The UK has many attractions and naturally occurring landmarks to visit, some iconic and easily accessible, others are hidden away. Whether you’re visiting from abroad or travelling internally, the best way to make the most of any trip is to hire a car. This way you can explore all you want to see and can travel when you want. Here’s a rundown of what you need to have in place when hiring a car in the UK.
Driver’s licence and passport
If you haven’t got a valid full driving licence, then you can’t hire a car. If you have got a licence, you MUST remember to take it with you when collecting your hire car. No licence, no car.
Different suppliers will vary the length of time you will need to have held your EU licence to hire from them. It can vary between 1-5 years. Some will also specify you must have no endorsements, others may say no major endorsements. In the case of the supplier Practical, they won’t hire to anyone with more than 6 penalty points on their licence. They can check endorsements and penalty points on a UK-issued licence using the DVLA code you must present (more below).
If you have a non-EU driver’s licence, then you’ll also need to present your passport and an International Driving Permit (IDP).
All customers hiring a car in the UK should take along their passport as a form of identity. Not presenting one may mean the booking is refused and you’ll still be charged.
International Driving Permit (IDP)
Remember- only those with a non-EU driver’s licence will need an IDP to hire a car in the UK.
Over 140 countries require the use of an IDP- sometimes this is a legal requirement. It’s a way of sharing your driver’s licence in multiple languages so that anyone needing your licence details in the country you’re visiting can easily understand it.
An IDP is valid for 12 months and shouldn’t be in place for over 3 months ahead of travel. To apply for one, you’ll need passport sized photos and to complete an application form. Contact the motoring body of your country for more information.
Remember- an IDP does not replace your driver’s licence and you should always keep the two together.
Proof of address
Some car hire suppliers also request that you take along examples of documents proving your address. This can be in the form of a utility bill or credit card/bank statement. If a card statement is requested, it may be that you must take the statement for the credit card you’re using to authorise the security deposit. You should have received these documents within the last 8 weeks of the start of your hire. Print-outs of online statements are acceptable but you must ensure all your information is clearly printed and there is no smudging.
The suppliers Arnold Clark and Thrifty are two such examples that request this information. Check the rental conditions before booking that you can satisfy the requirements.
DVLA code
Another requirement for those hiring on a UK licence is a DVLA code. This allows you to share your licence details, such as disqualifications, endorsements and penalty points, with the supplier.
This code is valid for 21 days so make sure you get the code within 21 days of your rental starting. A DVLA code can only be used once but you can have up to 15 codes active at any one time.
You can get your DVLA code from the Gov.UK website here. You will need to have your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and your postcode (which should be the same as on your driver’s licence).
Some suppliers will allow you to just provide your National Insurance number so they can go through getting the DVLA code with you on collection.
Proof of previous travel dates
This is a requirement of a few suppliers, such as Thrifty and Keddy, whereby non-UK residents who wish to hire a car in the UK must provide documents detailing travel dates to and from the UK. Flight tickets or confirmation of hotel bookings are such documents that they will accept.
Before making a booking for hiring a car in the UK
Always read the rental conditions to make sure you can meet the requirements set by the supplier. Check and compare suppliers as requirements will vary. Failure to meet the requirements may mean that the supplier will refuse to hire a car to you but will still charge for the booking. If you’re unsure about any requirements, phone our Reservations Team and they will be more than happy to assist you.
Our table below summarises what you should prepare to present on collection when hiring a car in the UK. This won’t apply to all suppliers so check the terms before you book!
| UK Resident | EU Resident | Non-EU Resident | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver’s Licence |  |
|
|
| Passport | |
|
|
| IDP | |
||
| Proof of address | |
|
|
| DVLA Code | |
||
| Proof of previous travel dates | |
|
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Can I pay for car with debit card or do I have to have card with me when I arrive. My boss is booking car with his card
Hi Brian,
Yes, the payment card you use for the deposit and/or local extras upon collecting the rental car can be different to card used to secure the booking. However, you will most likely need a credit card present for your security deposit unless you have booked with a provider that also accepts debit cards or has no security deposit.
Hope this helps,
Zest Car Rental
Is there an age limitation for renting a vehicle in the UK
Hi Michael,
In the UK (and the most of Europe), there isn’t a legal age limitation when renting a car. However, depending on the car rental provider, you may need to pay for an elderly driver surcharge if you’re over 70. These additional charges will be displayed on the “rental conditions” of our car rental quotes.
Hope this helps,
Zest Car Rental
I’m renting a car in the U.K. and I am a U.S. citizen with a Real ID drivers License and a passport. Do I still need an IDP since there is no language barriers? What is the DLVA code and does it apply? I’ve never heard of it.
Hi Dave,
Legally you do not need an IDP to drive in the UK if you have your driver’s license and passport. However, some rental companies may require one to hire with them so it may be best to contact our customer support and check the provider.
Hope this helps,
Zest Car Rental
Hi there
Do you need proof of address here in the U.K. or abroad for non eu tourist ?
Hi,
It’s all up to the specific supplier on whether they need proof of address. Check the rental conditions before booking to see whether your supplier will require you to bring proof of address.
Thanks,
Jake
Nice blog. very informative. It’s important to know about the car before renting it.
Hi, Brexit, pah!
I am an Englishman residing in Ireland. Due to Brexit, I have had to swap my UK driver’s licence for an Irish one. It could take up to 3 months to process. I have a chit that says the application is being processed. I also have an IDP that is valid since 11/04/2019.
I also need to visit the UK regularly now because of ill health in the family. My question: will I be able to hire a car in the UK with just my IDP and the chit?(as i wont have either my UK licence or Irish licence in the interim period).
Would appreciate your reply.
Hello Simon,
Thank you for commenting! This is a very good question. Unfortunately at the moment, as Brexit is still in limbo, we cannot comment on what documents you’ll need to drive in the UK. As soon as we know, we will be putting an article together.
Apologies we can’t help any more than that!
Thanks
HI we are going to uk this year for 1 month. I have a Spanish driving licence living in Spain although I am English.
Will I be ok to hire a car , also what paper work will I need.
Also my wife and I have joint bank accounts in Spain and UK but all credit and debit cards are in my wifes name, will she be able to pay for the hire or do I need a card in my name ?
kind regards
M Wade
Hello Michael,
Thanks for the question! In terms of hiring in the UK when not a resident, here are some general terms for the provider Thrifty “Upon collection, present your valid EU-issued driver’s licence to the car rental provider. You must have held this for 2 years or more and have no major endorsements. You must also show your passport upon collection. Non UK residents must provide documentation detailing their travel dates to and from the UK.” Therefore, your Spanish license should be fine. In terms of the credit card and payment, you can pay for the hire on our website with whatever card you wish. However please bear in mind that the security deposit when collecting the car must be funded by a credit card in the name of the main driver.
I hope this helps, if you have any further queries please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.
Thanks, Shaun.
Thanks for sharing this info.