Before you pick on cars for rent in London UK, you should know some of the basic facts about driving in the country. Keep in mind that driving condition can be different from one place to another, so don’t be surprised if the driving condition in the UK is totally different from your home country.
That’s why it would be a good idea to know some of the basic facts about driving in the UK before you decide to rent a vehicle. Do you need one? If yes, what kind of vehicle should you choose? What about the requirements? What are the things to prepare?
Should You Rent the Vehicle?
The decision to choose cars for rent in London UK depends on your itinerary, really. Are you going to big cities in the UK only or do you plan to explore the remote spots? Do you want to spend most of your time in London only or do you want to have a road trip to the unknown sites?
You see, if you plan on exploring London only, you won’t need to rent a car at all. The same goes when you want to visit the big cities, such as Glasgow, Cardiff, or Manchester. The public transportation in these places are good. You can use the buses or even the trains to travel from one city to another. Trust me, the quality service of these public transportation system is just marvelous. They are easy to reach. They are affordable. They are convenient and comfortable.
Only rent a car when you have to carry big and heavy luggage everywhere you go. Baggage can be annoying and it can be a hinderance for you – as well as other people. Moreover, only rent a car when you want to have a road trip visiting remote areas that aren’t accessible by trains or other public transportation. If you are traveling in a big group or with more than 5 people, it’s also advisable to rent a car to make the transportation easier.
Driving in the UK
You should know that driving in the UK is on the left side, so it can be quite confusing for those who are used to driving in the right. Not everyone can easily (and quickly) adapt to the situation, so if you are one of them, you shouldn’t bother about choosing cars for rent in London UK because you won’t rent any. Stick to the public transportation or ride-hauling service (like Lyft or Uber) and you are good to go.
You should also know that finding a driving spot in the UK, especially in London and other big cities, isn’t easy. In fact, it’s quite difficult to find one. Not to mention that it’s also costly! It may be a bit easier when you are traveling outside of these big cities, but then again, it’s not always a guarantee that you will find a parking spot. That’s why it’s advisable that you use the public transport system to travel or move around.
Which Company to Choose?
Even if you are still adamant in choosing cars for rent in London UK, you still need to figure it out which car rental service to go to. You may already know some of the candidates of the best UK car rental company but still….you need to do your own research to be sure. There are so many different names offering their expertise and service. Some of them may be international companies, while the others are the locals. Read the company reviews so you get ideas what to expect.
Don’t believe everything you see on the website, including the price range. In most cases, those prices haven’t included taxes and fees, so it’s always a good idea to contact the company’s representative and get the exact price quote. Don’t forget to ask them about the service coverage, types of insurance to have, and other things that may incur extra fees or costs. You don’t want to be surprised when you arrive at the counter and find out that everything is different.
Also keep in mind that different companies may implement different regulations about age requirement. In general, you must be at least 21 years old to rent a vehicle, but some companies may require you to be 25. If you are older than 21, but still under 25, it’s possible that you still have to deal with extra charge because you are still viewed a risky driver. Do your research about companies that are very strict in implementing the age requirement regulations, and how much they usually charge.
Model and Type Options
Aside from the fact that you should familiarize yourself to drive on the left when you want to manage cars for rent in London UK, you should also know that may of the car rental options are manual. Also referred to as the stick, you will have to be able to drive manually. If you are looking for automatic cars, it’s always a good idea to reserve first. Automatic cars are usually not many in supply. Plus, they also charge higher.
Moreover, don’t be tempted to rent big cars. Sure, big cars seem to accommodate a lot of people and also cargo. But you should know that most roads in the UK are small and narrow, even in London. Renting a small and compact ride would be a smart decision you can ever make. You won’t have to worry about getting a parking spot easily. Or you won’t have to worry about being stuck in the narrow road.
Final Words
For most people, traveling with public transportation in the UK is more than a pleasant experience. They won’t have to worry about getting lost or dealing with the difficulty of finding a parking spot. Plus, most roads can be confusing for travelers. But if you are up to the challenge and you are ready to deal with all kinds of obstacles, you should know that it’s not difficult to manage cars for rent in London UK, provided that you know how to do it properly.
