Hiring a car at Heathrow
A guide to hiring cars at Heathrow: where to collect the car, some potential traps and how to avoid paying over the odds.
How you collect the car
There are no car hire desks inside the terminals. If you need to speak to your company there are courtesy phones in the arrivals hall that connect you straight to them. Otherwise leave the terminal and board the relevant company's courtesy bus to its base, most of which are along the north side of the airport. At Terminal 5 the buses leave from bus stops 25 to 27, except for Sixt, which is in the Sofitel next to the terminal on car park level 1.
| Way to collect | Landing to driving | What happens | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meet and greet or delivery | Fastest | The car is brought to you, or handed over close to the terminal. You skip the shuttle. Offered by some firms and by specialist brokers. | Premium |
| Courtesy bus to the firm's base | Between the two | The standard route. Leave the terminal, board the firm's courtesy bus from the signed bus stops and finish the paperwork at their base nearby before you pick up the car. | Standard |
| Off-airport independent | Longest | Smaller firms around Hayes and the Bath Road. Often the cheapest rate, but expect a longer transfer. Check whether they collect you or you make your own way. | Lowest |
“you’ll usually be taken to your vehicle by one of the operator’s transfer buses”
Heathrow Airport, official renting-a-car page.
Sort your insurance before you fly
Most hire car contracts have an insurance excess, sometimes thousands of pounds. That is the amount you pay towards any damage. When you collect the car the company may offer to bring it down for a daily fee that adds up significantly over the length of the hire.
Look into a standalone excess policy from an independent insurer before you travel. It does the same job for much less and you can buy a single trip policy or an annual one if you hire more than once. Work out what cover you need beforehand, then turn the offer down when they push it.
Common questions
Where exactly do I pick the car up?
Leave the terminal and board your firm's courtesy bus. At Terminal 5 the buses use bus stops 25 to 27, and Sixt is in the Sofitel next to the terminal. The bus takes you to the firm's base a short drive away, where you finish the paperwork and collect the car. Meet and greet services bring the car closer to you for a premium.
What deposit will they hold?
The firm places a hold on a credit card in the main driver's name, often several hundred pounds or more. Bring a credit card, not a debit card, in that driver's name, or you may be refused the car when you collect it.
I am under 25. Will it cost more?
Usually yes. Most firms add a young driver surcharge for drivers under 25 and some set a minimum age of 21 or 23. Check the age rules before you book, as they vary by firm and by car group.
Which fuel policy is best?
Choose full to full. You collect a full tank and bring it back full. Avoid full to empty, where you pay for a tank up front at a marked up rate and get nothing back for what you do not use.
Can I drop the car somewhere else?
Yes, most firms allow a one-way hire, but there is usually a drop-off fee. Set a different drop-off point when you book and the fee shows in the price.
Independent guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Heathrow Airport Limited.
