National Car Hire in London

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the leading car hire companies in London, 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 London.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in London 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 London 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)

National operates its London Heathrow Airport location in partnership with Enterprise Rent A Car. The counter is open Monday through Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 09:00 to 12:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 15:00.

After completing paperwork at the desk, you will board a free shuttle bus to the off-site hire lot for vehicle inspection and collection. The shuttle takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes. At Terminal 5, the shuttle stop is at Bus Stops 26 and 27. Allow at least 60 to 90 minutes from the moment you land at London Heathrow to the moment you drive away, accounting for immigration, baggage claim, desk paperwork, and the shuttle ride.

To find the National counter inside the terminal, follow the car hire signs after baggage claim. If you are unsure which desk serves your booking, check your booking confirmation for the operating brand name and match it to the signage at the London Heathrow hire area.

To collect your National hire car in London, you must bring the following physical documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name.
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, used for the authorisation hold.
• A passport or valid 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 uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, you must also carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your original licence. The IDP is a translation only and is not valid without the original licence.

UK licence holders should note that if you hold an old-style paper licence, you must present separate photographic identification such as a passport. National and all other hire partners at London locations follow these document rules strictly, so prepare everything before you arrive at the counter.

Yes, the London Congestion Charge can apply to your National hire car if you drive into the central London charging zone.

The charge applies Monday through Friday, 07:00 to 18:00, for most vehicles entering the central zone. It is enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, not toll booths, so there is no option to pay at a barrier. If the charge applies to your route, it will be added to your National hire account as required by local regulations.

In addition to the Congestion Charge, London also operates the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across a much wider area of London. Non-compliant vehicles are charged a daily fee. Hire vehicles from National and other major partners are generally modern and compliant, but always confirm with the counter agent at pickup.

Tolls and congestion charges are the driver’s responsibility unless otherwise stated in your hire agreement. If you use any toll roads outside London during your trip, such as the M6 Toll in the West Midlands, those charges are also your responsibility. Keep all receipts so you can claim the Hola Car Rentals Tolls Cashback benefit after your hire ends.

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 National hire in London.

London drivers may encounter several charges during a hire, including the London Congestion Charge for driving in the central zone, ULEZ fees for non-compliant vehicles, and toll roads such as the M6 Toll if you travel outside London. All of these qualify as toll-type charges you can submit for cashback.

To claim after your National hire in London ends:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle.
• 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 or congestion charges paid.

The refund is processed to the same payment method used for your booking and typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted, so act promptly once your London hire is complete.

It depends on the type of driver’s licence you hold when collecting your National hire car in London.

If your licence is written in a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, you are required to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your original licence. The IDP is a translation booklet only and is not valid without the original licence present.

If your licence uses the Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly mandatory for driving in London. However, if you hold an old-style paper UK licence, you should also carry a separate photo ID such as a passport.

Visitors from many countries can drive in London on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months, depending on their residency status and country of origin. Always check official UK government guidance before your trip to confirm your specific entitlement. National and all hire partners at London locations follow these document rules set by local law and the hire company, so bring your IDP if there is any doubt about your licence format.

When you collect your National hire car in London, the counter agent will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge but it reduces your available credit until the hold is released after you return the vehicle.

For London hires, the typical hold is approximately GBP 300 to GBP 400 for a standard vehicle. The exact amount can vary depending on the vehicle class, the specific National location, and the time of year. Premium or larger vehicles may carry a higher hold.

Important requirements for the deposit at any National location in London:

• You must present a physical, major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card.
• The card must be in the main driver’s name.
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges.

After you return the vehicle, the hold is released. Your bank controls how quickly it reappears on your available balance, which can take up to 15 business days. Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined at the London counter.

National hire cars in London follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. 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 National agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on your hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before you leave the London counter.

When returning your vehicle in London, refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 kilometres of the 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, National may charge you for:

• The fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price.
• A refuelling service or handling fee.

For after-hours returns at London locations, leave the fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence. Using the correct fuel type is also important, as wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy and may generate additional charges.

National operates central London locations with more limited hours than the airport, so planning your pickup and return times carefully is important.

Key central London location hours include:

• St. Pancras (St. Pancras Road Car Park, London, N1C 4QP): Monday, Thursday, and Friday 08:00 to 18:00; Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday 08:00 to 16:00.
• Edgware Road (35 Edgware Road, London, W2 2JE): Monday through Wednesday 09:00 to 16:00; Thursday and Friday 09:00 to 17:00; Saturday and Sunday closed.

Unlike London Heathrow Airport, which has extended hours, these central London National locations do not offer 24-hour staffed pickup or after-hours key drop services. If your flight or travel schedule means you will arrive outside these windows, the London Heathrow location with its longer operating hours may be a better option.

At city centre locations, there is no shuttle involved. You walk directly from the counter to the vehicle in the adjacent car park, which makes the pickup process faster than at the airport once you are at the desk. Always confirm current hours on your booking confirmation before travel, as hours can change on public holidays.

Yes, most bookings through Hola Car Rentals include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to your National hire in London.

This benefit is particularly useful in London given the complexity of the road network, including elevated motorways like the Westway, the narrow Blackwall Tunnel approach, and the dense one-way systems in central London that can disorient first-time drivers. If an incident occurs during your National hire in London, travel assistance can help.

Coverage typically includes:

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

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free or collect) or contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your London hire.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your National hire in London, either as part of your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

For National, Alamo, and Enterprise bookings, the additional driver fee is US$15 per day when not included in your rate. Check your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation for the line that reads "Additional driver free of charge" to see whether your London hire already includes this benefit.

Requirements for adding a driver at any National location in London:

• The additional driver must be present at the London counter at pickup.
• They must present a valid physical driver’s licence.
• If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, they must also carry an International Driving Permit.
• They must meet the minimum age requirements for the hire.
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement.

Only drivers named on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability insurance. If someone drives the National vehicle in London without being listed on the contract, coverage may be void and additional charges could apply. If you need to add a driver after collection, visit a National branch in London to update the agreement in person.

Yes, by law all hire vehicles in the United Kingdom, including National cars rented in London, must include third-party liability insurance. This coverage is included in the hire price and is valid across the EU and UK.

Third-party liability (also referred to as LIS, ALI, or SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving. It does not cover damage to the National hire vehicle itself.

For damage to the vehicle, you will want Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) coverage. Depending on the rate you selected for your London hire, CDW/LDW may already be included. Check your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation under the rate details to confirm.

Key points about insurance for your National hire in London:

• CDW/LDW reduces your financial liability for damage to the vehicle, subject to any deductible or excess shown on your agreement.
• CDW/LDW does not cover tyres, the undercarriage, or the roof unless specifically stated.
• Only drivers named on the hire agreement are covered.
• Prohibited use such as driving under the influence or off-road use voids coverage.

Review your hire agreement at the National counter in London before signing to confirm exactly what is included and what excess applies.

London has several driving characteristics that differ significantly from most other cities, and knowing them before you collect your National hire will help you avoid confusion on the road.

Key rules and road features to be aware of:

• Traffic drives on the left in London and throughout the United Kingdom. If you are accustomed to right-hand traffic, allow extra time to adjust, especially at roundabouts and junctions.
• London has an exceptionally dense network of one-way streets, many of which also include contraflow cycle lanes. A street that appears open to cars in one direction may be one-way only, with cyclists permitted to travel in both directions. Follow signage carefully.
• The Congestion Charge zone in central London is enforced by cameras, not barriers. There is no option to pay at a booth. If you drive into the zone Monday through Friday between 07:00 and 18:00, the charge will be added to your National hire account.
• The ULEZ applies 24 hours a day across a wide area of London. Most modern National hire vehicles comply, but confirm at the counter.
• Major routes such as the Westway (A40) and the A102 Blackwall Tunnel approach have strict height restrictions and can disorient drivers unfamiliar with London's road layout.
• Speed cameras are widespread throughout London and the wider UK.

Using a GPS or sat-nav add-on from National can help you navigate London's complex one-way systems more confidently.

Yes, one-way hires are possible with National in London, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your destination.

When you search for a one-way hire on the Hola Car Rentals website, the drop-off fee for your specific route will be displayed on the rate details page under the "To pay at destination" section before you complete your booking. This fee is set by National and varies based on the distance between cities, the vehicle class, and the season.

Common patterns for one-way hires from London:

• Returning to another London location (for example, from London Heathrow to a central London National branch) often carries no drop-off fee or a lower fee.
• Returning to a city in a different region of the UK, such as Manchester or Edinburgh, typically incurs a drop-off fee.
• Cross-border one-ways, for example returning the National vehicle outside the United Kingdom, may be restricted or carry higher fees. Always confirm with the counter agent at pickup.

The drop-off fee cannot be prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© unless it was not disclosed on your booking confirmation. If the fee charged at the London National counter differs from what your confirmation shows, keep all paperwork and contact Hola Car Rentals support after the hire ends.