Best value car hire from top brands
Scotland car hire tips
Where to pick up your car
There are over 35 car hire locations in Scotland, and the most popular city is Edinburgh.
Top car rental brands
The most popular car rental brands in Scotland are Europcar, Hertz and Alamo.
Best time to hire a car
The cheapest months to pick up your car hire in Scotland are February and January.
Local currency
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Side of road
Left
Hire a car in Scotland
Scotland’s remote mysticism is a calling card for voyagers and daydreamers.
The country’s terrain is a vast mosaic of mountains, lochs and valleys, which act as a backdrop for the most exciting of road trips. You’ll find a welcoming hospitality from the Scots as well as an infinite natural landscape.
Though the tourism and film industries focus on the nation’s heritage, Scotland’s rising modern culture offers a different side to the country. Your trip to Scotland starts here: easyCar compares top car hire brands, helping you find the best rental deals across the country.
Local knowledge
Driving tips
Single lane roads
Scotland has a lot of narrow lanes with only enough driving width for one car. When navigating these, you must use specific passing places to let cars driving in the opposite direction pass. Always drive cautiously – this means looking ahead for cars, remembering where the last passing place was (in case you need to reverse!) and stopping when needed.
Petrol
You’ll find plenty of petrol stations in the city but if you’re venturing out to the countryside or the North of Scotland, fill up whenever possible as fuel stations become few and far between.
Distances
If you’re planning a road trip through the Highlands or to different castles and national parks, keep in mind the long distances between destinations. Give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place and schedule your itinerary generously.
Navigation
If you’re driving in the Highlands, don’t expect constant 4G signal! You may get some signal in larger villages for making phone calls, but internet may be on the slow side. Downloading an offline map or taking a paper map with you is the best way to ensure you don’t get lost.
Car hire tips
Car hire guide
| Frequently asked question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Most popular place to hire a car in Scotland | 1. Edinburgh 2. Glasgow 3. Inverness |
| Most popular rental length | Three days |
| Most popular month to rent a car | August, where a hire car costs on average £27.50 per day |
Speed limit guide
| Type of road | Speed limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 70 mph |
| Dual Carriageways | 70 mph |
| Single Carriageways | 60 mph |
| Urban areas | 30 mph |
| Rural areas | 60 mph |
The historic capital
Edinburgh
| Cheapest month / most expensive month | Average cost per day of car hire in Edinburgh* |
|---|---|
| November | £16.90 |
| August | £28.40 |
(*based on a 7+day rental)
Free things to do:
Besides Edinburgh’s abundance of free museums, the city has a selection of natural attractions you can visit for free. Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano that offers incredible views of the city. Another city escape is Cramond Island. Only reachable from the mainland during low tide, this is a great place to get away from the crowds for a short while.
Fancy a drive? Try the picturesque Borders Historic Route.
Length: 89 miles
Start: Edinburgh
Finish: Gretna Green
Points of interest in Scotland
Ullapool
A Highlands harbour village offering views of lochs and surrounding hills.
Drummond Castle Gardens
This castle is home to the best formal gardens in Scotland, featuring copper beech trees planted by Queen Victoria herself.
Kelburn Castle
A unique 13th century castle covered in colourful graffiti murals.
Isle of Jura
Once home to George Orwell, this Scottish island is one of the country’s wildest and most isolated places.
Glencoe
A valley carved out by glaciers and volcanic eruptions, perfect for hiking and mountain climbing.
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Popular Scottish cities
Dundee
| Cheapest month / most expensive month | Average cost per day of car hire in Dundee* |
|---|---|
| November | £17.90 |
| April | £23.70 |
(*based on a 7+day rental)
The UK’s first UNESCO City of Design, Dundee is full of historic and modern cultural treasures.
Nearby tourist route:
Angus Coastal Route
Length: 68 miles
Start: Dundee
Finish: Aberdeen
Inverness
| Cheapest month / most expensive month | Average cost per day of car hire in Inverness* |
|---|---|
| February | £18.60 |
| August | £24.70 |
(*based on a 7+day rental)
The gateway to the Scottish Highlands, from Inverness you’ll see the region’s supernatural beauty.
Nearby tourist route:
North Coast 500
Length: 500 miles
Start: Inverness
Finish: Inverness
Aberdeen
| Cheapest month / most expensive month | Average cost per day of car hire in Aberdeen* |
|---|---|
| February | £17.40 |
| December | £25.80 |
(*based on a 7+day rental)
A powerhouse city by the North Sea, Aberdeen is visually striking and within easy driving distance of whisky country.
Nearby tourist route:
Deeside Tourist Route
Length: 108 miles
Start: Aberdeen
Finish: Perth
A bit of everything
Glasgow
| Cheapest month / most expensive month | Average cost per day of car hire in Glasgow* |
|---|---|
| November | £15.70 |
| December | £27.60 |
(*based on a 7+day rental)
| Car hire pick up point | Prices from… | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow Airport | £3.40 | £21.80 |
| Glasgow downtown | £6.00 | £21.90 |
Free things to do:
Not everything in Glasgow will cost you a hefty handful of money. Wander around the stately looking Gallery of Modern Art or glass-domed Botanic Gardens for your fill of culture and exotic outdoors. Alternatively, if you’re into spooky Victorian monuments, stroll through the Glasgow Necropolis.
Fancy a drive? Explore the Clyde Valley Tourist Route.
Length: 38 miles
Start: Hamilton
Finish: Abington
