Car Hire in Hounslow

Part of our guide to car hire in the United Kingdom.

Driving and Parking in Hounslow: What You Need to Know

• Ultra Low Emission Zone: Hounslow is a London borough, and the ULEZ covers all London boroughs. It operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, and the M25 itself is not included. Petrol cars must meet Euro 4 and diesel cars Euro 6, and a vehicle that does not meet the standard pays £12.50 per day. Have the vehicle's V5C ready to check the registration at tfl.gov.uk, and ask the supplier at collection to confirm that your car meets the standard.
• Congestion Charge: The central London Congestion Charge is a separate scheme from the ULEZ and applies in the central zone. Kew Gardens, for example, is outside the Congestion Zone but inside the ULEZ. If your route continues into central London, check Transport for London's rules before you cross the boundary.
• Town driving: Hounslow sits beside Heathrow, and the M4 passes to the north at junction 4. The roads around the town carry airport, motorway and local traffic throughout the day, with frequent roundabouts and traffic lights, so give way to traffic already on the roundabout, which comes from the right, and drive on the left throughout.
• Parking: Town centre car parks include Montague Road West (TW3 1JZ), Montague Road East (TW3 1JY), Alexandra Road (TW3 1LX) and Bath Road (TW3 3BW), with a further car park at the Treaty Centre (TW3 3NU) on Grove Road. Most council car parks are free on Sundays, but check the signage first, because charges and time limits vary by car park. Never park on double yellow lines or in a bus lane.
• Toll roads: There are no toll roads in Hounslow. If your route continues east on the M25, the nearest charge is the Dart Charge at the Dartford Crossing, which applies from 6am to 10pm every day, with cars paying £3.50 pay-as-you-go or £2.80 with a Dart Charge account. Payment is due by midnight the day after you cross, and a missed payment results in a £70 penalty charge notice. Ask the supplier at collection how the Dart Charge is handled on your vehicle.
• Speed limits: Limits are in miles per hour: 30 mph in built-up areas unless signed otherwise, with 20 mph zones common on residential streets, 60 mph on single carriageways, and up to 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal.
• Best time to drive: Weekday commuter periods in the morning and late afternoon are the slowest times on the local roads and the M4 approaches. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are easier for reaching the motorway.
• Driving on the left: If you normally drive on the right, collect the car at a quiet time, take the first few minutes slowly and set the satnav before you move off. The driver's seat is on the right, and the most common mistakes are at roundabouts and when turning out of a car park onto a main road, so keep to the left and give way to traffic from the right.
• Train and car together: Hounslow Central, on the Piccadilly line, and Hounslow station in zone 5 are both close to the High Street. Many visitors take the Tube into central London and keep the car for Surrey, Berkshire and the Thames Valley, which avoids central London traffic and parking altogether.

Top Places to Visit from Hounslow by Car

• Kew Gardens — about 4 miles away, in roughly 10 to 15 minutes. The main car park is at Brentford Gate and Ferry Lane (TW9 3AF), with the Herbarium car park (TW9 3AE) opening as overflow on selected peak weekends. Spaces are first come, first served, and the charge is £10 per day, paid by card at the meter or through the PayByPhone app.
• Hampton Court Palace — about 6 miles south, in roughly 17 minutes. The palace (KT8 9AU) is on the A308 in East Molesey. Limited parking on site cannot be pre-booked and is charged, with payment by card at the touchscreen machines, so arrive early or book the palace tickets in advance.
• Windsor — about 12 miles west, in roughly 20 minutes. The long-stay car parks at Home Park Public and King Edward VII on Datchet Road, at Alma Road and at Alexandra Gardens are each less than a 10-minute walk from Windsor Castle, and the council describes them as the best-value all-day parking.
• Oxford — about 49 miles north-west, in roughly 57 minutes. The route leaves the London area quickly and suits a day trip to the city and the Cotswolds.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Hounslow?

Peak season: Demand rises over the school summer holidays, from late July to the end of August, and again around Christmas and Easter, when visitors arrive through Heathrow. Bank holiday weekends tighten availability in the same way, and the most popular vehicle classes are the first to go.

Shoulder season: Spring and autumn outside school breaks are steadier. Weekday availability is generally good, and day trips to Kew, Hampton Court and Windsor are easy to plan around the weather.

Low season: January, February and the quieter weeks of November are the least busy. Winter hires suit day trips and business travel, but allow extra time on the M4 on weekday mornings.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for school holidays and bank holiday weekends, and as soon as your dates are fixed for any hire that has to match a flight or a train arrival. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty if plans change, and the balance is paid at the desk on collection, so nothing is charged in full at the time of booking.

Before you drive away: Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, including all four sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior. Dated photographs give you a clear record of the condition you received, and they are the quickest way to settle any question about marks that were already there.

Fuel: Confirm the fuel type shown on your booking confirmation before you refuel, and ask at collection which fuel policy applies to your hire, so that you return the car as the supplier expects.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Hounslow

Payment is made in two steps. A rental prepayment confirms your booking online, with Instant Confirmation from the supplier. You then pay the balance directly to the supplier on arrival, when you collect the car.

The price and vehicle class shown at booking are the terms you receive at the desk. Because the full rental amount is not charged at the time of booking, you keep flexibility if your plans change, and cancellation is free.

The supplier may place an excess hold on the main driver's credit card at collection, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit. The amount is shown in your booking confirmation.

Car Hire Suppliers in Hounslow

Car hire in Hounslow is available through the following supplier.

• Green Motion

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Hounslow

Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.

• Hounslow Downtown