Rental Car & Driving on the Left
Outside of London, a rental car is the best way to discover Great Britain — especially for the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, and Wales. The roads are well-developed, the signage is excellent, and the scenery along the route is often the real highlight. But: In Great Britain, you drive on the left!
🚗 Driving on the Left — Survival Guide
Driving on the left is daunting at first, but after an hour it becomes routine. The most important rules:
- Book automatic! The gear stick is on the left — shifting with the left hand is confusing at first. Automatic eliminates this source of error completely
- Roundabouts: Clockwise! Traffic comes from the RIGHT. Roundabouts are everywhere — learn to love them
- Wipers instead of indicators: The indicator lever is on the right of the steering wheel. The first few days, you'll wipe every time you turn
- “Keep left": After parking, refueling, or a break — the most dangerous moment is the restart when you automatically drive on the right
- Narrow country roads: Especially in the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and the Highlands: single-track roads with passing places. Whoever is closer to a bay pulls in
Prices & Booking
Rental cars in Great Britain: From £25–40/day for a small car in the off-season, £50–80/day in summer. Automatic is significantly more expensive (+30–50%), but highly recommended for left-hand driving novices. Book through comparison portals (billiger-mietwagen.de, CHECK24) at least 6 weeks in advance. Cheaper at airports than in city centers.
Refueling: Petrol and diesel are expensive — £1.40–1.60 per liter. Motorway services are the most expensive. Supermarket petrol stations (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda) are the cheapest.
Achtung
DO NOT drive a rental car in London! Traffic jams, Congestion Charge (£15/day), ULEZ fee (£12.50/day for older cars), hardly any parking (and if so, £4–8 per hour). In London, public transport (Tube, bus, DLR) is the only sensible option. Rent a car only for trips outside of London.
