Car Hire in London
Compare rental cars for London day trips and onward travel. Pick up at the airport, skip the city-centre charges, and reach the places the train doesn't — all in one search through Discover Cars.
Hiring a car in London
Where to pick up
Collect at Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW) rather than central London — you skip city-centre parking and start outside the charging zones. Most major suppliers have desks at both terminals.
Driving & charges
Central London carries a £15/day Congestion Charge and a £12.50/day ULEZ fee for non-compliant cars, on top of expensive parking. Drive on the left, and factor these in before booking a city pick-up.
When you actually need one
For the city itself, don't — the Tube and Elizabeth line are faster. Hire a car for day trips: the Cotswolds, Bath, Oxford, Windsor, and Stonehenge are all far easier by road.
Driving around London
A car is a liability inside the M25 — congestion, charging zones, and parking make it slower and dearer than public transport for anything central. Where it pays off is escaping the city: the Cotswold villages, Bath, Oxford, and the South Downs are awkward by rail and effortless by road. Pick up from Heathrow or Gatwick, keep the car for the days you're actually leaving London, and you get the best of both.
How car hire works
Search & compare
Enter your pick-up airport and dates. Discover Cars compares suppliers side by side.
Book online
Reserve in minutes with free cancellation on most bookings. Nothing to pay at the desk beyond the deposit.
Pick up
Collect at the airport with your licence, card, and booking voucher.
Drive
Hit the road for day trips, then return the car to the same location.
Why book through Discover Cars
One search compares every London airport supplier — so you're not checking each rental site by hand.
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Best for
Comparing every London airport supplier in one search
What you need to hire a car in the UK
A full driving licence held for at least a year, a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit, and photo ID. Drivers under 25 usually pay a young-driver surcharge, and some suppliers set a minimum age of 21.
Non-UK licences are accepted — if yours isn't in English, bring an International Driving Permit alongside it. Remember the UK drives on the left.
Car hire questions
Do I need a car in London?expand_more
No, not for the city itself — the Tube, buses, and Elizabeth line are faster and cheaper than driving through central London. Hire a car only for day trips and onward travel where the train is slow or awkward.
Where's the cheapest place to pick up a car?expand_more
Airport pick-ups (Heathrow, Gatwick) are usually cheaper than central London and keep you outside the Congestion and ULEZ zones. Central desks cost more and start you inside the charging area.
What are the Congestion Charge and ULEZ?expand_more
The Congestion Charge is £15/day to drive in central London; ULEZ adds £12.50/day for older, non-compliant vehicles. Most rental cars are ULEZ-compliant, but confirm before booking if you plan to enter the zone.
Do I need extra insurance?expand_more
Basic cover is included, but the excess can run to four figures if something goes wrong. Discover Cars' full-coverage option is usually cheaper than buying the same waiver at the rental desk.
Which day trips from London are best by car?expand_more
The Cotswolds, Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Windsor, Stonehenge, and the South Downs. All are doable in a day and far more flexible by car than relying on train timetables.
Planning a day trip from London?
Compare car hire across every London airport in one search — free cancellation on most bookings, best price guaranteed.