Car Hire in Edinburgh
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Cheapest Car Hire Rates
Edinburgh Airport
Mini
Fiat 500
or comparable
£ 31.80
per day
Edinburgh Airport
Compact
Ford Focus
or comparable
£ 35.38
per day
Edinburgh Airport
Economy
Ford Fiesta
or comparable
£ 36.75
per day
Edinburgh Airport
Compact
Vauxhall Crossland
or comparable
£ 36.90
per day
Most Popular Car Hire Deals
Edinburgh Airport
Standard
VW Passat
or comparable
£ 41.42
/ per day
Edinburgh Airport
Mini
Fiat 500
or comparable
£ 41.63
/ per day
City Centre
Intermediate
MG ZS
or comparable
£ 45.25
/ per day
Edinburgh Airport
Compact
Vauxhall Astra
or comparable
£ 46.02
/ per day
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 23:44 on 2022-08-11.
Awards
World Travel Awards - World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website 2020
World Travel Awards - World's Leading Car Rental Booking App 2020
2021 Magellan Awards Silver Winner
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
2021 FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies
2020 FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2020
2019 Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
GBP
Traffic direction
Left-hand
Dialing code
44
Budget car hire price
£ 95.61 / per day
Average car hire length
1 days
Speed limit within city centre
48 km/h
30 mi/h
Speed limit out of city centre
97 km/h
60 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Average gasoline price
£ 1.58 / 1 liter
Highest gasoline price
£ 1.87 / 1 liter
Lowest gasoline price
£ 1.46 / 1 liter
Why hire a car in Edinburgh?
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is the UK’s second-most visited city (after London) for a reason. In addition to its well-preserved architecture and fairy-tale atmosphere, the city is a cultural and innovation hub and boasts some of the country’s best museums.
One-way Car Hire in Edinburgh
The most popular one-way car hire options for pick up in Edinburgh and drop off in another city include:
- From Edinburgh to Glasgow - 327 offers from £ 25.64 per day
- From Edinburgh to Inverness - 143 offers from £ 32.39 per day
- From Edinburgh to Manchester - 104 offers from £ 30.86 per day
- From Edinburgh to Aberdeen - 104 offers from £ 32.39 per day
- From Edinburgh to London - 130 offers from £ 33.33 per day
Top ways to enter Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Airport. The busiest in Scotland, Edinburgh Airport handles about 15 million travellers annually. A number of low-cost carriers fly here, including easyJet and Ryanair. Edinburgh Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the city centre.
- Glasgow Airports. There are two other international airports near Edinburgh, both nominally serving the neighbouring city of Glasgow. By far the largest of the two, Glasgow Airport is about a 90-minute drive east while the smaller Glasgow-Prestwick Airport, served only by Ryanair, is about 1 hour and 45 minutes away.
Top destinations and activities
- Edinburgh Castle. The symbol of Edinburgh and home of the Scottish Crown Jewels, this is arguably the most famous of all the Edinburgh landmarks. The castle was first built more than 1,000 years ago, though the complex has been renovated and expanded over the centuries. Tickets need to be purchased in advance — you can do that on the official website.
- Scottish National Gallery. Another Edinburgh treasure, the National Gallery has a collection of virtually all of the most notable Scottish artists, as well as foreign masters like Botticelli, Gauguin, Cezanne, and many more. As with Edinburgh Castle, you should book your tickets in advance.
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Not just a public green area, but also a centre for the conservation and study of plants, RBGE is home to more than 13,000 floral species (as well as a herbarium of over three million specimens). In addition to plants native to the British Isles, there are many exotic species that can be found in the Palm House and Cryptogamic Garden.
Traffic and parking
- The United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side of the road
- On-street parking is usually heavily restricted. Never park on a white, double yellow or double red line (stopping on motorways and along red lines is illegal).
- There are relatively few parking areas available for city visitors in Edinburgh. Some paid parking spots are available via a pay-and-display system. You can find many of those on this map on the city’s official website. The exact fee will depend on the length of the time you park there, the hour of the day, and the day of the week. It is not a good idea to park without a permit as the fines are quite high and the rules are strictly enforced; sometimes your car might even be towed away.
- You are not allowed to use your mobile phone while driving unless you use a hands-free system.
- Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 112 km/h (70 mph) on motorways, 112 km/h (70 mph) on dual carriageways, 96 km/h (60 mph) on single carriageways and 48km/h (30 mph) in residential areas and areas with street lighting.
- In Scotland, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. In the rest of the UK, the legal alcohol limit is 0.08% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, a suspended license, or even imprisonment.
- Proof of insurance and the documentation of the car need to be in it whenever you’re driving.
- When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
- The emergency numbers are 999 and 112.
Ideas for a day-trip
- Leith. Technically a district of Edinburgh, the port area is highly distinct — it even has its own accent! Naturally, many of the attractions here are sea-related — such as the Trinity House Maritime Museum, the display of the Royal Yacht Britannia, and the scenic waterfront. Leith is immediately to the north of Edinburgh and only a short drive away.
- Glasgow. The largest city of Scotland and sometimes seen as a rival of Edinburgh, Glasgow might not be as historic or picturesque but is definitely a very fun destination. Not that there’s any lack of notable landmarks — Glasgow Cathedral, St. Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art, Kelvingrove Park and Art Gallery, and even Glasgow Necropolis are just a few to mention. The drive from Edinburgh takes only about an hour and 20 minutes.
Most popular cars
The most hired car in Edinburgh is the Skoda Octavia, followed by the Ford Fiesta and the Vauxhall Corsa. The most popular car types are economy, compact, and intermediate.
Car Hire Prices in Edinburgh
- Station wagons - starting at £ 199 per day
- Large cars - starting at £ 175 per day
- Medium cars - starting at £ 126 per day
- People Carriers - starting at £ 370 per day
- Premium cars - starting at £ 231 per day
- Small cars - starting at £ 102 per day
- SUVs - starting at £ 187 per day
Money-saving tips
These are some good methods to save money on the car you’ll hire:
- Compare rates of different car hire providers
- Book your vehicle well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Edinburgh is the cheapest in October.
Top 20 Cities near Edinburgh
-
London starting at £ 48.33 per day509.9 km / 316.8 miles away
-
Manchester starting at £ 67.17 per day284.3 km / 176.7 miles away
-
Belfast starting at £ 12.49 per day216.6 km / 134.6 miles away
-
Luton starting at £ 29.02 per day492.8 km / 306.2 miles away
-
Glasgow starting at £ 35.56 per day61.6 km / 38.3 miles away
-
Birmingham starting at £ 27.35 per day396.4 km / 246.3 miles away
-
Leeds starting at £ 46.56 per day268.4 km / 166.8 miles away
-
Bristol starting at £ 31.80 per day509.7 km / 316.7 miles away
-
Liverpool starting at £ 27.35 per day292.9 km / 182.0 miles away
-
Inverness starting at £ 31.80 per day181.8 km / 113.0 miles away
-
Newcastle starting at £ 27.35 per day146.6 km / 91.1 miles away
-
Watford starting at £ 26.08 per day516.5 km / 321.0 miles away
-
Reading starting at £ 27.35 per day526.9 km / 327.4 miles away
-
Croydon starting at £ 59.32 per day551.8 km / 342.9 miles away
-
Southampton starting at £ 17.42 per day575.6 km / 357.7 miles away
-
Cardiff starting at £ 27.35 per day506.3 km / 314.6 miles away
-
Wolverhampton starting at £ 55.28 per day383.5 km / 238.3 miles away
-
Preston starting at £ 25.06 per day246.0 km / 152.8 miles away
-
Slough starting at £ 27.35 per day524.6 km / 326.0 miles away
-
Leicester starting at £ 27.35 per day395.2 km / 245.6 miles away
Top 17 Destinations around Edinburgh
-
Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station starting at £ 65.76 per day
-
Edinburgh Leith starting at £ 96.84 per day2.8 km / 1.7 miles away
-
Edinburgh Sighthill starting at £ 35.56 per day7.5 km / 4.7 miles away
-
Edinburgh Airport starting at £ 31.80 per day11.5 km / 7.1 miles away
-
Stirling Railway Station starting at £ 44.43 per day50.0 km / 31.1 miles away
-
Dundee Airport starting at £ 91.13 per day56.4 km / 35.0 miles away
-
Dundee West starting at £ 103.59 per day59.7 km / 37.1 miles away
-
Glasgow Scotstounhill starting at £ 35.56 per day73.1 km / 45.4 miles away
-
Glasgow Airport starting at £ 31.80 per day78.1 km / 48.5 miles away
-
Newcastle Airport starting at £ 27.35 per day138.8 km / 86.2 miles away
-
Aberdeen Airport starting at £ 31.80 per day151.6 km / 94.2 miles away
-
Inverness Airport starting at £ 31.80 per day184.3 km / 114.5 miles away
-
Belfast Cruise Port starting at £ 12.49 per day225.6 km / 140.2 miles away
-
George Best Belfast City Airport starting at £ 61.91 per day225.7 km / 140.2 miles away
-
Isle of Man Airport starting at £ 28.68 per day227.2 km / 141.2 miles away
-
Belfast Central Railway station starting at £ 112.70 per day229.5 km / 142.6 miles away
-
Belfast International Airport starting at £ 61.91 per day239.7 km / 149.0 miles away
Map of Car Hire Destinations
During which month is it most affordable to hire a car in Edinburgh?
Our data show how prices for hiring a car in Edinburghfluctuate depending on the time of the year. This graph can assist you in finding the best bargain.
Average Price for Hiring a Car in Edinburgh
The cheapest month to hire a car in Edinburgh is October with prices starting at £ 25.48 for an Economy class cars. The most expensive month in which to hire a car is December with prices for for a Compact class) starting at £ 95.18. The average cost over the course of the entire year is £ 50. You can use this to plan your trip at the time of year when it would be most economical to hire a car. Note that these prices are only averages. The amount of time you hire a car for and the time at which you book will influence the prices.
What is the usual period for which people keep their hire cars, on average, in Edinburgh?
Hirers picking up a car in Edinburgh keep them for an average of 6 days during in January, while those picking up their cars in December keep them for an average of 3.
Average Hire Length in Edinburgh
What month is the most favoured for hiring a car in Edinburgh?
While travellers visit Edinburgh year-round, the most popular month for hiring a car is January, and the least popular is September.
Popularity of Car Hire in Edinburgh by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Hire Models
| Hire Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easirent | Fiat 500 | 3 | 2 | Small cars |
| Easirent | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Easirent | Ford Focus | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Arnold Clark | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| GreenMotion | Citroen Berlingo | 4 | 6 | Medium cars |
| Arnold Clark | Kia Ceed | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Alamo | Ford Focus | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Arnold Clark | Peugeot 3008 | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Easirent | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Alamo | Toyota Aygo | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
Our Customers Reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
SC
United Kingdom
Fiat 500
26 February 2022
Waiting time when I picked up the car ( i couldn't open the park gate because I didn't have the ticket to leave the park). I called the park assistant and told me the easyar
worn brake discs and windshield rubbers
CM
United Kingdom
Toyota Yaris
13 August 2021
Driving around Highlands - most scenic trip ever. Loved it.! Great views, no traffic and lots of free car parks.
FT
United Kingdom
Vauxhall Astra
7 July 2021
Very well managed and simple
PM
United Kingdom
Renault Kadjar
9 June 2021
We rented a car to have more luggage space for our staycation and would do that again
Car Hire Statistics
Highest rated company
Arnold Clark
9.48 / 10
Lowest rated company
GreenMotion
6.93 / 10
Total number of reviews
20
Total rental companies
13
Average daily price
£ 95.61
Lowest daily price
£ 9.57
Total cars available
631
Top 13 Hire Companies in Edinburgh in 2022
Arnold Clark
+441315617779
1 Seafield St, Edinburgh EH6 7LG
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-17:00
Sun:09:00-16:00
Alamo
+4401313330400
Edinburgh Airport, Burnside Rd, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH12 9DN
Avis
+4403445446004
Car Rental Centre
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:00
Tue:07:00-23:00
Wed:07:00-23:00
Thu:07:00-23:00
Fri:07:00-23:00
Sat:07:00-23:00
Sun:07:00-23:00
Hertz
+4408433093025
Car Rental Centre, 175 Jubilee Rd, Edinburgh, Ingliston EH12 9FT
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:00
Tue:08:00-17:00
Wed:08:00-17:00
Thu:08:00-17:00
Fri:08:00-17:00
Sat:08:00-17:00
Sun:08:00-17:00
National
+4401315566340
Waverley Station Level 2, New Street Car Park, Edinburgh EH8 8BH
Working hours
Mon:07:00-19:00
Tue:07:00-19:00
Wed:07:00-19:00
Thu:07:00-19:00
Fri:07:00-19:00
Sat:07:00-19:00
Sun:07:00-19:00
Enterprise
+4401313414441
WAVERLEY STATION, NEW STREET CAR PARK
Working hours
Mon:07:00-19:00
Tue:07:00-19:00
Wed:07:00-19:00
Thu:07:00-19:00
Fri:07:00-19:00
Sat:07:00-19:00
Sun:07:00-19:00
Europcar
+4403713843467
St James' Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3BP
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
SIXT
+442070188246
26 Dunedin Street
Keddy
+4403713843811
65/67 SALAMANDER STREET
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-13:00
Firefly
08433093025
CCRC RECEPTION
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:00
Tue:08:00-17:00
Wed:08:00-17:00
Thu:08:00-17:00
Fri:08:00-17:00
Sat:08:00-17:00
Sun:08:00-17:00
Interrent
+441313330008 / +4403713840134
InterRent Car Rental Office
Working hours
Mon:07:00-21:00
Tue:07:00-21:00
Wed:07:00-21:00
Thu:07:00-21:00
Fri:07:00-21:00
Sat:07:00-21:00
Sun:07:00-21:00
Easirent
+441312021710
3 Queen Anne Dr, Newbridge, EH28 8LH
Working hours
Mon:06:00-00:30
Tue:06:00-00:30
Wed:06:00-00:30
Thu:06:00-00:30
Fri:06:00-00:30
Sat:06:00-00:30
Sun:06:00-00:30
GreenMotion
+441313000068
26 Greenside Row, Q-Park, Edinburgh, EH1 3AJ
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00