What is an insurance excess?

The excess is the amount you'll only be liable for in case of damage (under Collision Damage Waiver) or theft (under Theft Protection) of the vehicle. Information about the excess will be clearly stated in the price inclusion when you reserve a car on QEEQ.

How can I add an additional driver?

You are advised to make a request upon your arrival at the rental counter. Additional charge per day will incur unless '1 Additional Driver Included' is stipulated on the rental. Please note that the same licence and age requirement applies to the additional driver. The additional driver is supposed to present the required licence document along with the main driver at pickup.

United Kingdom traffic rules and self driving car rental tips

The Complete United Kingdom Driving and Rental Guide

Consisting of England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland, the United Kingdom is renowned for its beautiful natural sceneries and a wide mix of architectures, making it an attractive destination country to discover by car. Here are a few basic driving instructions and tips to help you serenely prepare your journey.

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

In the United Kingdom, driving is on the left-hand side of the road and overtaking is on the right. Mobile phones cannot be used to call or text while driving. On Roundabouts, drivers on the right have right of way.

Drivers should remain alert on countryside’s roads, as farm animals and agricultural vehicles can turn out to be difficult obstacles to pass.

Speed Limit

There are speed limits of 30 mph(48 km/h) on urban areas, 60 mph(96 km/h) in rural areas and 70 mph(112 km/h) in motorways unless signs say otherwise.

Traffic Signs

Traffic signs used in the UK include signs giving orders, warning and indicating direction or information. Here are some frequently used signs in the UK.

Regulatory signs feature a circular shape with some exceptions.

Give Priority to Vehicles from Opposite Direction

Give Way to Traffic on major road

No Vehicles Except Bicycles Being Pushed

No Overtaking

No Waiting

No Stopping
(Clearway)

Warning signs are mostly triangular with a red border.

Roundabout

Uneven Road

Two-way Traffic on Route Crossing Ahead

Wild Animals

Level Crossing WIth Barrier or Gate Ahead

Level Crossing Without Barrier or Gate Ahead

Level Crossing Without Barrier

Information signs in the UK are rectangular with various colour backgrounds.

Primary Route Forming Part of a Ring Road

Entrance to Congestion Charging Zone

Hospital Ahead with Accident and Emergency Facilities

Tourist Information Point

Click here for a complete road signs guide in the United Kingdom.

Seatbelt and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

All passengers over 12 or 13 years, or over 135cm tall must wear a seat belt at all times. Failure to do so could result in a fine up to £500.

Booster Seat Laws

Children until the age of 12th or the height of 135cm should be placed in an appropriate seat for their height and weight.

Parking, Fuel and Toll

Parking

· Forbidden Parking

Finding parking space in town and city centres can prove difficult, especially in the centre of London. Parking your car in the following spots is strictly forbidden and could result in a fine:

- Beyond the time restriction marked on poles, lampposts or even screwed onto adjacent walls of buildings with a single, continuous yellow line along the kerb

- With double, continuous yellow lines along the kerb, which indicates no parking at any time

United Kingdom Double and Continuous Yellow Lines (Image from alphamarkingservices.co.uk)

· Paid Parking

White marked bays with white markings indicate a metered street parking. These are generally "pay-and-display" parking for which a ticket needs to be purchased from an adjacent machine, and displayed on the car’s windshield or dashboard.

Be careful to check the "controlled hours" which are marked on the payment machines and on adjacent signs (again, usually on lamp posts and on walls). Parking outside the controlled hours is free.

United Kingdom Paid Parking Signs

(Image from eppingforestdc.gov.uk)

When finding a parking spot, we strongly suggest you not to let the absence of yellow lines lull you into a false sense of security, and always look for parking signs or meter machines.

Fuel Prices

The average value for the United Kingdom gasoline price during the period from August to November 2017 was 1.21£ per litre, while diesel is 3 cents higher.

Toll

Currently, there is a single major road - the M6 Toll - and a small number of bridges and tunnels where tolls are collected. Each toll road and bridge in the United Kingdom has its own fee, varying and depending on the type of vehicle you are driving. Fees are collected at toll gates and can be paid in cash or by credit card or by fuel equipment for automatic toll payment.

United Kingdom Toll Road (Image from alamy.com)

Some car hire companies will debit your credit card in order to pay the tolls on your behalf if you missed paying one (depending on different car hire companies). If you have any questions concerning toll fee billing, feel free to contact QEEQ' 24/7 customer service team for help.

Additional Tips

In London, the Congestion Charge is a £11.50 daily charge for driving a vehicle within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday. Usually, the congestion charge will be collected and informed by the car hire company at the rental desk.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

Except for Scotland – whose limit is set at 0.05%, other locations within the UK have a legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08% per driver. Driving over the alcohol limit can result in a penalty up to six months of imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum of twelve months' disqualification.

Traffic Fines

The minimum speeding fine for an infringement is £100. A notice will be sent to the car’s registered keeper by the enforcement authority. In a renter’s case, the notice will be sent to the car hire company and passed on to the renter.

Parking tickets usually need to be paid within 28 days. In some cases, the fine is reduced by 50% if the payment is made within 14 days. Failure to pay the parking tickets within the given period will result in the penalty notice being passed onto the car hire company.

In some cases, the car hire company will debit your credit card for the penalty fee and add an administration charge. It is advisable for you to contact QEEQ’ customer service team if you believe you have been charged incorrectly.

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

All drivers must be in possession of a full driver's licence, many car hire companies may require driver's licence held for at least 2 years. The minimum age generally to rent a vehicle in the UK is 21 years old. But the age restrictions may vary by different car categories.

Guest reviews

1 /

Wilbur Saxton

June 17, 2025

Destination: Edinburgh

2Poor

They trick customers by giving you a GLE with less trunk space than a 90, and the tire has a bulge. I don't believe they wouldn't notice this during the inspection.

Jamie Wolf

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

Newman Herbert

June 16, 2025

Destination: London

Patrick

It's alright. Most of the staff are of Indian descent, polite, and easy to communicate with.

Yetta Twain

June 15, 2025

Very satisfied, the vehicle inspection during return was fair without nitpicking.

Hamiltion Timothy

June 13, 2025

6Average

I booked a gas-powered car, but was given an electric car when picking up. I requested a replacement and waited for over 4 hours to get the gas-powered car. The staff at the store were cooperative, but this is not how things should be handled. The store did not provide any compensation for this.

Aurora Kell(e)y

June 12, 2025

Destination: Manchester

The car pickup was smooth, the vehicle was new and equipped with CarPlay. It had a high chassis but a compact size, making it suitable for small roads in the UK. The price was reasonable. We purchased QEEQ insurance, but they still promoted the rental company's insurance. During signing, they pre-selected it without asking, and when we requested to remove it, they claimed to have done so but actually didn't. Upon returning the car, we noticed the insurance fee was deducted. After contacting the staff present that day, they admitted the mistake and canceled it.

Octavia Edith

June 11, 2025

Satisfied

Gene Albert

Very satisfied

Joshua Stone

June 10, 2025

4Average

Returning the car at Stansted Airport was problematic due to the use of flashlights for damage inspection. They charged me £100 for an allegedly invisible damage that likely existed when I picked up the car. This kind of hidden damage could potentially deceive many people. Be extra cautious during car pick-up.

Sampson Noyes

June 9, 2025

Very satisfied!

Cedric Childe

Excellent

Leonard Clark(e)

No need to queue for pickup, great service attitude, and quick return process.

Daniel Alfred

June 8, 2025

Destination: Cheltenham

8Very good

Noel Ackerman(n)

Destination: Inverness

It's acceptable.

Ethel Conan

June 6, 2025

Destination: Oxford

Sylvia Kelvin

June 5, 2025

Destination: Coventry

The cost-effectiveness is average. Upon arrival at the store, they could only provide an older model of Mazda 3. Since I didn't like it, I switched to a Cupra, but they only had the gasoline version. The car struggled with efficiency, costing roughly 1 yuan per kilometer.

Sebastiane Roger

June 4, 2025

Destination: Southampton

Excellent car rental company, fast process and great service.

Marico Sheridan

June 3, 2025

Great experience, the car pickup and inspection process was very simple.

Myrna Monroe

Very good

Jennifer Wood

June 2, 2025

There was a very long wait during pickup, possibly due to understaffing. Fortunately, during the return, there was only a short wait before someone came to inspect the car.

Poppy Sidney

June 1, 2025

Destination: Cambridge

Hahaha

Audrey Salome

The customer service was excellent.

Doris Harvey

May 31, 2025

It's pretty good, but I rented a Ford 9-seater and was given a Renault 9-seater instead.

Dave Winifred

Novia Springhall

May 30, 2025

Very good.

Valerie Stilwell

Destination: Birmingham

The overall service was very professional with no unnecessary upselling.

Nora Violet

Great service

Harlan Law

May 27, 2025

Very good. The car pickup process was quick, and the return procedures were convenient.

John Bellamy

Good service.

Joshua George

The contract stated to pick up and return the car with a full tank, but after driving for a bit, I realized it only had 3/4 of a tank. I couldn't be bothered to go back and argue, but it does raise trust concerns.

Ternence Theresa

May 26, 2025

Herbert Ted

The AVIS staff at London Heathrow Airport were very friendly, courteous, and highly professional.

Tracy Mary

Destination: York

Curitis Steele

They kept pushing insurance sales despite us telling them we already bought full coverage through the platform. Then they acted rudely when we returned the car, claiming the scratches were caused by us. Fortunately, we showed them video evidence and managed to return the car smoothly.

August Bessemer

May 23, 2025

Called them, and within five minutes they arrived to pick me up. The process of picking up and returning the car was very quick, and the staff were very friendly.

Walker Boyle

Very satisfied, will come again.

Adair Romeo

May 22, 2025

Destination: Newquay

May 21, 2025

Nathaniel Kell(e)y

The rental company provided a replacement car, which was even better than expected.

Nydia Huntington

Rex Hearst

May 20, 2025

It was okay, they explained the existing damage and taught me how to start the electric car for the first time.

Aries Becky

May 19, 2025

It's a long story.

Virgil Ted

**Feedback on Oxford Car Rental Experience** Recently, we rented a vehicle in Oxford for two days (local pick-up and drop-off). The overall experience was somewhat complicated, as outlined below: **Rental Process and Location** The pick-up point is approximately a 20-minute walk from Oxford train station, which is fairly reasonable. However, please note that walking is manageable if you have no large luggage; if carrying substantial belongings, it is recommended to plan transportation in advance. **Service Attitude and Sales Issues** - The staff had a rather indifferent attitude and frequently attempted to upsell additional services such as insurance and accessories during the communication. Upon declining, the rental deposit was immediately increased, which felt like undue pressure. - When asking for details about the upgrade packages, the staff could not clearly explain the content or benefits, making it difficult to make an informed decision. This reflects a lack of professionalism. **Fee Transparency Concerns** - There were noticeable issues during payment: after the first payment attempt failed, the system displayed an increased amount of £20 without justification. The staff did not provide a reasonable explanation or any written proof, leading to doubts about fee transparency. A thorough review of the system or procedural loopholes is recommended. **Vehicle Condition** The rented vehicle was in good condition, handled smoothly (per feedback from the accompanying driver), and had no mechanical issues, which met expectations. **Return Arrangements** As the return date fell on a public holiday, the car rental agency was closed. Following their instructions, we parked the vehicle in the designated area and mailed back the keys. We are unable to fully evaluate the completeness of the return process.

Zenobia Oscar

May 18, 2025

Too many upsells and hidden charges.

Diana Coverdale

Few people, no queues, and it's close to the airport. There's a dedicated driver for pickup and drop-off, but you need to call them. The insurance fees are extremely expensive, significantly higher than typical rental companies, even exceeding the car rental cost. Suitable for experienced drivers who don't need insurance.

Crystal Service

Benjamin Lowell

May 17, 2025

Very satisfied! There was an issue with illegal parking, but the staff helped make a quick phone call to resolve it immediately. They were very friendly, and both picking up and dropping off the car were easy to find. It was a great experience overall.

Gavin Dora

Maxwell Carpenter

May 16, 2025

The car rental company operates quite professionally. At the airport, you need to ask the staff for directions as the location of the shuttle bus may have changed. I experienced a parking lot scratch, which was my fault. According to the policy, I needed to report it to the police, but without a dispute, the police wouldn't intervene. Calling both the emergency number and the rental company proved ineffective. The Avis locations near Oxford shown on Google Maps were all closed. Fortunately, the QEEQ platform offers 24/7 support. They advised me to use the online reporting platform to file the information and confirmed that police intervention was unnecessary. When returning the car, the Avis staff inspected it quickly, and £500 was directly charged to my credit card without requiring my signature. Thankfully, I had purchased supplementary insurance back in my home country. After providing photos and relevant information, QEEQ promptly processed the claim. This was my first time encountering an accident during a multi-country self-drive trip, but thanks to the supplementary insurance and QEEQ's reliable service, the situation was manageable. Much appreciated.

United Kingdom Car Rentals