Where it is best to rent a car in London?

Posted by DaxmoutS@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 11 comments

Hey guys, planning a 4 day road trip from London to Wales and trying to figure out which rental company is actually worth using in the UK.

Considering options like Sixt, Enterprise, Europcar, Turo, Booking.com rentals etc.

Main things I care about:
• decent cars, not completely destroyed
• smooth pickup/dropoff
• no weird hidden charges
• good insurance experience if something happens
• reasonable deposit
• better chance of getting the class booked or an upgrade

I’m 27 if that matters for any companies/policies.

Would also appreciate hearing:
• companies you had genuinely good experiences with
• companies you would absolutely avoid
• whether Turo is worth it in the UK compared to normal rental companies

Trip is specifically for driving around Wales for 4 days, so comfort and reliability matter more than getting the absolute cheapest option.

And please, no “just take the train” recommendations 😅

[-]

shitthrower@reddit

The Out rent out land rovers and jaguars, they deliver and pick up the car from your place of choosing.

I’ve used them once, was very impressed with the service.

tekkerslovakia@reddit

Any of those options are fine. Any car hire company will give you a perfectly serviceable car.

If I was doing it, I’d get the tube out west to Heathrow to pick up the car - there’ll be loads of options and you won’t have the stress of driving through London

Haurian@reddit

It's worth pointing out that the Heathrow car hire places are generally away from the actual terminals, although they do run shuttle busses. Not to mention if OP is part of a group or has luggage that's extra complications compared to a local place where it's easy for one person to get the car and come back to your accommodation.

They can also charge airport-specific charges that make the equivalent hire more expensive - I had a quick look on Enterprise and they came out roughly twice as expensive at Heathrow compared to just up the road in Hounslow.

Low_Veterinarian922@reddit

If you are SW I recommend Battersea Park Avis, and pick up the car the night before so you’re on the move from your home.

Heathrow adds at an hour each way to your commute, and yes while you’re right on the M4, the faff either side with luggage is potentially not worth it.

Koda614@reddit

Europcar have been consistently good for me. Also top tip for Europcar- Book CCAR vehicle class (compact automatic) - Branches are never allocated more than two of this class. Unless you’re picking up within the first 90 minutes of the branch opening they’re unlikely to have one on site and will upgrade you almost every time.

Look into your own excess insurance policy rather than buying waivers from the rental branch. It’s often cheaper to buy this even if you are only doing one single rental and aren’t a regular customer since they charge by the day.

Jesisawesome@reddit

Kendall Cars are by far and away the best I have used in London

skibbin@reddit

Never had an issue with Enterprise. Last time I did London and Wales I took the train to Birmingham International and picked up a hire car from there. It allowed me to avoid London traffic at rush hour. I think the car may also have been cheaper and with a bigger range to choose from?

mdb3ard@reddit

Turo has been the best for me - used it here and the US. Of course pick up and drop off is diff depending on owner but generally have found some great deals and great hosts(?) on there. And all costs covered through the app so no nasty hidden surprises. Have always found the process to be smooth. I stopped trusting major rental companies after phantom damage claims (Avis) and hidden fees that surface when dropping off (or maybe I didn’t pay enough attention - probably the latter lol)

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