There are speed limits of 30 mph(48 km/h) on urban areas, 60 mph(96 km/h) in rural areas and 70 mph(112 km/h) in motorways unless signs say otherwise.
Consisting of England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland, the United Kingdom is renowned for its beautiful natural sceneries and a wide mix of architectures, making it an attractive destination country to discover by car. Here are a few basic driving instructions and tips to help you serenely prepare your journey.
In the United Kingdom, driving is on the left-hand side of the road and overtaking is on the right. Mobile phones cannot be used to call or text while driving. On Roundabouts, drivers on the right have right of way.
Drivers should remain alert on countryside’s roads, as farm animals and agricultural vehicles can turn out to be difficult obstacles to pass.
Speed LimitThere are speed limits of 30 mph(48 km/h) on urban areas, 60 mph(96 km/h) in rural areas and 70 mph(112 km/h) in motorways unless signs say otherwise.
Traffic SignsTraffic signs used in the UK include signs giving orders, warning and indicating direction or information. Here are some frequently used signs in the UK.
Regulatory signs feature a circular shape with some exceptions.
 Give Priority to Vehicles from Opposite Direction |  Give Way to Traffic on major road |  No Vehicles Except Bicycles Being Pushed |  No Overtaking |  No Waiting |  No Stopping(Clearway) |
Warning signs are mostly triangular with a red border.
 Roundabout |  Uneven Road |  Two-way Traffic on Route Crossing Ahead |  Wild Animals |  Level Crossing WIth Barrier or Gate Ahead |  Level Crossing Without Barrier or Gate Ahead |  Level Crossing Without Barrier |
Information signs in the UK are rectangular with various colour backgrounds.
 Primary Route Forming Part of a Ring Road |  Entrance to Congestion Charging Zone |  Hospital Ahead with Accident and Emergency Facilities |  Tourist Information Point |
Click here for a complete road signs guide in the United Kingdom.
Seatbelt LawsAll passengers over 12 or 13 years, or over 135cm tall must wear a seat belt at all times. Failure to do so could result in a fine up to £500.
Booster Seat LawsChildren until the age of 12th or the height of 135cm should be placed in an appropriate seat for their height and weight.
Parking· Forbidden Parking
Finding parking space in town and city centres can prove difficult, especially in the centre of London. Parking your car in the following spots is strictly forbidden and could result in a fine:
- Beyond the time restriction marked on poles, lampposts or even screwed onto adjacent walls of buildings with a single, continuous yellow line along the kerb
- With double, continuous yellow lines along the kerb, which indicates no parking at any time
(Image from alphamarkingservices.co.uk)
· Paid Parking
White marked bays with white markings indicate a metered street parking. These are generally "pay-and-display" parking for which a ticket needs to be purchased from an adjacent machine, and displayed on the car’s windshield or dashboard.
Be careful to check the "controlled hours" which are marked on the payment machines and on adjacent signs (again, usually on lamp posts and on walls). Parking outside the controlled hours is free.
(Image from eppingforestdc.gov.uk)
When finding a parking spot, we strongly suggest you not to let the absence of yellow lines lull you into a false sense of security, and always look for parking signs or meter machines.
Fuel PricesThe average value for the United Kingdom gasoline price during the period from August to November 2017 was 1.21£ per litre, while diesel is 3 cents higher.
TollCurrently, there is a single major road - the M6 Toll - and a small number of bridges and tunnels where tolls are collected. Each toll road and bridge in the United Kingdom has its own fee, varying and depending on the type of vehicle you are driving. Fees are collected at toll gates and can be paid in cash or by credit card or by fuel equipment for automatic toll payment.
(Image from alamy.com)
Some car hire companies will debit your credit card in order to pay the tolls on your behalf if you missed paying one (depending on different car hire companies). If you have any questions concerning toll fee billing, feel free to contact QEEQ' 24/7 customer service team for help.
Additional Tips
In London, the Congestion Charge is a £11.50 daily charge for driving a vehicle within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday. Usually, the congestion charge will be collected and informed by the car hire company at the rental desk.
DUI LawsExcept for Scotland – whose limit is set at 0.05%, other locations within the UK have a legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08% per driver. Driving over the alcohol limit can result in a penalty up to six months of imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum of twelve months' disqualification.
Traffic FinesThe minimum speeding fine for an infringement is £100. A notice will be sent to the car’s registered keeper by the enforcement authority. In a renter’s case, the notice will be sent to the car hire company and passed on to the renter.
Parking tickets usually need to be paid within 28 days. In some cases, the fine is reduced by 50% if the payment is made within 14 days. Failure to pay the parking tickets within the given period will result in the penalty notice being passed onto the car hire company.
In some cases, the car hire company will debit your credit card for the penalty fee and add an administration charge. It is advisable for you to contact QEEQ’ customer service team if you believe you have been charged incorrectly.
Q1.What is an insurance excess？
Q2. How can I add an addtional driver?
Q3.What if I want to pick up or drop off my rental car out of office hours?
Q4. Can I take the hired car to another country or cross border?
Q5. Can I pick up my car at one location and return it at different location?
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February 9, 2026
Destination: London
Counter staff helpful and friendly as was the shuttle driver
View moreOctober 20, 2025
Destination: Manchester
No
View moreOctober 11, 2025
Destination: Glasgow
John was outstanding at check in
View moreSeptember 25, 2025
Destination: Edinburgh
Rebecca was super friendly and helpful at the counter. Car was in great condition and an enjoyable drive.
View moreJuly 14, 2025
Destination: London
Car was a bit small for what we needed, should have booked an SUV, but not qeeqs fault.
View moreApril 20, 2025
Destination: London
Avis are high quality established car rental company and staff very helpful.
View moreApril 2, 2025
Destination: Birmingham
Bad
View moreMarch 12, 2025
Destination: Southampton
Good car, great price point
View moreMarch 10, 2025
Destination: London
Not very friendly or communicative. Overcharged me for damage. The rest was more or less fine.
View moreMarch 10, 2025
Destination: London
Excellent customer service. Speedy and efficient service. Extremely polite!
View moreFebruary 14, 2025
Destination: East Midlands
I find Enterprise to be a premium supplier and their staff are well mannered and helpful. Their cars are good quality and immaculately kept.
View moreFebruary 4, 2025
Destination: Edinburgh
No
View moreJanuary 28, 2025
Destination: Edinburgh
Ordered a transit van but given a Toyota Proace - significantly smaller and almost not fit for the purpose I hired for. Counter agent demanded I fill out a positive review of his service before giving me the van keys… only then to give me keys for a significantly smaller van than I ordered. Not impressed.
View moreJanuary 28, 2025
Destination: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Counter staff excellet, after hours service & response to my questions on a Saturday evening were answered.
View moreJanuary 22, 2025
Destination: London
Staff very helpful and friendly. Car availability very poor unfortunately.
View moreDecember 30, 2024
Destination: Leeds
Car was adequate. Counter staff very helpful, on pick up and drop off.
View moreDecember 22, 2024
Destination: Leeds
All good as above
View moreDecember 8, 2024
Destination: London
Very smooth pick-up process. Helpful staff at pick-up and return locations.
View moreNovember 29, 2024
Destination: Glasgow
Quick and essy
View moreNovember 20, 2024
Destination: Belfast
All very good very pleasant and helpful stafff
View moreNovember 18, 2024
Destination: London
Although I wasn’t a fan of the manufacturing quality of the MG I had, I was grateful for the upgrade to automatic and the friendliness of Mark at the desk when I picked up and dropped off the car
View moreNovember 16, 2024
Destination: Nottingham
Beware. Car clearly hadn’t been checked before renting out. AdBlue warning came on after 30 minutes. Despite checking the car back in, and the vehicle having a thorough inspection at that time, and getting a full refund of the deposit, Enterprise proceeded to charge me 2 weeks later for a nail in a tyre. This was clearly a vindictive act just because I complained about the state of the vehicle.
View moreNovember 16, 2024
Destination: London
All very smooth and easy. Would recommend.
View moreNovember 16, 2024
Destination: Nottingham
Car was ok. Staff somehow changed my booking so I got hit with an unexpected charge that I had to spend a few days claiming back after the event.
View moreNovember 14, 2024
Destination: Derry
Have used Dollar at Derry airport twice recently and on both occasions the staff have been very friendly, helpful and efficient in getting me on the road and booking the car back in on return.
View moreOctober 18, 2024
Destination: Guildford
Very friendly staff, though I haven't driven many other cars and would have valued the offer of a quick overview of the car (eg how to open the fuel cap!) The car was exactly as ordered and very easy to drive.
View moreOctober 12, 2024
Destination: Newquay
All good maybe show customers where spare wheel / Jack is etc
View moreOctober 10, 2024
Destination: London
Car was as booked and checking person was very helpful, freindly and efficient
View moreOctober 2, 2024
Destination: Milton Keynes
I reset tire pressure button later on collection day for it to come back on the day after saying tire pressure was low again. Advised staff when they collected car that something wrong with tires. I said I thought it may have been the change in outside temperature making it that way when I collected. Realized it was something more the day it came back on and also the drive felt a bit different when it did as well. Always enjoy speaking to staff. Staff great as always.
View moreOctober 2, 2024
Destination: Edinburgh
Understaffed, long wait at certain times.
View moreOctober 1, 2024
Destination: London
I will NEVER use this company again. Very rude at the pick up desk. Told me i had to buy EXTRA insurance..( i had AXA coverage to 30k...was told it had to be 35k or they wouldn't give me the car!!...I've used AXA with Budget, Avis & SixT with no problem) cost me 72pounds ($100) more. Don't think you are saving money with this company...they are SCAM artists!!!...STAY AWAY !!!
View moreSeptember 30, 2024
Destination: London
Really good people. Will hire from them again
View moreSeptember 26, 2024
Destination: London
Nice car, don’t book insurance online just buy it at the desk
View moreSeptember 24, 2024
Destination: Edinburgh
The car exceeded my expectations. However, I was disappointed dropping off the car. The guy I handed the keys to and was waiting on to check the car, neglected to inform me it was intact until I approached him again, even though he clearly saw I was standing by that car when he finally came to collect it.
View moreAugust 28, 2024
Destination: Glasgow
great brand new car super cleans and super efficient pick up and drop off!
View moreAugust 25, 2024
Destination: Norwich
avid did a great great service to us. Everything was easy, we were able to do the fast pre check in.
View moreAugust 19, 2024
Destination: Newark
Ben the new manager was extremely helpful. I needed to extend an extra day and he handled it seamlessly.
View moreAugust 16, 2024
Destination: Liverpool
It is very good.
View moreAugust 7, 2024
Destination: Bristol
Had to wait a bit longer as the car was in the wrong bay
View moreAugust 7, 2024
Destination: Southampton
Aside of having to pay for parking at drop off, they have spuriously attempted to charge me for damage (which I dispute is there). Awful.
View moreJuly 14, 2024
Destination: Edinburgh
Great service, great car, great trip - thank you! :)
View moreJuly 14, 2024
Destination: Slough
Very nice staff, the whole process was quite smooth.
View moreJuly 7, 2024
Destination: Liverpool
They always give me a new car in exception good condition.
View moreJuly 7, 2024
Destination: Edinburgh
Very friendly staff.
View moreOctober 1, 2024
Destination: Belfast
Good price
View more