Car hire reviews
Car hire in Edinburgh is the gateway to one of the most rewarding road trips in the UK: the Scottish Highlands. Inside central Edinburgh, a car is unnecessary and often inconvenient: the Old Town is pedestrian-heavy, parking is expensive, and public transport covers most visitor needs. But the moment you plan to drive the A82 toward Glencoe, Fort William, the Isle of Skye, or the North Coast 500, a rental becomes essential. Edinburgh Airport pickup is the best option because it puts you on the M8 and M9 quickly, avoids city congestion, and offers the widest supplier choice. City pickup can work for later departures, but fleet availability is thinner. Remember this is left-hand drive territory, so continentals should take extra care on roundabouts and lane discipline. Expect narrow single-track roads in the Highlands, passing places, and weather changes that matter more than horsepower. A compact SUV or mid-size hatchback is ideal. The reviews below help you separate efficient Edinburgh desks from suppliers that make pickup harder than it needs to be. For more on UK rentals, see our UK car hire guide, and compare Enterprise and Avis for strong Scottish coverage.
Counter intelligence
16 min
Best: Avis (10 min)
50% low
0%
0 of 4 reviews
50%
Got car they booked
Based on 4 reviews across 21 locations and 11 suppliers. Average rating: 3.5/5 · Typical wait: ~16 minutes
Quick insights
Quick research insights on suppliers and pickup locations in Edinburgh.
Locations in Edinburgh
3.5
Good
4 reviews
Scots T.
22 Oct 2025
Picking up for a Highlands road trip, staff gave real advice about single-track roads. The Skoda Octavia diesel was perfect for the miles. Return near the terminal was easy.
Nora H.
8 Oct 2025
The queue moved well and the car was fine, but nobody mentioned the fuel station location until we asked. A small map handout would have saved us an anxious loop around the airport.
ScotsTraveller
22 Oct 2025
Picking up for a Highlands road trip, staff gave real advice about single-track roads. The Skoda Octavia diesel was perfect for the miles. Return near the terminal was easy.
Nora
8 Oct 2025
The queue moved well and the car was fine, but nobody mentioned the fuel station location until we asked. A small map handout would have saved us an anxious loop around the airport.