Before You Arrive
The value of the pre-authorisation hold varies depending on the rental country, the rental location and the rental conditions.
To find out more about the amount and the possible exceptions or conditions of your pre-authorisation hold, please select your rental country from the below table:
| France | Germany | Italy | Spain |
| UK | Norway | Sweden | Portugal |
| Belgium | Denmark | Luxembourg | Switzerland |
| Austria | Poland | Czech Rep. | Others |
If you have already rented and have additional questions regarding the pre-authorisation or its release, you can find more information here.
The value of the pre-authorisation hold varies depending on the rental country, the rental location and the rental conditions.
To find out more about the amount and the possible exceptions or conditions of your pre-authorisation hold, please select your rental country from the below table:
| France | Germany | Italy | Spain |
| UK | Norway | Sweden | Portugal |
| Belgium | Denmark | Luxembourg | Switzerland |
| Austria | Poland | Czech Rep. | Others |
If you have already rented and have additional questions regarding the pre-authorisation or its release, you can find more information here.
We’re proud of the fact Budget has a modern fleet of cars and vans, which are all exempt from the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge. For more information about ULEZ please visit this page
You just need to bring your:
- Driving licence*
- Credit card (if it’s a high value vehicle two payment cards must be provided, one of which needs to be a credit card)
- Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer)
- Photo ID for international rentals (such as a passport or driving licence)
*If you hold a UK driving licence and are renting a car or van in the UK, you must bring a DVLA licence code with you when collecting your vehicle. Codes can be requested at this link
You may also need to bring proof of where you live, which could include a recent utility bill or bank statement. Your driving licence will not be accepted as proof of address. For more information on the rental requirements where you wish to rent, please review our location specific terms and conditions.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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The Premium Location Fee, which is included in your booking quote, helps to cover the extra operating costs incurred at premium locations such as airports, train stations and city centres. While the Premium Location Fee, also known as the City Supplement or Airport Surcharge, is included in your reservation quote, it is also applied as a percentage to any additional counter products selected at the rental location. For clarity, this is itemised on the rental agreement and invoice. Don't worry, this is not a duplicate charge and the itemised line may include the quoted portion from booking as well as any portion for additional selected items.
Should you have any other questions about how your invoice was calculated, click here or reach out using the icons below.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Our policy usually dictates that Avis and Budget will supply customers with a full tank of fuel at the beginning of their rental. Customers are also expected to return the vehicle with a full tank (or at the same level as the vehicle was picked up.
If you don’t have the time to refuel, we can do it for you but please keep in mind that this will incur an additional fee. Want some more information? Check out our refueling options.
As of the 1 April 2022 our Heathrow Terminal 5 office can be found at our brand-new location at the Holiday Inn London, Bath Road, UB7 0DQ.
When you arrive at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, please proceed to bus stop 25 (located on the arrivals level of Terminal 5) and take a short, 6-8 minute shuttle journey on our free 24 hour shuttle service.
When returning your vehicle please return to our new office. You will then take the short shuttle journey to Terminal 5 where you will be dropped off immediately outside of the arrivals level of Heathrow Terminal 5.
For additional information or to start your journey, click here.
We always have several active offers to meet our customers needs. Discover our latest offers here. If you have any questions about the offers, please contact us using the icons below and we are happy to help.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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If you have already booked your hire vehicle, you will find our contact details in your booking confirmation email. Or simply look up your nearest hire station. If you still have your hire vehicle and would like to change or extend your hire or request anything else, you will find the contact details on the first page of your rental agreement. Alternatively, you can contact us using the below icons.
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When you collect your hire vehicle you will receive a rental agreement. This document contains all the information you need to know, including the booking price and the vehicle’s condition. You will need to check and sign your rental agreement before you drive your hire vehicle away.
It’s a very quick and simple document, because we don’t want to hold you up on your journey.
Find out more about the rental agreement.
Don’t forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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We understand that you may need to amend or cancel your booking for many different reasons. To make any changes or to cancel your existing booking, please visit our website here. If you have booked through a third party, such as a travel agent or broker, please contact the booking source directly for assistance.
It is important that you have read and understood our cancellation policy which is included in our booking terms and conditions.
If you cannot find your rental car, which can happen especially at major train stations and airports, please ask for assistance from our rental agency staff. You can reach them personally at the counter on site or by phone using the number provided on your rental agreement.
Your hire car will run on either diesel or petrol. Or if it's a hybrid, petrol and electricity. It depends which model you choose. But always remember to refill your car with the right type of fuel. If you're in doubt, check your rental paperwork for the fuel type or call your hire station whose number is listed on your rental agreement.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Budget will still track late flights assuming the correct flight details have been added to the reservation.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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We understand you might be delayed, especially if you're arriving by air. To keep your journey hassle free, we always work around you where possible. Just remember to tell us your flight number when you book your vehicle so we can be prepared. Regardless of how long your flight is delayed, your hire vehicle will be ready for you. If you're hiring a car from a location other than an airport and are delayed by more than an hour, please call the station. Our telephone number is on your booking confirmation.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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If you drive your hire vehicle through Central London between 07:00 and 22:00, any day of the week, you pay a fixed fee each time you pass through a Congestion Charge zone. When you hire a car within the Congestion Charge zone in London, we can pay on your behalf for the first day of your hire. Just let us know when you collect your car and we will add it to your rental agreement. You will need to pay the charge for the other days of your rental, so find out where these areas are by viewing the Congestion Charge map. Discover more about the charge and how to pay it.
Want to hire a car in London? Your perfect car is waiting in prime locations across the capital and at London’s major airports. Start your journey
Don’t forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
Already planned a trip? Check your booking.
Collecting your hire vehicle is quick and effortless, because we don't want to hold you up on your journey. Remember to bring your driving licence and a credit card (or two cards where required – for high value vehicles). We will then check your hire car for any existing damage. Once you are satisfied, simply sign the
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Already planned a trip? Check your booking.
Your privacy means a lot to us. Please have a read through our Privacy Policy, which explains exactly how your data is used, collected and protected, as well as the types of cookies used by this website. We make sure that your personal data is further secured by only ever discussing personal information or details of a rental with the main driver of that rental, unless express written consent is given to us to speak with someone else.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Already planned a trip? Check your booking.
At the start of your rental, we will ask your card issuer to hold a sum of money for us. This is a temporary hold against the funds you have available on that card. We do not charge your card and no money is taken from your account. Your card issuer will usually present this authorisation hold as a pending transaction that reduces the money you have available to spend.
For further information about the pre-authorisation and the value of the authorisation hold, please click here.
Our Terms and Conditions are available for your review here. Our Terms and Conditions vary depending on the rental location and type of terms selected. Please the rental country where you will be collecting your vehicle so that we can provide the applicable documents. These documents can be accessed in eight different languages.
At the start of your rental, we will ask your card issuer to hold a sum of money for us. This is a temporary hold against the funds you have available on that card. We do not charge your card and no money is taken from your account. Your card issuer will usually present this authorisation hold as a pending transaction that reduces the money you have available to spend. Further detail of this authorisation hold (also referred to as a 'pre-authorisation') is set out in the Location Specific Terms and Conditions for the country in which you are renting.
The authorisation hold will be for the estimated cost of your rental less any amount that you have paid in advance, plus £200 (for rentals in the UK). When you complete your rental, and return the vehicle we will charge your card and the authorisation hold will be released by your card issuer. Depending on your card issuer, it can take up to 28 days before this is reflected in your account balance. As the authorisation hold has never been charged, the return of the funds will not be shown on your card statement. In case of any queries about the release of the authorisation hold please contact your card issuer. Please note – even though the hold is not an actual charge, it will temporarily reduce the available balance on your payment card.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Driving abroad is easy, because you can use your original driving licence in most of Europe, South Africa, the USA and Canada. If your driving licence isn't in Roman characters (for example, Japanese), or you're hiring in Australia, you will also need an International Driving Permit. Discover whether you need an International Driving Permit for your trip and how to apply on the
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The Vehicle Registration Fee, which is included in your quote before you book your vehicle, helps cover the cost of your hire vehicle’s registration. It is itemised on your invoice for clarity but is not an additional charge.
Don’t forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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It is standard that the charge for tolls arrives a few weeks following the end of your rental, as we must wait for the charge details to be provided by the toll authorities. The charge is usually taken in one payment but multiple charges/receipts are also possible based upon the location and duration of the rental.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Tolls are the responsibility of the driver. In some countries, automatic toll collection devices can be added at the rental station so that you can spend less time paying for tolls and more time on the open road. Call our reservations team for more information about tolls in the country you are hiring in or ask at the counter when collecting your vehicle.
Don’t forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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We always aim to provide a vehicle from the group reserved. On the rare occasion we are unable to offer you a car from your chosen group, we will provide an equivalent or premium alternative. This won’t cost you a penny extra because we want everything to be just right for your journey.
Don’t forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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No, but if you do arrive early we will try our best to accommodate you. Please be aware that collecting your vehicle early may incur an additional day's charge. Please check with our representatives at the location to find out more. If you're collecting your hire car at the weekend, remember pickup times can be restricted so please call ahead. Likewise, please call if you think you're going to be more than half an hour late.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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The Congestion Charge zone covers central London. It spans Hyde Park in the west to Vauxhall in the south, Tower Hill in the east and Regent's Park in the north. You can find out exactly the areas it covers by viewing the
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Already planned a trip? Check your booking.
Unfortunately, we are unable to fit the seat or arrange for it to be fitted for you. We are of course happy to provide guidelines on how you are able to fix the seat into the vehicle and manufacturers will generally provide guidelines on the seat as well. If your child is under the age of 12 or below 135cm, by law you must use an appropriate seat. This is to help protect your child in an accident, because normal seat belts are designed to fit adults in the stronger shoulder and hip areas. Unfortunately normal seat belts support a child in the wrong place. Find out more about
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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You don’t need to worry about paying for the Dartford Crossing as most of our vehicles from nearby locations are pre-registered with the Dartford Authority. This means that you do not need to do anything extra, we will take payment for the crossings from the payment card used on the rental.
You are always welcome to purchase an upgrade when you collect your hire vehicle. If you are linked to a frequent flyer loyalty programme which offers upgrades, we will of course honour this.
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When you arrive at Heathrow Airport (see here for Terminal 5) and you have collected your luggage from the luggage reclaim we would ask that you call ahead for a shuttle bus and it will depart from our office to collect you from the terminal you arrived at and take you to our Avis Budget office at the airport. It can take approximately 10 to 15 minutes for the shuttle bus to reach the terminal you arrived at, dependent upon road traffic, hence the request to call in advance due to the current situation and environment. Our buses do run on a schedule to each terminal 7 days a week between the times of 5:30am to 11:30pm daily, but by calling ahead we will be aware of your arrival. The number to call is 0208 754 7150.
Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.
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Our new service saves you time at the counter, allowing you to speed up your rental collection by registering your details in advance so you can easily grab the keys and go.
To save even more time, register via WhatsApp and share your DVLA licence code before arriving at our UK rental stations (we only need this for UK residents renting in the UK).
It’s simple. Hit the book button online and fill in your details straight away.
Use the button on the booking confirmation page to get started. To complete QuickPass, we need a few details from you – so have your driving licence and payment card ready. Enter all your details, customise your rental and click done. It’s really that easy!
Don’t have your details to hand? Don’t sweat it. You'll have plenty chances to do this before your rental. If you forget, we’ll send an email reminder.