Car rental prices at London Gatwick Airport

London Gatwick Airport car hire starts at around $30 a day for a Mini in October 2026 booked about a month ahead, with a Compact car like a Volkswagen Golf at $46 and an Economy at $38. An Intermediate car such as a Skoda Octavia is about $54 a day. Leave your booking to the last 2 weeks and that Compact drops to $42. If your quote is higher, the price checker will show what applies for your dates.

For London Gatwick Airport, booking late saves about 50%, with Compact cars averaging $46 a day 2 weeks before pickup compared to $69 9 months before your trip. For October 2026, a Compact runs $46 a day booked a month before travel and falls to $42 2 weeks before. If you have not booked yet you have missed nothing, as booking 9 months ahead costs $23 more a day. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 14 days of travel.

Dollar is the cheapest company at London Gatwick Airport for a Compact car, averaging $43 a day over the last 12 months from 520 prices, but it requires a credit card for the deposit. Dollar scores 89/100 from 52 reviews with an average desk wait of 24 minutes. If you need to pay with a debit card, Keddy by Europcar is the next step up at $46 a day and Europcar charges $63. Sixt costs $51 a day and averages a 19-minute wait at the desk.

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 London Gatwick Airport, scoring 90/100 from 63 reviews with an average desk wait of 16 minutes, though it costs $62 a day. Dollar is cheaper at $43 a day over the last 12 months, scoring 89/100 from 52 reviews with a 24-minute desk wait. Europcar matches Alamo on wait times at 16 minutes, scoring 86/100 from 311 reviews at $63 a day. Enterprise charges $61 a day and averages a 28-minute wait, 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 Gatwick Airport, deposits held on your card range from $67 with U-Save to $2,427 with Drivalia, and 5 of the 13 counters accept a debit card. Seven counters require a credit card, while Sixt takes a debit card for some cars only. Filter for a debit card in the search before you compare rates so you only see cars you can take. Any extras charged at the desk appear 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.

London Gatwick Airport counters block debit cards at 7 of the 13 desks, while security deposits on credit cards reach as high as $2,427. Drivalia holds a $2,427 deposit, while Alamo requires $1,348 and both insist on a credit card. Enterprise and Dollar keep drivers waiting an average of 28 and 24 minutes at the counter, which tests your patience after clearing the terminal. Bring a credit card in the primary driver's name with enough room to spare, or filter strictly for desks that accept debit.

Only 36% of prices at London Gatwick Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

A Compact car like a Volkswagen Golf costs around $46 a day in October 2026 at London Gatwick Airport and suits groups needing up to 5 seats. A Compact seats 5 people but holds 3 bags, so a full group with luggage will find an Intermediate car like a Skoda Octavia better suited at $54 a day for 4 bags. A smaller Economy car like an Opel Corsa saves money at $38 a day, but it only takes 2 bags. Automatics make up 59% of cars offered, though choosing one costs $12 more a day across the year, while electric cars are 7% and hybrids 2% of listings, so finding an alternative to petrol requires booking ahead.