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Car Hire Edinburgh

Save time and money. We compare the offers of car rental companies in Edinburgh on your behalf.

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  • Free cancellation Up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick up time
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  • 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
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Popular rental locations in Edinburgh

The following rental locations are the most popular for renting a car in Edinburgh

Car rental offers in Edinburgh

Whether you're looking for a small rental car or a station wagon for the entire family, we will always have a suitable vehicle for the lowest price. Below are some examples from our selection in Edinburgh.

Car type
Mini
Economy
Compact
Intermediate
Standard
Full-size
Luxury
Station wagon
Passenger van
SUV
Electric

Car rental companies in Edinburgh

Below are the car rental companies in Edinburgh with the best ratings. Compare all ratings and prices of these rental companies in one search.

  • Alamo

    9.7 (8619)
    From £ 18 / day
  • Budget

    9.3 (9604)
    From £ 15 / day
  • Enterprise

    8.7 (1921)
    From £ 22 / day
  • FireFly Car Rental

    8.4 (3811)
    From £ 20 / day
  • Hertz

    8.2 (6852)
    From £ 19 / day
  • Green Motion

    8.1 (1887)
    From £ 12 / day
  • Sixt

    8.1 (3316)
    From £ 24 / day
  • Dollar Rent a Car

    8.1 (4314)
    From £ 19 / day
  • Thrifty

    8 (5438)
    No rates available
  • National Car Rental

    8 (402)
    From £ 24 / day
  • Avis

    7.8 (5940)
    From £ 18 / day
  • Keddy By Europcar

    7.8 (3331)
    From £ 16 / day
  • Europcar

    7.6 (8061)
    From £ 17 / day
  • Flizzr

    7.1 (305)
    No rates available
  • Drivalia

    7 (535)
    From £ 12 / day
  • Easirent

    6.8 (516)
    No rates available
  • InterRent

    6.6 (5827)
    No rates available
  • Your Rent

    7.7 (49)
    No rates available
  • Goldcar

    6.8 (5469)
    No rates available
  • McRent

    No reviews
    No rates available

When is the best time to book a rental car in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a mini class car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), November is the most affordable time to rent a mini class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting mini class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a economy class car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), November is the most affordable time to rent a economy class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting economy class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a compact class car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), November is the most affordable time to rent a compact class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting compact class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent an intermediate class car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), November is the most affordable time to rent a intermediate class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. July is the peak month for renting intermediate class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a standard class car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), February is the most affordable time to rent a standard class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting standard class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a full-size car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), February is the most affordable time to rent a full-size class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting full-size class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a luxury car?

At this destination (Edinburgh), February is the most affordable time to rent a luxury class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting luxury class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a station wagon?

At this destination (Edinburgh), November is the most affordable time to rent a station wagon with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. July is the peak month for renting a station wagon, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a SUV?

At this destination (Edinburgh), February is the most affordable time to rent an SUV with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting an SUV, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a MPV?

At this destination (Edinburgh), February is the most affordable time to rent an mpv with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. September is the peak month for renting an mpv with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a minivan?

At this destination (Edinburgh), February is the most affordable time to rent a minibus with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. September is the peak month for renting a minibus, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Edinburgh - When is the most affordable time to rent a convertible?

At this destination (Edinburgh), October is the most affordable time to rent a convertible with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. January is the peak month for renting a convertible, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Car rental companies in and around Edinburgh

Looking for a hire car in United Kingdom? Take a look at our Car rental United Kingdom directory.

Edinburgh

Available locations in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Waverly Rail Station
1 Seafield St
12 Annandale St
224 E Main St
24 East London Street
26 Dunedin St
26 Greenside Row
42 Haymarket Terrace
45 Lochrin Pl
501 Calder Rd
67 Salamander St
Off Corstorphine Rd, Downie Ter

Edinburgh Guide

Car Hire

Situated along the Firth of Forth close to the North Sea, Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, consists of a new town and an old town that are both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Combined, they make Edinburgh the most visited city in Scotland. Edinburgh is also the country’s capital city and, as a result, is Scotland’s main port of entry, making it a great place to use as a base to explore the rest of the country. Its great location means that it is accessible to many other key destinations and landmarks, and a car rental is the best way to get out of the city and explore the rest of the Central Belt region of Scotland and beyond.

Who to Book With
Well-known international car hire agents such as Hertz, National, Budget and Europcar offer car hire in Edinburgh, with offices at the airport and in the city centre, close to both the Edinburgh Waverly and Haymarket railway stations. Although the vehicle selection is plentiful, it is still recommended to book the car of your choice online pre arrival.

Best time to go
May to September is the most pleasant time to visit Edinburgh, although summers are the busiest time of the year due to the city’s numerous festivals. Those wishing to get a good deal should avoid visiting in August, as this is when rates tend to be at their highest. May and June are great months to visit if you want to avoid the summer crowds, as it is still warm and sunny with temperatures ranging between 15°C and 28°C.

Need to Know Essentials
The following must be shown in order to drive off in your car rental:

- Both parts of a valid UK driving licence
- A second form of identification
- The credit card that you used to make the booking
- Booking confirmation, preferably printed.

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Edinburgh is not known to be vehicle-friendly, as it is prone to traffic jams, and parking is extremely hard to find. It is best to park your car at a park and ride facility outside of the city centre and travel in by public transport. If it is necessary to bring your vehicle into the city, then park at a safe car park or find a hotel that offers parking to its guests. There is also pay and display on-street parking options, although they are not easy to come by and rates are expensive at between £1.00 and £2.80 per hour.

All roads in Scotland lead to Edinburgh, making it easy to get in and out by car. The M8, M9 and M90 all start outside of the city centre, while numerous other routes also span out of the city in all directions. All roads taking drivers in and out of the city are toll free, but the M8, which connects Edinburgh to Glasgow, is notorious for heavy congestion.

Motorways can be identified by their blue signage with white numbers, while major trunk routes have green signs with yellow numbers. The city centre itself has many one-way streets, making it difficult for newcomers to navigate. Still, there is no congestion charge here, so visitors can enter without having to worry about having to pay a fee. It is mandatory in Scotland for all passengers to wear a seatbelt and drivers are forbidden to use a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

Read our guide to the United Kingdom for more tips on driving in and around Edinburgh.

Transport

Public Lothian Buses are the best way to get around Edinburgh, although First also operates buses throughout the city. Double Decker tour buses, which operate every day except for Christmas Day, provide a fun way to go sightseeing in the city. Many visitors also enjoying walking around Edinburgh; routes can be downloading to your mobile phone via the city’s walkit app.

Lothian Buses and First often use the same bus stops,al though tickets are not interchangeable. Tickets can be purchased on board from the driver, with a single journey on Lothian costing around £1.40, while First charges according to distance travelled. The best deal is to purchase an all-day ticket, which costs £3.50 with both of these bus companies. Tickets for the sightseeing bus are around £12 for the day and these can be purchased online.

Trains
Edinburgh is served by two railway stations, with Edinburgh Waverley railway station being the main hub. It is situated between the old town and the new town, and services are operated by a number of train companies, such as East Coast, First TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and ScotRail. These services connect the city to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London, among other UK destinations.

Taxis
Black cabs can be found at taxi ranks throughout the city, including outside of the railways stations, major hotels and the airport. Central Radio Taxi and City Cabs are the two largest companies operating in Edinburgh. Taxis here run on meters, with the tariff being around £2 for the first 520 metres and then an additional £0.25 for every 195 metres driven thereafter. Between 18:00 and 06:00, the initial tariff raises to £3 for the first 520 metres driven.

Buses and Trams
Apart from walking, the Lothian Buses are the best way to zip around the city, as there are more than 50 routes, making pretty much any location in Edinburgh reachable. Buses run every 7-10 minutes between 05:30 and 24:00 and there are 11 night bus routes that operate between 24:00 and 05:00. Bus number 100 runs from the city centre to Turnhouse Airport.

Exploring

Edinburgh is filled with landmarks, both ancient and modern, home to a number of great annual festivals, offers some fantastic shopping opportunities and is a haven for foodies. But there is also so much to see outside of the city that most spend at least one day out exploring other towns and villages or visiting a nearby national park. Edinburgh’s location on the Firth of Forth means that there are a number of excursions you can take along the coast, while Glasgow and Dundee can be reached by car in just over an hour.

Recommended Drives

Loch Lomond - Scotland’s largest loch, offers some spectacular scenery and the opportunity to enjoy plenty of outdoor activities. Hike along the shores of the loch, cycle along the Lowland Highland Trail or relax on a sandy beach.

Stirling Castle - One of the largest and most important castles in the UK, sits just 40.5 miles outside of Edinburgh. The castle was built in the early 12th century, although today most of what remains was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Scheduled Ancient Monument is very important to Scotland’s history and open to the public every day except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

East Neuk - This is a stunning stretch of coast that runs from Earlsferry to Crail on the opposite side of the Firth of Forth. Visit blue flag beaches, snap photos of red tile roofs, wander along streets lined with 17th century estate houses and shop in fish markets. Finish the drive off in the famous historical town of St Andrews.

Practical information

  • Currency
    British pound
  • Driving direction
    Left
  • City speed limit
    48 km/h
  • Freeway speed limit
    96 km/h
  • Language
    English
  • Popular car category
    Compact

What most people want to know

The following questions and answers are a selection of the most popular questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us.

Is Carrentals.co.uk the cheapest?

Yes, we offer a guarantee of the lowest price - because we compare various retailers, we can always offer you the best price in town.

What do I need to do when picking up a car?

To pick up your car, you will need your voucher, passport, driver's license and a credit card. It is very important that your driver's license and credit card are in the same name as the main driver. Keep in mind that the local rental company will reserve a certain amount on your credit card as a deposit. This requires the PIN code for your credit card. If your driver's license is foreign (for example, in Chinese), you must bring a translation with you. Only your original passport and driver's license will be accepted - a copy is not sufficient.

Are there any additional costs?

In general, our rates are all-inclusive. Should there be any additional costs, our booking department will get in touch with you before issuing the invoice. Should you object, you can always cancel your reservation with no obligations attached (at least 48 hours in advance).

What kind of insurance is applicable to my car rental?

In general, Liability Insurance, Fire Insurance, All-Risks Insurance and Theft Insurance are included in the cost of your rental car.

What is a worry-free label?

Only rental companies with a high level of customer satisfaction are eligible to be included in our Worry-Free selection. This rate includes excess cover and unlimited kilometres. Your vehicle will be provided and must be returned with a full tank of fuel. With a vehicle from our Worry-Free selection, you can travel with peace of mind and no hidden costs.

How can I change or cancel my reservation?

You can cancel your reservation through "My Account". We recommend contacting us by phone if your changes to your booking or cancellation takes place at short notice (48 hours or less).

When will I get a confirmation of my booking?

Most reservations will receive confirmation within minutes after payment takes place. We recommend contacting our Booking Department for last minute reservations (pick-up within 48 hours).

Which car rental companies are compared by Carrentals.co.uk at this location?
  • Alamo
  • Budget
  • Enterprise
  • FireFly Car Rental
  • Hertz
  • Green Motion
  • Sixt
  • Dollar Rent a Car
  • Thrifty
  • National Car Rental
  • Avis
  • Keddy By Europcar
  • Europcar
  • Flizzr
  • Drivalia
  • Easirent
  • InterRent
  • Your Rent
  • Goldcar
  • McRent