Best value car hire from top brands
Edinburgh car hire tips
Where to pick up your car
There are over 15 car hire locations in Edinburgh. The most popular location is
Edinburgh Airport (EDI), just over half an hour’s drive from the city centre (14km).
Top car rental brands
The most popular car rental brands in Edinburgh are Europcar, Keddy, Interrent, Alamo
and Hertz.
Local currency
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Average temperatures
Warmest month: July (15°C)
Coldest month: January (3°C)
Side of road
Left
Hire a car in Edinburgh
A magnificent city set in dramatic
landscape, Edinburgh is a capital surrounded by wilderness.
There are many cities worth visiting throughout the UK, but not many are as beautiful as
Edinburgh. The capital of Scotland is perfect for a mini city break, and an ideal base for
exploring the quieter corners of the countryside. With untouched wilderness outside of
Edinburgh’s metropolitan area, you can have the best of both worlds. So brave the elements,
explore this enchanting city, or do a bit of both – it’s completely up to you.
With easyCar, you’ll be on the road in no time. Browse the best car hire
deals across Scotland’s top suppliers and find your perfect rental. With so much to uncover
by car beyond Edinburgh’s borders, what are you waiting for?
Helpful advice
Travel tips and questions
Frequently Asked
QuestionAnswer
| What is the most popular rental length in Edinburgh? | Five to six days |
| What is the most popular month to rent a car in Edinburgh? |
August, when a hire car costs on average £23.00 per day |
Bring food with you
Fill your car with snacks. Picnic food on the road is
much more sensible than hoping you stumble upon a load of restaurants en route. In rural
parts, you won’t!
Keep your tank topped up
The same goes for petrol stations. As they
become few and far between, they are also not guaranteed to be open. So, plan ahead and
leave with a full tank!
Drive outside of the city
Central Edinburgh is difficult to drive around,
especially the Old Town due to narrow streets and many one way systems in place. It’s much
better to use a car for the beautiful roads outside of the city.
Helpful hints for hiring a car in Edinburgh
Pickup LocationAverage cost per day of car hire in Edinburgh
| Airport | £23.60 |
| Downtown | £25.10 |
Petrol
If you’re picking up your car from the airport, there are plenty
of petrol stations along the A8 (Glasgow Road). You can access these whether you approach
from the city centre or the M8.
Forth Bridge
There are no longer any toll fees for crossing this bridge,
which is a nifty cut through if you are driving to Perth. It is also a striking piece of
architecture worth admiring.
Roads
Scottish roads can take some getting used to, especially if you’ve
never driven in the countryside before. Take your time on single track roads, and keep an
eye out for passing places incase you meet another driver.
Info on car hire in Edinburgh
Average prices
Cheapest month / most expensive monthAverage cost per day of car hire in Edinburgh
| January | £13.90 |
| August | £23.00 |
Driving laws
| Legal drink driving limit | Minimum renter age |
|---|---|
| 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath | 21, and you must have held your licence for a year |
Speed limits
| Type of road |
Speed limit |
|---|---|
| Single carriageway | 60mph |
| Dual carriageway | 70mph |
| Built up areas | 30mph |
easyCar customer reviews for car hire in Edinburgh
“Booking with easyCar is effortless.”
“Great customer service for phone enquiries.”
“We had an excellent experience with our rental.”
Book your car hire now
Book by phone
+44 203 3186 960
When’s best to visit
Whatever the weather
Edinburgh is a cold city for a lot of the year and it gets a fair bit of rain (and snow).
This shouldn’t put you off, as it’s part of Scotland’s charm. It’s a great place to
visit, but if you are being money conscious then the coldest months offer the best deals
on flights, hotels and car hire. April is a good time to go: this month generally sees
the least rain and temperatures are comfortable enough. Plus, you can still avoid the
majority of tourists at this time.
Things to remember:
- If you want to road trip, think about avoiding snowy and icy months as country roads
may be impassable due to difficult conditions. - Always prepare for cold weather, even during summer. Scottish skies can be
unpredictable! - Edinburgh’s high latitude means that daylight hours are long during the summer (it
rarely gets dark before 10 or 11pm) and short during winter. - The Fringe Festival takes place in August, which means prices and demand for
bookings are high and the city is very busy.
Top suppliers at Edinburgh Airport
Europcar
Location: EH12 9FT
Opening hours: 24 hours (Out of
hours fees apply for pickup between Midnight and 7am).
Green Motion
Location: EH28 8LS
The Green Motion pick up desk is
a 3-minute shuttle bus journey from the airport.
Interrent
Location: EH12 9FT
Opening hours: 7:00am-9:00pm
Keddy by Europcar
Location: EH12 9FS
Opening hours: 7:00am-12:00am
Video: A castle road trip from Edinburgh
