London car hire

A mini or compact car is the recommended option in London for travelers who don't require much space for passengers or luggage, as they are easiest to drive and park around the city.

The speed limit in the UK is 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) on urban roads with street lighting, 60 mph (97 kph) on single roadways, and 70 mph (115 kph) on dual roadways and freeways. However, in some parts of inner-city London, speed limits are set at 20 mph (32 kph).

Street parking can be both extremely hard to find and pricey in central London. However, parking in The City of London, the central district, is free after 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, after 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays. Most street parking spots will be metered, and depending on the areas, it can cost anywhere between £1 and £5 per hour (approximately $1.30-$6.40).

On average a car hire in London costs £28 per day.

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Routes Car & Truck Rentals (£8/day), SURPRICE CAR RENTAL (£8/day) and GREEN MOTION (£9/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at Routes Car & Truck Rentals Unit 6, Jetsave LTD, Sovereign Court, 633 Sipson Rd UB7 0JE (14 miles from the city centre).

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in London are Sixt (7.6, 73 reviews), Hertz (7.4, 80 reviews), and Europcar (7.0, 65 reviews).

The average price of fuel in London is £5.64 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £68 and £90, depending on the car size.

Mini (Seat Mii or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in London.

Car hire companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Easirent, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Avis and Ace.

Car hire companies onsite at Gatwick airport include Easirent, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Goldcar Rental SP, keddy by Europcar, Dollar and City Car & Truck Rentals.

Car hire companies onsite at London City airport include GREEN MOTION, Easirent, Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Avis, keddy by Europcar, Firefly and City Car & Truck Rentals.

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, INTERRENT, Easirent, Sixt, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo, Europcar, Budget and Avis.

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, INTERRENT, Easirent, Sixt, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo, Europcar, Budget and Avis.

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from London City airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Hertz, Europcar, Budget and Avis.

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

A Mini car hire in London costs £17 per day, on average.

An Economy car hire in London costs £18 per day, on average.

A Compact car hire in London costs £19 per day, on average.

In London, cars are most frequently hired at SURPRICE CAR RENTAL Unit 6 Sovereign Ct 633 Sipson Road (14 miles from city centre).

On average a car hire in London costs £193 per week (£28 per day).

On average a car hire in London costs £826 per month (£28 per day).

Most car hire providers in London offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car hire in London, check out KAYAK's car hire insurance guide.

One thing that you should look for, when driving with your car hire in the London city centre is the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). This zone covers all areas within the North and South Circular roads. ULEZ is in operation 24 hours a day, all year round, except Christmas Day and your car hire should meet certain emission standards, otherwise, you must pay a daily charge.

London is an extremely busy city, with there being thousands of cyclists utilising the roads each day. Whilst much of London has dedicated cycle paths, there are still plenty of roads that combine bikes and cars. For this reason, you should be extra vigilant when driving, especially as some cyclists jump red lights and undertake. It's advised to regularly check your mirrors, particularly when coming to a roundabout or turn.