Requirements for renting a car in the UK
When hiring a car in the UK there are basic requirements that you will need in all circumstances. Below we will outline these for you, if for any reason you do not meet these requirements, we may still be able to help so it is always best to contact us and let us know what you need.
- Drivers Age
- Driving Licence
- Identification
- Payment Method
Age Requirements
When hiring in the UK, the minimum age is 21 years old and the maximum is 99. The vast majority of suppliers only deal with people between the age of 25 and 75 so if you are outside of this age range then please contact us, we can place you with a supplier who meets your needs.
Driving Licence Requirements
Your driving licence must be a full licence and not a provisional. In most cases you will need to have held your licence for 2 years or more, but in some cases 1 year would suffice. If you are over 25 then we have a supplier who will accept new drivers having passed their test less than a year ago providing you have your physical licence to hand.
Suppliers prefer a clean licence but if you do have points it is still possible to hire, it just depends what those points are for and how many you have. More information on hiring a car with points and convictions can be found here.
Identification Requirements
If you are a resident in the UK then you will need to be able to show identification including proof of your address, this address must match the address on your licence. In some circumstances the supplier will want to perform an address check which means you must be registered on the electoral roll at the address on your licence.
Accepted forms of proof are;
- Bank Statement
- Utility Bill
- Council Tax Statement
- Pay Slip
If you are visiting the UK then your driving licence and passport should suffice, in some circumstances an international driving permit maybe required and the supplier may ask for your return flight details.
Payment Methods
In most cases payment will need to be made using a credit card in the drivers name although we do work with some suppliers who will accept a debit card. Payment for the rental cost and the rental deposit will be two separate transactions with the deposit being held on the card rather than being taken. Please always ensure that there are enough funds available to cover both, the supplier will not release the car if the deposit can not be ‘frozen’ on the card. We do have low deposit rental options available at some locations.
