Car Rentals in the UK
A road trip is an epic way to discover the beauty and culture of the UK. Your Nordic Visitor rental car will come from a trusted local agency, so choose your wheels from our range of high-quality vehicles.
Self-Drive Vehicles for Hire
Take the wheel and enjoy a scenic journey around the UK with one of our self-drive tours. As a local travel agency, we offer an excellent selection of cars from a reputable car rental company. We’ll also give you maps of your route and other helpful tips for getting around.
Dive into your adventure by checking out our range of self-drive tours. Or get in touch to ask about our most popular itineraries.
Rental car types for the UK:
| Group | Type | Name | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Compact | Vauxhall Astra or similar | Manual |
| D | Economy | Toyota Auris or similar | Automatic |
| E | Standard | Ford Mondeo or similar | Automatic |
| F | Premium | BMW 520 or similar | Automatic |
| G | Intermediate SUV | Vauhxall Grandland or similar | Automatic |
| H | Premium Passenger Van | Mercedes Vito or similar | Automatic/Manual |
Important information:
• Young driver fee: If you’re aged under 25, you will need to pay a young driver surcharge. There are also restrictions on the type of car you can rent. Get in touch with Nordic Visitor for more information.
• Drivers over the age of 80 Drivers aged over 80 are asked to let Nordic Visitor know at time of booking if you have any medical conditions that could affect your driving.
• Car seats: All children younger than 12, or shorter than 4 foot 5 inches (135 centimetres) are required by UK law to sit in the correct child seat or booster. The car rental agency rents them for a small fee. Please pre-order these by letting your Nordic Visitor travel consultant know at time of booking.
• Driving licence: To rent a car, you must have held a valid and full driving licence for a minimum of 1 year. If you are younger than 23, you must have held your licence for 4 years.
• Terms & conditions: A rental agent will go through all the terms and conditions with you when you pick up your car.
• Extra driver: All Nordic Visitor self-drive tours include 2 authorised drivers for your rental car. You can add an additional driver for an extra fee. Contact us to request this.
Included in all rentals:
• Unlimited mileage
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• 2 authorised drivers
• Third party liability
• Theft protection
• 24/7 emergency roadside assistance
• Airport security fee (if you are picking up or dropping off your rental car at an airport)
Not included:
• Petrol/Diesel
• GPS
• Taxi fares between your accommodation and the car rental office
• Child seats or boosters
• One-way drop off fees
• Parking fees, parking fines, or towing charges
• Fines for traffic violations
• Excess waiver (deductibles)
• Fees for ferries (unless included in the itinerary)
• Negligent driver vehicle damage (eg. due to damage caused to tyres, wheels lost or damaged keys, damage to the interior of the vehicle, incorrect fuel, alcohol/drug use, off-road driving, etc). It also does not cover costs following a road traffic accident where the vehicle has to be recovered from an off-road location and there is no third party involved. All costs incurred must be paid by the renter.
Optional*
• Additional driver(s)
• Child seats or boosters
*Optional features are available for an additional fee, which you will pay when you collect your rental car. They must be pre-ordered by letting Nordic Visitor know at time of booking.
Payment information: Self-drive tour packages at Nordic Visitor cover the cost of the rental, but you are ultimately responsible for any extra charges or costs incurred while using the vehicle.
Visa and Mastercard credit cards only are accepted at the car rental office at time of pickup. These will need to be in-date for 3 months after your departure from Britain.
Please note that the car rental agency will require a fuel deposit when you collect your vehicle. This will be returned to you if you return the car with a full tank of fuel. Some offices may also request an additional security deposit if you haven’t rented a car in the UK before, or if you are renting a premium vehicle.
The rental agent will make an imprint of the driver’s credit card when you come to collect your car. Your Nordic Visitor voucher covers the cost of the rental, so this imprint will only be used to cover any extra charges or costs caused by the use of the rented vehicle.
Good to know:
• Remember, motorists drive on the left side of the road in the UK.
• We highly recommend choosing a vehicle with automatic transmission if you’re not used to driving on the left. If you choose a manual transmission vehicle, keep in mind that you’ll need to shift gears with your left hand as the driver seat is on the right.
• If you experience a breakdown while driving in the UK, you’ll find an emergency roadside assistance number displayed on your car’s key fob and on the inside of the windscreen.
• See our Driving in the United Kingdom page for more information.
Frequently asked questions:
What do I need to rent a car in the UK?
You need a valid driving licence (see the question below for more criteria) to rent a car in the UK, as well as a credit card in the driver’s name.
If you are British, or an EU citizen who is resident in the UK, you’ll also need proof of address. Documents accepted include bank or credit card statements, or utility bills. Make sure your proof of address was issued within the past 3 months.
EU residents must show their passport or ID card as well as their domestic driving licence.
If you are not from the UK or EU, and your licence is not in English, you must show it in an English translation. Alternatively, you can apply for an international driving permit, which you must show along with your domestic licence and your passport.
All drivers not from Britian must show either their boarding pass, flight ticket or passport stamp to confirm that they have been in the UK for less than 12 months.
It’s also important that you know the rules of the road, so make sure to read our driving guide.
Do I need international driving licence in the UK?
If your valid driving licence is from the USA, Canada, Australia, China, Malaysia, India or within the EU, you don’t need an international driving licence or international driving permit to drive in the UK.
That being said, drivers from outside the EU must show a licence written in English or an English translation. If you do not have an English translation of your licence, you’ll need an international driving permit.
If you’re visiting from a different country, you’ll will probably need an international driving licence or permit. Check your government’s website for more information about if your licence is valid for driving in the UK.
Are there toll roads in the UK?
On your tour around the UK, you’re likely to encounter a toll road or pay-bridge. You’ll find them in both England and Wales, though there aren’t any in Scotland.
Each one costs a different amount, and they can range from less than £1 to just shy of £10. It’s a good idea to have cash on you if a toll road is on your route, just in case they don’t accept card payments.
What side of the road do people drive on in the UK?
You’ll be driving on the left-hand side of the road in the United Kingdom. If you’re unsure about the rules of the road here, we’ve got you covered with our handy driving guide.
