Renting a Car in Scotland – ULTIMATE Guide

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A Scottish Roady is unbeatable. If there is something the Scots do well, it’s dramatic landscapes, epic coastal roads and a good ol’ pint at the pub to end the day. Once you’re out of the cities, the roads wind through mind-bogglingly beautiful glens, lochs and staggering coastal cliffs.

Having your own four wheels while travelling in Scotland is an absolute game-changer if you want to explore everything that Scotland has to offer. It gives you full flexibility to craft your schedule how you want. No relying on buses or trains. I guarantee you, you’ll be stopping often to take a loooad of snaps!

One of my favourite things about Scotland is its rules around responsible wild camping in most unenclosed land. You could pitch a tent near a loch, sleep under the stars in the highlands or wake up to the sound of the sea on the Isle of Skye for free! So if you’re road tripping over a few days- pack some sleeping gear and a tent, and you’ll be able to stay in some magical, untouched spots. Even some of Scotland’s best national parks will often feel uninhabited if you time it right.

TIP: If you’re not planning on leaving the centre of the cities, you probably won’t need to rent a car. There are great day trips to take from Edinburgh and Glasgow, and it’ll most likely be more hassle than it’s worth, having to deal with parking, traffic, etc. There are plenty of public transport options available in places like Edinburgh or Glasgow.

The real magic of having your own two wheels comes to life once you hit the open roads outside of the city. Outside of the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh, you’ll find some of the best road trips in the world.

Driving in Scotland feels refreshingly calm, especially once you’re out of the cities. Cruising along the Highland roads and coastal routes is what road trips are made for.

That said, rural drives can sometimes feel like you’ve ventured off the beaten path. With dual-way roads that can really only fit one rather small car, blind corners, and sheep crossings are all part of the charm when you get out into the sticks of Scotland.

Driver’s License and ID

When it comes to driving in Scotland, visitors from the EU, EEA, and many other Commonwealth countries can just drive on their own home country licenses. Non-EU travellers, including those from the USA and Canada, can also use their licenses for up to 12 months (provided it’s in English, or with an International Drivers License – IDP).

Rental companies will also require a valid passport and a credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit.

Roads and Driving Standards

Scotland has plenty of fast and efficient roads for getting you from A to B – these are great for getting out of the cities. I’m talking motorways and A-roads. However, some of the best road trip routes in Scotland are those that are a little more rugged and a lot more scenic. These are often in the locations where you’ll find more sheep than people.

Drivers in Scotland are generally pretty courteous, and the signage is top-tier. The speed limits are displayed in miles per hour – this is important to note for anyone coming from a country that operates in km/per hour.

Scotland can be prone to some pretty wild weather, especially over the cold months and in places like the Highlands. So it’s wise to check the weather before setting off.

Parking

As with most cities around the world, parking can be expensive and very limited. This is especially the case in big cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. It’s common to find pay-and-display areas to park, but I tell you now – those sneaky parking officers will get you if you overstay or park in areas you shouldn’t. Paying the £5 for parking is better than the £50 that they’ll fine you if they catch ya. (I’ve learned this the hard way far too many times.)

Road tripping in Scotland is a bloody good time. These are a few of my favourite routes:

1. North Coast 500 (NC500)

The North Coast 500 is, without a doubt, one of the most epic drives in the country, if not the whole of the UK. It’s often referred to as Scotland’s version of Route 6. It’s a 500-mile loop around the northern Highlands, which starts and ends in Inverness – a great place to stay in Scotland.

It’s a combination of all the epic parts of rural Scotland wrapped up in one 500-mile set of tarmac. From the iconic coastal cliffs, remote beaches, lochs, castles and (of course) a few whisky distilleries – because what’s a Scotlish roady without whisky…at the END of the day, might I add!

The NC500 takes you through places like Applecross, Durness, and John O’Groats with plenty of wild camping spots and scenic detours to take along the way.

2. Isle of Skye Road Trip

The Isle of Skye route is a magical 2-3 day route that is accessible by bridge from the mainland. Passing through the Fairy Pools, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Neist Point, this is one of Scotland’s most iconic loops.

The roads are narrow and windy! The driver’s attention will need to be focused on the bends of the road, so this just means more scenic stops to take in the waterfalls, sea cliffs and epic misty mountain view. Lodges in this neck of the woods feel like stepping into that classic Scottish fairytale, so make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy them 🙂

3. Argyll Coastal Route

This western coastal route runs from Tarbet to Fort William and will take you through some of the most beautiful places in the UK – including lochs, forests and quaint fishing villages. It’s not quite as dramatic as the NC500, but it’s a bloody decent second. The roads are a bit gentler, too.

The highlights of this route include Loch Lomond, Inveraray Castle and the seafood centre of Oban. You can also jump on the ferries for a bit of island-hopping to Mull or Iona if you’re up for it 🙂

As I’ve mentioned already, renting a car in Scotland is a brilliant idea if you want to go on a road trip from the city. Here are a few tips, pieces of information and words of wisdom when it comes to car rentals in Scotland:

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Scotland?

Prices vary when it comes to rental cars in Scotland. You can usually find a budget-friendly option between £16 and £25 per day. However, if you want a slightly bigger car, you’ll be looking at more like £40 to £60 per day. This also varies by the season, where you’re picking it up, and the type of vehicle. A Mustang ain’t gonna be the same price as a Fiat 500 🙂

Extras like insurance upgrades (£10-£20/day), additional drivers (£5-£10/day), and young driver surcharges (£15-£30/day) can quickly add to your total.

Campervans or 4x4s for rugged adventures into the Highlands can cost significantly more, often £90-£150 per day. However, if you can bring the cost of accommodation down with freedom camping. Or, invite a few mates along to split the cost; it can work out to be a relatively affordable trip.

I’d suggest checking when school holidays land in the UK before locking in your road trip dates. Prices over summer and school holidays tend to skyrocket, particularly in places like Inverness or the Isle of Skye. 

Get Insured BEFORE you visit Scotland

Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you least expect them. This is why good travel insurance is essential before you head on your trip to Scotland.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Navigation in Scotland

If you’ve got Google Maps on your phone, you should be good to go when it comes to navigating around Scotland. Just make sure you grab yourself a SIM card with some data so that you have a signal. I can highly recommend using Jetpac for a simple-to-use and install eSIM option.

That said, if you decide to travel off the beaten path, you might find that the signal drops out every now and then. I’d recommend using Offline Google Maps to download your route before you set off – this has saved me many a time. 

If you get lost, the signs are all in English, and locals are friendly; you can always ask them to point you in the right direction.

Pick up/drop off location

The most practical places to rent a car in Scotland are from either:

• Edinburgh Airport
• Glasgow Airport
• Inverness City Centre

Note: If you plan to drop off the car in a different location from where you picked it up, you can often incur a steep one-way fee.

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Petrol

As with the rest of the UK, petrol isn’t cheap. At the time of writing, the price of fuel is about £1.35 to £1.80 per litre. Most gas stations are self-service, and you can find them along most major roads. If you plan to venture off the main roads for long stretches, be sure to fuel up before. You don’t want to be caught out in the middle of nowhere with an empty tank… that’s not fun for anyone!

Be sure to check your agreement on fuel; most rental companies expect a “full-to-full” fuel tank. In other words, you’ll pick it up full and return it full. If this is the case, make sure you return it full; otherwise, you’ll be charged an ugly, inflated fuel fee.

Google Maps or Waze are great apps to help you locate the nearest petrol stations.

Insurance Coverage

When you book your car rental, it should come with a basic insurance package, but these usually include high excesses (sometimes over £1,000). That means, if anything goes wrong, you’ll still be liable for up to £1,000 worth of damages… which is a lot!

For peace of mind, you could consider adding a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and theft protection. There is often a more expensive “full coverage” option, where no deposit is taken and you are fully covered for anything that goes wrong… I like these ones a lot. 

Rental car insurance is not something to skim over; these guys will try not to pay out if they have to. So I’d recommend grabbing ya glasses, pour a coffee, and read the fine print. Make sure you understand what’s covered and what’s not before you hit the open roads.

Checking Damage

Always check the car for damage before you drive off!! I will say it again, CHECK THE DAMN CAR.

Walk around the car and take pictures of any scratches, dents, or broken parts. Don’t forget the tyres, windows, and the inside of the car. If these aren’t already recorded by the company, you will be charged for these damages upon returning the car, as they will assume you caused them. (This is where that full coverage will give you peace of mind)

Make sure the rental company writes down any damages that you find. When you return the car, try to be there during the check. Ask for a note that says everything is okay. This helps avoid surprise charges later.

There is no simple one-size-fits-all answer as to which is the best car rental company in Scotland. They all fulfil basically the same function, they offer similar vehicles, and the prices tend to be pretty close together too (with a few outliers who are taking the absolute piss).

We made our first booking through Discover Cars and found their website, prices and booking process to be good. You can search through various cars, companies and dive into each’s reviews before making your decision. It’s WAY easier than having to search through each of the car rental companies themselves.

If you’re not sold on the whole rent-a-car thing by now, don’t worry. Although you won’t get to experience the epic road trip vibes of Scotland, there are other means of transport that you can use to get around the country:

• Trains connect major cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Aberdeen
• Ferries link the mainland to islands like Skye, Mull, Orkney, and Arran
• Public transport in cities is reliable, frequent and affordable
• Cycling is a great option for exploring quieter, more rural places
• Walking is ideal for short distances

Tours and day trips from cities offer guided access to popular sites like Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Stirling Castle without needing to drive yourself.

Here are the questions that I get asked most commonly about renting a car in Scotland:

Overall, I think Scotland is an exceptional place to rent a car and go on a road trip. It is home to some of the most scenic drives in the whole of the UK. However, if you’re just planning on hitting the big cities, you might be in for more hassle than it’s worth to have your own set of wheels.

If you just plan to stay in the heart of Glasgow or Edinburgh, I’d suggest using public transport and adventuring on your own two feet. But if you plan to venture into the wild outskirts of the country, renting a car is a great way to go!

Oh, and don’t forget to jump onto Discover Cars to search through the best car rental options!