Car rental London.

Car hire in London

London has five major airports, dozens of train stations and some of the worst traffic in the UK. Finding the right car hire at the right price across all of that is not straightforward. Enter your pickup location and dates once, and we compare live rates across suppliers including Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz and Budget so you can see what is actually available.

Whether you need a compact for a weekend in the city, an estate for a family trip down to the coast, or a people carrier for a group, you can compare options side by side and book online in minutes.

Where to pick up in London

You have two broad choices: an airport desk or a city branch. Airports have every supplier and long opening hours, but the daily rate carries a surcharge. City branches are cheaper per day, with no airport fee, but many shut on Sundays and close early on Saturdays. The suppliers below were verified from their own location pages in August 2026.

• Heathrow (LHR): The biggest car hire hub in London. All major suppliers are on-site at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Best if you are flying in and want to drive straight out. Expect airport surcharges on the daily rate.
• Gatwick (LGW): Strong supplier presence at both North and South terminals. A good alternative to Heathrow, often with better rates. 30 minutes from central London by train.
• Stansted, Luton and London City: Smaller but cheaper. Each has at least three suppliers on-site. Worth comparing if your flight lands there, since airport transfers into central London add time and cost.

Inside London itself, the useful pickup points cluster around the big rail hubs and a few high-street spots:

• Victoria and St Pancras: the two busiest car hire stations in London. Avis runs a desk at Victoria Station and another at Eversholt Street by Euston/St Pancras; Sixt lists branches at both Victoria Station and St Pancras/King’s Cross. Trains from Gatwick arrive at Victoria, Eurostar arrives at St Pancras, so both suit rail arrivals picking up a car for the rest of the trip.
• Paddington: supplier branches around the station on Praed Street, with the Heathrow Express 15 minutes away if a city rate beats the airport rate. Elizabeth line and four Underground lines serve the station.
• Canary Wharf: the desk for Docklands and east London bookings, useful if you are staying east and want to skip a cross-city trip to collect a car.
• West End and north London: Sixt lists branches at Park Lane, Marylebone, Knightsbridge and Liverpool Street; Enterprise’s London network covers Waterloo, Victoria and neighbourhood branches. Good for pickup on the day you actually need the car.
• Stratford and Battersea: Sixt branches at Stratford International and Battersea Power Station cover the east and the south-west without crossing the centre.

If you are flying in and staying in central London, ask yourself whether you actually need the car for the whole trip. Many visitors pick up at the airport, drive into London, and then pay congestion charge plus parking for days they do not use the car. The charges section below shows how to avoid that. A common money-saving approach: take the train or tube into the city, and pick up the car from a central London branch on the day you actually need it.

Which car for London

London rewards small cars. On-street parking bays are narrower than modern car parks assume, many residential streets were laid out for a Ford Anglia, and a compact is easier in traffic and cheaper at the fuel pump. A compact or small hatchback covers most trips.

Size up when you have a reason: an estate if luggage for four demands it, a people carrier for six or seven people, an SUV if ground clearance or visibility genuinely matters. On emissions, nearly all rental cars from major suppliers already meet the ULEZ standard; the charges section below explains what to check. If the car is for a family trip, our family car hire guide covers boot space and child seats properly.

Driving in London: what it costs

Four charges catch out visitors to London. Check whether they apply to your trip before you drive:

• Congestion Charge: Applies Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm, and weekends and bank holidays 12pm to 6pm, in the central zone (roughly inside the inner ring road). The daily charge is £18 if paid on the day or in advance, or £21 if paid by midnight on the third day after travel. You pay it online or via the Transport for London (TfL) app. If you do not pay on time, you get a Penalty Charge Notice of £180 (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days).
• ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone): Covers all of Greater London, 24 hours a day, every day of the year (except Christmas Day). Most modern rental cars are ULEZ-compliant, but always confirm with the supplier. Non-compliant vehicles are charged £12.50 per day.
• Low Emission Zone (LEZ): Applies to heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes). Only relevant if you are renting a large van. Most standard car rentals are not affected.
• Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel charge: Applies to both tunnels, in both directions. Peak times are 6am to 10am northbound and 4pm to 7pm southbound on weekdays. Cars and small vans pay £4 per crossing at peak times, or £1.50 off-peak if you use Auto Pay. No charge overnight (10pm to 6am). Only relevant if your route crosses the river in east London.

Parking in central London typically costs £2 to £10 per hour in on-street bays depending on the borough, and £25 to £55 per day in commercial car parks. Outer boroughs are cheaper but often permit-only. Check Parkopedia for rates at your destination.

Out of London by car

The point of hiring in London is usually the trip out. Five classics, with drive times measured from central London:

• Brighton: 86 km, about 1 hour 40. The seaside default. M23 and A23 the whole way, with seafront car parks once you arrive.
• Oxford: 96 km, about 1 hour 30. Park and ride beats city-centre parking; the red-brick colleges are a short walk.
• Cambridge: 94 km, about 1 hour 30. M11 straight up, park at one of the park and ride sites on the ring.
• Windsor Castle: 37 km, about 45 minutes. The nearest royal day trip, and an easy first drive for a new arrival.
• The Cotswolds: 135 km to Moreton-in-Marsh, about 2 hours. Honey-coloured villages for a weekend, not a day.

For longer routes, our UK road trips guide covers nine drives worth the fuel, passes included.

Why book through Cars 4 Rental?

We are not a rental company with our own fleet. We are a comparison and booking service. That means we search across trusted suppliers to find you the best London rate for the car you actually want.

Every booking comes with the essentials covered:

• Insurance included as standard: collision damage waiver, theft protection and third-party liability
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your pickup time
• No hidden fees. Local taxes, airport surcharge and location fees are all included in the price you see
• Same cars, same suppliers, found at a better price than going direct

Optional extras like sat nav, baby seats, additional drivers or a second driver can be added during booking. Just need a car for one day? See our daily car rental page.

London car rental FAQ

Do rental cars in London come with a Congestion Charge account?

No. You are responsible for paying the Congestion Charge yourself, either online at the Transport for London website or via the TfL Pay to Drive app. Some suppliers will pay it on your behalf and bill your card afterwards with an admin fee added, but this is not guaranteed. Always check the supplier terms.

Are rental cars ULEZ compliant?

Almost all modern rental cars from major suppliers are ULEZ compliant (Euro 4 for petrol, Euro 6 for diesel). But you should confirm the specific vehicle you are assigned when you collect, especially if you book a cheaper or older category. If the car is not compliant, you pay £12.50 per day.

Is it cheaper to pick up at the airport or in the city?

City branches are usually cheaper on the daily rate because airports add a surcharge. But airport pickup saves you a transfer into London if you are flying in. Compare both options in the search above. Sometimes the airport surcharge is small enough that the convenience is worth it.

How much does it cost to hire a car in London?

A compact car booked a week or two ahead starts from around £30 to £45 per day at a London city branch. Airport pickups and larger vehicles cost more. Book last minute during peak season and you will pay a premium. Run a search above to see live rates.

Can I drive a London rental car outside London?

Yes. Most suppliers allow UK-wide travel with no restriction. If you plan to take the car abroad (France, Ireland, etc.), European cover can be added during booking for an additional charge. Check the supplier terms before you book.

Can I return the car to a different location in London?

Yes, most suppliers offer one-way rental between London locations (for example, pick up at Heathrow and drop off at Gatwick). This usually incurs a one-way fee of £20 to £50 depending on the supplier. Tick the “Return to a different location” box in the search form to compare.

Written by Sunny for Cars 4 Rental. Last updated July 2026.