Car Rental at Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Compare car hire at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) from suppliers serving both the North Terminal and South Terminal. See the full price before you book, with no charges added at the counter beyond what is shown.

Quick Answer: Car rental desks at Gatwick Airport are located in both the North Terminal and South Terminal arrivals areas. You need a valid driving licence, a passport or national ID, and a physical credit card for the security deposit. Collection from off-airport depots is also available via complimentary shuttle. Book ahead — summer demand peaks sharply and popular vehicle categories sell out early.

Why Rent a Car at Gatwick Airport?

Gatwick sits 28 miles south of central London in West Sussex, with direct motorway access to the M23 and M25. For many journeys from the airport, a rental car is simply the most practical option.

The rail network from Gatwick is strong for central London, but it does not serve the South Downs, the Sussex coast, rural Surrey, or Kent without several changes. A car collected on arrival puts Brighton, Eastbourne, Lewes, Tunbridge Wells, and the Surrey Hills within straightforward reach — none of which are quick by train from the airport.

Business travellers heading to the M25 corridor or the financial districts of Guildford and Crawley will also find a car more practical than rail connections that require routing through London Bridge or Victoria.

Car Rental Suppliers at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick is one of the busiest car hire locations in the UK, served by major international brands and several UK-based operators.

• Hertz (N+S): Premium/standard
• Avis (N+S): Strong automatics
• Europcar (N+S): Wide range
• Enterprise (N+S): Mid-range fleet
• Budget (N+S): Economy; Avis group
• Sixt (N only): Electric + luxury
• National (N only): Business fleet

Off-Airport Suppliers (Shuttle Required)

Suppliers including Thrifty, Firefly, Goldcar, and Green Motion operate from depots near the airport. Complimentary shuttle buses connect both terminals to these depots. Transfer time is typically 10 to 20 minutes. Your booking confirmation will confirm whether a shuttle is required and where to board it.

Gatwick Airport Terminals: Where to Collect Your Car

Gatwick has two separate terminals — the North Terminal and the South Terminal — connected by a free monorail that runs every few minutes. The journey between terminals takes approximately two minutes.

Do not assume your rental desk is in the same terminal as your flight. Always check your booking confirmation for the exact collection point before you leave arrivals.

North Terminal

Car rental desks are on the ground floor of the arrivals hall. After collecting your luggage and passing through customs, follow the "Car Hire" signs. The rental car park is adjacent to the terminal building.

South Terminal

Car rental desks are also on the ground floor of the arrivals hall. If you arrive at the South Terminal but your rental supplier is based at the North Terminal — or at an off-airport depot — your voucher will direct you accordingly.

If in doubt, head to the terminal shown on your booking voucher first. The monorail between terminals is free and runs 24 hours a day.

Collecting Your Rental Car: Step by Step

1. Collect your luggage and pass through the arrivals gate as normal.
2. Follow "Car Hire" signs in the arrivals hall to the rental desk area.
3. Present your documents — driving licence, passport or national ID, booking voucher, and physical credit card.
4. Sign the rental agreement and note the fuel level and any existing vehicle damage before accepting the keys.
5. Photograph the car — walk around it and take timestamped photos of every panel before leaving the car park. This protects you against any disputed damage on return.
6. Confirm the fuel policy and ask the desk agent where the nearest petrol station is relative to your return route.

For off-airport suppliers, proceed to the designated shuttle bus stop — usually signposted outside the arrivals exit — and allow an additional 15 to 20 minutes for the transfer and desk process.

Driving from Gatwick Airport

Key Routes

To central London: Take the A23 north from the airport, then join the M23 to access the M25 at Junction 7. From there, follow the A23/A22 into south London. In normal traffic, central London is 45 to 60 minutes from Gatwick. The Dartford Crossing (M25) is a toll route — keep a card available or register for an account in advance.

To Brighton: Head south on the A23 directly from the airport. Brighton is approximately 27 miles and takes around 35 to 45 minutes on a clear run. The A23 becomes the A27 near Brighton, with good access to the seafront and marina.

To the South Downs: The South Downs National Park is accessible from several directions. Lewes is 20 miles southeast via the A275. Arundel is 25 miles southwest via the A29. Both are practical day-trip distances.

To Surrey and the M25 corridor: Join the M23 northbound and pick up the M25 at Junction 7. Guildford, Reigate, and Redhill are all within 20 to 30 minutes. The Surrey Hills AONB is accessible from the A25 east of Guildford.

To Kent and the South East: Take the M25 eastbound from Junction 7. Sevenoaks is around 25 miles, Maidstone 40 miles. The M20 provides access to the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone and the ferry ports at Dover.

Driving in the UK

Drive on the left. Speed limits are 30 mph in urban areas, 60 mph on single-carriageway roads, and 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Speed cameras are common on the A23 and around the M25.

The Dartford Crossing (paid) and the M6 Toll (if travelling north) are the only significant toll roads you are likely to encounter on journeys from Gatwick. Both accept card payment or can be paid online in advance.

Airport Desk vs Off-Airport Collection: What to Know

Both options have genuine advantages. The decision depends mainly on price sensitivity and time.

On-airport desks are inside the terminal buildings. You can walk directly from arrivals to the rental desk and be driving within 20 to 30 minutes of landing. There is no shuttle wait, no transfer time, and no additional uncertainty. However, on-airport rentals include a concession surcharge charged by the airport operator, which is passed on to customers. This typically adds a percentage to the daily rate.

Off-airport suppliers usually offer lower daily rates because they do not pay the airport concession fee. The trade-off is the shuttle transfer — typically 10 to 20 minutes each way — and the additional step of boarding a bus after a long flight. For rentals of several days or more, the saving can be meaningful. For short rentals or tight schedules, the convenience of an on-airport desk often outweighs the price difference.

Tips for Lower Car Hire Prices at Gatwick

• Book as early as possible. Gatwick is heavily used year-round. Prices rise sharply in July and August, over Easter, and during school half-term weeks. Booking several weeks ahead typically returns significantly better rates than last-minute searches.
• Pick up mid-week. Tuesday to Thursday pickups consistently undercut Friday and weekend rates at Gatwick. If your schedule has any flexibility, shifting your collection day by even one day can reduce the daily rate noticeably.
• Consider off-airport suppliers. For rentals of three days or more, the saving from an off-airport supplier can offset the shuttle inconvenience.
• Avoid adding extras at the desk. Child seats, GPS, and additional drivers are almost always cheaper when added during the online booking process than when requested at the counter on arrival.
• Check your return date carefully. A rental that runs even one day longer than needed is billed as an additional full day by most suppliers.

Vehicle Types Available at Gatwick

• Economy (Polo, Micra): Solo/couples; city & Brighton
• Compact (Focus, Astra): Small families; motorway
• SUV (Qashqai, RAV4): Families with luggage; rural/South Downs
• Automatic: Avoid manual; heavy traffic
• Electric (Tesla 3, Leaf): City/motorway; check charging
• People Carrier (Galaxy, Sharan): Groups 6-7
• Luxury (BMW 5 Series, E-Class): Business/premium

Automatic vehicles are available from most suppliers at Gatwick but inventory is more limited than manual. Book in advance — they sell out faster during peak periods.

Electric vehicles are increasingly available from Sixt and Europcar at Gatwick. Before booking an EV, check that your planned route has adequate charging infrastructure, particularly if you are heading to rural Kent or the South Downs.

One-Way Car Rental from Gatwick

One-way rentals — collecting at Gatwick and returning to a different location — are available with most major suppliers. Common routes include Gatwick to Heathrow, Gatwick to Manchester, and Gatwick to Edinburgh.

A one-way drop-off fee applies and must be declared and agreed at the time of booking. The fee varies by distance and supplier. Returning to an undeclared location is not permitted under most rental agreements and may result in additional charges.

If you are planning a one-way journey to another UK airport before a connecting flight, allow enough time for the vehicle return process, which typically takes 20 to 30 minutes including the return desk check.

Last updated: June 2026 | Reviewed by: CarRentalChoice Editorial Team

Supplier policies, terminal desk locations, and rental requirements may change. Confirm current terms with your supplier before travel.