word choice - Which one is more British: "car hire" or "rent a car"?


I am wondering which one is more commonly used in the United Kingdom: car hire or rent a car?



Answer



In British usage (at least up to the last few decades)



  • "rent" is used for (real) property only: houses, flats, offices, factories

  • "hire" is used for any kind of moveable property: cars, costumes, marquees, glasses (for a party), scaffolding, chainsaws ...


("hire" is not used for people: rather "employ" or "engage").


I qualified this because American usage is now recognised here, and I would guess is used by some people.


But "car hire" and "hire car" are both common expressions still.


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