Suggestions for car rentals in Edinburgh

**JohntheBiker** · 21st May 14, 06:02 AM

Car rental suggestions: Rent early. The sooner you rent the better the selection. Most rentals are standard. If that is an issue, then renting sooner is even more important.

I always recommend getting the full insurance package - try to save on this at your peril. Zero deductable beats a great big charge on your credit card.

You might also want to check on airport premium charges on car rentals. You can always rent in the city.

Good luck.

**Calgacus** · 21st May 14, 06:51 AM

It might be worthwhile me pointing out that in Scotland almost all cars have manual transmissions, i.e. a 'stick shift'. If you want an automatic transmission you should be sure to ask for it.

**sydnie7** · 21st May 14, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by JohntheBiker

Car rental suggestions: Rent early. The sooner you rent the better the selection. Most rentals are standard. If that is an issue, then renting sooner is even more important.

I always recommend getting the full insurance package - try to save on this at your peril. Zero deductable beats a great big charge on your credit card.

You might also want to check on airport premium charges on car rentals. You can always rent in the city.

Good luck.

Before you pop for the rental company's insurance, check with your credit card company. We also found a third-party rental car insurance policy that was less expensive than the rental company -- but that was for a longer stay.

**JohntheBiker** · 21st May 14, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Calgacus

It might be worthwhile me pointing out that in Scotland almost all cars have manual transmissions, i.e. a 'stick shift'. If you want an automatic transmission you should be sure to ask for it.

"Standard" transmission = manual transmission. You are absolutely right and rental agencies have precious few automatics, hence the comment on booking early.

**chasem** · 21st May 14, 08:25 AM

Here in the states it's the other way around, and I hate that. I've only ever driven a manual/standard and would love to keep it that way, but it's getting harder over here.

**JohntheBiker** · 21st May 14, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Before you pop for the rental company's insurance, check with your credit card company. We also found a third-party rental car insurance policy that was less expensive than the rental company -- but that was for a longer stay.

Credit card's can provide coverage, but rental agencies can require you to cover damage and or deductables and let you sort it out with your credit card's insurer after the fact. Need to read the fine print. I routinely use credit card coverage at home, never overseas.

**Alan H** · 21st May 14, 12:19 PM

What about the kilt? *puzzled*

I'm competing at four Highland Games, so I'll be wearing a kilt at those. My competition kilt is a weather MacNaughton in polyester-viscose. I'm looking forward to meeting up with Jock Scot at the Inverness Games, as I believe he's never seen a PV kilt before. With any luck at all, He and I and Creagdubh and our lasses can catch a meal together.

I'm taking two kilts on the trip. One, for competing or possibly for hiking. We'll be doing a lot of that. The other is for "dress-up" and I think the odds are fair to middlin' that it won't come out of the suitcase more than once or twice. One of those will likely be a pub crawl with Cessna152Towser and the lads in Hawick.

**Alan H** · 21st May 14, 12:22 PM

Thanks for the car rental tips, lads and lasses. Hertz it will be and I will specifically ask for an automatic transmission. I figure that driving on the other side of the road, when the wheel is on the wrong side of the car is enough of a challenge. I don't need to add in shifting gears with the wrong hand!

**sydnie7** · 21st May 14, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Thanks for the car rental tips, lads and lasses. Hertz it will be and I will specifically ask for an automatic transmission. I figure that driving on the other side of the road, when the wheel is on the wrong side of the car is enough of a challenge. I don't need to add in shifting gears with the wrong hand!

Yes, ask my sister about opening the driver's door in the middle of a roundabout whilst attempting to grab another gear. . . But it's not so bad. I did three weeks in a 6-speed MT minivan. At least the pedals are all in the correct place!

My mother and that sister are both left-handed, said that made it much easier to acclimate.

**Phil** · 21st May 14, 02:39 PM

The only car rental firm I have used here is Enterprise and I can recommend them. They have a few depots around Edinburgh - www. enterprise.co.uk - you can check their rates and they have a place at the airport.
If you are staying in hotels they all have hair dryers but as others have said things like straighteners will overheat. You should be OK with things like laptops, IPads, phones etc using an adapter.
Good luck with driving over here. Just remember that most roads are 2-way without a central reservation so you need to concentrate, especially at junctions. If you are driving into Edinburgh from the airport the first part of the road is dual carriageway but then deteriorates into a narrow, congested road through Corstorphine. With the advent of trams, driving in Edinburgh is a complete nightmare and something I avoid as much as possible.