Driving a Rental Car in the UK: A Paper Driver’s Guide to Safety, Difficulty, and Key Tips

While the UK is known for its historically well-developed railway network, renting a car is the best option for efficiently visiting tourist spots during a limited vacation. However, driving in an unfamiliar foreign country, especially with right-hand drive vehicles, is undoubtedly a major concern for drivers accustomed to left-hand drive systems. Additionally, the UK’s unique traffic systems and road conditions can further amplify these concerns.

Despite these challenges, I—someone who rarely drives—embarked on a 500km driving journey through England. Though I was overwhelmed with anxiety before departure, I discovered that I could actually handle it once I started driving. Based on this experience, I’ll explain in detail the points to note when driving in the UK and traffic conditions from a beginner’s perspective.

Basic UK Traffic Conditions

UK roads share the commonality of right-hand drive vehicles and left-side traffic with some countries like Japan and Australia, but there are many different characteristics beyond that. The most distinctive feature is the numerous roundabouts in urban areas. This road system is rarely seen in many countries, and you’ll likely find it confusing at first. It requires completely different skills from signal-controlled intersections, such as entry priority and exit selection.

Furthermore, speed limit enforcement in the UK is extremely strict. Numerous speed cameras are installed on roads, and even slight speeding is detected without mercy. If a violation is detected, you won’t receive a ticket on the spot, but a penalty fee will later be charged to your credit card through the rental car company. Because of this, local drivers tend to strictly observe speed limits.

It’s worth noting that all speed limit signs display speeds in miles per hour (mph). Be careful not to confuse this with kilometers per hour—driving at what feels like your usual speed in kilometers would actually be much slower than required.

Arranging and Picking Up a Rental Car

This time, we chose a rental car company called “GreenMotion,” which operates globally. As a company that receives high ratings worldwide, the quality of service was excellent. From reservation to actually receiving the vehicle, their smooth response made a good impression.

After arriving at the airport, when we called the GreenMotion representative, they quickly came to pick us up in a dedicated shuttle bus. At their office, we received thorough and detailed service from confirming our pre-reservation details to checking the vehicle for damage. During the contract process, various explanations are provided, many of which are important safety precautions, so I recommend listening carefully without finding it tedious.

Insurance selection is particularly important. This time, we enrolled in Excess insurance (deductible insurance) to prepare for any potential accidents. The additional fee isn’t cheap, but the possibility of unexpected troubles is high when driving in an unfamiliar foreign country, so I strongly recommend this insurance even for experienced drivers. In fact, it seemed the local staff invariably recommend insurance enrollment to foreign tourists.

About the Vehicle

The vehicles available for rent are primarily from European manufacturers. This time, we used a new Peugeot compact car. Though small in appearance, its engine characteristics differ greatly from Japanese cars. Particularly impressive was the responsiveness of the accelerator. If you press the accelerator with the same pressure you would use in a typical rental car, it shows unexpected acceleration, so careful driving is necessary at first.

The vehicle’s performance itself is very high, and it’s equipped with the latest navigation system, so once you get used to it, you can enjoy a comfortable drive. The seats are also comfortable, designed to minimize fatigue during long-distance driving. Additionally, the compact body size was very useful for maneuvering in narrow urban areas and parking lots.

UK-Specific Traffic Regulations

When driving in the UK, in addition to general traffic rules, you need to understand specific regulations. Especially when entering large cities like London, the following regulations must be checked.

About ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone)

In London, there’s an environmental regulation area called ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone). When entering this area, it’s important whether your vehicle meets environmental performance standards. If you enter with a vehicle that doesn’t meet the standards, a charge of about £12.50 (approximately $16) per day will be applied.

When renting a car, it’s important to check whether it’s a ULEZ-compliant vehicle. Many major rental car companies provide vehicles that meet environmental standards for use in London, but I recommend confirming this when signing the contract. Fortunately, the new Peugeot we used met the ULEZ standards, but older vehicles or certain diesel cars might not comply.

Congestion Charge

Separate from ULEZ, central London has a “Congestion Charge” traffic tax. If you enter this area between 7 AM and 6 PM on weekdays, a fee of about £15 (approximately $19) per day is required. This system aims to reduce traffic congestion, and tourists must pay without exception.

Payment must be made online or by phone by midnight of the same day, and forgetting to pay may result in a hefty fine. Some rental car companies offer package plans that include these fees in advance, so if you plan to drive in central London, I recommend checking this when signing the contract.

Actual Driving Experience

The first few hours were a continuous tension in the unfamiliar road environment. Driving in urban areas, with the presence of roundabouts, requires considerable concentration. However, I was gradually able to get used to driving. British drivers are generally well-mannered, and perhaps due to the strict speed enforcement, there are few vehicles that drive aggressively.

The most challenging part was, as expected, driving through roundabouts. Though I understood them in theory, in actual driving, I often missed the correct exit or missed the timing to exit, circling multiple times. Especially in multi-lane roundabouts, the timing of lane changes was also important, requiring constant attention to the movements of surrounding vehicles.

Parking issues were also unexpectedly tricky. Compared to some countries, the UK seems to have significantly fewer parking lots, and places where street parking is permitted are also limited. Though I had researched thoroughly online in advance, I encountered multiple instances where lots were actually closed or payment machines were out of order. Because of this, we had to constantly be mindful of securing parking spaces near tourist attractions.

Driving on Highways

Driving on highways was thrilling in a different way. UK speed limits are set higher than in many countries, and especially on highways, it’s not uncommon to see vehicles traveling at around 95 mph (150 kph). Furthermore, many vehicles change lanes frequently, sometimes creating an atmosphere similar to a race.

What surprised me was the distance between vehicles on highways. While there’s a tendency to maintain safe following distances in some countries, in the UK, many vehicles drive quite close to each other, which was confusing at first. While this exhilaration can be somewhat addictive, excessive confidence increases the risk of accidents, so it’s necessary to always maintain cautious driving.

Service areas are installed at moderate intervals on highways, where you can take coffee breaks or meal breaks. This environment is similar to many countries, allowing you to relieve the fatigue of long-distance driving. The facilities at service areas are also clean and comfortable, making them valuable rest spots.

Conclusion

Driving in the UK is certainly full of anxiety at first, but with proper preparation and mindset, it can be thoroughly enjoyed.

During our trip, we experienced several close calls, such as taking the wrong entrance at roundabouts, missing highway exits, and unexpected entry into environmental regulation zones. However, including such experiences, driving in the UK became a very precious memory. The dynamic driving sensation on highways and the refreshing feeling of driving through idyllic rural landscapes are special experiences that cannot be tasted through other means of transportation. Also, due to the well-maintained road environment and generally good driving manners, I feel it’s a relatively easy country to drive in for international visitors.

Please enjoy the unique road environment of the UK and create wonderful travel memories. The joy of traveling through the UK’s attractive tourist spots at your own pace will surely outweigh any anxieties.