Car rental prices at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport car hire for October 2026 starts around $58 a day for an Intermediate car like a Nissan Qashqai when you book about a month before your trip. Smaller models run cheaper. A Compact car such as a Nissan Juke is about $51 a day, while an Economy Opel Corsa is around $46. Leaving booking to the last 2 weeks keeps the Compact at $51 but lifts the Intermediate to $62. February 2027 is the cheapest month across the year at $42 for a Mini, whereas August 2027 reaches $155 for a larger car class.

For October 2026 at Edinburgh Airport, waiting until closer to your flight pays off: an Economy car drops to $43 a day in the last 2 weeks compared to $46 a month out. Across the year, booking 9 months before your trip averages $84 a day against $61 2 weeks before, so holding off has not cost you money. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 16 days of pickup. If you are travelling in August 2027, expect to pay up to $155 a day, compared to $42 in February 2027.

U-Save is the cheapest company at Edinburgh Airport for an Intermediate car, averaging $51 a day over the last 12 months. However, U-Save holds a steep deposit of around $2,696 and refuses debit cards. Sixt costs more at $74 a day over the last 12 months, based on 2,722 prices, but scores 88/100 from 135 customer reviews. For a lower deposit, Enterprise holds about $270 and charges $69 a day from 1,296 prices, though it does not yet have enough reviews for a score.

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.

Alamo is the best-reviewed company at Edinburgh Airport, scoring 91/100 from 71 reviews with an average desk wait of 19 minutes. Alamo is moderately priced, averaging $70 a day for an Intermediate car over the last 12 months from 1,371 prices. Sixt follows closely on reviews with a score of 88/100 from 135 reviews, also averaging a 19-minute wait, at $74 a day from 2,722 prices. By contrast, U-Save is the cheapest supplier at $51 a day, but it 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 Edinburgh Airport, card deposits range from $0 with Arnold Clark Car & Van up to around $2,696 with U-Save, and 6 of the 14 desks accept debit cards. Seven companies require a credit card only, while Sixt accepts debit cards for some cars only. Because policies vary, filter for a debit card before comparing prices rather than after. Extras charged at the desk, like additional drivers or child seats, are listed under each vehicle.

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

Seven of the 14 rental desks at Edinburgh Airport refuse debit cards entirely, requiring a credit card in the lead driver's name for deposits reaching up to $2,696. Waiting times can also stretch your schedule, with National averaging 24 minutes and Enterprise 23 minutes at the counter. All 14 suppliers operate directly at the airport, so you will avoid taking an off-site shuttle bus. If you leave town for the Highlands, single-track passing places are common, but the real test is returning without a scraped alloy from a granite kerb.

Only 50% of prices at Edinburgh Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

For comfort on the motorway leaving Edinburgh Airport, pick an Intermediate car like a Nissan Qashqai, priced at around $58 a day for October 2026. It seats 5 with space for 4 bags, avoiding the tight squeeze of a Compact Nissan Juke, which takes only 3 bags at $51 a day. Automatic transmissions make up 58% of cars offered, so finding one is simple, though an automatic Intermediate typically costs $17 more a day than a manual over the year. Electric cars make up 4% of what is offered and hybrids are not present, so plan on petrol or diesel if booking at short notice.