SUV 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)

To pick up your SUV hire in London, you must bring all of the following physical documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

• Original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. For licences in Latin script, an IDP is recommended but not strictly mandatory
• Passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets

In Great Britain, many visitors can drive on a full, valid foreign licence for up to 12 months depending on their status and country of origin. Always verify current official guidance before your trip. If you hold a paper licence rather than a photocard licence, an IDP may be required. Bring a backup credit card as well, in case your primary card is declined at the London counter.

Not always, but it depends on your licence. For your London SUV hire, an IDP is mandatory if your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. The IDP is a translation document only and must be carried alongside your original licence at all times. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without the original.

If your licence is in a Latin-script language but is not in English and was not issued by an EU or EEA country, an IDP is strongly recommended even if not strictly required by every London hire desk.

Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling to London. It cannot be issued abroad. When picking up your SUV, present your passport, original licence, and IDP together to the counter agent.

Yes, the London Congestion Charge can apply to your SUV hire if you drive into central London during charging hours. London operates a Congestion Charge zone covering much of central London, and driving within it during operating hours triggers a daily fee. The charge is based on number plate recognition, so there are no toll booths to stop at.

Beyond the Congestion Charge, London also enforces an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering a wider area, and a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) for larger vehicles. Whether your SUV hire meets the emission standards for these zones depends on the specific vehicle assigned to you at the counter.

• Always ask the hire desk whether your assigned SUV meets ULEZ and LEZ standards before driving in London
• If your hire begins in a zone where the Congestion Charge applies, the cost may be added to your hire as required by local regulations
• Tolls and congestion charges are the driver’s responsibility unless otherwise stated in your hire agreement

Check the current charging hours and zone boundaries on the official Transport for London website before your trip.

Yes, Hola Car Rentals includes Tolls Cashback on all bookings, which means you can claim back up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your London SUV hire. This applies to charges such as the London Congestion Charge, the M6 Toll if you drive north, and any other toll roads used during your hire period.

To claim your cashback, email [email protected] within 30 days of returning your SUV. Include the following:

• Your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation
• A copy of the hire agreement signed at pick-up
• A receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid during your hire

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your London SUV booking totals US$800, the maximum cashback is US$40. If you paid US$25 in tolls, you receive US$25 back. Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

The M6 Toll is a 26-mile paid motorway in the West Midlands that runs parallel to the M6 between Junction 3a at Coleshill Interchange and Junction 11a near Wolverhampton. If you pick up your London SUV hire and drive north towards Birmingham or beyond, you may encounter this toll road.

The M6 Toll uses a zoning system with rates that vary by distance travelled and vehicle type. For a standard car or SUV driven by a non-account holder, the cost is approximately GBP 10.30 for all three zones or GBP 8.30 for two zones. Larger vehicles such as vans pay higher rates. Peak hours also carry higher fees than off-peak times.

• The M6 Toll operates as a cashless system using electronic payment or number plate recognition
• Payment can occur at the time of crossing or on a pay-later basis billed after your journey
• If you do not pay a pay-later toll during your hire period, you may receive a fine plus an additional charge from the hire company

Always ask the hire desk about toll payment options for your London SUV before driving on toll roads, and keep receipts to support any Tolls Cashback claim.

You must present a physical, major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card at the London hire counter. The card must be in the main driver’s name and have sufficient available credit to cover the authorisation hold placed on your account at pick-up.

For SUV hires in London, the typical security hold is approximately GBP 300 to GBP 400, though this can be higher for premium or larger SUV classes. The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends. Banks can take up to 15 business days to post the release.

• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted at the counter for the deposit
• The card must be physically present with the driver’s name printed on it
• Third-party cards are not accepted, even if someone else is paying for the trip

Notify your bank of your travel to London before arriving, and bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

The standard fuel policy for SUV hires in London is Full to Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

To follow the Full to Full policy correctly during your London SUV hire:

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return your London SUV with less than a full tank, the hire company may charge for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

SUVs consume more fuel than sedans, so factor in higher fuel costs when budgeting for your London SUV hire, particularly if you plan to drive through congested areas or make multiple trips.

By law in the United Kingdom, all hire vehicles including SUVs must carry third-party liability insurance, and this coverage is included in the hire price for your London SUV. This means you are covered for bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving.

In addition to mandatory third-party liability, your London SUV hire may include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), which reduces your financial liability for damage to the hire vehicle itself. A deductible or excess may still apply unless your booking confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. Check your confirmation for the exact coverage level and any excess amount.

• CDW and LDW cover damage to the SUV from collisions, theft, and vandalism, subject to exclusions
• Common exclusions include tyres, undercarriage, roof, keys, and damage caused by prohibited use such as off-road driving
• Only drivers named on the hire agreement are covered

CDW and LDW do not cover your personal injuries or belongings. Review your booking confirmation carefully before picking up your London SUV to understand exactly what is included in your rate.

Most bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be especially useful if you experience a medical emergency or other travel disruption during your London SUV hire. This benefit is available to non-North American customers. Canadian and US residents do not qualify.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical coverage for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in case of an accident during your London SUV hire
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

If you need assistance while driving your SUV in or around London, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free or collect), reach them on WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001, or email [email protected]. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

This travel assistance does not cover damage to the hire SUV itself (that is CDW or LDW) or third-party liability to others. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your London reservation.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your London SUV hire, either at no cost if your rate includes it or for a daily fee paid at the counter.

When the additional driver fee applies in London, typical daily rates are:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: GBP 13 per day plus taxes, capped at GBP 65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: GBP 13.50 per day plus taxes, capped at GBP 189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: GBP 15 per day plus taxes

Requirements for adding a driver to your London SUV hire:

• The additional driver must be present at the pickup counter with a valid driver's licence
• They must meet the minimum age requirements for London; drivers aged 18 and older may qualify, though a young-renter surcharge may apply
• For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability coverage. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the SUV in London may void those protections.

Yes, one-way SUV hires in London are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location. This fee is set by the hire partner and varies by route, vehicle class, season, and distance.

When booking a one-way London SUV hire:

• The drop-off fee, if applicable, will appear on the booking details page under the "To pay at destination" section before you confirm
• The fee is not prepaid and is paid at the London pick-up counter
• Cross-border one-way hires, such as returning your SUV in mainland Europe, may be restricted or carry significantly higher fees depending on the partner
• Changing your return location after booking may reprice the hire and recalculate the drop-off fee

If no drop-off fee appears during the booking process for your chosen London SUV route, no fee applies. Always review your confirmation to verify the fee matches what was shown at checkout. If the counter charges a different amount than your confirmation shows, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire ends.

The location of your SUV hire counter in London depends on the partner brand shown on your booking confirmation. London has multiple hire locations including Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport, and various city centre branches.

At London Heathrow, hire counters for major brands are typically located in the terminal arrivals areas or at a dedicated hire centre accessible by shuttle or on-foot from the terminals. The exact terminal and counter location varies by brand and terminal.

• Check your booking confirmation for the operating brand name, such as Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, or National
• Follow "Car Hire" signs in the arrivals area of your London terminal
• If the counter is at a consolidated hire centre, look for shuttle buses or trams marked with hire company logos
• For city centre London locations, your confirmation will include the street address

If you cannot locate the counter after following airport signage, use the airport information desk or courtesy phones near the arrivals area. Allow extra time when picking up a larger SUV, as the check-in process may take longer than for standard vehicles.

Yes, age restrictions and young driver surcharges can apply to SUV hires in London. Most hire partners require drivers to be at least 21 years old, and some restrict certain vehicle classes, including larger SUVs, to drivers aged 25 or older.

If you are under 25 and hiring a SUV in London, a young driver surcharge is typically added at the counter on top of your prepaid rate. The exact amount varies by partner and vehicle class.

• Drivers under 21 may be unable to hire a SUV at certain London locations regardless of surcharge
• The young driver surcharge is paid at the London counter and is not included in your prepaid booking total
• Additional drivers added to your London SUV must also meet the minimum age requirements for the location
• For Avis and Budget, additional drivers should be at least 25 years old at the time of pick-up

Check the age policy for your specific London SUV hire before confirming your reservation, as restrictions vary by partner brand. If you are close to an age threshold, bring documentation such as your passport to confirm your date of birth at the counter.