Two friends and I will be traveling extensively around western England for 2 weeks, setting out from London, and will need a car. Were looking for 1) getting the best deal on renting a small but comfortable car, able to accommodate 3 + luggage; 2) avoiding an onerous process of pick up and return, and 3) knowing all we need to about insurance and driving issues. All help is appreciated!
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
Hello Barbara, If you can provide a bit more information, you will receive more help. Are you familiar with driving on the left? Have you driven in the UK before? Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? Where do you plan to return the car? (One way rentals are often no more expensive than backtracking.) What do you mean by "onerous process of pickup and return"? Best regards,
Thomas
Posted by
Malaga, Malaga, Spain
410 posts
A simple search online will give you a wealth of information. Look at www.rentalcars.com for example. You can see what locations are available and look at options for return in a different location. We have used www.autoeurope.com several times and been happy with the service. I have only ever collected a car from one of the major airports and if you wanted to collect in or near London I would do some careful research as driving can be a nightmare. And I am used to driving on the left. I am not sure what you mean by the onerous process of pick up and return - it is generally not onerous and I know of no way of avoiding it. The point about manual vs automatic is well made - manual cars are usually more common and automatic sometimes cheaper so if you want or need an make sure it can be guaranteed.
Posted by
Malaga, Malaga, Spain
410 posts
correction - automatics are often more expensive.
Posted by
TX, USA
529 posts
Recently rented a car in UK. The shifting was easy, same pattern only using left hand. Passenger reminded me to stay left and to be careful of the curb. The first day was a little stressful,but less so each day. I rented from Avis and called them directly. I was pleasantly rewarded with a lower price than the one listed on website. It was a snap.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Another question are you used to driving manual transmission with your left hand ? On my last trip to the UK I was planning to rent a manual since it was MUCH cheaper and I drove manual at home all the time but a friend advised that the combination of driving on the left PLUS shifting with a different hand would be difficult. So I bit the bullet and took an automatic. Still needed my passenger to keep reminding me to drive on the left. I picked the car up from the airport and immediately set out for Bath had used public transit inside London so no parking/driving in traffic problems. Turned the car in at Edinburgh train station and trained back to London. Both very easy.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
If you're right-handed and can pick your nose with your left hand, you can certainly shift with your left hand. It's an urban myth perpetuated by people who haven't tried it. You won't notice it.