One-way car hire, without the surprise fees.

How one-way car hire works

A one-way car hire lets you pick up a rental at one location and drop it off at another. Instead of driving back to where you started, you return the car at a different branch, city, or airport entirely. It is one of the most practical ways to cover a road trip route without retracing your steps.

When you search on a comparison site, you simply enter different pickup and drop-off locations. The results will show you which companies allow the route, what the total price is (including any one-way fee), and whether free cancellation applies. The process is the same as a standard booking — the only difference is the two locations.

Most major rental companies support one-way hires, though policies and fees vary. Some routes are very common (and very cheap), while others carry significant surcharges or are not available at all.

What does a one-way fee cost?

Same-country one-ways

Within the same country, many companies charge little or no one-way fee. This is especially true for domestic routes in large rental markets like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Companies such as Europcar and Hertz are among the most flexible in Europe, frequently offering free same-country one-ways across their network.

In the USA and Canada, within-country one-ways are commonly free with major companies including Enterprise, Hertz, and Budget. The fee — if there is one — is typically modest compared to international routes.

Cross-border one-ways

Taking a car from one country to another typically costs between £50 and £300 as a one-way fee, on top of the base rental price. The exact amount depends on the distance between locations, the specific countries involved, and the company’s policy.

Some routes are significantly cheaper than others. One-ways within Scandinavia or between the Benelux countries tend to be more affordable, while routes between Eastern and Western Europe often attract higher fees. You may also need to declare the countries you intend to drive through, even if they are not your final destination.

Cross-continent one-ways

Cross-continent one-ways are generally not available. You cannot drive a hire car from Europe to Asia, for example. Similarly, island-to-mainland one-ways — such as the UK to France — are rarely possible by car hire, since ferry or tunnel crossings add logistical complexity that most companies do not accommodate for one-way rentals.

Popular one-way routes

Some of the most commonly booked one-way routes include:

• London to Edinburgh — within the UK, often free or with a low fee
• Rome to Milan — within Italy, usually under £50
• Barcelona to Madrid — within Spain, commonly free with major companies
• Los Angeles to Las Vegas or San Francisco — within the USA, often free
• Auckland to Christchurch — within New Zealand, small fee or free

If your route is domestic and between two major cities, the chances of finding a free or low-cost one-way are good.

How to reduce one-way costs

• Compare across platforms — one-way fees vary significantly between companies, so searching a comparison site is essential
• Stick to same-country routes where possible — crossing a border almost always adds cost
• Choose major companies (Europcar, Hertz, Sixt) — they have more locations and more flexible one-way policies
• Book well in advance — one-way availability is more limited and fills up faster than round-trip inventory
• Check if the fee is per-rental or per-day — some companies charge daily, which makes longer hires significantly more expensive
• Consider two separate rentals — if the one-way fee is very high, it may be cheaper to return the first car and book a second rental at your destination

What to check before booking a one-way

Before confirming a one-way booking, make sure you have answers to these questions:

• Is the one-way fee shown in the total price? On comparison sites like DiscoverCars, the fee is usually included in the price you see, so you can compare fairly.
• Is cross-border travel permitted? If your route crosses a national border, confirm the company allows it and check whether additional fees apply.
• Are there mileage limits? Some one-way rentals come with a mileage cap. If your route is long, make sure unlimited mileage is included or that the cap is generous enough.
• What are the pickup and drop-off hours? Not all branches keep the same hours. Confirm that both locations are open when you need them, especially for early-morning or late-evening collections.