i). This information also forms part of your car rental voucher.

Yes - one-way car rental is permitted in the UK. Generally, no fee applies within Great Britain, however, if your one-way car rental is towards Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Europe – a one-way fee will apply. Please note that one-way international car rentals may be restricted to certain types of vehicles. Individual suppliers will impose their own policies based on car category, location and desired dates. With any additional fees being directly paid to the supplier. We do show what the one-way fee will be during the booking process in order to provide customers with total transparency.

Travelling between UK member countries is generally permitted without restrictions. However, some suppliers do not allow you to board ferries – therefore this may limit your choices. You must inform us of your desire to travel between UK member countries so that we may confirm with the supplier beforehand and obtain authorisations. Please note that you must not try to take your vehicle onto a ferry without prior permission from Auto Europe or the respective supplier. Rental car companies possess methods to monitor rental vehicle usage and will impose substantial fees should you engage in this action without their consent.

Further information can be obtained during the rental process by clicking on the blue info icon (i). For details on travel restrictions, refer to the general terms under the Basic Package. This information is also contained in your rental voucher.

Yes – you must present a valid credit card under the main drivers name in order to collect your vehicle. Prepaid credit cards will not be accepted. The rental supplier will use your credit card to hold a deposit. The specific amount of this deposit will be detailed in your rental voucher. Once you return the vehicle and providing it is returned in the same condition as when initially collected, the security deposit will be released and subsequently made available on your card.

The returned security deposit may take up to 14-working days to show on your bank statement. Certain bookings, such as, a luxury car, may require you to provide more than one credit card. Suppliers accept all major credit cards including Mastercard and Visa. Please make sure you have sufficient funds. Failure to provide a credit card will mean that the supplier will not allow you to collect your car. Please consult the credit card section during your booking for further information. Please note that rental car companies do not accept debit cards as a form of payment.

In the United Kingdom, do not forget that you drive on the left side of the road – this is different to continental Europe. For a safe and secure journey, it is important to adhere to certain common road rules and regulations applicable in the UK. In urban areas, the speed limit is set at 30 mph (50 km/h). In rural regions, this limit ranges from 40 to 50 mph (65 to 80 km/h). On dual-carriage ways, the speed limits range between 50 and 60 mph (80 to 95 km/h). Whilst on motorways, the maximum speed limit is 70 mph (approximately 115 km/h).

When driving, chatting on your mobile phone is only allowed if you're using a hands-free device. Everyone in the vehicle must always have their seatbelts on. For younger passengers, a child seat is required until they reach either 1.20m in height or 12 years of age. If your child is 12 years old or under but taller than 4.5 feet (1.37m), they can use the car seat belt. In the event that your vehicle has a breakdown or is involved in an accident, you must contact the appropriate authorities as well as your car rental provider. Hi-Viz vests must be warn at all times during such an incident.

Yes - There are currently around 23 tolled roads in the United Kingdom, indicating that most roads are indeed toll-free. Toll charges are apply only to some sections of the M4, M6, M8 and M25 motorways. The majority of toll roads can be found on bridges and tunnels. Dartford Crossing, Second Severn Crossing and Tyne Tunnel being three examples. Toll amount is based on vehicle type and time of day. Generally off-peak times are cheaper – namely during the night. Tolls can be paid in cash or by bank card. For more information regarding toll payments in the United Kingdom, please refer to the official British Government website.

The standard rates for car rental in the United Kingdom include the legally required coverage for the country. This is comprising if Public Liability Insurance, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection (TP). This coverage is referred to as Standard Package within our booking engine. It is crucial to understand that the Standard Package does not extend to all damages or eventualities. Due to this, we highly recommend renters opt for the Full Damage Protection. This extra cover, for a small daily fee, protects against great damage and eventualities. The fee depends on the car type, rental duration and location.

During the vehicle pick-up process, it is common practice for car rental suppliers to offer various additional insurance options. These insurances are optional and for the most part if you have already opted for our Full Insurance Coverage – it won’t be needed. Locally offered insurances may be Travel Insurance, Breakdown Cover, Roadside Assistance, Super CDW, Personal Property Coverage (pec), Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and many more.

Any locally purchased insurances will not be refunded by Auto Europe, even if deemed unnecessary afterwards. We do not profit from or recommend locally purchased insurances offered on local by suppliers. For further information, click on the blur info icon during the booking process or refer to your rental voucher once received.

Yes- you can definitely add an additional driver to your car rental in the UK. Some providers may offer this service at no extra cost, while others might charge a small daily fee. If you’re looking to add another driver to your booking, we often have Free Additional Driver promotions.

Additional drivers need to be registered on the rental agreement and provide the exact same documentation as the main driver. It's important to properly register any extra drivers on the rental contract, otherwise, any insurance coverage will be invalid. Any damage to the vehicle or theft will be fully liable to the driver. For details on additional driver fees please click on the blue info icon (i) during the booking process or refer to your car rental voucher once booked. Details of which are contained under the Driver Information Section.

Yes - when visiting central London or Durham a congestion charge is applicable for entry into these areas. In addition to this charge, vehicles must comply with minimum emissions standards to access the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Times of operation are generally weekdays between 7am to 10pm, with some weekends during special events. Fee charged daily and you may enter the zones multiple times if paid in advance. For a full list of congestion charge covered areas in London consult the Transport for London (TfL) website.

Regardless, it is easy to know when you are entering a Congestion Charge area due to the letter ‘C’ in red painted on the floor. In addition, you will see multiple overhead cameras at entry and exit points. Number plates are recorded and the appropriate fee notice sent to the supplier. Often, the supplier will add an additional administration cost when forwarding the fee to the renter. Should you wish to make an advance payment, or settle the amount prior to midnight on the day of your entry into the area, a reduced rate will apply.

There are several convenient options available for making your payment. You can easily process your payment online with your card through the TfL payment portal. Another user-friendly option is the TfL Pay-to-Drive app, which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple Store. Additionally, payments can be made via phone. For all payment methods, ensure you have your vehicle registration, the country of registration, and a valid debit or credit card ready. Should you fail to pay the congestion charge, you will incur a fixed penalty, which can be reduced by fifty percent if settled within fourteen days.