All drivers must be in possession of a full driver's license, many car hire companies may require driver's license held for at least 2 years.
Furthermore, the following conditions apply depending on the issuing country of the driver's license.
UK Driver's License
Since June 8th, 2015, the rules have changed for people who hold a UK driving license. In addition to your license, either a valid and up to date DVLA license check code or a printed DVLA endorsement record must be provided for all Approved Drivers. So when you hire a car, you will need to visit the DVLA* website before you pick your car up. The website will give you a ‘licence check code’, which is only valid for 21 days.
Drivers under 23 years of age must not have any endorsements on their license. For drivers 23 years of age and older, the maximum number of points on the license is 6. However, some endorsements on your license may restrict your ability to drive the vehicle, even if you have 6 or fewer points on your license.
Foreign Driver's License
License Issued in an EU Country
If your license is from one of the EU countries, you can use it in the same way in the UK as you would do at home. The license must be valid for the type of vehicle you drive.
Tips: EU countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.
License issued outside EU countries
If you are the holder of an ordinary driver's license or a valid international driving permit, you can drive any category of small vehicle (up to 3.5 tonnes) shown on your license. You will be able to drive for up to 12 months from the date of coming to the UK if you are a UK visitor.
If your domestic driver's license is printed with non-Roman Alphabet (Arabic, Japanese, Cyrillic etc), an International Driving Permit (IDP/IDL) or an official translation in English is required when you drive in the UK. Please note that an International Driving Permit (often referred to as an International Driving Licence) does not replace the requirement for a regular driver's license. And you must carry your current overseas driver’s license, IDP or translation with you all the time when driving in the UK.
Age Requirement
The minimum age generally to rent a vehicle in the UK is 21 years old. But the age restrictions may vary by different car categories. Each car hire company has its own age requirements. If you're 21-25, you are likely to have to pay a young driver fee. If you're 65 or older, you may have to pay a senior driver fee.
*Attention! Some car hire companies would have different requirements. Please check Terms and Conditions during the booking process.
All drivers must be in possession of a full driver's license, many car hire companies may require driver's license held for at least 2 years.
For driver holding a UK driver's license, either a valid and up to date DVLA license check code or a printed DVLA endorsement record must be provided to hire a car in addition to your license.
For non-European Union renters, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is highly recommended to drive in the UK.
*Attention! Some car hire companies would have different requirements. Please check Terms and Conditions during the booking process.
