Car hire and electric car charging

Not legal advice. We summarise GOV.UK guidance and link it. Hire contracts differ: read yours.

Before you book

• Your licence. Check whether you can drive in Great Britain on your licence with the GOV.UK checker for non-GB licences.² More on licences, insurance and road rules: driving in Britain.
• Excess and deposit. GOV.UK says the excess is the most you will pay if the car is damaged, and the deposit is held on your credit card to show you can pay it. While it is held you cannot spend that money. Some cheaper deals carry a very large excess and deposit, so a slightly dearer deal with a smaller excess may suit you better.¹
• Collision Damage Waiver. The cover that usually comes as standard often excludes items such as tyres and glass.¹
• Excess insurance. GOV.UK says you do not have to buy extra cover from the rental company; buying it before you travel from an independent provider is often much cheaper. The company may still take a deposit and charge repairs against it, which you then claim back.¹
• Fuel and mileage. Some companies make you buy a tank of fuel from them, often at inflated prices, and some cap the miles you can drive and charge above the cap. Check both policies.¹
• Extras. GOV.UK notes that car seats may be a legal requirement and that rental companies charge to rent them.¹

What only the hire company can tell you

We found no official source for these, so we give no figures. Ask before you book, and get the answer in writing:

• minimum and maximum driver ages, and any young-driver or senior-driver charge;
• whether an automatic is guaranteed or only requested;
• one-way fees if you drop the car somewhere else, and whether you may take it on a ferry (for example to Northern Ireland or the islands);
• which documents they want at the desk, and whether they accept a debit card for the deposit;
• for an electric car: which charging cable comes with it, and whether a charging card or app is included.

At pick-up

GOV.UK advises allowing time to inspect the car for dents, scratches and other defects, taking photos or video, reporting any defect while you are still on the company’s premises, and making sure every defect is on the pre-rental form, signed by both sides, with a copy for you. Bring your booking confirmation: if you are not given the car you booked (or a similar one), GOV.UK says you should get a refund of the difference or a free upgrade. If staff pressure you to buy insurance you do not want, it suggests walking away if you can, or paying (by credit card if possible) while writing on the contract that you object.¹

If something goes wrong

GOV.UK suggests asking for evidence of any damage and the repair invoice, claiming on your excess insurance if it applies, and, if you paid by credit card, considering a claim under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. For UK rentals it names the BVRLA Conciliation Service, and for consumer advice Citizens Advice (England, Scotland and Wales) and Consumerline (Northern Ireland).¹

Charging an electric car

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 set rules for public charge points. The GOV.UK guidance (last updated 21 October 2024, read 1 Nov 2026) says:³

• Contactless. New public charge points of 8 kW and above, and existing ones of 50 kW and above, must offer contactless payment.
• Clear prices. The maximum price of a session must be shown in pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh), on the charge point or on a device that does not need a contract, and must not rise after charging starts. Connection and transaction fees must be included in that price; separate parking charges are not.
• Help. A free, staffed 24/7 telephone helpline must be available and shown at every charge point.
• Reliability. Rapid charge points must be 99% reliable on average across each operator’s rapid network over a year.

To find chargers: Zapmap (opens in new tab) maps charge points across the UK,⁴ and in Scotland ChargePlace Scotland (opens in new tab) is the public network provided by Transport Scotland.⁵ In rural areas, plan charging stops before you set off: see electric car charging in the driving guide.

Fuel prices

We give no fuel prices. GOV.UK’s Fuel Finder guidance says that from 2 February 2026 fuel retailers must report price changes within 30 minutes of any change. The guidance we read is written for retailers and does not say where drivers can see the prices.⁶

Questions

What is the excess on a hire car?

GOV.UK’s car hire guidance says the excess is the most you will have to pay if the car is damaged, and the deposit is the amount held on your credit card to show you can pay it. Cheaper deals can carry a very large excess and deposit.

Can I pay for public EV charging with a bank card?

Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, new public charge points of 8 kW and above, and existing ones of 50 kW and above, must offer contactless payment, according to the GOV.UK guidance. Older and slower charge points may still need an app or card.

Can I hire a car at 21 or with a foreign licence?

Age limits, young-driver charges and licence rules for hire are set by each company; we found no official source that lists them. Check whether your licence lets you drive in Great Britain with the GOV.UK checker, then read the hire company’s terms before you book.

• Conducir en Gran Bretaña
• Getting around by region
• Airport transfers
• Ferry routes