hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

Just wondering if anyone has any insight on the best option to hire a car in the UK (or, should i say - the cheapest!)? Our previous experience of hiring cars in the UK (with US licence) hasn't been the best!
We usually want to get full cover - but we've been stung when they don't include it in the quote, but then insist on adding it on at ridiculous rates when we pick up the car.

We have US driving licenses, but we still have our UK ones too.
This summer we are moving to another country but will be spending 2 months in the UK first. Technically those months we will be homeless! We still own the property in the UK which the old UK licenses are registered to, but its rented.

So, can we hire the car with our UK licence or would we have to use the US licence??

thanks in advance

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

IMHO If you've left the US, your UK licence is as valid as your British one.

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

That would make sense, yes.

;)

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

Everytime the missus and I visit England I always rent a car but I rent through the travel internet sites (orbitz, expedia, etc.). Although I've never rented for a two month period. Usually a week or two. And I use the major rental car companies (national, hertz, avis, etc.) which I pick up at the airport. If I remember right I always go for unlimited mileage. The most fun is taking a car trip through England (using only the B roads) and staying at B&B's. Every town has a Royal travel office (something like that) and the women in the place will always will know which B&B is the best in the area. Lovely.

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

thanks. I wonder if we have to have the credit card registered to the same address as on the licence? (can't remember how it works?)

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

sounds lovely!

Do you place the booking with a UK address and pay in GBP?

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

How is this going to affect the amount you pay for insurance?

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

I don't of course as I am based in the states, but I would think you can use a credit card that has a valid address wherever that would be.

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

And the difference between a UK licence and a British one is...????

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

Mrs FB just rented a car through money supermarket.....she only paid for the basic...her visa card covers the liability free of charge.

she got a letter from visa confirming this

cut the rate in half, if that helps

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

I use AMEX car rental insurance when I rent a car, and it's cheap and really helps bring down the cost of renting a car when I am in the UK. However, I always wondered if push came to shove how great the coverage would be in reality. I found out last year when I was hit by a drunk driving on the M4 only 4 hours after arriving in the UK. AMEX were great, and they handled everything and I was completely covered.

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

I'm not sure it works in terms of where your credit card is registered etc. I find if i am looking on a UK website and it quotes in GBP, then im able to book full coverage. but when i go to book using a US site in USD, the full coverage/cost of extras isnt so transparent. maybe im looking in the wrong place.

But, if i can use a UK based car hire comparison site, pay in GBP, with a UK drivers licence, but pay using a credit card registered in the US, then im hopefully ok. i wonder if i need to pretend that my address is the UK one where the licence is registered?

As you can see im terrified of all the small prints/ways they can catch me out and charge me double when i pick it up!! (i've walked out of a car rental company office at LHR without and a car and 2 small, tired children after they tried to screw me over with a whopping 800gbp bill for 'additional' insurance)

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

this is interesting.... i have a few credit cards... maybe i need to call them all up and see what they offer me!!
thanks!

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

Oooops! :o Of course "UK" s/be "US".

Re: hiring a car on visit to the UK
 

I used Autoeurope.com for my upcoming trip, they seemed to have the best prices around, plus you can filter for different car classes AND insurance coverages. Full refund if cancelled before the 3 days before your rental date, and offer price matching. They also have a .co.uk site, but i found it better value to use the US site.