Flying into London Gatwick and considering Avis? This independent guide explains where to collect an Avis hire car, what to check before leaving the desk, which documents to bring and how comparing offers can help you choose the right deal for your journey.
YOUR AIRPORT RENTAL GUIDE
Avis Gatwick at a glance
- Airport: London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
- Terminal coverage: Avis is listed by Gatwick as serving both North and South Terminals.
- Published airport information: 07:00–21:45, with weekend hours potentially differing.
- Late return: Gatwick lists an after-hours return facility.
- Best preparation: use the collection and return instructions on your booking voucher, because the assigned desk or vehicle area can change.
- Information checked: 17 September 2026.
Opening times and procedures can change. Confirm the current arrangements on the official Avis location information and your rental voucher before travelling.
Compare car hire at Gatwick Airport
Check live prices, vehicle choices and the terms attached to each offer before booking.
Compare Gatwick car hire dealsWhere is Avis car hire at Gatwick Airport?
London Gatwick currently describes Avis as an on-airport car hire provider with collection facilities serving both the North and South Terminals. This is useful for passengers because the rental operation is on the airport campus rather than at a remote town-centre branch.
For the South Terminal, Gatwick directs arriving passengers towards car rental and the lower forecourt at Level 0. From Arrivals, airport guidance says to follow the car-rental signs and use the upper-forecourt lift; the desks are then on the right. For the North Terminal, follow signs for car rental and Jubilee House. Gatwick says the collection desks are on the lower forecourt, a short walk beyond Jubilee House on the right.
Airport layouts, temporary routes and the precise point used for a particular reservation can change. Follow signs in the terminal, then rely on the instructions on your Avis confirmation. If your flight arrives at a different terminal from the one shown on your booking, check the voucher before moving between terminals.
North Terminal collection
From Arrivals, follow airport signs for car rental and Jubilee House. Gatwick’s current guidance places the desks on the lower forecourt, past Jubilee House on the right.
South Terminal collection
Follow the car-rental signs towards the lower forecourt at Level 0. Gatwick’s current guidance directs passengers via the upper-forecourt lift, with desks on the right.
How to collect an Avis rental car after your flight
- Check your voucher before landing. Confirm the terminal, desk instructions, lead driver’s name and stated closing time.
- Follow the airport signs. Gatwick provides car-rental wayfinding from both terminal Arrivals areas.
- Prepare the required documents. Keep the lead driver’s licence, payment card, booking confirmation and any additional identification requested in your terms together.
- Review the agreement. Check the vehicle group, fuel policy, mileage allowance, deposit or pre-authorisation, excess, optional extras and return details before signing.
- Inspect the car. Photograph all sides, wheels, glass, interior, fuel or charge level and mileage. Ask for existing damage to be recorded before leaving.
- Learn the controls. Confirm the fuel type or charging requirements and locate the lights, wipers, parking brake and navigation controls before joining airport traffic.
Documents and payment: what should you bring?
The exact requirements depend on the rate, vehicle, driver’s age, licence-issuing country and rental conditions. The lead driver will normally need a valid driving licence and an accepted payment card in their own name. Overseas visitors may also need a passport and, depending on their licence, an International Driving Permit or supporting documentation.
Do not assume that every debit card is accepted for every car group. Card type, available funds, security checks and deposit requirements can vary. Read the conditions attached to the specific deal before paying, rather than relying on a general supplier policy found elsewhere.
Which Avis vehicle should you choose at Gatwick?
Avis describes a broad rental fleet, but a booking usually guarantees a vehicle category rather than one exact make or model. Availability at Gatwick varies by date. Choose on practical needs—passengers, luggage, transmission, driving distance and parking—rather than a badge shown as an example.
| Vehicle type | Often suits | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Mini or economy | One or two travellers, shorter trips and easier parking | Luggage capacity and whether the gearbox is manual or automatic |
| Compact or intermediate | Couples, small families and mixed motorway/town driving | Boot space for every full-size case |
| Estate or SUV | Family holidays, bulky luggage and longer journeys | Vehicle dimensions, fuel use and city parking |
| People carrier | Larger families or groups | Seats remaining when all luggage is loaded |
| Electric vehicle | Drivers with a workable charging plan | Charging cable, return-charge rule, range and overnight charging access |
| Automatic | Visitors unfamiliar with manual transmission or driving on the left | Book early because automatic availability may be more limited |
Compare Avis Gatwick offers by total value
The lowest displayed price is not always the lowest final cost. Two Avis offers for the same dates can differ by vehicle group, cancellation terms, mileage, fuel policy, insurance excess, deposit, airport fees and included extras. Compare the complete rental conditions before deciding.
- Total payable price and currency
- Fuel or battery return requirement
- Mileage allowance and excess-mile charges
- Damage and theft excess
- Deposit or card pre-authorisation
- Cancellation and amendment conditions
- Additional-driver and young-driver charges
- One-way, cross-border or late-return fees where relevant
Booking Avis direct or using a comparison service
Booking directly can suit customers who want to manage a supplier relationship or use an eligible loyalty benefit. A comparison service can make it easier to review Avis alongside other Gatwick providers for the same dates. Neither route is automatically best: the strongest choice is the offer whose total price, protections, vehicle category and rules fit your trip.
1st UK Car Rentals is an independent comparison website and is not Avis or London Gatwick Airport. When you choose a deal, read the named provider’s terms and note which company takes payment, supplies the vehicle and handles changes or support.
Returning an Avis hire car to Gatwick
Use the return location shown on your agreement and follow the airport’s car-rental return signs. Gatwick advises drivers to follow the individual operator’s instructions because return procedures can differ. Allow extra time for traffic, refuelling or charging, the vehicle check and the walk back to the terminal.
Gatwick currently lists after-hours return for its on-airport providers, including Avis. This does not remove your responsibility to follow the key-drop and parking instructions in your agreement. When returning outside staffed hours, photograph the parked vehicle, mileage, fuel or charge gauge, surroundings and key-drop point, then retain any confirmation.
Driving away from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick provides convenient access to the M23 for journeys towards the M25 and London or south towards Brighton. The A23 serves local routes including Crawley. Busy periods, roadworks and incidents can change journey times, so check a live traffic service before setting off.
If you plan to drive into London, check the official Transport for London tools for the Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone. These are separate schemes and whether a charge applies depends on the vehicle, route, date and time. Do not assume that collecting a modern rental car makes every London road charge irrelevant.
For a wider overview of terminals, suppliers, driving and onward travel, visit our London Gatwick Airport car hire hub.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going to a desk without checking which terminal or collection point appears on the voucher.
- Arriving without the payment card or identification required by the booked rate.
- Choosing a car that seats everyone but cannot carry their luggage.
- Assuming an example model, automatic gearbox or electric vehicle is guaranteed without confirmation.
- Leaving the collection area before checking existing damage and the fuel type.
- Forgetting to check London road charges or the rental company’s rules for tolls and penalties.
- Returning to the airport without allowing time for fuel, charging, traffic and the terminal walk.
Keep this guide for your arrival
Save this guide before you travel so you can read it without airport Wi-Fi. Use the button below and choose Save as PDF if your browser offers it. On a phone, use your browser’s Share or menu options to print or save a PDF to Files or Downloads. Open the saved file once before departure to check it is available offline.
The printable guide includes expanded FAQs and the checklist below. Keep your booking voucher separately: it contains your reservation-specific collection instructions and contact details. If the button is unavailable, use your browser’s Print command.
Finding your collection point: terminal route guide
Schematic only — not a scaled airport map. This summarises Gatwick’s published car-rental wayfinding. Your Avis voucher and signs on the day take priority. It does not identify your assigned vehicle bay.
Arriving at North Terminal
- Complete arrivals and collect your baggage.
- Follow car-rental and Jubilee House signs.
- Continue to the lower forecourt; Gatwick describes desks past Jubilee House on the right.
- Check in at the collection point specified by Avis.
- Follow staff instructions to your allocated vehicle bay.
Arriving at South Terminal
- Complete arrivals and collect your baggage.
- Follow car-rental signs towards the forecourt lifts.
- Gatwick directs passengers to Level 0, with desks on the right.
- Check in at the collection point specified by Avis.
- Follow staff instructions to your allocated vehicle bay.
If the route is unsuitable for your mobility needs, ask airport staff for the accessible route and confirm assistance with the rental provider before travelling. Avoid moving to another terminal solely because an online map pin looks closer.
Delayed flights, late arrivals and changes of terminal
Allow time between landing and collection for passport control, baggage and the walk to the desk. Enter your flight number where the booking process allows it, but do not assume flight tracking guarantees the desk will remain open.
If a delay threatens your collection time, contact the support number on your voucher while you still have connectivity. Ask whether the reservation will be held, whether an out-of-hours collection is possible and whether any fee applies. After-hours vehicle return and after-hours collection are different services.
If your arrival terminal changes, check the collection location with the provider. Keep any revised instructions in writing where possible. A missed collection may be treated under the booking’s no-show conditions; those conditions should be checked before paying.
Insurance excess, deposits and optional protection
A deposit or pre-authorisation is a security amount held against your payment card; the damage excess is the amount for which you may remain responsible under the applicable cover. They are different figures. Check both, together with exclusions, before deciding how much available credit or money you need.
If you buy separate excess reimbursement cover, check how claims work. Some products require you to pay the rental company first and then claim reimbursement. Such a policy does not necessarily remove the rental company’s deposit requirement or change the agreement signed at collection.
Before accepting optional products at the counter, ask what they add, the total cost for the whole rental and how they interact with protection already purchased. Check whether tyres, glass, keys, misfuelling and roadside assistance are included or excluded. Keep copies of the rental agreement and any purchased protection.
Family travel, additional drivers and longer rentals
For a family booking, compare luggage capacity as well as passenger capacity. A people carrier with every seat occupied may have limited room for large suitcases. Confirm child-seat availability and suitability with the provider before arrival rather than assuming a request guarantees a particular seat.
Every person who may drive should be authorised on the rental agreement and meet the booked offer’s eligibility conditions. Check additional-driver charges, licence requirements and whether the additional driver must attend collection. Do not assume a spouse or travel companion is included automatically.
For a longer stay, check the maximum rental period, mileage allowance, servicing arrangements and the procedure for extending. Contact the provider before the agreed return time if plans change. Extending a rental can change the daily rate and availability; keeping the vehicle longer without agreement is not a substitute for an extension.
Your Gatwick collection and return checklist
Tick these boxes as you prepare. Ticks are for this visit only and are not stored after reloading; save or print the guide to keep a copy.
Before departure
Before driving away
Before your flight home
My booking reference: ____________________
Collection terminal: ____________________
Return date and time: ____________________
Support number from voucher: ____________________
Avis Gatwick Airport FAQs
Is Avis located at Gatwick Airport?
Yes. Gatwick Airport currently lists Avis as an on-airport car hire provider serving both North and South Terminals. Check the precise collection instructions on your booking voucher.
What time is Avis open at Gatwick Airport?
At the time this guide was checked, Gatwick published Avis hours of 07:00–21:45 and noted that weekend hours may differ. Confirm the current hours and delayed-flight procedure before travel.
Can I return an Avis car after the desk closes?
Gatwick currently lists after-hours returns for Avis. Follow the parking and key-drop instructions in your rental agreement, as responsibility for the vehicle may continue until it is checked.
Can I choose an automatic Avis car at Gatwick?
Automatic vehicle categories may be offered for your dates, subject to availability. Select an automatic category during the search and verify the transmission on the final booking details.
Does Avis at Gatwick accept debit cards?
Acceptance depends on the specific rate, vehicle, card and renter details. Read the payment and deposit terms attached to the offer before booking; do not assume every debit card qualifies.
What documents are needed to hire an Avis car at Gatwick?
The lead driver will normally need a valid driving licence, an accepted payment card in their own name and the booking confirmation. Additional identification or an International Driving Permit may be required in some cases.
Can I take an Avis rental car outside the UK?
Only if the rental terms permit it and the necessary approval, cover, documents and charges are arranged in advance. Tell the provider your intended countries before booking.
Can I collect at Gatwick and return somewhere else?
One-way rentals may be available for selected locations and vehicles, usually with conditions or a fee. Enter the intended return location when comparing so the quoted offer reflects the journey.
Compare Avis with other Gatwick suppliers
Compare the complete offer for your dates, including collection arrangements, payment requirements and total price. These are supplier brands, not a live availability list.
Gatwick also lists National among its on-airport providers. Supplier logos identify the companies discussed and do not imply endorsement of this independent guide.
About this independent guide
This guide was prepared by the 1st UK Car Rentals editorial team to help travellers compare airport car hire and understand collection procedures. We checked Gatwick Airport’s current car-hire guidance on 17 September 2026. Operational details and rental conditions can change, so the confirmation issued for your booking remains the controlling information.
Learn more about our authors and review process on the 1st UK Car Rentals Meet the Team page.
Official information sources: London Gatwick Airport car hire guidance and Avis Gatwick Airport location information.