Car Hire in Edinburgh - Best Deals

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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 collect your hire car in Edinburgh, you must bring all of the following physical documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

• Your original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• An 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
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID
• A 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 if you are visiting from abroad

In Edinburgh and across 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 travel. If your licence is a paper licence or issued in certain territories, an IDP may be required. Bring both your licence and IDP together, as the IDP is a translation only and is not valid on its own.

Yes, a major credit card is required to hire a car in Edinburgh. The card must be in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name physically printed on the card, and it must be presented in person at the counter.

The credit card is used to place a temporary authorisation hold, not a charge, on your available credit at the time of pickup. For Edinburgh and the wider United Kingdom, this hold is typically around GBP 300 to GBP 400 for a standard vehicle, though the exact amount varies by hire brand, vehicle class, and location.

• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit hold
• Virtual or digital-only card numbers are not accepted; you must present the physical card
• The hold reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends, which can take up to 15 business days
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined

Even if you prepay your Edinburgh booking online, you are still required to present a physical credit card at the counter for the security hold.

Edinburgh itself does not have a city-centre congestion charge or toll zone, but there are toll roads and cashless charging systems elsewhere in the United Kingdom that you may encounter if you drive beyond Edinburgh.

• The M6 Toll in the West Midlands is the main motorway toll, covering a 26-mile stretch. A car using all three zones pays GBP 10.30; two zones cost GBP 8.30
• Certain tunnels and bridges across the UK also carry tolls
• London operates a Congestion Charge and a range of emission zones that apply if you drive into central London
• Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and Low Emission Zones (LEZ) exist in various UK cities

Most UK toll roads are fully cashless, using number plate recognition or electronic billing. If you use a toll road without a pre-paid programme, the hire company will bill the toll at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative processing fee, which can be significantly higher than paying directly.

Tolls are the driver’s responsibility unless your hire agreement states otherwise. Ask the counter agent in Edinburgh about any toll programme options before you depart.

Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Edinburgh hire, including any toll roads you use while driving elsewhere in the UK.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle in Edinburgh or at your drop-off location:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the car
• 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 the booking

The refund is issued to the original payment method used for your reservation and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit reimburses toll charges only and does not cover fines, parking tickets, or administrative fees charged by the hire company.

When you pick up your hire car in Edinburgh, the partner desk will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. For the United Kingdom, this hold is typically around GBP 300 to GBP 400 for a standard vehicle.

This is not a charge. It is a temporary reduction in your available credit that is released after you return the car. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears from your statement, and it can take up to 15 business days after drop-off.

• Premium or speciality vehicles in Edinburgh may carry a higher hold amount
• The exact amount is set by the hire partner desk and local rules, not by the booking platform
• Only a major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card is accepted for the hold
• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted

To avoid issues at the Edinburgh counter, notify your bank of your travel plans in advance, confirm your card is enabled for in-person international transactions, and bring a backup credit card in your name.

Hire cars in Edinburgh operate under 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 agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the Edinburgh pickup location
• Use the correct fuel type. Petrol and diesel vehicles are common in the UK. Using the wrong fuel is not covered by the fuel policy and may result in significant charges
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the Edinburgh 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 car in Edinburgh below the recorded starting level, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner’s refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. Returning the car full is always the most cost-effective option.

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

Some rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation for the line that reads "Additional driver free of charge" to see if this applies to your Edinburgh booking.

If an additional driver is not included in your rate, a daily fee applies and is paid at the Edinburgh counter. Fees vary by hire brand:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day, capped at US$65
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day, capped at US$189
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day

The additional driver must be present at the Edinburgh pickup counter with their own valid driver’s licence and any required IDP. They must sign the hire agreement. Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by the hire protections. If someone drives who is not named on the contract, coverage may be void.

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

For damage to the hire vehicle itself, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) coverage is typically included in Edinburgh hires, though a deductible or excess may apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. In some European markets, a Super CDW option is available to reduce or eliminate that excess.

• CDW and LDW cover collision damage and theft of the hire car, subject to exclusions
• Common exclusions include tyres, undercarriage, roof, keys, and damage caused by prohibited use such as off-road driving
• Third-party liability covers others; CDW covers the hire vehicle. They are separate protections
• Personal injuries and personal belongings are not covered by CDW or liability insurance

Always review your Edinburgh hire agreement at the counter to confirm exactly which coverages are active and what deductible, if any, applies to your booking.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance coverage through Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if you experience a medical emergency or other travel disruption during your Edinburgh trip. Note that this benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel and medical insurance for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of an accident
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

If you need assistance while in Edinburgh or anywhere during your trip, contact the Terrawind team 24 hours a day:

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

When you call, have your full name and your booking confirmation number ready. This coverage does not replace CDW for hire vehicle damage or LIS for third-party liability. Check your Edinburgh booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your reservation.

Yes, one-way hires are possible from Edinburgh, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location, the hire brand, and the vehicle class.

The drop-off fee is route-specific and is shown during the booking process under the "To pay at destination" section. It is not prepaid and is collected at the Edinburgh pickup counter or the return location.

• Edinburgh to another Scottish city or nearby location may carry a lower or no drop-off fee depending on the route
• Edinburgh to a city in England or another region typically incurs a drop-off fee that varies by distance and vehicle class
• Cross-border one-ways, such as driving from Edinburgh into continental Europe, may be restricted or require prior approval from the hire partner

If you change your return location after booking, the hire will be re-priced and the drop-off fee may increase. Always confirm the fee shown on your Edinburgh booking confirmation matches what the counter presents at pickup. If an undisclosed fee is added, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire ends.

If your flight to Edinburgh is delayed, hire companies will generally hold your booking for up to 24 hours from the original scheduled pickup time, provided you arrive during the counter's operating hours.

• Delays of less than 24 hours: your Edinburgh reservation is typically held. Confirm that you will arrive while the counter is still open, as after-hours pickups may not be available at all locations
• Delays of more than 24 hours: contact support as soon as possible via WhatsApp at +1 (786) 999-8312 or by email at [email protected]. Changes are not guaranteed but the team will assist where possible

Counter hours in Edinburgh vary by hire brand and location. Check your booking confirmation for the specific hours of your pickup location. If you arrive after hours and no after-hours arrangement was made in advance, you may not be able to collect the vehicle until the counter reopens.

To avoid losing your Edinburgh booking, always notify the hire partner or support team as soon as you know your flight will be significantly delayed.

When you arrive in Edinburgh, locate your hire car counter by first confirming the operating brand shown on your booking confirmation, then following the car hire signage inside the terminal or at the pickup facility.

• Check your confirmation for the exact brand name, as some brands share counters or are served at a partner brand's desk
• Follow "Car Hire" signs from the arrivals hall toward the hire desks or a consolidated hire car area
• If a shuttle is required to reach the hire facility, go to the marked shuttle stop and look for the brand logo or colour on the bus
• For city-centre Edinburgh locations, bring the exact address and call the branch if you have difficulty locating it

If you cannot find the counter in Edinburgh, use the airport information desk, courtesy phones near the hire area, or contact the hire brand directly using the number on your booking confirmation. Allow extra time if you are arriving during a busy period, as queues at Edinburgh counters can be longer during peak travel seasons.

Edinburgh does not currently operate a congestion charge or emission zone within the city itself, but if you drive south from Edinburgh into England, you may encounter urban charging zones that affect hire car drivers.

• London Congestion Charge: applies to driving in central London during operating hours and is billed based on your vehicle's number plate
• London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ): covers a wide area of London and applies to vehicles that do not meet emission standards
• Clean Air Zones (CAZ): several English cities operate CAZ schemes that may charge older or higher-emission vehicles

Tolls and congestion charges are the driver’s responsibility unless your hire agreement states otherwise. If you use a toll road or enter a charging zone without a pre-paid programme, the hire company will bill the charge to your credit card, often at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative fee.

Before leaving Edinburgh on a longer journey, ask the counter agent about any toll or emission zone programmes available for your hire, and confirm which areas your planned route passes through to avoid unexpected charges after the hire ends.