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Planning a car hire Heathrow Airports. You can Hire a car from any of Heathrow's five Terminals as a self drive or as a chauffeur drive, it is probably the easiest way to get from A to B without have to use public transport. However if you are going into London we would recommend a pre booked taxi or public transport as parking is very expensive and hard to find in central London.

With 8 car rental companies located in each of the Heathrow airport Terminals and more located in the nearby airport hotels there is a lot to choose from and here we are trying to help you choose what is best for you. The options are to book a hire car at one of Heathrow airports kiosks located in the arrivals hall or to get the best deal book online before you arrive at the airport.

Booking a Car Hire at Heathrow Airport

Car Hire Consolidators

Caparison sites allow you to check out prices from all the different car rental firms before you book car hire at Heathrow Airport. They are the easiest way to enter your details once and find out which car rental company will offer the best price.

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Booking Car Hire Direct

Heathrow Terminals (Yellow)

Documents Needed to Hire a Car

Drivers will need to be present and will need to provide a valid driver's license.

UK drivers with the photocard driver's license should present both their photocard and the accompanying driver record document.

Foreign and European drivers must produce a driving licence valid in the country where the rental takes place. The driving licence must have been issued by authorised authorities at least 12 months before the date of the commencement of the rental. In addition to the normal driving licence, an international driving licence is also mandatory if the driving licence is written in a language different to the one of the renting country and/or in characters that can not be read in the renting country. Please note that the international driving licence is valid only if accompanied by the normal driving licence.

When the rental is made outside your country of residence you must also present a valid identity card or a valid passport. These identification documents are generally not requested if you are a resident of a country belonging to the European Union and the rental takes place in another European Union country, except in some specific cases such as certain special or luxury vehicles.

Young Drivers Information

Each car rental firm has different restrictions for young drivers. Some allow car rental at Heathrow from 18 whilst others will only hire car sout to people over 25. There are also restrictions on the hire of luxury vehicles generally to those over 30 years of age. If there is a restriction in place for young drivers there is often a Young Drivers Surcharge based on a daily charge depending on the number of days and the destination, this surcharge generally only go up to a maximum levy for the first 10 days of hire.

Insurance Knowledge

When you rent you car at Heathrow, included in the price should be (CDW) Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Waiver which is to cover you for a claim if the vehicle gets damaged. This CDW provides cover for the vehicle, but it is not insurance. If the vehicle is damaged or stolen whilst you are renting it you would be expected to pay the excess which on a luxury vehicle could run into the 1000's. Insurance options that will be offered to you when renting the vehicle will be Excess Insurance and within the excess insurance there may be several bands which reduce the excess on the rental car in bands down to nothing.

You can get Excess Insurance from a third party provider at a significantly reduced rate which will cover multiple drivers. Insurance4carhire is a specialist car hire provider that offer policy’s to cover your excess.

Insurance4carhire Annual European excess insurance

• Covers excess on damage to the vehicle, theft and damage to windows, roof, undercarriage & tyres

• Up to £4,000 per claim & £5,000 per year

• Unlimited number of rentals per year

• 60 days continuous cover per rental

• Cover for you plus 7 additional drivers aged 21-85

• Covers Car Club rentals

Other Insurance You may be Offered

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) may be offered by your car hire firm at Heathrow Airport when you arrive to collect your car. What it provides in insurance to cover the authorised drivers and passengers for medical expenses incurred through and accident in the vehicle

Helpful Tips on Car Hire

When collection your car rental at Heathrow you should check the hire car for any damage above any existing damage that is noted on your rental documentation. If you do find any extra damage you should report it to the car hire firm straight away and get it documented that the damage was there prior to collecting the car. If you do not do this you will be liable for the damage and it repair at the end of your rental period.

Check how much fuel the vehicle has and what your policy says as it could be a full tank to return as a full tank or full to empty. If you do not do as stated in the rental documentation you will be liable for the difference and there is generally a surcharge.

Make sure you familiarise your self with the local road laws before starting your journey and if you are travelling in a country with toll road it is wise to have a little bit of change in the local currency before departing. In London you have the congestion charge which can be bought at local shops on or before the day of travel or online at where is the congestion charge and when

Before you leave your vehicle, especially when you are on an early/late flight and there is just a key drop when departing remember to take pictures of each side of your car including one with the bay you left it. Just incase the car is damaged after you left it.

Airport Surcharge at Heathrow

Most car hire at Heathrow airport will levy a surcharge on the vehicle because it was collected from the airport and this costs the car hire company at Heathrow to use the airports facilities. It can be listed as a location charge. Please check your documentation prior to arrival.