Car hire prices at London Heathrow Airport

At London Heathrow Airport, a Compact car like a Nissan Juke typically costs £34 a day in October 2026 when booked about a month ahead, alongside an Economy at £29 and a Mini at £23. An Intermediate, such as a Nissan Qashqai, averages £39 a day. Leaving your booking to the last 2 weeks drops the Compact price to about £30 a day. Across the year, the cheapest month is February 2027 at £30 for a Mini, while July 2027 reaches £112 for an executive car. If your quote is higher, check our price checker for your exact dates.

For October 2026 at London Heathrow Airport, holding off until the last 2 weeks is cheapest at £30 a day for a Compact car, compared to £34 about a month before your trip. Across the year, booking 9 months ahead costs around £51 a day for a Compact against £36 in the final 2 weeks, so waiting does not penalise you. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 14 days of travel. If you have not booked yet, you have not missed the lowest rates.

Keddy by Europcar is the cheapest company at London Heathrow Airport for a Compact car, averaging £34 a day over the last 12 months from 950 prices. Dollar follows at £35 a day from 1,039 prices, but its desk requires a credit card and holds a £750 deposit. Sixt charges £42 a day over 5,777 prices and holds an 86/100 score from 76 reviews, whereas Keddy by Europcar does not yet have enough reviews for a score. Across the airports we track car hire prices for, people booked Budget most often.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

Arnold Clark Car & Van is the best-reviewed company at London Heathrow Airport, scoring 91/100 from 116 reviews with an average desk wait of 15 minutes. Arnold Clark Car & Van averages £45 a day for a Compact car over the last 12 months, from 859 prices, with zero deposit held. Sixt follows on review volume with an 86/100 score from 76 reviews and a 15-minute wait, averaging £42 a day for a Compact car over the same period, from 5,777 prices. Keddy by Europcar is cheaper at £34 a day for a Compact car, but does not yet have enough reviews for a score.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

At London Heathrow Airport, security deposits range from £0 with Arnold Clark Car & Van up to £1,800 with Drivalia, and 6 of the 15 desks accept a debit card. The remaining 9 desks require a credit card in the primary driver's name and will decline a debit card. Filter for debit cards in the price checker before comparing offers so you only see cars you can collect. Any optional extras you choose to add at the desk are listed with their prices beside each car.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

The main traps at London Heathrow Airport are high card holds and queues at the counter, with 9 of the 15 desks refusing debit cards entirely. Drivalia holds an £1,800 deposit on a credit card, while Switch keeps people waiting an average of 33 minutes at the desk. Since all 15 counters are located at the airport, you will not need a shuttle, but arriving without a credit card will mean being turned away. Bringing a credit card with plenty of spare limit avoids the worst surprises before you reach the motorway.

Only 44% of prices at London Heathrow Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

A Compact car like a Nissan Juke costs about £34 a day at London Heathrow Airport for October 2026 and fits 5 people on the motorways. It seats 5 but holds 3 bags, so if everyone brings a large case, step up to an Intermediate like a Nissan Qashqai for 4 bags at £39 a day, or down to an Economy like an Opel Corsa for 2 bags at £29. Over the last 12 months an automatic Compact car averaged £51 a day against £42 for a manual, so shifting gears yourself saves £9 a day. Electric and hybrid models are 9% of cars offered, so booking early gives you the best chance of finding one.