Compared to the United States, the price of petrol -- or gas -- is expensive in the United Kingdom. Renting an economy car with four seats may save on fuel costs, but it will have a tiny boot -- or trunk -- and only enough space for two suitcases. London is very congested and not the best place to start your driving experience -- plus you could save from $10 to $20 a day if you pick up your car away from Heathrow Airport. Central London also has a congestion charge between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday of eight pounds -- $13 -- a day as of 2010. This is usually not included in the car-hire price. Rental companies also charge about $10 to $20 more a day for cars with automatic, as opposed to manual, transmissions.
Depending on the vehicle, location, day and company, prices will vary a great deal, but expect to pay more to hire a car in the United Kingdom than in the U.S. A mid-sized manual car as of 2010 costs $35 to $70 a day. According to Workgateways, the price of an average mid-sized car rental in 2010 for a weekend is seventy pounds -- or about $112. In the United Kingdom, tax is always included in the prices.
Check your travel insurance before you buy theft or personal accident insurance. Companies like insurance4carhire.com and worldwideinsurance.com should offer a better insurance price than the car-rental company. Third-party liability and property damage are included in all car-hire prices. Loss and damage are usually extra.
