Car rental prices at London Gatwick Airport

For November 2026 at London Gatwick Airport, a good benchmark is $41 a day for a Compact car such as a Volkswagen Golf, booked around a month before your trip, so compare your quote with that. At the same lead time, a Mini car such as a Kia Picanto averages $30 a day, while an Economy car such as an Opel Corsa averages $34. In the last 2 weeks before pickup, a Compact car averages $34 a day, $7 less a day. Use the price checker to compare prices for your exact dates.

For November 2026 at LGW, wait until around 2 weeks before your trip: a Compact car averages $34 a day then; across the year, that class averages $45 a day at the same lead time. For November 2026, a Compact car averages $41 a day around a month before pickup, so the last 2 weeks cost $7 less a day. Across the year, booking a Compact car around 9 months before your trip averages $67 a day, so you have not missed the cheaper booking window. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 65% of our customers book within a month of pickup, so booking nearer departure is common beyond Gatwick too.

Dollar is cheapest at London Gatwick Airport for a Compact car over the last 12 months, averaging $42 a day from 528 prices, but you need a credit card for its $992 deposit. Dollar scores 89/100 from 50 reviews over the last 5 months, so the lowest price does not mean choosing a company without a review score. If you need to use a debit card, compare Budget: its Compact cars average $45 a day over the last 12 months from 512 prices, $3 more a day, with a $436 deposit and a score of 85/100 from 52 reviews.

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 over the last 5 months, with an average desk wait of 18 minutes, so consider it if reviews guide your choice. Alamo is not the cheapest: its Compact cars average $60 a day over the last 12 months from 902 prices. Compare Dollar before choosing: its Compact cars average $42 a day over the same period from 528 prices, $18 less a day, and Dollar scores 89/100 from 50 reviews.

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 range from $66 with U-Save or Green Motion to $2,380 with Drivalia, and 5 of the 13 desks accept debit cards, so check your card before booking. Another desk, Sixt, accepts debit cards for some cars only, while 7 desks require a credit card. Filter for debit-card acceptance before comparing prices, then check the deposit and card rule shown beside each car. Extras charged at the desk are listed under each car with their price.

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

Check card rules and leave time for collection at London Gatwick Airport, because 7 of the 13 desks require a credit card and some desk waits average 26 minutes. If you plan to use a debit card, check the exact car before booking with Sixt, which accepts one for some cars only. Budget and National average 26 minutes at the desk, so allow for that before arranging anything immediately after pickup. Check your available card balance too: Drivalia's typical deposit is $2,380.

Only 35% of prices at London Gatwick Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

For November 2026 at London Gatwick Airport, choose a Compact car such as a Volkswagen Golf at $41 a day around a month before pickup; it seats 5 but holds 3 bags, so check your luggage. At that lead time, step down to an Economy car such as an Opel Corsa at $34 a day if 2 bags suffice, or up to an Intermediate car such as a Skoda Octavia at $49 for 4 bags; both seat 5. Automatic cars are 59% of cars offered, so select that transmission when searching, but across the year a Compact automatic averages $66 a day against $54 for a Compact manual, $12 more a day. Electric cars account for 7% of cars offered and hybrids for 2%, so filter for your preferred powertrain rather than comparing all cars together.