Discover Heathrow Airport on Your Own Terms: Car Rental Guide and Tips
Heathrow Airport is London's largest international airport. The seventh busiest passenger airport in the world, and the first in Europe. Located 25 km west of central London.
More than 1300 flights are made here every day, which are operated by 90 airlines, serving a total of 190 destinations. The airport grew on the site of a military airfield used during the First World War by the Royal Air Force Great Britain.
The airport is a hub for airlines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Heathrow serves 67 million passengers annually, with over 85% of flights to overseas destinations.
The territory includes 5 passenger and 1 cargo terminals. The most popular are terminals 2, 4, 5 (terminal of British Airways and Iberia) and terminal 3 (for transatlantic and Asian flights).
Terminal 1 - Closed in the summer of 2015, its place is planned to be used for the expansion of Terminal 2.
Terminal 2 - Heathrow Airport's newest terminal, opened in June 2014 d. Receives and departs flights from 27 Star Alliance international airlines.
Terminal #3 - Used for long haul flights, primarily from USA and Asia.
Terminal #4 - Capable of handling Airbus A380s operated by Etihad Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways.
Terminal #5 - The exclusive right to use the terminal belongs to British Airways and Iberia.
The airport has a huge number of shops and fast food centers, so passengers will not be bored account for. In addition, there are recreation areas, a tax-free point and prayer rooms for various religions and denominations. Heathrow links London with over 180 cities across the world. It beats world records not only for passenger traffic, but also for international cargo.
One of the features of Heathrow is frequent fogs. Also, due to the specific location of the runways, planes taking off from this airport are directly above the city. This is another feature of Heathrow that distinguishes it from other European airports.
An excellent solution would be to rent a car at Heathrow Airport and go to London to get acquainted with the famous sights of the city, visit picturesque places in the vicinity. Traveling in a rented car will make your trip more comfortable and convenient, will give you the opportunity to visit beautiful places.
Detailed information about the airport:
Address: London Heathrow Airport, Longford TW6, Great Britain
How to get to the center of London from Heathrow Airport
You can get to London from the airport by all means of transport - by taxi, bus, train on a special railway line, and also by tube.
You can rent a car at Heathrow airport and get to London, this will save a lot of time, will add comfort and freedom of movement to the journey. All rental desks are concentrated in one place at the airport, which allows you to quickly select the required model and capacity of the car.
Underground - the London Underground Piccadilly line is connected to all terminals of Heathrow Airport (shown in blue on the map ): for terminals 1,2,3 there is a common station Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3, and for the remaining two - respectively, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminal 5.
From Heathrow Airport to the center of the train depart every 5 minutes. Travel time is about 55 minutes. Fares to central London start at around €7 per trip.
Train - travel by Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get to the center of London. Trains start from Heathrow at around 5:00 am and end at 23:30. Travel time is 15-20 minutes. Price from 25 euros. The Heathrow Express train stops at two airport platforms, one serving Terminals 1-3 and one serving Terminal 4.
Bus - National Express buses offer a route connecting Heathrow Central Bus Station and Victoria Coach Station. Travel time from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Some buses make stops along the way near Hammersmith or Earl's Court tube stations. Buses from Heathrow start at 05:30 and finish at 21:30.
Taxi - At Heathrow Airport, taxis usually line up to pick up passengers. The fare is controlled by the meter and displayed on its display. Additional payment, for example, in the evening or on weekends, is also indicated. There is a taxi service at each terminal.
How to get to London with a rental car
By renting a car at Heathrow Airport, you can drive to central London in less than an hour, where have a great time, explore the sights of the city, travel to beautiful places.
The first and shortest route is via the M44 road. Central London can be reached in 40 minutes, the length of the route is about 30 km. From Heathrow Airport head east on Wayfarer Rd, then there will be a gentle right turn onto Widgeon Rd, keep left lane and turn right onto Welland Rd, turn right onto exit M25 (N) towards M4/M1/London (W&C)/M40/Watford, merge onto the M25, take one of the 3 left lanes at exit 15, merge onto the M4 towards London, continue on the A4, take the A3220 and A3212 towards the A3213.
The second version of the route passes through a toll road, its length is about 45 km, travel time is a little less than 1 hour. From Heathrow Airport take Wallis Rd, Widgeon Rd and Wayfarer Rd, then take the M25, M40 and A40 towards Rampayne St (Westminster, London), then head towards the A3213 and you will reach Central London.
How to find a rental company at Heathrow Airport
The best way to quickly and comfortably get from the airport to your destination is to rent a car. You can rent a car at Heathrow Airport or at one of the offices companies that provide these services. A large selection of car options from economy to elite class, will allow you to choose the best option. At Heathrow Airport, all car rental desks are gathered in one place, you can find them if you follow the "Car rental" signs at the airport.
Good to know
Most Popular Agency
Keddy by europcar
Most popular car class
Standard
Average price
30 € / Day
Best price
21 € / Day
Estimated cost for 7 days rental
January
€111
February
€87
March
€113
April
€146
May
€143
June
€156
July
€210
August
€182
September
€125
October
€88
November
€79
December
€147
* The average cost of renting a car in Heathrow Airport for seven days. The data is calculated based on car bookings for the previous 365 days.
The best month to rent a car in Heathrow Airport is November. There are fewer tourists and a lot of available cars. You can book a compact class model at a price from €21. This is 31% cheaper than the average during the year.
The best time to rent a car in Heathrow Airport is November. This month, rental prices are minimal, below the annual average by 34%, and start from €21 for a Compact car.
Convertible cars in Heathrow Airport are in high demand during the summer. This is not surprising. After all, a trip on such a car gives a feeling of freedom and independence, allows you to relax and forget about the problems of the world around you. Although you should be prepared for an increase in rental prices and possible problems with the range of available cars. If we talk about the price BMW 4 Cabrio - it will be from €68 per 1 day.
Most popular car models in Heathrow Airport
Fiat 500
Fiat 500
4x
2x
€13 / Day
Citroen C1
Citroen C1
4x
2x
€14 / Day
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
4x
2x
€18 / Day
Ford Focus
Ford Focus
5x
3x
€23 / Day
Opel Astra Estate
Opel Astra Estate
5x
4x
€28 / Day
Audi A4
Audi A4
5x
3x
€32 / Day
BMW X1
BMW X1
4x
3x
€33 / Day
Ford Foxus Estate
Ford Foxus Estate
5x
4x
€33 / Day
Mercedes C Class
Mercedes C Class
5x
3x
€43 / Day
BMW 5 series
BMW 5 series
4x
3x
€45 / Day
Ford Tourneo
Ford Tourneo
8x
4x
€55 / Day
BMW 4 Cabrio
BMW 4 Cabrio
4x
2x
€65 / Day
Audi A6
Audi A6
5x
3x
€70 / Day
Audi A5 Cabrio
Audi A5 Cabrio
4x
3x
€75 / Day
Mercedes Vito
Mercedes Vito
9x
4x
€80 / Day
Other car rental locations close to Heathrow Airport
In Heathrow Airport you can choose from over 40 models of different car classes and for any budget. We provide only new cars with low mileage. You can easily choose a familiar car, and we guarantee its safety and perfect technical condition.
What affects the cost of renting a car in Heathrow Airport? These are three indicators: car class, time of year and rental period. The highest prices are in summer, and the lowest are in autumn and winter. The tariff is reduced if you order the service for a long time. Some specific examples: a compact model VW Polo in March-April costs about€21 per day. But book a car right away for a week - and the price will drop to €19 per day. These are standard prices for budget cars. The middle class will cost an average of €44-€37 per 24 hours. This can be Mercedes C Class,Peugeot 308 Estate or VW Tiguan. In Heathrow Airport convertibles can be rented for a minimum of €68. Luxury models raise the bar to €180 per day. Some exclusive cars are valued at more than 400€ per day.
In recent years in Heathrow Airport the demand for electric rental cars has been growing steadily. Their popularity is due to the presence of numerous free parking lots and recharging stations. You will be able to rent BMW i3 in Heathrow Airport by selecting start and end dates of the rental in the search filter.
Documents required for car rental
Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!
A valid international driver's license is required!
Top 10 Tips You Should Know
Download Google maps for offline access
Download the map in the Google Maps mobile app in advance. Select the desired area, type "OK MAPS" in the search box and start the search. Then wait for the map to save. Ready! Navigation will work even without an internet connection - thanks to the GPS function. It is present in all modern smartphones. You can not only find the desired address, but also build a route. And all this is free.
Book a car 6 weeks in advance
Heathrow Airport is a popular holiday destination and the car rental service is in great demand here. Therefore, it is recommended to book a car in advance. When booking online, you know exactly which car, for what price and under what conditions you will get in Heathrow Airport. The main advantage of early booking is the cost savings. The less time left before the start of the rental, the higher the cost of the rental becomes. The optimal period for booking in rental companies is 6 weeks before receiving the car. If you book early, two days before receiving the car, you can cancel the order without any penalties.
Which car to choose for rent
Tourists who expect to drive only around the city and its immediate surroundings prefer to rent compact cars, Fiat 500 or VW Polo. For trips to the mountains, you need a car with increased power. You should go on such a trip with a full tank, as fuel consumption in the mountains increases one and a half to two times. An all-wheel drive crossover would be the ideal car for this. Renting Peugeot 308 Estate in Heathrow Airport will cost €33 per day.
What you need to pay attention to when receiving a car
Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.
The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.
Insurance advice
Rental companies in Heathrow Airport may offer different insurance options. They differ in price and set of options. Here are the basic types:
Third Party Liability (TPL)/Third Liability Protection (TLP). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Insurance (TI)/Theft Protection (TP)/Theft Waiver (TW). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Super Loss Damage Waiver (SLDW)/Theft Protection+Collision Damage Waiver (TP+CDW). Full protection against theft and damage, even if you are the culprit of the accident.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.
If you want to save money and choose the cheapest insurance, carefully inspect the car upon receipt. Make sure the machine is not damaged.
Fuel prepayment terms
When renting a car, you should pay attention to the fuel policy of rental companies. Often, when renting, tourists have to pay the cost of a full tank of fuel. This option is suitable for long-term rentals and long trips. But if you're only renting Heathrow Airport for a day or two, or if you're only planning short trips, such as to a small island, then you probably won't need a full tank. You can get acquainted with the fuel policy in the "Important information" section of the car you have chosen.
Unlimited mileage
The rental company may set a daily mileage limit. You will have to pay extra for exceeding the limit. Please check this condition before booking. It is possible that a more expensive rental option will turn out to be more profitable in the end: it will not require any additional expenses. To filter cars with unlimited mileage - use the "Mileage" filter in the search results.
Compare prices and conditions from different car rental companies
When choosing a rental car in Heathrow Airport, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.
How to choose a rental company
Pay attention to the car park. Large and reliable companies regularly buy new cars.
Our clients name the top companies in Heathrow Airport - EUROPCAR with an average rating 9.9 points and SIXT with 9 points.
We show all the rental conditions of different companies. Read the rules carefully before booking a car.
Car pick-up procedure
Before signing a car rental agreement, it should be carefully checked for damage and defects. Do not be shy to point out the identified problems and problems - then you will not have to answer for them. When returning, pay attention to the fuel in the tank. Its volume must correspond to that prescribed in the agreement.
Also, do not ignore the phone number provided by the technical support representative when concluding the contract. After all, even the most experienced driver is not insured against a breakdown, accident or other force majeure event. In such a case, contact a specialist before the arrival of the police.
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Car rental reviews: Heathrow Airport
Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.
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