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Hiring a car in Scotland represents the best solution for exploring the country with complete freedom. Having your own vehicle allows you to reach remote locations that would otherwise be inaccessible by public transport. From the majestic Highlands to picturesque coastal villages, from scenic roads to medieval castles, Scotland is a country perfectly suited to road trip exploration.
A rental car will allow you to create a personalised itinerary without depending on public transport schedules, which can be limited in rural areas. You can stop whenever and wherever you like, perhaps to photograph a stunning landscape or visit a small countryside pub not featured in the usual guidebooks.
Scottish weather is notoriously unpredictable, and having a car will allow you to seek shelter quickly if a sudden downpour arrives—a situation we experienced several times during our travels. Additionally, you can comfortably carry luggage, camera equipment or trekking gear without worrying about weight or bulk.
Below are the cheapest prices for car hire at in Scotland, to book click here.
The prices of car rental at the in Scotland varies depending on the time of year. This graph shows the average prices in the various months to help you find out which is the best period to rent a low cost car.
According to reviews by other travellers, the following are the best car rental companies in Scotland. To compare rates click here.
The major airports are the most convenient places to hire a car in Scotland. At Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport you’ll find all the major international car rental companies including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Budget, Sixt and Enterprise. Booking in advance guarantees not only the availability of your desired vehicle but also better rates.
If you prefer to start your journey after spending a few days in a city, all of Scotland’s major towns have car rental offices in the city centre. In Edinburgh and Glasgow, agencies are generally concentrated in central areas and near the main railway stations.
Cities like Inverness, Aberdeen and Stirling also offer good rental options. In these smaller towns, however, it’s even more important to book in advance, especially during high season, when we noticed available vehicles tend to run out quickly.
Rental costs in Scotland vary considerably depending on several factors. During the low season (November–March, excluding the Christmas period), we found rates starting from £25–30 per day for an economy car. In high season (June–September), prices can easily double, reaching £50–70 per day for the same vehicle.
The type of car significantly affects the price. For our travels through the Highlands, we opted for a compact SUV, which cost 20–30% more than a small car but proved a wise choice for country roads and rougher terrain.
It’s important to consider additional costs that can impact your final budget:
As a general rule, it’s far more economical to book your car several weeks before departure rather than hire one once you’ve landed in Scotland. Booking in advance means you can obtain free quotes comparing rates from all car rental companies, ensuring you find the most affordable solution that best suits your needs.
From our experience, booking well in advance (at least 2–3 months beforehand) can guarantee savings of up to 20–30% compared to hiring locally, not to mention the risk of finding nothing available.
To rent a car in Scotland we always recommend comparing the rates of all companies with DiscoverCars because in our opinion it offers the best prices, allows cancellation up to 48 hours before rental and offers a very cheap comprehensive insurance policy.
Driving in Scotland requires some adjustment since you’ll drive on the left. This can feel disorienting at first, especially at roundabouts and junctions, but after a few hours you’ll get used to it. We recommend starting your journey in less-trafficked areas to get comfortable with this quirk.
Scottish roads are generally well maintained, but their width varies considerably. In the Highlands and on the islands, you’ll commonly encounter single-track roads with passing places—designated areas where you pull in to let oncoming traffic pass. During our travels we learned to respect this unwritten rule: if you see a car approaching, pull into the nearest passing place and let them through with a friendly wave.
Speed limits are generally 30 mph (48 km/h) in built-up areas, 60 mph (96 km/h) on single-carriageway rural roads, and 70 mph (112 km/h) on motorways and dual carriageways. Speed checks are frequent, so it’s important to stick to the limits.
It’s worth noting that in many rural areas of Scotland, mobile signal coverage can be limited or non-existent.
Winter driving requires particular care, especially in mountainous areas where snow and ice can make roads treacherous. If you plan to visit Scotland between November and March, consider requesting a car with winter tyres or snow chains.
This itinerary of around 300 miles (480 km) is perfect for first-time visitors to Scotland with 4–5 days available. The journey starts in Edinburgh, where we recommend spending at least a couple of days visiting the magnificent Edinburgh Castle and strolling along the historic Royal Mile.
From Edinburgh, head west to Stirling, where you can visit the impressive castle and William Wallace monument. Continue towards the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Loch Lomond and Trossachs, where mountains are reflected in the crystal-clear waters of the lochs.
Drive north through the spectacular valley of Glencoe, a place of extraordinary natural beauty and rich history. During our trip, we stopped multiple times along this stretch to photograph and take short walks.
Continue to Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. From here you can head east along the Caledonian Canal to the famous Loch Ness, where, although we didn’t spot Nessie, we were captivated by the mysterious atmosphere of the place.
Complete your tour by returning to Edinburgh via the Cairngorms, enjoying the stunning mountain scenery of this wonderful national park.
The North Coast 500 is considered one of the world’s most scenic road routes, and having driven it ourselves, we can confirm this reputation is well deserved. This circular itinerary of approximately 500 miles (800 km) starts and ends in Inverness and follows Scotland’s northern coast.
We recommend dedicating at least 5–7 days to this tour to fully appreciate the wonders it offers. The route will take you through breathtaking landscapes: fishing villages along the eastern coast, pristine northern beaches, wild western cliffs and majestic mountains inland.
During our journey, some of the highlights were Dunrobin Castle, the cliffs of Duncansby Head, Sandwood Bay beach (accessible only on foot) and the charming village of Ullapool. Don’t miss the chance to deviate slightly from the route to visit the enchanting Isle of Skye, connected to the mainland by a bridge.
For whisky enthusiasts, this itinerary of around 200 miles (320 km) is truly paradise. Speyside, located in north-east Scotland, is home to the world’s highest concentration of whisky distilleries.
Starting from Aberdeen, head north-west to Elgin, passing the picturesque Dunnottar Castle. From Elgin, follow the River Spey through charming villages such as Aberlour, Craigellachie and Dufftown.
During our tour, we visited several renowned distilleries, including Glenfiddich, The Macallan and Cardhu, each with its own production methods and distinctive flavour. Many distilleries offer guided tours and tastings, but remember to book in advance, especially during high season.
Don’t forget to designate a driver who won’t participate in tastings, as Scotland’s drink-drive limits are very strict (0.5 g/l).
Beyond the distilleries, this itinerary offers enchanting landscapes and interesting historical sites, such as Ballindalloch Castle and the ruins of Elgin Cathedral.
You’ll often see the following terms in your car rental contract—don’t worry, we’ll explain them in detail.
This is insurance protecting you against damage to the rental car and is almost always included in the price. However, be aware that it usually comes with a deductible (excess), which varies from company to company. This excess can be reduced or eliminated (Super CDW) by paying a daily surcharge.
This is insurance covering liability to third parties and is always included in the price.
This covers theft of the vehicle. Sometimes it’s included in the price; sometimes it’s not, which can be problematic as you’ll be liable for the entire value of the car. As always, you can resolve this by paying a daily surcharge.
If more than one person will be driving the vehicle, you must pay an extra for each additional driver for the duration of the rental (with rare exceptions). The extra may be a one-time fee, but more often it’s a daily charge per additional driver.
This is almost always unlimited, though some companies impose a limit beyond which you pay per kilometre.
An additional charge if you pick up the vehicle at the airport or city centre. Some companies include this in the price, others specify it separately, and others don’t consider it at all.
You can often (though not always) return the car to a different city than where you picked it up. Some companies offer this service free of charge, while others charge a flat fee.
Child car seats, roof racks, return to a different location, manual controls, sat-nav, automatic transmission—these are all optional services that will naturally affect your quote. Some of these may already be included in the price, but as always it depends on the company.
A minimum age is required to rent a vehicle, which varies from company to company. Typically it’s 25 years old, though some rent to drivers as young as 21 and others require you to be 30. It’s usually possible to rent the car even if you fall outside these limits, though you’ll pay a fixed or daily surcharge. There’s also an upper age limit, which is typically around 70.
Here are some quick answers to the most common doubts about car rental in Scotland.
To reserve a car in Scotland a credit card or debit card is sufficient. However, when you go to collect the car, you will need:
The car rental companies in Scotland allow to rent a car to all those who are between 21 and 70 years old. However, there is an additional cost for under 25 and for those over 70.
A car rental in Scotland always includes:
Any extras or additional insurance coverage are separate.
Find the best rates by comparing all car rental companies in one search.
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