Scotland car rentals

You should rent a car in Scotland as it provides you with the ultimate freedom to explore this magnificent country at your own pace. It also means you do not have to rely on other modes of transport, such as buses, trains, or taxis. For example, if you were travelling to Cairngorms National Park in the heart of the country, it would be far more convenient to travel there by car as you can get right to where you want your adventure to begin. Whereas it’s likely a bus would only drop you off at the nearest town.

Driving in Scotland is the same as the rest of the United Kingdom, so you won’t have to worry about driving on the other side of the road or the steering wheel being on the opposite side of the car. Speed limits are also the same, so you’ll need to travel no faster than 20mph in residential areas, 30mph in built-up areas and 60mph in rural areas. Dual carriageways and motorways are also the same as the rest of the UK, being at 70mph. One difference you might find while driving in Scotland is that you will drive for longer periods of time without passing towns or villages, especially the further north you travel. So remember to stock up on food and drink.

When you hire a car in Scotland, the minimum age of a person that is able to do so is determined by each individual company. Many of the car hire companies will also reduce the selection of cars, such as those with the larger engines, that are available to those under a certain age. In addition, you will often have to have held your driving license for a minimum of a one year. Whilst those who are under a certain age, often 25, will also have to pay a surcharge to hire a car.

Premium (Mercedes-Benz V-Class or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Scotland.

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Scotland are Alamo (8.5, 51 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.3, 59 reviews), and Sixt (7.4, 61 reviews).

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in Scotland are Glasgow (57% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Scotland) and Edinburgh (43%).