For expats & new arrivals
Car hire when you are new to the UK
Yes — if you have recently moved to the UK and have no UK credit history, you can often still hire a car. Short-term rental relies on ID and affordability rather than a domestic credit file, which is exactly what newcomers lack at first. Getting a quote involves no credit check.
Check my options →Updated August 2026
Arriving in the UK, you face a chicken-and-egg problem: you need a car to settle in, but you have no UK credit history yet, and finance lenders cannot score you. Short-term hire breaks that loop, because it does not depend on a credit record you have not had time to build.
No UK credit file? That is normal at first
A clean overseas history simply does not show up on UK credit checks, so finance scoring treats you as a blank — and usually declines. Hire is different: with valid ID, a driving licence the partner accepts, and evidence the monthly is affordable, newcomers can frequently be matched.
Which licence can I drive on?
Whether you can drive on your existing licence or need a UK one depends on where you are from and how long you have been here. Tell us your situation in the enquiry — we will match you to a partner whose policy fits, and they confirm the licence requirements before anything is agreed.
Facts & figures
The bigger picture
Source: FCA Financial Lives 2024, 2024
Source: DVLA / GOV.UK, 2025
Source: Finance & Leasing Association, 2025
Check your options in 60 seconds
No credit check to get a quote, and no obligation. Tell us what you need and the right partner is usually in touch the same working day.
- ✓ No credit check to quote
- ✓ Free & no obligation
- ✓ Flexible 6–36 months
Enquiry saved — but you’re not done yet.
An enquiry isn’t an application. We can’t confirm a vehicle, a price or a delivery date until your application is in — so this is the step that actually gets you on the road.
Next step · about 5 minutes
Complete your application to get a vehicle fast
It’s pre-filled from your answers, only your latest bank statement is needed to submit, and it still never touches your credit score.
Continue to my application →No credit check · No obligation · ~5 minutes
Leave it for now and a partner may still be in touch — but you’ll get real options faster by finishing your application.
Common questions
I just moved here and have no UK credit — can I hire?
Often yes. Hire relies on ID and affordability, not a UK credit history, so being new to the country is far less of a barrier than with finance.
Can I drive on my foreign licence?
It depends on your country and how long you have been in the UK. The supplying partner confirms which licences they accept.
Will applying hurt a credit score I am trying to build?
No. Getting a quote involves no credit search, so it will not affect any UK credit file you are starting to build.