Edinburgh car rental guide
Top 10 Car Rental Companies in Edinburgh
The best car rental companies in Edinburgh are Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise. Prices start from £22/day for an economy car, the minimum age is 21, and airport pickup adds about 15%.
✓ Free cancellation options✓ No booking fee✓ Full-to-full suppliers✓ You book direct
Ranked comparison
Top 10 rental companies in Edinburgh
Ranked by customer rating, price transparency and pickup convenience. Each opens a pre-filled search.
#1
Sixt
Editor’s pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£24/day
all-in estimate
View Sixt deal
#2
Hertz
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£25/day
all-in estimate
View Hertz deal
#3
Enterprise
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£26/day
all-in estimate
View Enterprise deal
#4
Avis
Top ratedFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£25/day
all-in estimate
View Avis deal
#5
Europcar
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£24/day
all-in estimate
View Europcar deal
#6
Budget
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £250Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From£23/day
all-in estimate
View Budget deal
#7
Alamo
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From£24/day
all-in estimate
View Alamo deal
#8
National
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£27/day
all-in estimate
View National deal
#9
Arnold Clark Rental
Local pick — highest-rated on reviewsFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from £250Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From£20/day
base rate
View Arnold Clark Rental deal
Prices are indicative market estimates · Last checked 2026-07-20 · 2 public sources (DiscoverCars + market data)
Price guide
Prices by car type in Edinburgh
| Car type | From / day | Example | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | £22 | Vauxhall Corsa | 4 |
| Compact | £27 | Ford Fiesta | 5 |
| SUV | £42 | Nissan Qashqai | 5 |
| Minivan (7-seat) | £58 | Volkswagen Touran | 7 |
| Luxury | £85 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 5 |
Pickup locations
Where to pick up a car in Edinburgh
Airport — Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
23 rental providers operate directly from the airport — one of the most competitive pickup points in the corpus — with the airport itself listing car hire as an official transport option.
Downtown — Edinburgh city center / Waverley Station
Green Motion operates a branch at Waverley Station, a useful pickup point for travelers arriving by train who want to head straight for the Highlands without detouring to the airport.
Fees
Fees at a glance
| Fee | Typical amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Airport surcharge | ~15% of base rate | EDI airport pickup |
| Young-driver fee (21–24) | £15–25/day | Drivers under 25 |
| Additional driver | £7–10/day | Per extra driver |
| LEZ non-compliance fine | £60 (£30 if paid within 14 days), doubling per repeat offense up to £480 | Driving a non-compliant vehicle inside the Low Emission Zone |
| City-center parking | up to £8.20/hour | Central streets (George St, Queen St, Market St), Monday–Saturday |
| Refundable deposit | £250–400 | Standard hold at pickup |
Local intelligence
Things to know before renting in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has been enforced 24/7, including holidays, since June 2024 — non-compliant vehicles face a £60 fine (£30 if paid within 14 days) that doubles with each repeat violation, up to a £480 cap. Most rental fleets meet the Euro 4 petrol/Euro 6 diesel minimum, but it’s worth confirming.
- Street parking in the center costs up to £8.20/hour on streets like George Street and Queen Street — seven free Park & Ride sites ring the city (Ingliston, Hermiston, Sheriffhall and others) for drivers who’d rather leave the car outside and take public transport in.
- During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, the city center sees severe gridlock and parking shortages, plus planned road closures — most guides recommend using Park & Ride rather than driving into the center that month.
- Edinburgh’s Old Town has narrow, historic streets — a compact or midsize car is recommended over anything larger.
- Rental prices swing sharply by pickup point and season: airport (EDI) pickup averages notably more than a city-center pickup, and October is typically the cheapest month to rent.
- The city center itself is well served by trams and buses, but Scotland’s rail network thins out quickly outside the central belt — a car becomes genuinely useful for reaching the Highlands (Cairngorms, Glencoe, Loch Lomond) and the Isle of Skye.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Edinburgh
Is it worth renting a car in Edinburgh?
Not for the city itself — public transport is excellent and parking is expensive and limited. It becomes worthwhile once you want to reach the Highlands or rural Scotland, where the rail network is much thinner.
What is Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone and how much is the fine?
The LEZ covers the city center and is enforced 24/7 by camera. Non-compliant vehicles face a £60 fine (£30 if paid early), doubling with each repeat offense up to £480. Most modern rental cars meet the emissions standard, but confirm with your rental company.
Should I rent a car during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August?
It’s not recommended for driving into the center — expect severe parking shortages and gridlock. Use one of the free Park & Ride sites at the city’s edge instead if you have a car.
Where’s the best place to park in central Edinburgh?
Central streets like George Street and Queen Street charge up to £8.20/hour. For free parking, use one of seven Park & Ride sites (Ingliston, Hermiston, Sheriffhall, and others) at the edge of the city and take public transport in.
Do I need a car to see the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh?
Generally yes — while trains reach some towns, many Highland destinations (Glencoe, Cairngorms, parts of Loch Lomond, Isle of Skye) are far easier to reach with a rental car.
What size car should I rent for Edinburgh’s Old Town?
A compact or midsize car — the Old Town’s streets are narrow and historic, and larger vehicles can be difficult to maneuver and park.
