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Unbeatable car hire, in partnership with Avis and Budget
Book your car hire with British Airways, and enjoy brilliant benefits. Whether you’re looking for a convenient holiday rental or the ultimate road trip transportation, find the car for your holiday here.
Hire a car and enjoy great rates and flexibility, with a choice of vehicle types, as well as various pick-up and drop-off locations. Enjoy peace of mind, knowing that all mandatory charges are included – with the added reassurance of 24-hour customer support and roadside assistance.
Save money when you create a flight + car package for your fly-drive adventure. Extra benefits when booking an Avis car guarantee a worry-free car hire experience – including fast-track priority service counters for Avis Preferred customers and more.
Our top car hire offers
Your holiday, your way
Create the ultimate road trip with our customise your trip tool. Start and end your journey wherever you choose and manage all your flights, hotels and car hire to fit around you and your perfect holiday.
Car hire benefits
You can now choose and book your car rental with both Avis and Budget, providing a wide range of cars at over 5,000 locations worldwide.
With no hidden costs, all mandatory charges are included.
24-hour support
Roadside assistance and 24-hour customer support as standard.
Plan your trip
Avis Preferred
Join Avis Preferred and collect 1,000 bonus Avios on your first Preferred rental. Additional benefits include fast track priority service counters, upgrades and rental offers.
Find out more
Pay Local
If you are looking for more flexibility with your rental and would prefer to pay locally for your car, use the link below.
Book pay local
Car hire extras
Pre-book your car hire extras and you'll make collecting your car that bit quicker when you arrive too. You can choose Premium Cover for added protection against those unexpected eventualities. You can guarantee the infant and child seats you require are there waiting for you. Or you can be better prepared to navigate your trip, whether that's adding GPS or Wi-Fi, winter tyres or snow chains, or selecting an additional driver so you can share longer drives. You can also earn Avios on Premium Cover and any car exras booked.
Premium cover
For complete peace of mind we offer Premium Cover including Super Collision Damage Waiver to reduce your excess, or to protect and support you in the event of an accident or vehicle breakdown. Or Super Theft Protection if your vehicle is stolen.
Child seats
Infant and child seats are guaranteed when you pre-book. We offer options suitable from birth to four years, and booster seats for those up to 12 years.
Winter products
If you're anticipating some wintry weather on the roads, or you're driving to the slopes, get prepared and pre-book before you go. Winter tyres are required by law during certain times of the year and snow chains can offer an extra level of reassurance. A ski or snowboard rack may come in useful too.
Handy extras
You can pre-book GPS sat navs or mobile Wi-Fi so you can avoid roaming charges. The Roadside Safety Net covers non-mechanical mishaps like having a flat tyre. Or you can add additional drivers so you can break up the journey and enjoy a stress-free rental.
Avis and Budget Safety Pledge
Our car rental partners, Avis and Budget, are committed to getting you on your way quickly and safely. As part of their relentless commitment to keeping customers and employees safe, they are taking measures to ensure rental locations are safe for all:
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Picking up your vehicle with minimal contact
Keeping vehicles clean and safe
- Every vehicle is carefully cleaned before every rental
- Using specific approved disinfectant
- Special attention is paid to steering wheels, indicators, dashboards, hand grips, in-car entertainment controls, cup holders, centre consoles, and all door handles both inside and out
Returning your vehicle safely and preparing it for the next renter
- When you leave the vehicle, please check that you have removed all your belongings, personal effects, and rubbish
- The vehicle will then be cleaned again, ready for the next rental
- A paper receipt will be available if required
- Otherwise, your receipt will be emailed to you or you can retrieve your invoice online 36 hours after your rental
Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answer to your common queries below. Or contact us for more information
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What do I need with me when collecting my rental car?
Each driver needs to present :
1. A full, valid driving licence in English (held for 12 months or more) from their country of residence. This should include both photo and paper parts of the licence where applicable *see note below
2. A credit card in their name (for deposit and excess)
* For UK residents, in June 2015, the paper counterpart to the UK driver's licence was abolished. If you're collecting a car from a UK depot/rental location, you won't require the paper counterpart, the DVLA 'Share Driving Licence' online code or a downloaded summary of your driving licence record - the photocard will be sufficient. However, if you're collecting a car from an overseas depot/location, for peace of mind Avis and Budget recommend you do take the DVLA 'Share Driving Licence' online code or a downloaded summary of your driving licence record. Please visit the DVLA's website for more information and advice.
If you still hold a paper driving licence issued before the photocard licence was introduced in 1998, you will be able to collect your vehicle with this so long as you have photographic identification too i.e. a passport.
How do I add a second driver to my car hire booking?
Additional drivers can be booked and paid for at the same time as your car rental on ba.com. Alternatively, you can arrange this directly with the depot on collection (the charges for the second driver will be payable locally). The second driver will need to present a full driving licence and credit card in their name on collection of the vehicle. A minimum age restriction may apply to second drivers, which varies by depot; please contact us for more information.
If you are a member of the British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus, you are entitled to a free second driver with all pre-paid Avis car rental booked via ba.com or over the phone with us. Simply provide your Executive Club or Iberia Plus account number at the time of booking – we do not require the name of the second driver and you do not need to book this on ba.com. The second driver does not need to be an Executive Club member, however they will need to present a full driving licence and a credit card in their name, on collection of the vehicle. Where applicable, a young driver surcharge may apply. If you have an existing booking and you didn't provide your Executive Club account number at the time of booking, please call to let us know that you require a free second driver added and we will arrange this for you.
Please note that the free additional driver does not apply to Budget car rental.
Do I need to include details of additional passengers when booking car hire?
No. If you are booking car hire only (without flights), we only require the name of the first driver. Please see above for guidance on additional drivers.
I'm booking pre-paid car hire and notice the words 'or similar' after the car type - what does this mean?
The term 'Or Similar' is used because the vehicle you are allocated may not be the exact make and model as the vehicle displayed. However, it will be from the same car group, meaning that it will be comparable in size and performance to that vehicle.
The actual vehicle you are allocated will depend on the makes and models available at the time within the car group you request. If we are unable to provide a vehicle in your requested car group, we will provide a vehicle from the next available car group up at no extra charge.
Do I have to book my car hire in conjunction with a flight?
You may book car hire with or without a British Airways flight.
Please be aware that if you book your car separately to your flight, the depot will not be aware of your flight information. In the unlikely event of a flight delay, you will therefore need to call the 24 hour In-Resort number on your voucher, so that we can advise the depot of your progress. Alternatively, please contact us prior to travel and we can inform the depot of your flight details.
How do I book one-way car rental?
If you require stand-alone car hire i.e. you do not require flights or any other ground arrangements, search for car rental using the 'create a trip' form here. Tick the 'Returning to a different location' field. If a one-way rental fee applies, this will be included within the price quoted to you.
If you require flights and other ground arrangements with your car, use the 'Customise your trip' link from our home page. This will enable you to book one-way car hire and if a one-way rental fee applies, this will be included within the price quoted to you.
If you require just flights with your car, it is possible to book one-way rental if you are arriving into and departing from different airports. Use the multi-city link from the home page to select your flights then add car rental to your booking - the system will allow you to select different depots for collection and return. If you are arriving into and departing from the same airport, it is currently only possible to book one-way rental if the duration of the car hire differs to the duration between the flights. Once you've selected your flights, follow the links to add car hire to your booking.
Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to arrange one-way car hire if the duration of the car hire matches the duration between the flights, for example, a Flight + Car package.
Is it possible to cross country borders with a hire car?
Some countries will not allow you to cross their borders with a hire car. Please check this when you collect your vehicle. Alternatively, please contact us to confirm before you travel.
Where can I find details of excess charges with my car rental?
Excess fees vary considerably according to vehicle type, destination and even depot. They are shown with the inclusions when booking your car on ba.com and also on the Excess Information section of your voucher.
I have rented a car from London Heathrow Airport. Which terminal do I collect it from?
There are two Avis/Budget depots at Heathrow Airport – one at Terminal 5 and one that services Terminals 1 to 4 via a shuttle bus.
If you book car hire from Heathrow Airport, by default, the system will book collection from Terminal 5. However, if you book a BA flight at the same time as your car, the depot will use your flight information and assume that you wish to collect your car from the terminal you fly into e.g. if your BA flight arrives into Terminal 4, your car will be ready for you to collect at the Terminals 1 - 4 location even though your pre-paid voucher will show Terminal 5.
If you do not book a BA flight at the same time as your car, you can choose which depot you collect your car from. We recommend you check the depot opening hours - in the event that the Terminal 5 depot is closed, you can use the Terminals 1 - 4 location. We do not need to know in advance which terminal you wish to collect the car from.
Avis/Budget Terminal 5 opening hours are 0500 - 0000. Avis/Budget Terminals 1 - 4 location is open 24 hours.
Avis/Budget also offer a facility for customers to collect their rental cars from Terminal 2. However, a charge of approximately £19.99 (subject to change without notice) will be applied should you wish to take advantage of this Terminal 2 depot - payment for this charge will need to be made directly to the depot when collecting your car. You do not need to notify us in advance should you wish to collect your car from this depot, even if your pre-paid voucher shows collection from Terminal 5. Simply visit the Terminal 2 depot and staff will be able to assist you.
I have rented a car from London Gatwick Airport. Which terminal do I collect it from?
All British Airways flights at London Gatwick use the South Terminal.
There are two Avis/Budget depots at Gatwick Airport – one at the North Terminal and one at the South Terminal. However, all car rental depots at the North Terminal are currently closed for major renovation works. Therefore, please proceed to the Avis/Budget depot at the South Terminal to collect your car, regardless of which terminal you arrive into and which depot you booked. A complimentary shuttle service runs every few minutes between terminals. From the North Terminal, simply follow signs for the South Terminal.
Am I able to collect/drop off my hire car outside of the depot’s normal opening hours?
When making your booking, car availability will only be offered to you if the depot is open for your requested pick up and drop off times. In the event that you do not see any availability, this could mean that the depot is closed – try alternative pick up and drop off times. We are unable to organise collection/drop off outside the depot’s opening hours, but some depots offer a 'drop box' to enable you to return the car and keys out of hours. Check directly with the depot when collecting your car to see if they offer this service.
We recommend that you book your car and flights together in one transaction – this will ensure the depot receive your flight details. If you book your car separately, the depot will not know your flight information. Therefore, in the unlikely event of a delay, you will need to call the 24 hour number on your voucher so that we may advise the depot of your progress.
I have an existing car rental booking, can I add a car seat or GPS etc?
Yes, however we will need to cancel your existing car and rebook it which will result in it being re-priced at today’s rates. Any increases in price will be passed on to you in addition to the applicable amendment fee, whilst decreases will be refunded to you less any applicable cancellation or amendment fees as advised at time of booking. If the price changes significantly, we could keep your existing booking and ask the supplier to add a request for the additional item (although special requests are always subject to availability). If the item is then available for you on collection, you would pay the additional charges locally.
I have an existing car rental booking, can I remove a car seat or GPS etc?
Yes, however we will need to cancel your existing car and rebook it which will result in it being re-priced at today’s rates. Any increases in price will be passed on to you in addition to the applicable amendment fee, whilst decreases will be refunded to you less any applicable cancellation or amendment fees as advised at time of booking.
Why can’t I request a car seat?
You can now confirm and pay for car seats when booking your car rental on ba.com, so the option to ‘request’ car seats is no longer needed and has been removed.
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Terms and Conditions
General
Correct as of March 2020
All prices promoted on ba.com/avis are in Australian Dollars and are based on Group A car size and drivers aged 30-70. Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply.
General
Car rental durations are based on a 24 hour clock. Minimum rental age and standard British Airways terms and conditions apply. Driver must present a full valid driving licence (both parts if new style UK paper/picture card version; International Driving Permit if the driver’s licence is written in non-Roman alphabet e.g. Greek / Arabic etc.).