Compare UK car hire

Make a smooth getaway at the best price by following our useful advice:

1. Avoid costly extras - before you book, consider whether you really need to add on expensive extras such as a sat-nav and child car seats. Can you update and take your own sat-nav or use your phone? If you’re flying to your pick-up point, most airlines allow free carriage of child car seats too.

2. Know your fuel options - full-to-full, full-to-empty, like-for-like… there are pros and cons to each option; full-to-empty, for example, is not good value during a quick getaway when you’re unlikely to use a full tank of fuel and likely to be charged an inflated price for the petrol. The main money-saving advice here, whatever the option you choose, is it to stick to the terms and conditions of your rental. It’s going to cost you if you don’t.

3. Check the terms and conditions carefully – we can’t say it enough when it comes to car hire. T&Cs vary greatly between providers and even experienced drivers can be caught out and stung financially.

4. Check your documents – to rent a car in the UK you’ll need a valid driving licence and, if you are not taking the provider’s full insurance (see next tip), enough funds to allow them to authorise a deposit. No money is taken, unless you damage the vehicle. The UK government also advises drivers to check the car-hire provider’s terms, as you might need to generate a code via the DVLA to provide the status of points on your licence.

5. Consider which insurance options you need – you don’t have to decide when you book, but think about which insurance options you’ll need before you travel. You can pay to reduce the car hire excess charges should anything go wrong. This is usually an expensive option at the car hire desk. Instead, buy a standalone policy for car hire excess insurance before you travel. It’s good value, though keep in mind that the provider might want to authorise a deposit if you don’t agree to their cover.

6. Check the car thoroughly for damage or defects as soon as you get the keys. If damage is not already detailed on the paperwork, report it now and get someone to note it on all copies. It’s a good idea to photograph the car too, to capture the condition in which you picked it up.

7. Read the Highway Codefor driving in England, Scotland and Wales. There’s a different version for Northern Ireland.

8. Stick to speed limits, which are in miles per hour, not kilometres.

9. Keep a small stash of coins available for car parking, as most towns and cities charge for central parking spaces. Some car park machines accept notes, bankcards and telephone payments. Spare change is also useful for the few toll roads around the UK. Be aware also of the fees for entering Central London.

10. When returning the vehicle, be on time, stick to the fuel plan, inspect the car (photograph it again to be thorough), be sure to remove all of your belongings and don’t forget to return the keys!

Planning a UK break? You lucky thing - the attractions of the UK are numerous and varied. In summer, you can build sandcastles in the morning and visit ancient castles in the afternoon. In winter, you can get cosy by a roaring log fire or go for a long woodland walk. There are chocolate-box villages, buzzing cities, skyscrapers, mountains, natural wonders and theme parks to get the whole family squealing with delight.

In England, hiring a car gives you easy access to places of natural beauty, such as the Lake District, the Cotswolds, the Yorkshire Moors, the Peak District and the Norfolk Broads.

The seaside – a byword for ice cream, fish and chips, sandy toes and deckchairs – can be hard to reach without a car, especially in remote parts of Devon and Cornwall. And cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol are easy to reach when you get behind the wheel.

In Wales, the glorious coastline is yours to explore, or you can climb to new heights with visits to the Brecon Beacons or Snowdonia. The capital city, Cardiff, is worth a visit, as are time-honoured seaside resorts, such as Victorian Llandudno, and Tenby, which features 13th-century town walls.

Scotland’s highlights mostly fall into two categories: lively cities, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, and spectacular natural scenery, seen in the mountains, lakes and islands of the UK’s most northerly country. Oh, and whisky, don’t forget the whisky.

In Northern Ireland, monumental television locations compete with nature’s monuments for the eye of the tourist. Hop in the car from your city base in vibrant Belfast and see filming locations from hit show ‘Game of Thrones’, which is primarily filmed in Northern Ireland, as well as the stunning Giant’s Causeway.

Whether you’re planning a cheap UK holiday or a no-expense-spared trip of a lifetime, an outdoors adventure or a thrilling city break, with UK car hire, you can do it all with ease. Add in a dash of British culture with one of the nation’s top events, and the memories will make themselves.

Take your hire car on one of these celebrated driving routes, which display the best of the UK:

1. A82 to Glencoe, Scotland

Head north from Glasgow or Loch Lomond towards Glencoe and the Scottish Highlands, where soaring mountains flank the edges of this memorable route.

2. Cheltenham to Stratford-upon-Avon, England

It’s a simple enough 30-mile route from the regency splendour of Cheltenham to Shakespeare’s Stratford, but it’s pure Cotswold loveliness and the 70-minute journey time will stretch into hours as you stop at shops, viewpoints, pubs and postcard-perfect villages.

3. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

Castles, rope bridges, views, beaches, ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations, the Giant’s Causeway: this sensational carriageway is the key to unlocking some of Northern Ireland’s most treasured possessions.

4. A4069 Black Mountain Road, Wales

Ascend into the Brecon Beacons and check out the panoramic views from this incredible route. Along the twists, turns and hairpin bends are ancient castles and plenty of places to stop with the camera.

5. Buttertubs Pass, Yorkshire, England

If only for the chance to repeat this delightful name, drive along Buttertubs Pass from Hawes to Thwaite in the Yorkshire Dales. It was used for one of three King of the Mountains climbs in the 2014 Tour de France, which began in Yorkshire.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.