Car Hire Scotland

Why hire a car in Scotlandfrom Arnold Clark

Scotland is a fantastic country to explore and with so much to offer, we understand you might find hiring a car the best way to get around. Arnold Clark was founded in Scotland; we opened our very first showroom in Glasgow back in 1954, and since then, we've grown to become Europe's largest independent car retailer. Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental started not long after in 1963 and now we hire vehicles to customers from all over the world.

With over 60 years of experience, we can make renting a car in Scotland hassle-free. When it comes to car hire, we include insurance, VAT, roadside assistance and unlimited mileage (when you hire for four days or more) in our costs, so there aren't any hidden fees.

Locations

Wide range of locations

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental has 36 branches across the UK with 21 locations in Scotland.Our top five car hire city locations are:

Edinburgh

We have three branch locations within Edinburgh. If you are flying into Edinburgh Airport, you'll find us just minutes from the terminals. Our Edinburgh Sighthill location is based in the west of the city and our Edinburgh Seafield branch is located on the east of the city, close to Waverley train station.

Glasgow

You’ll find us in four different locations in Glasgow. Our Glasgow Airport location is only a short shuttle-bus ride away from Terminal 1 and 2. In the west end of the city you’ll find us on South Street close to the Clyde Tunnel. Closest to Glasgow City Centre, we have Kilbirnie Street and, if you are in the east end, you'll find us on Hamilton Road. If you are looking for car hire near Glasgow, we also have locations in East Kilbride and Motherwell.

Aberdeen

Our Aberdeen branch is based on Canal Road. This location is handy for Aberdeen Airport car hire, as we can collect you from the arrivals area and drop you off at the branch. This branch is in central Aberdeen and only a short journey away from both the city centre and Aberdeen train station.

Dundee

If you are looking to hire from Dundee our branch is located on Balfield Road, perfect foreasy access to Dundee City Centre or the A90 dual-carriage way where you can head north towards Aberdeen or west towards Perth. If you are arriving at Dundee Airport we can pick you up in our shuttle bus and bring you to the branch so you can collect your hire car.

Inverness

This branch gives you easy access to the Scottish Highlands. Our Inverness location is based on Harbour Road. We also can collect you from Inverness Airport if you are flying in to start your journey.

Browse more locations

Browse the range

What rental cars do we have on our fleet?

With many different reasons for exploring Scotland, you’ll want to rent a car that best suits your trip. Our fleet of vehicles includes small five-doors ideal for short trips and city breaks, SUVs perfect for family holidays, 9-seater hire cars, which are perfect for touring holidays or group golfing trips, plus a good selection of manual and automatic cars if you are more confident driving a particular transmission.

Small

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Medium

Kia XCeed or similar

Automatic only

Medium Electric

Nissan Leaf or similar

Small Executive

BMW 1 Series or similar

Large

ŠKODA Octavia or similar

Large Estate

ŠKODA Superb or similar

Automatic only

Small Executive

BMW 1 Series or similar

Automatic only

Executive

BMW 3 Series or similar

9-seater

VW Transporter or similar

Browse car hire options

Guide to car rental

Guide to car rentals in Scotlandfrom Arnold Clark

If you are looking to hire a car, you’ll need to consider the following before you book.

If you are a UK resident with a British driving licence and looking to rent a car from our one of our Scottish branches, you’ll need to bring along a valid driving licence and one proof of address. You’ll need to access the DVLA website and have a copy of your check code to hand so we can check your details online. If you are from Northern Ireland, you won’t be able to generate a check code and will need to bring both card and paper parts of your licence.

If you aren’t a UK resident but you hold an EU or international licence and need to hire a car while visiting Scotland, you’ll need to bring it along with you as well as your passport or ID card. We’ll also need you to physically present a credit or debit card in your own name.

When you arrive to collect your car, you’ll also be asked to show your boarding pass, flight ticket or stamped passport. This is so we can confirm the driving licence being used to collect the hire is correct.

Browse car hire guide

Exploring Scotland

Quick guideto Scottish road trips

If you hire a car in Scotland with Arnold Clark, you can explore some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. There are several notable road trips that will pique your interest.

The North Coast 500

Considered the most beautiful road trip in Scotland with white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, stunning coastal views and quaint fishing villages, you’ll be blown away by this famous route. We’d recommend spending a minimum of five to seven days to take it all in and enjoy the trip. This route does not include a motorway; it is a collection of rural roads which have lots of twists, turns and single-lane sections. It is worth taking your time with this one and taking in all the views. If you are looking to take on this adventure, our Inverness branch is the perfect place to start your trip.

The Argyll Coastal Route

If you are looking for stunning sunsets and the finest fresh seafood, this route should be on your list! Starting from the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond you’ll travel along the beautiful west coast where you’ll end at Fort William, home to Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. An iconic oyster bar, museum, 19th century jail and a castle surrounded by Loch Linnhe are just a few things you’ll see in between. This is a fantastic route to factor in if you are in the central belt or arriving at Glasgow Airport or Edinburgh Airport.

The South West Coastal 300

If you are looking for quieter roads but still lots of beauty and history, this is the one for you! When travelling 300 miles through Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire, you’ll come across wonderful highlights, such as Culzean Castle, designed in the 18th Century, Galloway Forest Park home to one of the UK’s darkest skies and great for seeing the wonders of the night sky, even the Northern Lights and the Mull of Galloway lighthouse at Scotland’s most southernly point. This is an easy route to get to, as it is only 20 minutes from the Scottish border. It can be started from anywhere, but it is conveniently located next to Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Places to visitin Scotland

Many locations are easily accessible by public transport, particularly towns and cities, but you may want to rent a car in Scotland to give you the freedom to explore further afield.

Scottish Islands

Glen Coe

Cairngorms

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How to rent a car in Scotland

The easiest way to rent is by starting the booking process online. It is easy to get a quote by entering the locations you would like to pick up and drop your car off at, as well as the dates and times you need the car. At this point, you’ll be able to select which car would suit your trip best and reserve straight away.

If you have any questions, you can contact our Rental Reservations team who will help you with your booking.

The easiest way to rent is by starting the booking process online. It is easy to get a quote by entering the

locations you would like to pick up and drop your car off at, as well as the dates and times you need the car. At this point, you’ll be able to select which car would suit your trip best and reserve straight away.

If you have any questions, you can contact our Rental Reservations team who will help you with your booking.

How old do I need to be to hire a car from Arnold Clark?

When you can hire a car depends on several different factors like how long you’ve held your driving licence for. Some age groups may be restricted on the size of car they can hire, and a surcharge can be added to the booking.

When you can hire a car depends on several different factors like how long you’ve held your driving licence for.

Some age groups may be restricted on the size of car they can hire, and a surcharge can be added to the booking.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Scotland?

Several different factors can influence the price of hiring a car, time of year, vehicle size and even location. To find out your costs, start the booking process and instantly get a quote.

Several different factors can influence the price of hiring a car, time of year, vehicle size and even location. To find

out your costs, start the booking process and instantly get a quote.

See more FAQs

What you need to know

Driving in and around Scotland

We know it can be daunting collecting a car you haven't driven, especially if you are used to the steering wheel being on the left side of the car.

There are a few things we like to point out when it comes to driving your hire car in Scotland.

Drive on the left

Just like the rest of the UK, Scotland drives on the left-hand side of the road. Remember, when you turn from one road onto another, you must keep left. When it comes to entering roundabouts, you must give way to traffic approaching from the right.

Single-track roads

You’ll find these roads often when in rural areas. These roads allow for two-way traffic, but they may not be wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time. You’ll notice on these roads there will often be signs stating ‘passing place’ with what looks like a slightly wider section of road available. You’ll need to use these if you come across another vehicle; you may even need to reverse back so you can pass each other. If another driver would like to overtake you, use the passing place to let them by. Be aware of sheep and wild animals on these roads as they may graze in areas next to the road.

Petrol and EV charging stations

Whether you are renting a petrol or diesel car, you’ll find plenty of fuel stations in built-up areas. If you are venturing out into more rural areas, it is worth filling up whenever you come across a fuel station, as you can travel quite a distance before coming across another. The same applies if you decide to hire an electric vehicle; it can be best to plan out several charging stations before you set off on your route, especially as internet access can be limited in the countryside. It’s a good idea to know where the charges are before you set off.

Child seats

Children are required to use a child seat until they are 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall. We have car seats available to hire for your trip. You can use our car seat guide to find which will suit you best. Our rental advisors cannot fit the child seat for you but can offer advice on your selection using height charts inside the branch.

Speed limits

Scottish speed limits will always be displayed in miles per hour. Rental cars in Scotland will have a speedometer that shows miles per hour alongside kilometres per hour. Unless signage states otherwise, the speed limits when driving in or around Scotland are:

Built up areas

30 mph (48 km/h)

Single carriageway

60 mph (96 km/h)

Dual carriageway

70 mph (112 km/h)

Motorway

70 mph (112 km/h)

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How much is one-way car rental in Scotland?

At Arnold Clark, we like to keep things flexible for you. If you decide that one-way car hire would work best for your plans, then you can work that into your booking. If you are booking online, simply find your pickup location in the drop-down menu. Once you’ve selected your dates and times, go on to select your different return location.

An extra charge will be automatically added to your booking. Charges start from £50 and are based on the size of vehicle you hire. Even if you collect from Heathrow Airport and return in Inverness, you’ll only be charged by vehicle size and not distance.

How far can I drive a rental car in Scotland?

If you hire for less than four days, you’ll have 250 miles included in your hire. However, if you hire for four days or more, you will have unlimited mileage. This will help if you are looking to cover a lot of mileage on your Scotland travels.

If you are travelling to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, you’ll need to let the rental branch know in advance so they can arrange some extra paperwork for your travels. We do not permit travel to any other European country.

Can I rent a car with a debit card from Arnold Clark?

Yes. You must physically present either a credit or debit card in your own name when collecting the hire vehicle.

Why choose Arnold Clark
Car & Van Rental car hire?

Excellent customer service

At Arnold Clark we are committed to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction through the services we provide. A customer's experience while hiring from us is extremely important and we pride ourselves in having a 4.9/5 ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.

Vehicles guaranteed when booked

When you book a car with us, we guarantee to assign a vehicle to your booking. No one should have to start their journey stressed when there isn’t a vehicle ready to go for them.

Competitive rates

With over 60 years of experience in the rental industry we are delighted to offer competitive prices with a flexible range of vehicle hire options.

No hidden fees

We want your journey with us to be hassle free. The price you are quoted includes insurance, VAT and roadside assistance. Additional extras can be found during the booking process so there are no surprises when you turn up to collect your hire vehicle.