Compare car hire companies at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) before choosing where to collect your rental car. Heathrow is served by major international brands including Avis, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt, Budget and Europcar, but their collection arrangements are not identical.
This guide brings our seven Heathrow supplier guides together so you can compare terminal access, shuttle arrangements, pre-arrival services and collection procedures before searching prices for your travel dates.
Rental prices can change according to dates, vehicle category, availability, driver details and rental length. Search your actual journey to compare the available suppliers and cars.
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Heathrow car hire is not based around one single rental desk shared by every company. Some suppliers operate from airport-perimeter rental centres reached by courtesy shuttle, while others have different arrangements according to your terminal.
That makes the collection process worth checking before you book—particularly after a long-haul flight, when travelling with children or when carrying several suitcases.
There is no single supplier that suits every traveller. Consider these practical differences alongside the rental price.
Collection arrangements can differ between Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Compare the available car category rather than assuming every supplier has the same fleet.
Check shuttle or in-terminal arrangements before travelling.
Compare mileage, fuel, deposit, driver and cancellation conditions for the actual offer.
AvisAvis currently uses its Central Heathrow Northrop Road operation for Terminals 2, 3 and 4, while Terminal 5 is served by a separate location at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow on Bath Road.
HertzHertz operates from Northern Perimeter Road (West) and currently provides free shuttle connections from Heathrow's active passenger terminals.
EnterpriseEnterprise currently operates from Northern Perimeter Road and provides a courtesy shuttle from all four active Heathrow passenger terminals.
AlamoAlamo's Heathrow operation is based at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car location on Northern Perimeter Road and uses the same terminal shuttle network.
SixtSixt differs from several perimeter-road suppliers because its Heathrow operation uses terminal-specific locations and connections, including its Terminal 2 operation and Terminal 5 location at the Sofitel.
BudgetBudget shares the Avis Budget Heathrow shuttle network. Its Terminal 5 customers currently use the Holiday Inn London Heathrow location on Bath Road.
EuropcarEuropcar currently serves Heathrow Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 through airport access points and shuttle connections towards its vehicle collection operation near Northern Perimeter Road.
This table is designed as a quick orientation guide. Always use the instructions attached to your current reservation because airport operations can change.
| Company | Terminal 2 | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 | Terminal 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avis | Central Heathrow shuttle | Central Heathrow shuttle | Central Heathrow shuttle | Bath Road / Holiday Inn |
| Hertz | Shuttle | Shuttle | Lane 3 connection | Shuttle |
| Enterprise | Shuttle | Shuttle | Shuttle | Shuttle |
| Alamo | Shuttle | Shuttle | Shuttle | Shuttle |
| Sixt | Terminal location | Connection to T2 | Terminal-specific location | Sofitel T5 |
| Budget | Central Heathrow shuttle | Central Heathrow shuttle | Check current reservation | Bath Road / Holiday Inn |
| Europcar | Shuttle connection | Shuttle connection | Shuttle connection | Shuttle connection |
Complete immigration where required and collect your luggage.
Use your reservation to confirm the correct terminal collection instructions.
Walk to the terminal location or use the specified rental-car shuttle.
Complete the rental checks, inspect the car and confirm the fuel and return arrangements.
Digital services can reduce administration, but availability can depend on the booking, vehicle and customer eligibility.
QuickPass can allow eligible customers to provide requested rental details before collection.
Accelerated Check-in is currently listed for the Heathrow branch, allowing eligible customers to save time at the counter.
Online Check-in can allow eligible customers to upload requested identity and licence information before collection.
These services do not remove the need to satisfy the supplier's rental requirements. Bring the physical documents and payment method required by your booking.
Look beyond the headline daily rate. Compare the complete price and the terms applying to your selected vehicle.
A convenient collection arrangement can matter after a long flight, particularly with young children or substantial luggage.
Check actual availability for economy, automatic, family, SUV, premium and larger passenger vehicles.
Deposit and payment-card requirements vary by supplier, vehicle category and renter circumstances.
Confirm the mileage allowance and fuel policy attached to the specific rental offer.
Know where the vehicle must be returned and allow sufficient time to reach your departure terminal.
Do not simply enter “Heathrow Airport” into your sat-nav and assume every company uses the same return location.
Your supplier's Heathrow return address should take priority. Avis and Budget, for example, can use different return arrangements according to the departure terminal, while Enterprise and Alamo direct customers back to their Northern Perimeter Road operation.
Allow time for refuelling or charging where required, the vehicle return inspection, key handover and the onward terminal transfer.
Choose your Heathrow arrival terminal for more detailed car hire collection guidance, supplier information and practical advice. Each terminal guide covers the rental arrangements most relevant to passengers arriving there.
Compare car hire companies, shuttle collection points and rental guidance for passengers arriving at Heathrow Terminal 2.
View Terminal 2 car hire →
Compare supplier connections, collection arrangements and car hire information for Heathrow Terminal 3 arrivals.
View Terminal 3 car hire →
Understand the different rental-company collection and shuttle arrangements serving Heathrow Terminal 4.
View Terminal 4 car hire →
Compare Terminal 5 car hire arrangements including supplier-specific locations, shuttle services and collection guidance.
View Terminal 5 car hire →
Compare automatic rental cars at Heathrow, particularly useful for international visitors and drivers who prefer an automatic transmission.
View automatic car hire →
Return to our main London Heathrow Airport car hire guide for rental comparisons, airport information and driving advice.
View Heathrow car hire →
1st UK Car Rentals reviews current supplier and airport information to understand how major rental companies operate at Heathrow.
For this comparison we reviewed the current Heathrow collection arrangements for Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, Sixt, Budget and Europcar, including terminal access, shuttle guidance and selected pre-arrival services.
We do not declare one company the universal “best” because the most suitable option depends on your terminal, travel dates, vehicle needs, price and rental terms. Instead, this guide focuses on practical differences that can be checked before booking.
Where supplier information is unclear or potentially outdated, we prefer to tell travellers to check their current reservation rather than present an uncertain airport instruction as fact.
Fact checked: 16 September 2026.
Search your actual dates to compare available vehicles and rental companies at London Heathrow Airport.