What you need to know before booking a London Stansted car rental 

Planning to book a Stansted car rental to help you explore London and beyond?  This guide has everything you need to know before you book your car. 

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London Stansted car rental tips

England drives on the left side of road

Before driving in England for the first time or renting a car,  you need to know that in England, cars are driving on the left hand side of the road.  For anyone that is not from the UK or a commonwealth country, driving on the left side of the road can be confusing and challenging. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drive in England. Instead, you’ll just need to be more aware of where and how you drive. 

The obvious challenge is that for anyone used to driving on the right side of the road, is that all your movements are backwards. Not only that, the buttons and controls in the vehicle are backwards as well.  This however varies with car manufacturers.  In Thailand, the turn signals and windshield wipers were opposite. This meant every time I went to put on my signal, I accidentally turned on the wipers instead.  However, in England and Ireland, the signals were in the same spot which was much easier to use.  Gas and brake pedals remain in the same order regardless of country. 

England road rules

Most of the rules of driving are similar in England  as in the United States or other countries. There are road signs designating the speed limits which are in miles per hour.  General road safety doesn’t change much in England.  Obey the speed limits, wear seat belts, and always stay to the left. 

Booking a car hire at Stansted Airport

When you book your Stansted car rental reservation, make sure you check what type of transmission you are reserving. Manual transmission (stick shift) is standard for car rentals in most of Europe.  Automatic transmission is available but always costs more.  When I was in Ireland, it was around 2x the price of a manual. However, in other countries the price difference wasn’t as severe.  Whether you book directly or through a 3rd party site (like DiscoverCars), there are filtering options to select the correct option

What documentation do I need for renting a car in England

When you go to pick up your Stansted car rental, you will need a valid driving licence and a major credit card.  An International Driving Permit was not required by Budget during my recent visit.  However, it doesn’t hurt to have it if other companies have different policies. 

International Driving Permit (IDP): What to know

• May be issued up to 6 months prior to travel dates
• The International Driving Permit (IDP) must be issued in your home country
• The IDP is valid for 12 months
• The IDP is valid in 150 countries around the world

How to get an IDP?

In the US you can apply in person (state dependent) at a AAA location or apply by mail. The cost for the IDP is $30 + shipping (if ordered online).  Click here to read the IDP application requirements. If you live in Canada, the process is similar through CAA.  You can find Canada IDP requirements here. 

Stansted car rental pickup information

When I looked for car rentals, I set my search to all London airports. This was because I was planning explore the countryside, but did not want a car while I was in the city.   

Because I wasn’t getting the car upon arrival, I was flexible about where to pick it up in order to find the best rate.  While I got a great deal, getting to Stansted took forever compared to Heathrow.  

You can take the train from Liverpool Street Station, or take coach buses from Liverpool Street or Stratford Stations. I took the bus because it seemed like it would be roughly the same amount of time, and for a lower price.  While it is (moderately) cheaper, I think the train would be a better experience, and is not subject to road traffic.  

If you are coming from the city, do yourself a favor and take the train.  This is an instance to spend the extra money for the train. 

Once you arrive at the airport, follow the signs to your designated rental company.  Most rental pickups will require you to get on the Stansted airport car rental village shuttle bus. 

Budget rent a Car Stansted Airport Location

The pick up for my car rental at Stansted airport was different than most car hire pick ups I’ve ever had from a major airport.  While many of the other major rental car companies (Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt) are all clustered together in the official car rental village, for whatever reason Budget and Avis are off site.  But not just in their own parking lot off site.  No, they are located inside a Holiday Inn Express. 

I might expect this at a hotel in a downtown area, but it was pretty odd for a rental location directly outside the airport. 

There is a shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn Express (and a few other hotels).  Once dropped off, you just have to follow the large signs through a bunch of back corridors in the hotel to find the “office”.  Their office is basically just a converted conference room. 

Pros

Once I got to the Budget rental office to check in there was zero wait whatsoever.  I have experienced wait times of 30 minutes or more due to long check in lines.  Here, I was done with all the paperwork in about 5 minutes. 

Cons

The pick up is obviously out of the way compared to the other Stansted car hire locations closer to the terminal. 

Some people might consider this as a pro, but I got a much nicer car than I signed up for.  I usually go for the small to midsize sedan because 1) it’s cheaper 2) I’m usually the only person in the car 3) they’re easier to maneuver and park. 

For this trip I was “upgraded” to a BMW station wagon.  I’m not sure if you can count it as an upgrade if all the vehicles in the lot are essentially luxury cars? 

At first I was like “wow that’s cool”.  But then I heard my dad’s voice in my head saying “if anything happens to this car, it’s going to be very expensive to fix”.  

Needless to say I was more stressed driving this car than I would be a Toyota or Kia, to make sure it came back in pristine condition.  Also, it definitely wasn’t designed for someone with my body frame, and I found it to be kind of uncomfortable. 

Car Insurance

You need to have insurance with your Stansted car rental.  I always decline the car rental insurance provided by the rental agency.  The first reason is that I have a few different travel cards that include international rental insurance in the annual fees.  For this trip I used my Chase Sapphire Card.  Always check with your card prior to the trip to make sure that the country you are traveling to is included in the coverage.  

If you don’t have a travel card that includes car insurance, you can also get car insurance added onto traveler’s insurance.  I’ve used Visitors Coverage on my last three international trips and had to use the car insurance during my trip to Guatemala.  Why Renting A Car in Guatemala City is the Best Way to Ruin a Vacation

I never recommend travelers insurance purchased through the airline because it is always going to be very expensive and highly limited.  It only will cover travel related to the flights whereas a more comprehensive insurance has travel, medical and you can add on car rental coverage for a much lower cost. 

Stansted car rental prices

For a three day, mid week winter rental (with drop off in another city), my total was $100.  This definitely was either a great last minute deal, or due to the time of year with lower demand.  In summer, the Stansted airport car hire prices will not be this low.  You should expect a midsize to cost closer to $65-70/day. 

Vehicle type

For my London stansted rental car, I requested a “standard” vehicle, which I assume is something along the lines of a midsize sedan.  While I got a midsize vehicle, I was not expecting a BMW.  Usually in the US that means a Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima. 

The cost of your rental will vary based on the type of vehicle you rent.  An SUV will almost always cost more than a small or midsize sedan.  

When deciding what type of rental car you need in London or around England, consider how many people and how much luggage you have.  

Where are you parking your hire car from Stansted airport?  If you are in London, or another major city, is there private parking available, or will you be able to park on the street and parallel park?

Where are you driving?  Are you staying in the city and highways or are you venturing out further into the country and back roads?  If you are in the country, remember that many of these villages date back to the 1600s, and the roads are small and narrow. 

Consider all of these questions first to figure out what type of car you need and then find one that fits within your budget. 

Stansted car rental FAQS

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