London City Airport (LCY)
Best for: Begin an east London or onward road trip after landing
Walk to the named operator near the terminal; use the agreed vehicle-return facility.
London City Airport car hire beside the terminal
London City Airport car hire uses rental desks beside the terminal, with Avis in the Car Rental building reached by turning left from the main exit. Avis vehicle returns use the long-stay car park behind that building, with a separate terminal key box for agreed out-of-hours returns. Budget, Europcar and Hertz are also airport hire options. Green Motion uses a separate Royal Albert area branch, so check the actual collection point of the selected offer. LCY has a Docklands Light Railway station and a direct DLR trip to Bank; if the first days are central London, compare rail and later city collection with a car parked during that stay. An onward drive east or out of London may favour airport pickup after the terminal walk.
Editor: Ane
London City Airport at a glance
- Hire desks
- Car rental desks next to the terminal
- Avis collection
- Car Rental building outside terminal, left from main entrance
- Avis return
- Long-stay car park behind rental building
- Rail choice
- DLR from airport to Bank in about 21 minutes
Search London City Airport car hire beside the terminal
Search starts at London City Airport [LCY], with the same return location and GBP as the requested currency. Check the exact branch, collection instructions and full conditions in the selected offer.
Preparing live car hire search
Choose when to collect in London City Airport
London city branch after the DLR
Best for: Spend first days in the centre without a parked hire car
Take the DLR toward Bank, then collect later from a specific city branch.
Supplier collection arrangements
Selected airport rental operators and collection arrangements. Check availability in your search. Your selected offer and voucher identify the booked branch.
Car Rental building outside the terminal
- Avis London City Airport
Leave the main terminal entrance and turn left. Avis is the first desk inside the Car Rental building. Its return uses the long-stay car park behind the building, not the passenger forecourt.
Car rental desks beside the terminal
- Budget London City Airport
Avis and Budget are airport hire options. Confirm the exact desk and booked operating company before using any Avis-specific return procedure.
Car rental desks beside the terminal
- Europcar and Hertz London City Airport
These brands are among the airport hire options. Verify the individual offer for handover point, return car park and staffed times; the airport roster alone does not establish an Avis return bay for another brand.
London Regatta Centre, near Royal Albert DLR
- Green Motion London City Airport
This franchise branch is at the London Regatta Centre about three minutes on foot from Royal Albert DLR station. It is separate from the rental building by the LCY terminal. Confirm the booked transfer, collection hours and return address.
Find the booked desk beside LCY terminal
This is a short terminal-area walk, not a shuttle to a remote village.
For Avis, turn left from the main exit
The Avis desk is the first inside the Car Rental building outside the terminal when you leave by the main entrance and turn left. The airport hire desks are next to the terminal. Green Motion instead uses the London Regatta Centre near Royal Albert DLR. Match the brand on the offer before heading to a desk; a car category and London postcode do not identify the operating company. Allow time after baggage claim for licence, card and damage inspection. The car-return car park is a separate step, so save that location for the final day.
Choose a realistic collection time
The LCY terminal and rental branches have their own operating hours. Avis offers 24-hour drop-off, which is not a promise of round-the-clock vehicle collection. A late or delayed flight can cross a staffed counter close time even though the DLR or terminal remains accessible. Check the supplier late-arrival policy, flight details, original driving licence, payment card and any additional driver rules before paying. Where a selected offer uses another operator, use that operator specific directions.
Compare the DLR with immediate car collection
For a central London first stay, unused hire days and parking matter.
Use rail for the centre first
The airport DLR station connects to Bank in about 21 minutes. If the first address is in central London and driving starts later, compare that transfer and a named city branch with hiring at LCY for the whole stay. Include luggage, the route from Bank to accommodation, the later branch hours and any taxi leg. A London city booking is not an LCY airport pickup. The comparison changes if the first night is beyond London or the car will be used immediately.
Compare LCY and later city collectionHire at LCY for an onward drive
An immediate trip into Essex, Kent or another destination can justify airport collection. Set the real first address, parking arrangement and vehicle size before departure. London City Airport road access to Car Hire and long-stay areas can be approached from Connaught Bridge to the west or Redgrave Bridge and Albert Road to the east. A return from another airport needs an explicit one-way quote, not an assumption that any London branch can accept the vehicle.
Compare an onward UK routeNavigate to the rental car park, not passenger drop-off
The Avis LCY return has a specific parking area and key drop.
Follow the Avis car-park directions
Avis returns use the long-stay car park behind the Car Rental building. The first two rows on the right are its designated return area in the company return map. During staffed hours, take the keys to the office front desk. Save the current return map and agreement before the final drive; the passenger forecourt and short-stay pickup area have different access and charges. Leave time to inspect, unload and walk to the terminal after parking.
Use a key box only under your agreement
For accepted out-of-hours Avis returns, park in its marked long-stay area, lock the vehicle and place the key in the box inside the airport terminal. Record vehicle condition, fuel and parked position when safe, and retain the return evidence. Avis-specific instructions do not transfer to Europcar, Hertz or another company. Check whether the branch will accept your planned time and when your responsibility ends. A 24-hour drop-off label should not be read as 24-hour staffed pickup.
Price London driving and the rental together
LCY may save an arrival transfer but city charges can change the total.
Check deposit, cover and extras
Read the selected rate for the payable total, card hold, damage excess, fuel, mileage, extra drivers and child-seat charges. Verify the required driver licence and identification before reaching the desk. A third-party excess policy may leave the rental company security hold intact. An airport and city branch can carry different rates or opening hours, so compare the same dates, vehicle class and end point. Include hotel parking if the car will stay in London.
Estimate full LCY rental costCheck the car and actual route for London charges
TfL has separate ULEZ, Congestion Charge and tunnel rules. Its vehicle checker covers ULEZ compliance but does not settle the other charges. Ask for the assigned registration when available and check each planned route and date. Do not assume every London drive incurs every charge or that an illustrated rental model proves exemption. Include the cost of the chosen return airport or city branch; Arrange a different Avis return before the rental starts.
Check the car against ULEZ rulesChoose for passengers and London access
A larger class only helps if it fits the route and parking.
Measure the luggage decision
Count occupied seats, full-size cases, cabin bags, pushchairs and any child restraints. Choose a category with enough covered boot room and an accepted transmission preference. Inspect the assigned car at LCY: category photos do not guarantee a particular model or boot shape. For a short London trip, a compact car may fit parking better if it safely carries the party. For a longer onward drive, make sure the passenger space remains comfortable without stacking bags across rear visibility.
Check luggage fit for the London tripCheck the first parking entrance
London hotel garages, street restrictions and building approaches can change the practical size choice. Confirm any height limit before choosing an SUV or people carrier. For a centre-first itinerary, compare DLR and later rental rather than holding a vehicle during days it will not be used. A vehicle category does not grant a permit to enter restricted areas, and a low-emission label alone is insufficient for the exact registration check.
Leave London City Airport with a real destination
Docklands access differs from a central London rail trip.
Check the correct bridge and road approach
Car Hire and long-stay parking are accessible from Connaught Bridge in the west or Redgrave Bridge and Albert Road in the east. Navigate to the first accommodation or meeting, then check the route charging zones. A generic central London pin may send you through roads you do not need. If the first leg is solely into the centre, the DLR to Bank is a meaningful alternative. Keep enough time after collection to learn the vehicle controls before joining urban traffic.
Make the final branch explicit
LCY, Heathrow, Gatwick and London city branches are separate handback points. Enter the selected drop-off before comparing offers; Avis requires a different location to be arranged before the rental begins. Save the agreed car park entrance, key procedure and flight time separately. If the route changes, contact the operator rather than arriving unannounced at another desk. This matters particularly for an early LCY departure when the Avis office may be closed.
Check a London one-way returnLondon City Airport rental questions
Where are car hire desks at London City Airport?
Beside the terminal. For Avis, leave the main entrance and turn left to the Car Rental building; its desk is the first inside.
Where do I return an Avis hire car at LCY?
To the designated area in the long-stay car park behind the Car Rental building. Use the booked agreement and current branch directions.
Can I return an Avis car after hours?
For an agreed Avis after-hours return: park in its specified long-stay rows and place the key in the terminal drop box. Check your agreement.
Is the passenger drop-off the rental return?
No. The passenger forecourt and short-stay pickup area are separate from the Avis long-stay rental return.
Should I use the DLR before hiring?
For a central London first stay, compare the DLR to Bank and later city collection with the full cost of an LCY car and parking.
Will a hire car incur London driving charges?
It depends on the assigned registration, route, date and zone. Check ULEZ separately from Congestion Charge and any applicable tunnel charge.
Compare London City Airport car hire beside the terminal
Choose your dates and compare the total price, pickup arrangements and rental conditions. Check the branch and return plan before confirming an offer.
Search London City Airport car hire beside the terminal