Car Hire Dundee

Car Hire

Peacefully nestled on the river Tay's banks, Dundee is often referred to as Scotland's fourth city, but has just as much, if not more, to offer the tourists that visit it each year than its domestic rivals. This destination is often commended for the diversity of its attractions, with everything from the McManus Galleries, Discover Point and Scotland's highest Medieval-era tower, the Old Steeple, all possible to visit on the same day. Those that have arranged car rental in Dundee can also take the opportunity to visit points of interest located throughout the Scottish Highlands.

Who to Book With
There are plenty of well-known international car hire companies located in the centre of Dundee and on the local industrial estate, Kingsway Park. Enterprise, Thrifty Car and Van Rental, National Car, Avis and Europcar all compete for custom in Scotland's fourth-largest city, and booking online before heading north of the border often results in lower rates being paid by visitors.

Best Time to Go
The best time to visit is often regarded as the summer, as this when the climate is at its most pleasant and the nearby coastal towns or points of interest have the most suitable conditions for tourists. Visiting during summer requires advance bookings of accommodation or car rental, however.

Need to Know Essentials
When collecting a rental car in Dundee, you must present the following:

- A British driving license or international equivalent
- Photo ID other than the above
- The booker's credit card
- Printed confirmation of rental agreement

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Dundee is regarded as a driver's city, as visiting some areas of the destination really does require your own wheels. Although traffic can sometimes build-up in the area, congestion is nowhere near the level often experienced in the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Council-owned parking spaces can be found around the town centre, but many drivers often rely on private parking lots as a means of saving both time and money.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving in this country.

Transport

While the most ideal way of navigating Dundee is considered to be by driving, there are other travel options provided by the city's public transport network. Only buses and taxis are available for inner-city transport, as Dundee is without its own internal rail network.

Trains
Although, as mentioned above, Dundee is without an internal rail network, there are plenty of options when it comes to taking trains in and out of the town. Scotrail is the main supplier of services here, providing transport to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with average off-peak return tickets costing around £20 per person. Those that rely on East Coast services are able to travel to Dundee from London King's Cross, with stop-offs made at York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Travelling the full length of this line costs roughly £120 at the moment. Lastly, CrossCountry offers the UK's longest rail line from Penzance to Dundee.

Taxis
Taxis, which are scattered throughout the city centre, are mainly council-owned vehicles that stop and pick up passengers for metered fares throughout the course of the day. Private companies include 505050 Taxis, Tele Taxis and Dundee Taxis. Most of the time, these firms offer fixed fares for set destinations.

Buses
National Express and Stagecoach are the two main suppliers of bus transport around the city and to others in Scotland. There are currently 148 routes to choose from, running at most hours of the day.

Exploring

After having enjoyed all there is on offer in Dundee and its immediate surrounding areas, tourists with car rental can then start planning their trips out of the area. The most popular spots are in the Glens and the Highlands, with the likes of St Andrews, one of Scotland's oldest cities, accessible by a network of bypasses and motorways.

Recommended Drives

St Andrews - Home to Scotland's oldest university, is noted for being the home of one of the world's most famous golf courses. Those that aren't too interested in this aspect of the destination will still find many things to enjoy in this pretty seaside town.

Perth - Although not as famous as the Australian destination named after it, Perth, known as the Fair City, is still well worth visiting. This is definitely one for the historians, as Perth is more than 800 years old and a stone’s throw from Scone, the former capital of the country.

Edinburgh - Located a reasonably short distance south of Dundee when heading straight down the M90. Scotland's capital city is a popular New Year destination and the focus of European culture all year round, but particularly when the Fringe Festival is being held in August. The majority of visitors to the city head to the Old Town, which is laden with medieval attractions along the Royal Mile.