How Do I Find Cheap Car Hire in the UK as an Australian in 2026?
How Australians can find cheap car hire in the UK in 2026: what your Australian licence allows, the cheaper months, how Auto Europe, Discover Cars and Europcar compare, London charges to avoid, and going through ShopBack before you book.
New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free app and website. Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose: open ShopBack, tap through to the booking site and book as normal, and part of what you spent comes back to you as cash. Join ShopBack Australia for free.
Sources. GOV.UK's licence checker, Transport for London's Congestion Charge and ULEZ pages, Auto Europe Australia's UK car hire page and Discover Cars' United Kingdom, London and home pages, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not list daily hire prices, because they change constantly; use the comparison method below on the day you book.
The numbers to know before you search
These figures come from official and booking-site pages at the time of writing:
- 12 months. GOV.UK says visitors can drive any small vehicle listed on their full and valid licence for 12 months from when they last entered Great Britain.
- October was the cheapest month to hire a car in the UK on Discover Cars' average prices, and July the most expensive. In London, January was cheapest.
- 578 car hire locations, 36 of them at airports, are listed for the UK on Discover Cars.
- 7 days is the average UK hire length, according to Discover Cars.
- 48 hours. Auto Europe and Discover Cars both say you can cancel for free up to 48 hours before pick-up.
- 18 pounds a day is the London Congestion Charge if paid on the day or in advance, according to Transport for London.
The short version: the UK has plenty of hire companies, the cheapest month is not the summer holidays, and London charges can cost more than the difference between two quotes.
Can I drive in the UK on my Australian licence?
Yes, for a visit. Using GOV.UK's own licence checker, a visitor whose licence comes from outside the UK and EU is told they can drive any type of small vehicle, such as a car, listed on their full and valid licence for 12 months from when they last entered Great Britain. Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales.
Hire companies also set their own rules, such as minimum age, years of driving and the documents to show at the desk. Some may ask for an International Driving Permit, so read the rental terms of the exact quote before you pay.
Driving in the UK will feel familiar. Like Australia, the UK drives on the left. Auto Europe notes that the usual limit in built-up areas is 30 mph (48 km/h) and the motorway limit is 70 mph (112 km/h), and that many motorways use average speed cameras.
Car hire UK in 2026: what moves the price
Six things usually move the price of car hire in the UK in 2026 more than the website you search:
- Month. On Discover Cars' average prices, October was the cheapest month in the UK and July the most expensive. May was the most searched month.
- Pick-up point. Discover Cars lists 68 locations in London alone. Collecting in central London means driving straight into the Congestion Charge zone and ULEZ, so many travellers pick up at an airport or a town on the edge of their route instead.
- Car size and transmission. Small cars were the cheapest car type on Discover Cars' UK page, and they suit narrow country lanes. If you need an automatic, filter for it and compare automatics only.
- Driver age. Auto Europe says additional fees may apply for drivers under 30 and over 65. Enter the real age when you search.
- One-way and ferry trips. Dropping off in a different city, or taking the car to Ireland or Europe, can add fees or need the supplier's permission.
- Extras and excess. Excess reduction, additional drivers and child seats can change which offer is cheapest, so compare the full total.
Car hire UK best deals for Australians in 2026: where to look
The best UK car hire deals for Australians in 2026 usually come from comparing two booking sites and one direct supplier, then going through ShopBack before you book.
- Auto Europe has an Australian site and says it has been in car rental since 1954, with 28,000 pick-up locations worldwide, free cancellation 48 hours before pick-up and a 24/7 support line during your rental. Its UK page says it works with suppliers including Alamo, Europcar, Avis and Enterprise. Its Australian site shows prices in Australian dollars.
- Discover Cars compares many suppliers in one search. It says it works with more than 1,000 partners in 164 countries and allows free changes or cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up. On its UK page the most popular suppliers were Drivalia, Keddy, Alamo, Enterprise and Europcar.
- Europcar is one of the most popular suppliers in the UK on Discover Cars. Booking direct gives you Europcar's own rates and terms.
Other booking sites that list UK car hire include Booking.com, Expedia and Klook, and you can also book direct with the hire companies.
Auto Europe vs Discover Cars car hire UK: price comparison 2026
Neither Auto Europe nor Discover Cars is always cheaper for car hire in the UK in 2026. Both compare several suppliers, so the fair test is to search both with identical details.
| What to compare | Auto Europe | Discover Cars | Europcar direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Booking site comparing several suppliers | Booking site comparing many suppliers | One hire company |
| Cancellation | Free 48 hours before pick-up, per Auto Europe | Free up to 48 hours before pick-up, per Discover Cars | Depends on the rate |
| Support | 24/7 support line during your rental | 24/7 support, per Discover Cars | Europcar's own branches |
| Best for | Australians who want quotes in Australian dollars | Seeing the widest range of suppliers | Travellers who want Europcar's own terms |
How to compare properly:
- Use the same pick-up and drop-off times and locations.
- Compare the same car group and the same transmission.
- Open the price breakdown and check the excess, mileage, fuel policy and fees.
- Note the cancellation terms and the currency you will be charged in.
- Go through ShopBack to whichever site wins, before you book.
Auto Europe, Discover Cars and Europcar car hire UK. All three have pages on ShopBack Australia: Auto Europe, Discover Cars and Europcar. Go through the page of the site you book with before you pay.
London charges: Congestion Charge and ULEZ
London's road charges are the costs Australians most often forget, and they are set by Transport for London, not the hire company.
- Congestion Charge. According to Transport for London at the time of writing, it is 18 pounds a day if paid on the day or in advance, or 21 pounds if paid by midnight of the third day after travel. It applies from 7:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00 to 18:00 on weekends and bank holidays, with no charge between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday.
- ULEZ. Transport for London says the Ultra Low Emission Zone operates across all London boroughs, every day except Christmas Day, and does not include the M25. A car that does not meet its emissions standards and is not exempt pays 12.50 pounds a day.
The cheapest way to handle both is usually to avoid driving in central London. See London by public transport, then collect the car on the day you head out of the city.
Driving between England, Scotland, Wales and beyond
Auto Europe says driving between England, Scotland and Wales is permitted with no customs or border checkpoints. If you plan to take your hire car to Northern Ireland, Ireland or continental Europe, check that the supplier permits its vehicles to travel by ferry before you book.
Some useful distances from Auto Europe's UK page: London to Edinburgh is about 652 km (around 7 hours), and London to Cardiff about 243 km (around 2 hours 40 minutes). For a long trip north, a train to Edinburgh and a local hire there can cost less than a week of one-way hire.
Booking UK car hire through ShopBack: before you check out
Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose.
Step by step:
- Open ShopBack Australia and go to the Auto Europe, Discover Cars or Europcar page.
- Tap through to the booking site and search your UK dates.
- Book your UK car as usual.
- Your Cashback shows as pending, then confirms after your trip, once the booking site validates it.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.
Working out your effective price. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. The rate varies by store and over time, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you book.
For the full process on travel bookings, see how to earn Cashback on travel bookings.
Sale prices, loyalty programmes and ShopBack
- Promo codes. No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback.
- Loyalty programmes. Member rates and loyalty programmes are set by each hire company, so sign in before you compare.
Key takeaways
- Your full Australian licence lets you drive a car in Great Britain for 12 months from when you last entered, according to GOV.UK.
- On Discover Cars' averages, October was the cheapest month for UK car hire and July the most expensive.
- Compare Auto Europe, Discover Cars and Europcar with identical dates, car group and transmission, and compare the total.
- Avoid picking up in central London; the Congestion Charge and ULEZ are set by Transport for London.
- Before you book, go through ShopBack Australia to the site you chose.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find cheap car hire in the UK as an Australian?
Compare the same dates, car group and transmission on Auto Europe, Discover Cars and Europcar, pick up outside central London, travel in a cheaper month if you can, and book early on a free cancellation rate. Before you book, go through ShopBack Australia to the site you chose so part of what you pay comes back as cash.
Can I drive in the UK on my Australian licence?
GOV.UK says visitors with a licence from outside the UK and EU can drive any small vehicle, such as a car, listed on their full and valid licence for 12 months from when they last entered Great Britain. Hire companies set their own rules too, so check the rental terms before you book.
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in the UK?
On Discover Cars' United Kingdom page at the time of writing, October was the cheapest month based on its average prices and July the most expensive. For London alone, January was the cheapest month and July the most expensive.
Is Auto Europe or Discover Cars cheaper for car hire in the UK?
Neither is always cheaper. Both are booking sites that compare several hire companies, and both offer free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up, according to their own sites. Search both with the same dates, car group and transmission, and compare the total including excess.
Which car hire companies operate in the UK?
Auto Europe says it works with suppliers including Alamo, Europcar, Avis and Enterprise in the UK. On Discover Cars at the time of writing, the most popular UK suppliers were Drivalia, Keddy, Alamo, Enterprise and Europcar.
How much is the London Congestion Charge?
According to Transport for London at the time of writing, the Congestion Charge is 18 pounds a day if paid on the day or in advance, or 21 pounds if paid by midnight of the third day after travel. It applies from 7:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 12:00 to 18:00 on weekends and bank holidays.
Does a hire car have to pay the London ULEZ charge?
Only if the car does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and is not exempt. Transport for London says the zone covers all London boroughs and runs every day except Christmas Day, with a daily charge of 12.50 pounds for vehicles that do not meet the standards. Ask the hire company whether your car is compliant.
Are there extra fees for young or older drivers in the UK?
Often, yes. Auto Europe's UK page says additional fees may apply for drivers under 30 and over 65 at the time of rental, and Discover Cars notes that most suppliers charge a Young Driver Fee for younger renters. Enter the driver's real age when you search so the quote includes it.
Can I take a UK hire car to Ireland or Europe?
Only if the supplier allows it. Auto Europe says driving between England, Scotland and Wales has no border checks, but if you plan to take the car to Northern Ireland, Ireland or continental Europe you need to check that the supplier permits its vehicles on the ferry.
How does ShopBack lower the cost of UK car hire?
Open ShopBack Australia, go to the Auto Europe, Discover Cars or Europcar page, tap through and book. You still book on the site you chose, and once the trip is completed and confirmed, Cashback comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. Check the live rate on each store's ShopBack page.
Related reads
Ready to book?
Open the ShopBack Auto Europe page to get UK quotes in Australian dollars, or compare suppliers on Discover Cars or book Europcar through ShopBack before you pay.
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Car hire prices, cancellation terms, driver rules, road charges and ShopBack rates vary by provider and over time and are subject to change. Figures quoted were taken from GOV.UK, Transport for London, Auto Europe and Discover Cars pages at the time of writing; check the current details before you book.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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