Car Hire in United Kingdom

Tourist information - Great Britain

Great Britain or the United Kingdom is officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A parliamentary monarchy in north-western Europe. The territory includes the island of Great Britain, comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being part of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city of Great Britain is London.

Population

The population of Great Britain is around 58,500,000. Most Britons (94 percent) are either English, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh. The remainder include Indians, West Indians, Pakistanis, Africans, Bangladeshis, Chinese, and Arabs.

Principal Cities

London is the capital city of Great Britain, located in south-eastern England. London is situated at the head of the Thames River estuary, west of the river's mouth on the North Sea. One of the world's most important financial and cultural centers, London is noted for its museums, performing arts, exchange and commodity markets. Also prominent are the insurance market and banking facilities.

The City of London and 32 surrounding boroughs form the Greater London metropolitan area. The 13 inner London boroughs are Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and the City of Westminster. The 19 outer boroughs are Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, and Waltham Forest. London presents a host of tourist opportunities, to many to feature here.

Birmingham in central England is the second largest city in Great Britain.

Glasgow, on the Clyde River is the largest city and leading industrial center of Scotland.

Cardiff is the largest city in Wales.

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland.

Right hand drive vehicles are used in the UK so drive on the left, overtake on the right.
When there is a solid white line in the centre of the road stay to the left of it - do not cross it.
Dipped headlights must be used in poor visibility.

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

Warning Triangle recommended but no legal requirement to carry.
First Aid Kit Recommended but no legal requirement to carry.

Speed limits

All traffic signs are posted in MILES PER HOUR "mph"

Residential Areas where posted = 20 mph
Built-up areas = 30 mph
Major roads outside towns = 40 mph
Major roads outside towns = 50 mph
Major roads outside towns = 60 mph
Motorways and some Dual-carriageways = 70 mph

All rental cars speedometers will be gauged in "mph"

MOTORWAYS

There are no toll motorways. Several major bridges and tunnels have tolls.
Keep to the left lane unless overtaking.
Do not straddle lanes.

Off the motorways watch out for "holiday routes". These are designated on a sign by the black letters HR on a yellow background. When you see this sign there will be two options to the same destination, one marked with the HR sign, the other simply the most direct route. The HR route takes the more scenic and often longer route.

SEAT BELTS

Seat belts must be worn by all vehicle occupants.

Children front seat usage = under 3 years of age are not allowed in front unless in an approved seat or harness. Children between 3 - 12 years or under 150cm must use appropriate restraint or seat belt.
Children rear seat usage = under 3 years of age must use an approved seat or harness if available. Children between 3 - 12 years and under 150cm must use appropriate restraint or seat belt.

DRIVING LICENCE

Minimum Driving age - 17 years. Minimum age to rent a car is usually 25 although some suppliers will consider 21 years of age all providing the hirer has a full licence of more than 2 years plus the paying of a young drivers supplement.

FINES

When in the UK you face heavy fines and licence endorsements for most offences.

DRINKING and DRIVING

Blood / Alcohol limit is 0.08%. An overnight stay in jail is mandatory if you are caught for this offence.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Police 999
Fire Service 999
Ambulance 999
Coast Guard 999

From a mobile phone dial 112 for all services.

PARKING

Parking meters, parking discs and "Pay and Display" systems operate in the streets. Car parks are common place and are the best solution on these crowded streets of staying legal. Wheel clamps and the impounding of cars are likely for illegally parked cars especially in large cities. Release fees are the largest in Europe. No parking is allowed where there are double yellow lines along the kerbside.

FUEL

Unleaded Super 95/98 are available. Diesel is available. Leaded fuel is not available. All motorway service areas are open 24 hours but charge more for fuel than non motorway filling stations. Supermarkets generally offer the lowest priced fuel.

MasterCarsDirect offers car hire in the following locations in the UK

Aberdeen Airport (ABZ), Aberdeen, Birmingham Airport (BHX), Birmingham, Bournemouth Airport (BOH), Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Edinburgh, Gatwick Airport (LGW), Glasgow Airport (GLA), London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Central London, Manchester Airport (MAN), Manchester , Newcastle Airport, Nottingham Airport, London Stansted Airport (STN) and many more locations in England, Scotland and Wales.