Good Morning,
I wish to rent a car for five people while we are in England and Wales this summer. Any advice on the best companies to rent from?
Can we get an automatic?
Is it a hassle to cross the border of Wales with the car and is it an extra expense?
Any other tips?
Thanks!
Is that 5 adults? That requires an above average size car, especially if they have large cases.
Yes, you can get an automatic, they cost more. Automatics often are large cars only, but for you that is OK.
Where are you renting this car from (what town/location)? Do you intend to return it at the same location, or somewhere else? That decides what companies are available.
England to Wales is not an international border. This site confuses you by having separate sections for England, Wales and Scotland, but they are all the same country: United Kingdom.
I don't know where you come from (you don't say). Have you researched the other things to do with driving in the UK: Is your licence valid (do you need an International Driving Permit?), learn driving laws, learn road signs.
Thank you for the reply.
We have 3 adults and 2 children, ages 9 and 10.
I would rent either from Luton airport or Heathrow airport and probably return to Heathrow before staying in London for several days.
We would have the car for a week and we are American citizens.
Just be sure to get one big enough to fit all the luggage and all of you comfortably. It is a long way for a road trip and British cars aren't large and neither is the boot on most.
Make sure to ask for an automatic when booking the car - don’t expect to turn up and just get an automatic. You will probably pay more. Manual (stickshift) cars are way more common in the UK and are the default, so an automatic is a special request.
"Is it a hassle to cross the border of Wales with the car and is it an extra expense?
Any other tips?"
It was an extra expense but the tolls on the Severn Bridge were abolished last December:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/severn-bridge-tolls-officially-been-15560574
We’re using SIXT Car Rental this time. The price was the best for our size car. We always get the automatic. We’re also from the US and there’s enough to distract the driver without using a gear shift with the left hand. Also, get the GPS/sat nav. Same reason.
We always rent from Avis, specifying and automatic when reserving, and have always had good luck. The extra cost for an automatic is not that significant. Unless heading to Cornwall, the roads should mostly be plenty wide enough for a larger vehicle.
