Compare Aberdeen city centre car hire

Once you’ve finished exploring the many attractions of the Granite City, rent a hire car from Aberdeen city centre to discover the wider charms of northern Scotland.

The North East 250 circular route is highly recommended. If you have time, you can drive the entire 402km (250 miles) route, or take your pick from star attractions along the way. Hike amid the lush greenery of the Cairngorms, see the beauty of Moray Firth’s lively and varied coast, or indulge in a dram at the 50-plus whisky distilleries of Speyside.

There are several car hire companies based in Aberdeen city centre, with some located near the main railway station and ferry terminals. Enterprise (+44 1224 062 228) has a number of branches across the city, with a convenient location near the A944 at Skene Square, too.

Other companies you can hire a car from include:

• Thrifty: +44 122 497 4750
• Arnold Clark: +44 122 462 2714
• Low Cost Car & Van Hire: +44 122 462 1002

Book ahead for the best rates, the widest selection of rental cars in Aberdeen and a quicker pick-up experience.

There are a number of things to be aware of when driving a hire car in Aberdeen city centre. These include pedestrian and cycle zones, bus lanes and bus gates (sections of a road that only buses can enter) and speed restrictions.

Indeed, 20 mph (32km/h) is the standard speed limit in the core area of the city centre and most residential areas.

Aberdeen also operates a Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which limits access to cars that don’t meet certain emission standards. Your hire car will likely be covered, but if you’re unsure, you can easily check online (just Google ‘low emission zone Scotland checker’).

For parking, multi-storey options such as Union Square and Bon Accord offer convenient access to the city’s main attractions, but on-street parking is limited and metered.

When you’re ready to explore beyond Aberdeen, take the A90 south to Dundee or Edinburgh or north towards Fraserburgh. Heading west? The scenic A96 connects Aberdeen to Inverness, passing through whisky country and the Cairngorms.

Victorian Heritage Trail

Driving time: 90 minutes

Queen Victoria visited Deeside in 1848 and fell in love with the wild landscape. Since then, generations of royals have escaped to the peace and quiet of Scotland’s northeast. Start at Balmoral Castle, take in views of Glen Tanar’s pine forests and stop by the genteel Victorian community of Ballater. Nip into a local distillery to pick up a warming dram for later and pause to admire Loch Muick, unchanged since well before Victoria’s days.

Cairngorms National Park

Driving Time: Two hours

From windsurfing to snowboarding and from mountain-bike trails to pony-trekking, the Cairngorms is a massive natural playground that you’ll need a hire car to explore. Throw your golf clubs in the boot – the National Park boasts 12 courses. Bring your boots too, and you can hike up a mountain and get to know ospreys and Highland cattle. Or relax on the sandy beach at Loch Morlich, in the shadow of the ski slopes.

The Castle Trail

Driving time: 35 minutes

There are more than 300 castles dotted around Aberdeenshire, hence it being known as Scotland’s Castle Country. Take your hire car south to explore Dunnottar Castle, which rises majestically from the craggy cliff face overlooking the North Sea, then follow a winding route that takes in fairytale turrets, rugged ruins and royal residences.

• Min. age required to hire a car: Typically between 21-25
• Which side of the road: Left
• Credit card requirements: Debit or credit cards accepted

Any additional requirements: If you’re under 25, expect to have a young driver premium added to your bill

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.