International visitor guide to hiring a car at London Gatwick • Research reviewed 18 September 2026
Arrive at Gatwick. Explore Britain at Your Own Pace.
Hiring a car can make it much easier to travel beyond London, especially if your plans include the South Coast, countryside, historic towns or a multi-stop UK road trip. This guide is written for visitors arriving with a driving licence issued outside Great Britain and explains the practical checks to make before collection.
From International Arrivals to Your UK Road Trip
A good overseas rental starts before the collection desk. Check the licence and payment rules, choose a vehicle suited to UK roads, then allow time at Gatwick to familiarise yourself with the controls before setting off.
Can I Drive in Britain on My Overseas Licence?
There is no sensible single answer for every nationality or licence type. GOV.UK provides a dedicated service for people with a non-GB licence to check whether they can drive in Great Britain. Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland has separate licensing guidance.
Use the official checker rather than relying on a forum, an old travel article or a rule that applied to somebody from a different country. Then separately check your chosen rental supplier's conditions.
Documents to Prepare Before You Fly
Original driving licence
Bring the original valid licence required for the rental. If it is not in a form the supplier can readily verify, check in advance whether additional documentation or translation is required.
Passport / identification
International renters should carry the identification required by the booking terms. Make sure names and details are consistent across the reservation, licence and payment card where required.
Accepted payment card
Check the card type, cardholder name, available funds for the deposit and any stricter requirements applying to premium or larger vehicles.
What Is Different About This Page from Our USA Guide?
This guide covers the broader needs of visitors from many countries and therefore avoids assuming one particular home-country driving system. If you are travelling specifically from the United States, our Gatwick car hire guide for USA visitors goes further into US-versus-UK terminology, road signs and driving differences.
Gatwick's On-Airport Car Hire Providers
London Gatwick currently lists Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and National as its on-airport providers. Gatwick says their desks are after arrivals in both terminals and that its listed on-airport providers offer after-hours return. Always follow the collection instructions in the live booking because operational arrangements can change.
On-airportAlamo
Gatwick describes Alamo as offering cars, SUVs and people carriers. Compare the exact transmission, luggage capacity and international-renter terms.
Alamo Gatwick guide →
On-airportAvis
Gatwick describes Avis as offering a wide range of vehicles and extras. Filter carefully if automatic transmission is essential.
Avis Gatwick guide →
On-airportBudget
Budget is one of Gatwick's current on-airport suppliers. Compare the complete rental terms rather than only the headline daily rate.
Budget Gatwick guide →
One-way optionsEnterprise
Gatwick specifically highlights Enterprise for one-way journeys, useful for visitors planning to finish their trip somewhere other than Gatwick.
Enterprise Gatwick guide →
On-airportEuropcar
Gatwick says Europcar offers vehicles from compact cars to SUVs and currently lists self check-in kiosks among its airport features.
Europcar Gatwick guide →
On-airportHertz
Hertz is one of Gatwick's current on-airport providers. Check the selected category, payment conditions and collection documents before travel.
Hertz Gatwick guide →Automatic or Manual Car Hire?
Choose automatic if it reduces unfamiliarity
- You normally drive automatic at home.
- You are not confident using a manual gearbox.
- Driving on the left will already be unfamiliar.
- You expect urban or stop-start traffic.
- Every intended driver prefers automatic.
Manual can suit experienced drivers
- You regularly drive manual vehicles.
- You are comfortable changing gear with your left hand in a right-hand-drive car.
- You want to compare more categories.
- The price difference matters for your dates.
- You are comfortable with UK road conditions.
UK Driving Basics for International Visitors
| UK driving feature | What an overseas visitor should know | Before setting off |
|---|---|---|
| Drive on the left | Traffic keeps left in Great Britain. | Take extra care when leaving junctions, service areas and car parks. |
| Right-hand-drive rental cars | The steering wheel will normally be on the right. | Adjust seat and mirrors and locate controls while stationary. |
| Miles and mph | Road distances and speed limits are generally shown in miles and miles per hour. | Do not assume your home-country unit system applies. |
| Roundabouts | They are common, including multi-lane roundabouts. | Read signs and lane markings early and follow the Highway Code. |
| Road size | Some rural roads, historic towns and car parks are narrow. | Choose a car sized for passengers and luggage, not simply the largest available. |
| Parking controls | Signs, road markings, controlled zones and payment rules matter. | Check the restrictions every time you park. |
Payment Cards and Rental Deposits
Payment rules can be one of the easiest things for an overseas renter to overlook. A card accepted to make an online reservation is not automatically guaranteed to meet the deposit requirements at collection. Check whether your supplier accepts debit cards, requires credit for particular vehicle groups, requires the card in the main driver's name and how much available credit or funds may be needed.
For more detail, use our Gatwick debit-card car hire guide.
Insurance and Rental Protection
Read the protection included with the rate rather than assuming the terminology is identical to car hire in your home country. Check what liability or excess remains, what is excluded, how tyres/glass/undercarriage are treated where relevant, and the procedure following damage or an incident.
If you intend to rely on separate travel insurance, a bank-card benefit or another third-party policy, confirm directly with that provider that it covers a UK rental, your chosen vehicle type and the full rental period.
Fuel, Diesel and Electric Cars
UK filling stations use the terms petrol and diesel. Never guess the fuel type: check the fuel flap, rental documents and collection explanation. If hiring an electric vehicle, understand the charging connector, cable arrangements and return-charge requirement before leaving Gatwick.
For EV-specific planning, see our Electric Car Hire Gatwick Airport guide.
Vehicle Size: Smaller Can Be Easier in Britain
International travellers often arrive with more luggage, so vehicle capacity matters. But the biggest vehicle is not automatically the best. If your route includes villages, rural lanes, older town centres or multistorey car parks, a compact or medium car can be easier to place on the road and park.
Count large suitcases, cabin bags, pushchairs and bulky equipment separately. For bigger parties, compare our 7-seater and 9-seater Gatwick guides.
Leaving Gatwick Airport by Car
Before moving, set navigation while parked and understand the first few junctions. Gatwick operates red routes around the airport site. The airport states that vehicles must not stop, unload, wait or park on designated red routes, which are marked by signage and double red lines. Use designated stopping and parking areas.
If this is your first experience of driving on the left, there is no advantage in rushing out of the rental area. Familiarise yourself with the indicators, wipers, lights, parking brake, transmission and mirrors first.
Planning a One-Way UK Road Trip
A one-way rental can be particularly useful for an overseas holiday. Instead of designing the entire itinerary around returning to Gatwick, you may be able to finish at another eligible city or airport. Availability, fees and accepted vehicle groups depend on the supplier and route.
Read our One Way Car Hire Gatwick Airport guide before comparing point-to-point journeys.
Driving into London: Hire Immediately or Later?
If the first part of your holiday is several days in central London, compare collecting at Gatwick immediately with using public transport first and hiring when you leave London. A rental car can be valuable for countryside and multi-stop travel, but central London also brings parking constraints and road-charging considerations.
If you do plan to drive into London, check current Transport for London rules for your route and vehicle before travel.
Seven Steps to a Smoother Overseas Rental
- Check your licence entitlement. Use GOV.UK's non-GB licence service.
- Read supplier requirements. Check licence age/holding period, identification and any extra documents.
- Choose the transmission deliberately. Do not assume automatic unless the category says so.
- Check payment and deposit rules. Especially important for debit cards and larger/premium vehicles.
- Match vehicle to luggage and roads. Balance interior capacity against exterior size.
- Learn the basic UK road rules. Keep left, understand roundabouts and read the Highway Code.
- Inspect and familiarise. Check the car and controls before leaving Gatwick.
Overseas Visitor Car Hire Checklist
- Original valid driving licence
- GOV.UK entitlement checked
- IDP requirement checked if relevant
- Passport / required ID
- Accepted payment card
- Deposit funds available
- Transmission confirmed
- Luggage capacity checked
- Protection terms understood
- Fuel / EV type understood
- First destination saved
- Return location and time saved
- Supplier contact details saved
- UK road rules reviewed
Explore the Gatwick Car Hire Cluster
Gatwick Car Hire for Overseas Visitors FAQs
Can overseas visitors hire a car at Gatwick Airport?
Yes, subject to meeting the rental company's licence, age, identification, payment and other booking conditions. Drivers with non-GB licences should also check their legal entitlement using GOV.UK's official service.
Can I drive in Britain with a foreign driving licence?
It depends on your licence and circumstances. GOV.UK provides an official service for checking whether a non-GB licence can be used to drive in Great Britain.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to hire a car at Gatwick?
Requirements depend on your licence and circumstances, and rental companies may impose additional document conditions. Check official UK guidance and your supplier before travelling.
Can I hire an automatic car at Gatwick?
Yes, automatic categories are available. If automatic transmission is essential, choose a booking specifically described as automatic rather than assuming the supplied car will be automatic.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Britain?
Drivers keep to the left in Great Britain. Overseas drivers should take particular care when leaving junctions, service areas, petrol stations and car parks.
Does the UK use miles or kilometres for road speeds?
Great Britain generally uses miles for road distances and miles per hour for speed limits.
Can an overseas visitor use a debit card for Gatwick car hire?
Possibly, depending on supplier, card and vehicle group. Check the exact collection and deposit conditions because some categories can require a credit card.
Is a large SUV best for an overseas UK holiday?
Not necessarily. Choose according to passenger and luggage requirements while considering that some UK roads and car parks can be narrow.
Can I return my Gatwick rental car in another UK city?
Participating suppliers offer one-way rentals to eligible locations. Availability and one-way charges depend on the supplier, route, vehicle and dates.
Where are the car hire companies at Gatwick?
Gatwick currently says its on-airport car hire providers have desks after arrivals in both terminals. Follow your booking confirmation and airport signs for the latest collection instructions.
About This Guide & Official Sources
1st UK Car Rentals reviewed this international visitor guide on 18 September 2026. We separate legal driving entitlement from individual rental-company conditions because both matter to an overseas renter. Operational details can change, so the booking confirmation and official source should take priority where information differs.
- GOV.UK – driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- GOV.UK – The Highway Code
- London Gatwick Airport – official car hire information
- London Gatwick Airport – transport FAQs and red-route information
For our editorial approach, see Meet the Team at 1st UK Car Rentals.