Compare London car hire

Home to iconic attractions like the Tower of London, massive galleries like Tate Modern and novel experiences like afternoon tea bus tours, London always promises fun-filled and jam-packed days. But that’s not all. If you fancy escaping the city for a bit, there’s lots to discover on the capital’s doorstep, too – especially if you travel by hire car.

Think Brighton’s seaside, Cambridge’s historic streets and the Cotswolds’ rolling hills, something for every mood and every interest. You can pick up a hire car from one of many car providers in the city or from one of London’s major airports.

London isn’t short of car hire companies with plenty of big-name providers dotted about the city, both centrally and further out. So, wherever you’re staying, chances are you’re either a short walk or a brief bus or tube ride away from one of them.

Compare and book in advance to get the best deal on your hire car in London, as picking up on the day tends to be comparatively pricier with fewer cars to choose from. Most car rental companies in London conveniently provide out-of-hours drop-off times, too, handy if you need a little more flexibility.

Car hire providers in central London include:

• Avis: +44 344 544 8886
• Europcar: +44 371 384 5952
• Hertz: +44 843 309 3049
• Sixt: +44 207 018 8246

For day trips, take the M4 towards Windsor, the M40 to Oxford or the A23 south to Brighton for a seaside escape.

London is home to six airports and you can hire a car from each one.

London Heathrow (LHR), the busiest airport, has a wide selection of hire cars to choose from, with providers like Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, and Hertz situated across multiple terminals.

London Gatwick (LGW), the second busiest airport, hosts major car hire companies like Alamo, Budget and Hertz. Car rental desks can be found in both the North and South terminals, respectively in their lower forecourts.

London Stansted (STN) and London Luton (LTN), which are both north of the city centre, serve as key entry points for low-cost airlines with rental desks like Europcar, Budget and Sixt close to the main terminal buildings.

Lastly, London City Airport (LCY), just minutes from central London, caters to business and short-haul travellers with quick access to Avis, Europcar and Hertz car hire desks in the terminal.

Driving in the capital is doable but can be very difficult. For instance, you can expect traffic of varying degrees day and night, especially during morning and evening rush hours, and a complex network of roads that you can easily get lost in. Road works are also common.

You’ll also find yourself sharing the roads with an incredible range of vehicles, from lorries, vans and buses to taxis, scooters and cyclists, not to mention a large number of pedestrians.

The best advice is to avoid driving in London, but if you can’t, drive cautiously, be attentive to speed restrictions (especially 20mph limits) and always plan in extra time for trips in and out of the city.

If you’re driving in central London, keep an eye out for the Congestion Charge Zone, which currently costs £15 daily between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Most hire companies don’t cover this charge, so you’ll need to pay for it separately by phone or online.

Parking in London is also a challenge. Some streets operate permit-only parking, while others are pay-and-display. Spaces, unsurprisingly, fill up quickly in popular areas. London’s larger car parks are often your best bet, especially near shopping districts and attractions.

• Min. age required to hire a car: 21-25, depending on your provider
• Which side of the road: Left
• Credit card requirements: Credit or debit cards are usually accepted

Any additional requirements: Driver surcharge may be payable if you’re under 25

You’re in the right place for a cheap deal on car rental in London. With our powerful search tools, you can compare top rental deals all in one place.

Whether it’s a mini-sized motor for two or a spacious people carrier for family holiday adventures, finding the best deal for you is fast, free and easy with TravelSupermarket.

TravelSupermarket works with more than 20 leading car hire providers as well as brokers to bring you the widest range of car hire options, from pick-up locations that suit you. Compare economy cars for a few pounds a day or book luxury models from the likes of Mercedes. Filter by transmission type if you like, or choose what kind of fuel policy suits your trip.

We feature amazing deals on minibus hire too, as well as super prices on automatic car hire, one-way car hire and long-term car hire.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.