Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental

Car and van hire in the UK

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is the vehicle rental division of the Arnold Clark Group, which presents itself as the UK's largest independent car retailer, with over 200 branches and an annual turnover of more than £3 billion. The rental service began in 1963 with a dozen cars and today has over 35 branches across the country, as well as airport pick-up points.

Fleet and rental options

The company has a national fleet of over 55,000 vehicles, including estates, people carriers and automatics. Its range distinguishes between car hire and multi-purpose van hire, and adds a specific dual control vehicle option for driving lessons, available in Huddersfield.

Highlights include long-term hire, with flexible packages for a month or more, weekend rates across the entire car range and a selection of luxury models recently added.

What's included in the price

The advertised price includes insurance and VAT, roadside assistance and unlimited mileage on rentals of four days or more, with no hidden costs. The company states that it offers fully comprehensive insurance as standard and that the minimum driver age is 25, with the option to hire from age 23.

Recognition and experience

The firm presents itself as a Which? Recommended Provider for car hire, an endorsement reserved for selected products and services. It has more than 60 years of experience in the industry and states that it is an accredited member of the BVRLA, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

Branch network and pick-ups

Its operations span cities and airports across Scotland and England. Branches include Aberdeen, Armadale, Ayr, Carlisle, Chesterfield, Cumbernauld, Dundee, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Elgin, Glasgow, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Motherwell, Newcastle, Nottingham, Paisley, Perth, Preston, Prestwick, Sheffield, Southampton, Stafford, Stirling, Sydenham, Warrington, Wolverhampton and York. Airport locations include Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Inverness, Manchester, Prestwick and Southampton. The company notes that it offers local pick-ups from hotels, train stations and airports.

Customer service and bookings

Bookings can be made by phone, live chat or email, and there is an enquiry form with an estimated response time of 24 hours. The reservations office is open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 08:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 09:00 to 17:00; live chat is available Monday to Saturday 08:30 to 16:30 and Sunday 09:30 to 16:30. Opening hours and contact details for each branch can be found on the locations page.

For complaints, the company first refers customers to the manager of the branch that provided the vehicle and, if the response is unsatisfactory, to head office. The process provides for acknowledgement within one working day and resolution within five working days for retail customers and ten for business customers. If the dispute persists, the BVRLA Conciliation Service can be used and, ultimately, the contract is governed by Scots Law.

Sustainability and payments

The company has launched a sustainability initiative aimed at carbon reduction. It accepts payment by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Location and contact

Phone: 0141 849 7170 · Email: rental.reservations@arnoldclark.com · Opening hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18:00; Saturday 08:00 - 17:00; Sunday 09:00 - 17:00