Car Hire Aberdeen Airport

Car Hire

Aberdeen Airport is situated five miles to the northwest of the city, in the suburb of Dyce. Buses run from the airport to Dyce railway station, which is around a 20 minute journey away. However, the main bus link terminates at 19:00. As the airport is situated on the main A96, hiring a car makes getting from the airport to destinations across the country easy.

Who to Book With
There are a number of car hire companies in the airport, including Avis, Hertz, National, Europcar and Enterprise. Although there are four terminals, there is only one main international terminal, Terminal 1, and this is where all car rental companies can be found.

Need to Know Essentials
In order to collect your rental car, you will need the following documents:

- A valid driver’s licence, both the photo ID and the paper section
- The credit card that was used to make the booking
- A passport and proof of address, such as a bank statement
- The booking reference number

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
The mountainous terrain means that travel can take a little longer across the winding roads, which should be navigated carefully. This is particularly true when travelling from the east of the country to the west. Traffic tends not to be a problem in the rural areas, but expect to experience heavy traffic in the city centres. Drink-driving is illegal in Scotland, with a zero tolerance policy strictly enforced. Prison terms and fines are not uncommon, so the best way to avoid any problems is to not drink any alcohol before driving.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving here.

Transport

Passengers can either hire a car and drive directly to the city centre or opt for the train. Trains do not run directly from the airport, with the nearest train station a 20-minute bus ride away. Bus service terminates at 19:00, meaning late arrivals usually have to resort to a taxi.

Trains
Dyce railway station is around 20 minutes’ drive away from the airport. Jet Connect buses run from 06:45 to 19:00 every 20 minutes, and a number of local services run later than this, although not as frequently. First ScotRail runs a twice-hourly service between the airport and the city centre, which ceases at 19:00. The bus costs around £2.70 for a single journey, while the train is around £2.10 one-way.

Taxis
Taxis at the airport are provided by ComCab and can be found outside Terminal 1. Fares increase between 19:00 and 07:00, and on bank holidays.

Taxi prices:
Aberdeen Airport to Peterhead is about £60
Aberdeen Airport to St Andrews about £145
Aberdeen Airport to Edinburgh city centre is about £230
Aberdeen Airport to Glasgow city centre is about £270

Buses
Long distance buses to numerous destinations run from the Guild Street bus station in Aberdeen. The Jet Service 727 runs from Aberdeen Airport to the station. From here, National Express, Scottish CityLink and Megabus all offer long-distance services across the country. The journey from Aberdeen to Edinburgh costs between £15 and £25 depending on how early you book a seat.

Facilities

Terminals
With only one main international terminal, it is fairly easy to get around Aberdeen Airport. As the second busiest airport in Scotland, it deals with an average of three million passengers a year. Aberdeen Airport has chartered flights to a number of destinations within the UK, including London and Manchester, as well as to a number of major European cities including Madrid and Paris.

Parking
There are both long-stay and short-stay car parks at Aberdeen Airport. Both are operated by APCOA and although they are a few minutes’ drive away from the terminal, courtesy coaches run 24 hours and take around two minutes to reach the terminal. The two-day minimum charge is around £20, with a further charge of around £10 for every day after.

Wi-Fi
A number of internet stations are available inside the main terminal in the Costa coffee shop, near Baggage Reclaim and also at gates 1 and 5. Payment can be made either by credit card or cash, in either euro or pounds sterling. Rates are £3 for 15 minutes, with a reduction in price the longer you use the internet. The wireless internet in Aberdeen Airport is provided by Boingo Wireless.

Information Services
The main information service can be found in Terminal 1, with two interactive information pods; one at the bus centre and another in the main forecourt.

Useful Numbers
Aberdeen Airport: +44 844 481 6666
Travel Call Centre: +44 870 608 2608

Accessibility
Assistance is provided for passengers with reduced mobility. Passengers can either call ahead to request assistance or head to the designated help spots. Theses spots are situated in the drop-off forecourt and in the short-stay car park. Assistance includes reserved seating and space for wheelchair users.

Restaurants and Bars
There is one coffee shop in Terminal 1. There is also The Granite City Pub, offering traditional Scottish cuisine. The Kitchen offers a number of quick bites such as sandwiches, along with some hot food options. Both of these restaurants serve alcohol, along with The Globe Pub, and all accept pounds sterling and Euro.

VIP Lounges
Terminal 1:
Serisair Executive lounge

Money and ATMs
There are five cash machines within Aberdeen Airport. All dispense pounds sterling, euro and US dollars. There are two ATMs located in front of the security gates and the remaining three are located between gates 2 and 3. There is also a foreign currency exchange desk found opposite the information booth in Terminal 1.

Shopping
There is a handful of shops in the main terminal, including a Tie Rack and a WH Smith, along with a number of duty-free shops where visitors can purchase perfume, traditional scotch whiskey and a number of other spirits, wines and beers.