Cheap Car Hire & Rental Scotland

Scotland Driving Tips

Without doubt, Scotland has some of the most spectacular scenery of any country in the world. Driving is a good way to travel, but there are some things that you need to know when driving in a different country. As in England, drivers in Scotland are expected to drive on the left hand side of the road. The speed limits are as follows:

Motorways and Dual Carriage Ways – 70mph cars. 60mph cars towing a caravan.

Normal Roads – 60mph. Cars towing a caravan – 50mph.

Built up Areas – 30mph

The only times that the roads are likely to be congested are on major roads to and from large cities during rush hours ( 7.30 - 9.30 am and 4.00 - 6.30 pm)

There are many roundabouts in Scotland and the rule here is, when approaching a roundabout, give way to all traffic coming from the right and always enter the roundabout by turning left onto it.

In remote areas, most roads are single track with passing areas. When driving on these roads, the rule is that the first person to reach the passing area should stop and give way. Drive cautiously and courteously on these roads.

Traffic police regularly patrol the roads in Scotland in unmarked police cars and there are a lot of remote speed cameras. To stay on the right side of the law, always drive within the speed limit. All passengers in the car must wear a seat belt and children under the age of 12 who are less that 135cm / 4ft 5in tall must be in a child seat which is suitable for their age. When hiring a car, it is possible to hire child car seats at the same time.

Note that it is illegal to drive whilst using a mobile phone. When driving in the remoter parts of Scotland, be observant and watch out for stray sheep or other wildlife that could be grazing at the side of the road or have wandered onto the road.

Petrol stations in Scotland are generally open 24 hours a day. Petrol is sold by the liter.

Hiring a car in Scotland makes sense as it is the perfect way for you to see the country and be able to make stops to explore places whenever you want. There are many companies that will hire you a car: Avis, Europcar and Budget to name a few, but by far the quickest and most effective way to compare prices is to take a look at anycarhire.com. They will find you the best prices and give you a list from which to choose. Its booking made easy.

Emergency Service Phone Numbers in Scotland:

Police service 10022

Fire Service/Ambulance Service 112

Driving conditions 9 774 761