Looking for cheap car hire at Birmingham Airport? Whether you are flying into BHX for business, a city break or to tour the heart of England, getcarhire.com compares deals from the leading suppliers so you can find the right hire car at the right price. Car hire Birmingham Airport puts the UK’s second city and a brilliant touring base at your fingertips, sitting at the centre of the motorway network with the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Peak District all within easy reach.
Birmingham Airport is one of the busiest in the country, with all the major car hire brands gathered in a car rental village a short walk from arrivals. From there the M42, M6 and M5 fan out across the country, making car hire Birmingham Airport the natural choice for exploring the Midlands and beyond. This guide covers where to collect, what it costs, the truth about driving in the city, and the superb destinations on Birmingham’s doorstep.
Quick answer: Car hire at Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the easiest way to explore the Midlands and beyond. The airport sits around 8 miles East of the city centre, a 20 minute drive, with all major suppliers in the car rental village. Prices start from about £15 per day, and you can reach the Cotswolds scenic drives or Stratford-upon-Avon within an hour.
Car Hire Birmingham Airport at a Glance
| Airport code | BHX (Birmingham Airport) |
| Distance to city centre | About 8 miles East, a 20 minute drive via the A45 |
| Typical price | From around £15 per day, average £45 to £55 |
| Suppliers on site | All major brands in the car rental village by Car Park 4 |
| Best for | The Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and the Peak District |
| Driving in the city | Clean Air Zone inside the A4540; most modern hire cars comply |
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Collecting Your Hire Car at Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport (airport code BHX) makes collecting a hire car refreshingly simple. The major suppliers, including Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar and Sixt, have desks in the arrivals hall just past the duty-free zone, with the cars themselves in a rental village a short five minute walk away by Car Park 4. For terminal details, see the official Birmingham Airport website. Staff at the desks can point you the right way, and several brands offer skip-the-queue collection.
A few practical notes for cheap car hire Birmingham Airport. Bring your driving licence, a credit card in the main driver’s name and your booking confirmation. Book online in advance rather than at the desk, as pre-booked rates are far better, and you can collect your car hire Birmingham Airport and be straight onto the M42 within minutes. Fuel stations sit close to the airport exit, handy for returning the car full under a full-to-full policy.
How Much Does Car Hire at Birmingham Airport Cost?
Car hire at Birmingham Airport is excellent value, with prices from as little as £15 per day for a small car in quieter months and an average of around £45 to £55 per day across the year. As one of the UK’s busiest airports with a large car rental village, competition between car hire Birmingham Airport suppliers keeps prices keen, especially when you book ahead.
Season is the main driver of price. January and February are the cheapest months, while summer, from June to August, sees the highest demand as families head off on holiday. Booking around 1 to 2 weeks ahead typically secures the best rate, though for peak summer dates it pays to book earlier. The table below shows the seasonal pattern for cheap car hire Birmingham.
| Season | Demand | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Lowest | Best value, from around £15 per day |
| June to August | Peak | Highest demand, book early |
| Rest of year | Moderate | Good value, book 1 to 2 weeks ahead |
Driving in Birmingham: The Clean Air Zone
One practicality is worth knowing before you drive into the centre. Birmingham operates a Clean Air Zone covering the area inside the A4540 ring road, which charges older, more polluting vehicles a daily fee. The good news is that the vast majority of modern car hire Birmingham Airport vehicles meet the standards and are exempt, but it is always worth confirming with your supplier if you plan to drive into the city centre.
Beyond the Clean Air Zone, Birmingham is well served by motorways, though the city centre itself is busy with one-way systems that can catch out first-time visitors. Like many cities, it is often easiest to explore the centre on foot or by tram and save the hire car for the open road. That is where car hire Birmingham Airport really comes into its own, on the drives out to the countryside and historic towns nearby.
Choosing the Right Hire Car in Birmingham
For most visitors, a small or medium car is the ideal choice for cheap car hire Birmingham. Compact cars are economical, easy to park and simple to handle on the city’s ring roads and the country lanes of Warwickshire and the Cotswolds. Small cars are also the most popular and often the best value car hire Birmingham Airport category.
If you are travelling with family or luggage, a medium car or compact SUV offers more comfort for longer drives to the Peak District or further afield. When comparing car hire Birmingham Airport deals through getcarhire.com, filter by transmission, mileage and fuel policy. Choose a full-to-full fuel policy to avoid inflated refuelling charges, and check for unlimited mileage if you plan a longer tour.
Exploring the Heart of England from Birmingham
Birmingham’s greatest strength is its location. Sitting at the centre of England’s motorway network, it puts an extraordinary variety of destinations within easy reach, and a hire car is the key to all of them.
The Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon
Within an hour of the airport you can be in the honey-stoned villages of the Cotswolds, one of England’s most beautiful regions, passing through Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, on the way. Warwick, with its magnificent medieval castle, is even closer. This is classic English touring country, and it is tailor made for car hire Birmingham Airport.
The Peak District and Beyond
Head North and the Peak District National Park, with its dramatic dales and gritstone edges, is around 90 minutes away, a wonderful contrast to the gentle south and an easy drive with car hire Birmingham Airport. The historic city of Coventry, the Black Country Living Museum and the theme parks of Alton Towers and Drayton Manor are all within easy reach too, making Birmingham a brilliant base for a family trip.
Car Hire Birmingham Airport: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does car hire at Birmingham Airport cost?
Car hire at Birmingham Airport starts from around £15 per day for a small car in quieter months, with an average of £45 to £55 per day. January and February are cheapest, while summer is busiest, so book 1 to 2 weeks ahead, or earlier for peak dates, to secure the best value.
How far is Birmingham Airport from the city centre?
Birmingham Airport is around 8 miles East of the city centre, about a 20 minute drive via the A45. It sits right by the M42, making it easy to head straight out to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon or the Peak District without driving through the city.
Where do you collect a hire car at Birmingham Airport?
The major suppliers have desks in the arrivals hall just past duty-free, with the cars in a rental village about a five minute walk away by Car Park 4. Bring your driving licence, a credit card in the main driver’s name and your booking confirmation.
Is there a Clean Air Zone in Birmingham?
Yes. Birmingham has a Clean Air Zone covering the area inside the A4540 ring road, which charges older, more polluting vehicles. Most modern hire cars meet the standards and are exempt, but it is worth confirming with your supplier if you plan to drive into the city centre.
Can you drive to the Cotswolds from Birmingham Airport?
Yes. The Cotswolds are within about an hour of Birmingham Airport, passing Stratford-upon-Avon on the way. A hire car is the best way to explore the region’s villages and countryside, which are difficult to reach by public transport.
Is it cheaper to hire a car at the airport or in Birmingham city centre?
City-centre branches near New Street can sometimes undercut airport rates, but the airport has more suppliers and availability in one place. Compare both through getcarhire.com, factoring in how you will travel to the pickup point, to find the best deal.
Find Your Cheap Car Hire Birmingham Airport Deal
From a Midlands city break to a tour of the Cotswolds and Shakespeare country, a hire car is the key to the heart of England. Compare cheap car hire Birmingham Airport deals with getcarhire.com, collect your car a short walk from arrivals, and set off to explore Birmingham and the beautiful countryside beyond. Enter your dates below to see the latest car hire Birmingham Airport deals.