CAR HIRE IN SCOTLAND

Handsome Edinburgh and its lively big brother Glasgow are just an hour’s drive apart. From Glasgow, it’s a short jaunt east to the heritage site of Bannockburn and 16th-century Stirling Castle. Begin your journey in Scotland with Avis and discover a picturesque and beautiful country brimming with ancient monuments, a rich Celtic history and vast green landscapes.

Our Scotland car rental branches can be found across the country at key airports, train stations and city centre locations. We offer a wide choice of cars for all types of travellers, from small economy cars to comfortable family saloons and luxury vehicles from our Prestige range.

Scotland is a land steeped in beauty, from vast grassy plains to towering mountain peaks and rugged coastlines. Rent a car in Scotland to soak up this magical scenery at your leisure. Wherever you choose to go, having a hire car gives you more freedom to explore. What’s more, Avis offers flexible one-way car hire so you can decide where to start and end your trip.

There are countless, extraordinarily beautiful routes you can cover such as the Angus Coastal Route that winds its way along the eastern coast between Dundee and Aberdeen, or the Argyll Coastal Route that takes in the magnificent western side of Scotland passing by the dramatic mountainscapes of Ben Nevis and Glencoe before reaching the banks of Loch Lomond.

Which side of the road?
In the United Kingdom, please drive on the left side of the road.

Country driving laws

• Mobile phones may only be used with a headset or hands-free device
• There is a congestion charge payable when driving in London
• Use the outside lane to overtake on motorways and dual carriageways
• Zebra crossings (black and white stripes on the road) give pedestrians right of way to cross the road

Speed Limits
All speed signs will be in mph.

For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:

•         Urban areas: 30 mph (48 km/h)
•         Rural areas: 60 mph (96 km/h)
•         Motorways: 70 mph (112 km/h)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
• Children aged under 12 or less than 135cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size

Please note - It is the child’s parent/guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

If you want to learn more about driving in Bristol, see the full UK Road Rules guide.

If you’re starting out from Edinburgh, a drive north connects you with the bonnie Scottish Highlands, revealing some of Scotland’s wildest and most impressive heather-clad nature. If history and World Heritage Sites stoke your interest, then you won’t have to look far along the Forth Valley Tourist Route, which allows travellers to take in mighty castles, ancient battlefields, whisky distilleries and Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace, as well as modern engineering wonders such as the Falkirk Wheel.

There's so much to explore: the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct near Fort William (which plays a starring role in the Harry Potter films); the Grampian hills; the Cairngorms and the jagged west coast, which stretches all the way from Argyll to Wester Ross. With a hire car in Scotland, you can go where you want to with the utmost flexibility.

From Ullapool in Ross Shire, take the ferry out to the Outer Hebrides and into the windswept streets of Stornoway. An astonishing 150-mile round-trip takes in standing stones, lochs and white-sand beaches looking out onto sparkling seas.

Need more inspiration? Check out our round-up of the 9 best road trips in Scotland.

What are the driving rules in Scotland?

Scotland has the same driving rules as the rest of the United Kingdom. If you want to know more about driving in Scotland, see the full United Kingdom Road Rules guide.

Is it expensive to rent a car in Scotland?

Avis has competitively priced vehicles for all budgets in Scotland. Check out our fleet online and contact us to see how easily you can get out on the roads in the vehicle of your choice.

Do I need winter tyres to drive my hire car in Scotland?

No, there is no legal requirement for passenger cars in Scotland to be equipped with winter tyres. However, most of our cars in our Inverness rental hubs will have winter tyres available.

Can I pick up my hire car in Scotland in one place and return it at another location?

Yes, with the Avis one-way rental that's not a problem. Pick up your one-way rental car at one of our locations throughout the United Kingdom or Europe and return it at another rental location at the end of your trip.

What do you need to shift? Our van rental fleet spans small hire vans, perfect for that weekend DIY project; medium vans, well suited to hauling rolls of carpet, heavy floor tiles, or moving the kids to university; and large vans to accommodate some or all your worldly goods.