Car Hire Edinburgh
Rent a Car in Edinburgh
McNicoll’s Car Hire in Edinburgh is now handled by our parent company, Avis Budget Group, whilst we concentrate our business efforts on retail and commercial van hire in Edinburgh.
Avis Budget Group offers a range of small, medium and large cars to cater for your needs, with both manual and electric transmission vehicles available, and large cars able to seat up to 7 people.
Whether you wish to hire a car in Edinburgh for business or for pleasure, all of Avis Budget Group’s cars are available on short and long term rental periods. The cars also adhere to the LEZ (low emission zone) requirements so there are no nasty surprises when driving through these areas.
With hundreds of makes and models available, Avis Budget Group can tailor a car hire package to suit your needs at very competitive rates.
With a local car hire branch in Edinburgh, they are known for providing quality cars and a stellar rental service. Each year, they provide thousands of car rentals to both residents throughout the city and to visitors from across the globe.
Explore The City With AVIS® Car Rental
Check out the selection of cars available to rent from AVIS® branches throughout Scotland.
You can find the following AVIS® branches across Edinburgh:
- 24 E London Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4BQ
- 45 Lochrin Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9RB
- Omni Greenside Row Level -2 Multistory Carpark, Edinburgh, EH1 3AN
- 175 Jubilee Rd, Edinburgh Airport, EH12 9DN
Rent a Car in Edinburgh & Explore Scotland
If you’ve never been to Scotland before, then you’re in for a treat! By taking advantage of affordable car hire in Edinburgh, you can explore the beauty of Scotland by road. With scenic drives down the A9 to the Scottish Highlands or the A82 to Glen Coe and Fort William, you can discover the breathtaking natural landscapes of Scotland whilst heading to your chosen destination.
With an abundance of castles, waterfalls, lochs and historical sites to visit, not to mention the many hiking opportunities to take advantage of, there’s so much to enjoy in Scotland.
Rent a car in Edinburgh and head to Inverness to see if you can spot the infamous Nessie whilst taking in the spectacular views of Loch Ness and the Highlands. Discover more about the mystery, myths and legends at the Loch Ness Centre at Drumnadrochit.
If you’re a confident driver, then you may wish to embark on the North Coast 500 – a 516 mile drive around the coast, starting at Inverness, which usually takes a week to complete.
Discover the breathtaking scenery Scotland has to offer on a Scottish road trip.
Take a stroll down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Places To Visit in Edinburgh
If you’re looking for somewhere closer to Edinburgh to visit, then why not check out the medieval Old Town of Edinburgh. Walk through the bustling cobbled streets and narrow alleyways before taking a stride down the Royal Mile where you can find many iconic buildings, such as Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
If you’re staying in the city at one of the many hotels and guest houses, then you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do in Edinburgh, from shopping to dining out. If you like a tipple, there are plenty of distilleries to visit during the day. Once night falls, Edinburgh’s diverse nightlife offers everything from DJ sets and live music to comedy clubs. Or if you prefer a quieter, relaxing environment, there’s plenty of cosy bars that offer this too. There’s something for everyone!
No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without having seen the Kelpies in Grangemouth. Along the way, why not stop off at the majestic ruins of Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Blackness Castle is also nearby and offers a wonderful view of the Firth of Forth. For fans of Diana Gabaldon’s time-travelling romance novels, both of these locations were featured in the first season of the TV adaptation of Outlander. There’s plenty more Outlander tourist spots to be found within a short driving distance of Edinburgh too!
Hire a car for a week in Edinburgh and explore what Scotland has to offer.
Car Parking in Edinburgh
If you need to park your hire car during your trip to Scotland, then it’s important to know where the nearest car parks are.
There are numerous private multi-storey car parks dotted around Edinburgh. NCP and Q-Park operate a few of these. There are also many street parking bays in the heart of Edinburgh that offer pay and display parking.
Please make sure to check the signage in the area or car park you use to avoid any nasty surprises. If incorrectly parked in a council-run spot, you may receive a PCN (Parking Charge Notice) of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within the first 14 days).
To abide by Scottish legislation, you must also avoid parking on pavements, double parking, parking at crossing points and parking on verges that lie between the road and pavement or risk being fined.
Driving in Edinburgh and Scotland
It’s important to understand the laws of the road and the highway code, not only in central Edinburgh but Scotland in general.
Speed limits in Edinburgh vary from 20mph to 40mph. Many of the streets in Edinburgh, across the city, are limited to 20mph as the centre itself can be quite busy, especially during rush hour. If you’re visiting from abroad, you may find our roads narrower than what you are used to driving on. We also drive on the left-hand side of the road so please make sure to remember this at all times. Some of the roads in the city, such as the A90 dual carriageway, increase the limit as you leave the centre and enter the countryside. Pay attention to any road signage that will alert you to changes in speed limit. Speed cameras are positioned at many popular and busy road sections throughout Scotland.
National speed limits for Scotland are 60 mph for single carriageways and 70 mph for dual carriageways and motorways. However, please take note of the signage on the roadside which should indicate whether the national speed limit for that road is in effect or if there’s an alternative, lower limit, such as the 40 mph limit on the A90 in Edinburgh city centre.
The weather in Scotland can be quite rainy and, between November and March, there can be snow so please take care when driving in poor weather conditions.
Using your mobile phone whilst driving is against the law in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Scotland also has a zero tolerance policy on taking illegal drugs and driving as well as there being a drink-drive limit. The best advice to take is that if you’ve been drinking alcohol, do not drive.
If you need to contact the emergency services at all during your stay in Scotland or the UK, be it the ambulance for medical assistance, fire brigade or police, the number to call is 999.
If you require accident and emergency medical assistance, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh hospital is located at 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA.