London has many public transport options, and most tourists do not drive in the city. Not only is there limited parking and a lot of congestion like in any other city, but in London, you also have to deal with driving on the left side, which is not always easy. If you choose to drive in London, here’s what you need to know about the required documents, congestion issues, basic rules of the road, and of course how to find parking.
Handling requirements
There are several legal requirements in place for getting behind the wheel in London: abide by them or risk being fined.
Checklist for driving in London:
Driver’s License – You must have a valid driver’s license to drive in the UK and non-UK driver’s licenses are acceptable for up to 12 months from the first time you entered the UK.
Passport – Almost all car rental companies require a passport or some form of official photo ID to rent a car. Some companies also ask to see proof of UK address (hotel confirmation) and travel documents (i.e. airline tickets confirming date of departure from the UK).
Insurance: UK law requires a valid motor vehicle insurance certificate. If you are renting, verify that all drivers are properly insured under this agreement and that you have all the necessary documentation.
International Driving Permit – An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not officially required for US license holders driving in the UK, although some car rental companies do require it, so it is recommended.
Rules of the street
Driving in London is not easy. If possible, visually familiarize yourself with road signs in advance. You can find images of many of them here, and this summary covers the key rules:
- Driving on the Left Side – Drive on the left side of the road at all times. You may want to consider getting a vehicle with an automatic transmission to make the transition a bit easier.
- Seat belts: must wear seat belts at all times.
- Mobile phone – As in the US, using a mobile phone while driving is illegal throughout the UK (except in emergency situations by dialing 112 or 999).
- Speed Limits – Speed limits are listed in kilometers (1 mile = 1.61 kilometers). On some roads, there are speed cameras to enforce speed limits.
- BAC: The limit for blood alcohol content is the same as in the US (0.08%).
- Crosswalks: London is very busy so watch out for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Yield to pedestrians at marked zebra crossings (white stripes painted across the road, further marked by striped posts topped with round, flashing yellow lights). In addition to zebra crossings, cars rarely slow down to allow pedestrians to cross the street, which is very dangerous, as many tourists come out onto the street looking in the wrong direction of traffic.
- Bike Lanes: Be on the lookout for bike and bike lanes. Always look before you open your car door.
- Bus Lanes – Bus lanes are indicated by a thick white line painted on the road. During certain hours they are reserved for buses, London licensed taxis, motorcycles and bicycles. From Monday to Sunday, from 7 pm to 7 am, any vehicle can use the lane.
- Yellow Box Junctions – Yellow box junctions are indicated by yellow criss-cross lines painted on the road. They are usually found at intersections of four roads or in front of fire stations and ambulances. Drivers cannot “lock the box” and stop within the yellow box crossing as they are designed to allow traffic through to avoid traffic jams and / or to give way to emergency vehicles. Penalty Notices (PCN) will be issued to drivers who do not follow the rules.
- Congestion charges: if you drive in central London during peak hours during the week (from 7 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday), you must pay upfront daily congestion charge of £ 11.50 per day. This can be paid online, by automatic payment, or by phone, and if you don’t pay, you will be fined. Congestion zones are marked with a white sign that shows the letter “C” in a red circle. You can read more about it here.
- Freeways – On freeways, there is no express lane and the left lane should only be used to pass another vehicle.
- Roundabouts: traffic circles or roundabouts are very common: traffic flows in a clockwise direction; yield to oncoming traffic from your right; and use your pointers to point left on your way out.
- Fuel – Gas is called petrol in London, and you will also find diesel at fuel stations. The pumps are generally green for gasoline (gasoline) and black for diesel.
- In an emergency: call 112 or 999 to request emergency services (police, fire and ambulance). If you are part of a traffic accident in which someone is injured or there is damage to a vehicle or property, you must stop.
- Tolls: There is only one toll in London, that in Dulwich, located in a private section of College Road. All cars have to pay the £ 1.20 toll in cash or by card. Find out more here.
- Traffic: Avoid driving in London during rush hour, which runs from 6 to 10 a.m. in the morning and 4 to 6:30 p.m. at night.
- For more information on London traffic laws and regulations, see the official Highway Code.
Parking in London
Street parking in London can be very difficult to find. Always check street signs carefully to avoid fees as there may be time limits or residency permit required. Often times, the streets have parking restrictions between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. Many streets have a pay and display system, where you buy a ticket from a nearby machine and display it in your car to avoid getting a parking ticket.
Also, be sure to check the yellow and red lines along the sidewalk, which basically means there is no parking. Yellow lines control waiting. The red lines essentially mean that you should not stop at any time and you can see signs that designate these “red routes.” You can read more about them here. Failure to follow these rules may result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
To avoid street parking, try designated parking. Qpark has parking lots on the edge of congestion zones, including at Park Lane / Marble Arch; Queensway; Knightsbridge; Pimlico; Wood of San Juan; Tower’s bridge; and church street. They have a total of 18 parking spaces and costs vary by time of day and location.
London traffic
Like any major city, traffic is a problem in London. You can see a monthly breakdown of planned jobs here, as they are expected to have an impact on transportation, including driving. It is always a good idea to have an alternate route in mind if your route deviates without warning. Always allow extra time.
The TfL (Transport for London) also publishes live status updates, including road closures and delays. You can also check the state of the roads planned for the weekend and other future dates. Traffic in London is exceptionally bad around public holidays (i.e. before Christmas) and public holidays (public holidays when most businesses are closed).
Should you rent a car in London?
Barring special circumstances (such as mobility problems), renting a car in London is not highly recommended. There is a lot of public transportation, including the subway, subway (above-ground train lines), and buses, as well as taxis and ride-sharing apps. However, London is widespread, and as you move away from the busy city center, public transport connections become more separated and a car may end up being a decent option. Also, as the UK rail network is expensive outside of London and trains don’t always go where you want them to go, some tourists end up renting a car in London to travel further out into the countryside.
Whatever your reason for renting a car, make sure you’ve read our top tips for driving in the UK.
Tips in London
