Car rental England

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

We will be flying into LGW on 8/25, leaving from STN 9/1.

Rental fees from the airports are very scary.....how hard is it to find a company off-airport and how hard is it to take a cab to one. Would the savings be worth doing that?

I really would feel better with an automatic. DH cannot drive a manual. I can but don't think being on the opposite side of the car would be the best time to go back to it. As it is my windshield wipers will be going on for a turn signal

Suggestions truly appreciated.

[mav Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Hi Lawren,
We always seem to find the best prices at autoeurope.com
After you put in your dates and the city you want to pick the car up in a list will come up with the various pick up/drop off locations. You can put in the different locations and compare the prices. It will also show you what hours the various locations are open. have fun on your trip!

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

We've done well with Europecar. They are very good about helping you on the phone. There's a special, very good, rate if you will have the car 15 days or longer--or at least, there was when we did.

[tennisWalt Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tennisWalt]

Get An Automatic!!!!!

We will be flying into LGW on 8/25, leaving from STN 9/1.

Rental fees from the airports are very scary.....how hard is it to find a company off-airport and how hard is it to take a cab to one. Would the savings be worth doing that?

I really would feel better with an automatic. DH cannot drive a manual. I can but don't think being on the opposite side of the car would be the best time to go back to it. As it is my windshield wipers will be going on for a turn signal

Suggestions truly appreciated.

With driving on the opposite side and the roads being narrow in places, you will have enough to worry about. Getting a rental with an automatic is the best way to go.

Watch that you are driving on the correct side of the road after making a left turn. This was the one time I found it easy to find myself driving on the right (wrong) side of the road.

I believe I used either Alamo or National for our vacation.

Have a great trip.


Walt

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I had paid extra for an automatic in the UK and South Africa. I thought that although I could drive a stickshift, it would be much more difficult with it on the opposite side. Then I went to St. Kitts in the Caribbean, and inspite of my reservation for an automatic, the only thing the rental agency or any other that was convenient had availible when I went to pick up was a manual. It was either accept that or walk, so I took it. It turned out to be a lot easier than I anticipated. Afterward, I never spent the extra for an automatic in the UK.

I have found the best rates at:
Europe by Car – Rentals & Tax-Free Leasing and
Auto Europe Discount Car Rentals, Airfare, and Hotels

[Fenman Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fenman]

We will be flying into LGW on 8/25, leaving from STN 9/1.

Rental fees from the airports are very scary.....how hard is it to find a company off-airport and how hard is it to take a cab to one. Would the savings be worth doing that?

I really would feel better with an automatic. DH cannot drive a manual. I can but don't think being on the opposite side of the car would be the best time to go back to it. As it is my windshield wipers will be going on for a turn signal

Suggestions truly appreciated.

Lawren,

Not everything is on the opposite side when you drive over here. Usually only the gear lever and handbrake.
Most other controls are the same. It will just depend on the model of car but when we have driven in the US or other parts of Europe we usually find that the wipers, indicators etc. are on exactly the same of the column as our UK car