Budget Car Hire in United Kingdom

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the leading car hire companies in the United Kingdom, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate offers additional benefits that no other company can match:

• Full vehicle coverage with no excess (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: recover up to 5% of the reservation's total value for toll charges incurred during your hire period
• Premium travel medical assistance, covering up to GBP 100,000 for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of medical emergency, excluding pre-existing conditions
• No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification

All of this at no extra cost, guaranteeing you a unique car hire experience with full protection and peace of mind throughout your trip in the United Kingdom.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in the United Kingdom are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.

On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter in the United Kingdom charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.

The only costs outside this guarantee are:

• Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
• Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)

Yes, Budget operates at more than 25 airports across the United Kingdom, making it one of the more widely distributed hire brands in the country.

• London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, and London City
• Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and East Midlands
• Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness
• Leeds Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon, Newcastle, and Southampton
• Belfast, Cardiff, Blackpool, Doncaster (Robin Hood), Durham Tees Valley, Exeter, Gloucester, Humberside, Newquay, and Norwich

Counter hours vary by location. At Heathrow, the Budget desk is open from 5AM to midnight daily. Gatwick operates Monday to Friday 7AM to 9:45PM, Saturday 7AM to 3PM, and Sunday 8AM to 8:45PM. Edinburgh is open 7AM to 11PM daily. After-hours pickup is available at select locations via keybox or park access, and returns can be made at any time using the designated drop box.

When picking up, follow the airport car hire signs to the Budget or Avis lot. Members of the Budget Fastbreak loyalty programme can proceed directly to the car park cabin for keys, bypassing the main counter queue.

To collect a Budget hire car in the United Kingdom, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence (not a digital copy)
• A major credit card in the main driver’s name, with the driver’s name printed on the physical card, for the authorisation hold
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad

If your driver’s licence is not in English and was not issued by an EU or EEA country, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an IDP is required. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

For visitors driving in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland), many foreign licences can be used for a full, valid period depending on residency status and country of issue. Check official guidance before travelling to confirm your entitlement.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital versions shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the Budget counter in the United Kingdom.

When you pick up a Budget hire car in the United Kingdom, a temporary authorisation hold is placed on your credit card. This is not a charge; it reduces your available credit until the hold is released after you return the vehicle.

For standard vehicles rented in the United Kingdom, the typical hold is approximately GBP 300 to GBP 400. The exact amount can vary depending on the Budget location, the vehicle class, and the length of the hire. Premium or speciality vehicles may carry a higher hold.

• Only a major credit card in the main driver’s name with the name printed on the card is accepted for the deposit
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted
• Even if you prepaid your booking, you must still present a physical credit card at the Budget counter in the United Kingdom

After you return the vehicle, the Budget location releases the hold. Your bank or card issuer controls how quickly it reappears as available credit, which can take up to 15 working days. Notify your bank of your travel plans in advance to avoid the authorisation being flagged as a suspicious transaction.

The United Kingdom has several toll roads and urban charging zones that Budget hire drivers should be aware of before setting off.

• M6 Toll (West Midlands): A 26-mile motorway section running from Junction 3a at Coleshill to Junction 11a at Wolverhampton. Non-account holders pay GBP 10.30 for all three zones or GBP 8.30 for two zones. Pricing also varies by vehicle type and time of day, with peak-hour rates higher than off-peak.
• London Congestion Charge: Applies when driving in central London during charge hours. If your Budget hire period includes driving in this zone, the charge is added to your hire as required by local regulations.
• Oxford Zero Emission Zone: Similar urban charge that may apply depending on your route.
• Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and Low Emission Zones (LEZ): Present in several United Kingdom cities. Check whether your Budget vehicle meets the required emission standard for the zones you plan to enter.

Most United Kingdom toll roads operate as fully cashless, all-electronic systems using number plate recognition. Payment occurs either at the time of crossing or on a pay-later basis, where charges are billed after your journey.

Tolls and congestion charges are the driver’s responsibility unless an optional toll programme is included in your hire agreement. If you use a toll road without enrolling in a toll programme, Budget may charge the toll at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative fee. Ask at the counter about available toll pass options before you drive.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Budget hire in the United Kingdom.

This benefit is useful given the United Kingdom's toll landscape, which includes the M6 Toll in the West Midlands, the London Congestion Charge, and various Clean Air Zones. You pay tolls normally during your hire, then submit a claim afterwards.

To claim your cashback:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning your Budget vehicle in the United Kingdom
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - Reservation [Your Confirmation Number]
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for your booking

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your booking total was US$500, the cap is US$25. If you paid US$18 in tolls, you receive US$18 back. Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, drivers under 25 years old are subject to a young driver surcharge when hiring a Budget vehicle in the United Kingdom. Budget confirms that this surcharge applies, and the exact amount is shown in your online quote at the time of booking.

Beyond the surcharge, younger drivers must also meet the same requirements as the primary driver:

• Hold a full, valid driver’s licence
• Meet the minimum age requirement set by Budget for the United Kingdom location
• Be present at the counter at pickup with their licence and valid ID
• Sign the hire agreement to be added as a named driver

For additional drivers under 25 added to a Budget hire in the United Kingdom, the young driver surcharge applies on top of any additional driver fee. Budget and Avis (which share ownership) require additional drivers to be at least 25 years old; drivers below that threshold may face restrictions or higher surcharges depending on the specific United Kingdom location.

Always check the rate details and terms shown in your booking confirmation before finalising, as surcharge amounts can vary by location and vehicle class across the United Kingdom.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in the United Kingdom, but the process must be completed at the hire counter during pickup.

The additional driver must be physically present at the Budget counter with:

• A valid, original driver’s licence
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID
• An International Driving Permit if their licence is not in English or uses a non-Latin alphabet

Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by the hire protections, including CDW/LDW and third-party liability insurance.

If your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation states "Additional driver free of charge" or "Additional driver included," the first extra driver is covered at no cost. If it is not included, Budget charges an additional driver fee in the United Kingdom. Industry rates typically range from GBP 10 to GBP 18 per day, with a cap that usually applies after a set number of days. Confirm the exact fee with the Budget agent at the counter before signing.

Note that for Budget hires in the United Kingdom, additional drivers under 25 may be subject to a young driver surcharge on top of the additional driver fee. If you need to add a driver after pickup, visit a Budget branch to update the agreement.

Yes, third-party liability insurance is included by law in all Budget hire cars in the United Kingdom. Under United Kingdom and European Union law, every hire vehicle must carry valid third-party liability cover, and this insurance is included in the hire price.

This means that if you cause injury to another person or damage to another vehicle or property while driving your Budget hire in the United Kingdom, the mandatory liability cover responds up to the legal minimum limits.

However, there are important distinctions to understand:

• Third-party liability covers damage or injury you cause to others, not damage to the Budget vehicle itself
• Damage to the hire car is covered separately by Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
• Your own injuries are not covered by third-party liability; Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) is a separate optional product
• Coverage applies only to named drivers listed on the hire agreement

If you want higher liability limits than the statutory minimum required in the United Kingdom, you can purchase Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI/ALI/LIS) as an add-on. Review your booking confirmation to confirm what is included in your specific Budget rate before pickup.

Budget hires in the United Kingdom follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

At pickup:

• Check the fuel gauge with the Budget agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge
• Ask the agent about the nearest fuel station to the return location

At return, refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the Budget return location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive. Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, Budget may charge you for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the retail pump price, plus an administrative service fee. These charges apply across Budget locations in the United Kingdom.

Make sure you use the correct fuel type for your vehicle. Petrol and diesel pumps are clearly labelled at United Kingdom fuel stations, but always double-check before filling. Wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy and can result in significant repair charges.

Yes, after-hours returns are available at Budget airport locations across the United Kingdom, and you do not need to wait for the counter to open.

The process varies slightly by location:

• Heathrow: A keybox is available on Northrop Road for Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 returns
• Gatwick: The keybox is located on the Avis wall at the return area
• Edinburgh: The keybox is to the left of the cabin at the Budget return lot

For after-hours returns at Budget locations in the United Kingdom, follow these steps:

• Drive to the Budget or Avis return lot following airport car hire signs
• Note the mileage and fuel level and place a record in the return envelope
• Deposit the keys in the designated keybox
• Take photos of the vehicle condition, dashboard, and odometer before leaving

Your hire agreement will be finalised and mailed or emailed to you after the Budget team processes the return. Keep all documentation until you receive the final receipt and confirm no unexpected charges have been applied. If you notice a discrepancy, contact support promptly with your hire agreement and photos as evidence.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals for a Budget hire in the United Kingdom include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection at no extra cost.

This benefit is particularly valuable when driving in the United Kingdom, where you may be far from home if an incident occurs on a motorway, in a remote area of Scotland, or during a long cross-country drive. Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This is not the same as CDW/LDW (which covers damage to the Budget vehicle) or third-party liability insurance. It is a separate travel assistance benefit for the people in the car.

To use the assistance during your Budget hire in the United Kingdom, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

• Phone: +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free or collect)
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Provide your full name, your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number, your location, and a description of the situation. Important: this benefit does not apply to customers who are residents of the United States or Canada.

Yes, one-way hires are available through Budget in the United Kingdom, allowing you to pick up in one city and return the vehicle to a different location.

A drop-off fee may apply depending on the route. Common patterns in the United Kingdom include:

• Same-city airport to downtown: often no drop-off fee
• Between different cities or regions (for example, London to Edinburgh): a drop-off fee typically applies, with the amount varying by distance, vehicle class, and season
• Remote locations or islands: one-way hires may be restricted or carry higher fees

When booking a one-way Budget hire in the United Kingdom through Hola Car Rentals, the drop-off fee is shown on the rate details page under the "To pay at destination" section before you confirm. Review this carefully, as the fee is paid at the Budget counter and cannot be prepaid online.

If you change your return location after booking, the hire will be re-priced and a new drop-off fee may apply. Always confirm the fee shown on your booking confirmation matches what the Budget agent presents at pickup. If an undisclosed fee appears at the counter, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire is complete.

Budget occupies a mid-tier market position in the United Kingdom, despite its value-focused branding. Pricing is not the lowest available among major hire brands operating in the country.

For context, a week-long economy hire at London Heathrow with Budget has been priced around GBP 221, which is higher than some competitors such as Green Motion (approximately GBP 152) and Hertz (approximately GBP 189), but lower than Enterprise (approximately GBP 228) and Thrifty (approximately GBP 239).

Where Budget in the United Kingdom tends to be competitive is on extras:

• Additional driver fees are aligned with Avis (Budget's parent company), which is lower than Hertz's rates for the same add-on
• Child seat fees are similarly priced to Avis, making Budget a reasonable choice for families when the total package cost is considered

Budget holds roughly a 20% combined market share in the United Kingdom alongside Thrifty, Alamo, Green Motion, and Virtuo, behind the leading group of Enterprise, Hertz, and Europcar. It is a reliable mid-range option with broad airport coverage across the United Kingdom, rather than a Budget-in-name-only outlier. Always compare total costs including extras for your specific dates and pickup location before booking.