Airport Car Hire: Less Than 1 Month
Guide last reviewed: July 2026
For trips under a month, traditional daily or weekly car rental at the airport terminal is almost always your best option. Here's how the major UK airport rental brands compare, including our partner, Green Motion.
Holiday Extras
Book airport parking, hotels and airport lounges in advance and save versus turning up on the day.
Compare Holiday Extras deals → Affiliate link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Compare Short-Term Rental Companies
Green Motion
Our partner for short-term hire, with a growing hybrid and EV fleet.
Green Motion is an independent rental network with a strong focus on lower-emission, hybrid and electric vehicles, alongside standard petrol/diesel fleet, at competitive daily and weekly rates.
Affiliate/partner link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Avis
One of the largest global rental brands.
Avis is a long-established global rental brand with a wide vehicle range, from economy hatchbacks to vans and premium cars, and a large presence across UK airports.
Affiliate/partner link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Europcar
Strong one-way rental options across Europe.
Europcar is a major European rental brand, well suited to trips where you want to pick up at one UK airport and drop off at another, or continue into mainland Europe.
Affiliate/partner link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Enterprise
Known for customer service and competitive weekly rates.
Enterprise has a reputation for strong customer service and is frequently competitive on price for weekly hires, with a large UK-wide network including most airports.
Affiliate/partner link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Hertz
Global brand with premium and prestige options.
Hertz is a long-established global rental brand offering everything from economy cars to premium and prestige vehicles, with a presence at most major UK airports.
Affiliate/partner link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Sixt
Newer fleet, popular with business travellers.
Sixt is known for a newer fleet and premium/luxury vehicle options, and is a popular choice for business travellers hiring from UK airports.
Affiliate/partner link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Hints & Tips for Short-Term Airport Hire
Book ahead, not on arrival
Prices for walk-up rentals at UK airports are typically 30-60% higher than pre-booking online, even a day in advance.
Check whether the desk is on-terminal or off-site
Many UK airports now consolidate rental desks in a dedicated rental village reached by shuttle bus, adding 10-20 minutes to your journey - factor this into tight connections.
Photograph the car before you drive off
Time-stamped photos of all four sides, the roof and the dashboard mileage/fuel gauge protect you against disputed damage claims at return.
Watch the fuel policy
Full-to-full (return with the same fuel level you received) is normally cheapest; "full-to-empty" pre-purchase fuel deals rarely save you money unless you'll genuinely run the tank dry.
Purple Parking
Pre-book meet-and-greet or park-and-ride airport parking at UK airports, often cheaper than on-site car parks.
Find Purple Parking prices → Affiliate link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Frequently Asked Questions
Is a subscription cheaper than daily rental for a 3-week trip?
Usually not - traditional daily/weekly rental from brands like Avis, Green Motion, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz or Sixt remains the most cost-effective option for anything under about four weeks. Subscriptions and flexi-leases tend to become better value from one month onwards.
What's the difference between the companies listed here?
All six are full-service rental brands available at UK airport terminals or nearby rental villages. Green Motion is our partner and focuses on lower-emission fleets; the others (Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz, Sixt) are longstanding global brands with slightly different strengths in fleet age, one-way rental flexibility and loyalty schemes.
What should I check before booking short-term airport car hire?
Confirm the fuel policy (full-to-full is usually cheapest), whether the desk is inside the terminal or requires a shuttle to a rental village, the excess/deposit held on your card, and whether your own insurance already covers collision damage waiver so you're not double-paying.