Looking for cheap car hire at Stansted Airport? Whether you are flying into STN for a London city break, a trip to Cambridge or to explore the countryside of East Anglia, getcarhire.com compares deals from the leading suppliers to find you the right hire car at the right price. As one of London’s busiest airports and a major budget gateway, Stansted offers some of the keenest car hire Stansted Airport rates around, and sits perfectly placed for the M11 corridor North to Cambridge and South to the capital.
All the major car hire brands operate from the Car Rental Village beside the airport, a short free shuttle ride from the terminal, with the M11 just minutes away via the A120. That puts London, Cambridge and the historic towns and coast of Essex and Suffolk all within easy reach, making car hire Stansted Airport a smart choice for exploring the East of England. This guide covers where to collect, what it costs, driving into London and the best destinations nearby.
Quick answer: Car hire at Stansted Airport (STN) is the easiest way to reach London, Cambridge and East Anglia. All major suppliers are at the Car Rental Village, a free shuttle from the terminal. Prices start from around £13 per day, and you can be in Cambridge in 45 minutes or central London in about an hour via the M11.
Car Hire Stansted Airport at a Glance
| Airport code | STN (London Stansted Airport) |
| Location | Rural Essex, on the M11 (Junction 8) via the A120 |
| Distance to London | About 35 miles South, around 1 hour via the M11 |
| Typical price | From around £13 per day, average £40 to £58 |
| Collection | Car Rental Village, free shuttle from the terminal, every 10 minutes |
| Best for | Cambridge, London, the Essex countryside and East Anglia |
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Collecting Your Hire Car at Stansted Airport
Stansted Airport (airport code STN) gathers the major suppliers, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, Alamo and Sixt, at the Car Rental Village on Coopers End Road, just beside the airport. A free shuttle bus runs from the terminal forecourt every 10 minutes and takes around 5 minutes, with some suppliers also reachable via a short courtesy transfer. See the official London Stansted Airport site for details. The village is open 24 hours with a key drop box for out-of-hours returns.
A few tips for smooth cheap car hire Stansted Airport. Bring your driving licence, a credit card in the main driver’s name and your booking confirmation, and if you hold a UK licence bring your DVLA check code. Book online in advance for the best rates, as Stansted’s budget profile makes pre-booked deals especially good value. The nearest fuel stations are at Birchanger Green Services by the M11 and A120 junction, ideal for a full-to-full return.
How Much Does Car Hire at Stansted Airport Cost?
Car hire at Stansted Airport is excellent value, with prices from around £13 per day for a small car and an average of £40 to £58 per day across the year. As a major budget airline hub with all the leading suppliers competing at the Car Rental Village, car hire Stansted Airport consistently offers some of the lowest rates of the London airports, especially when you book ahead.
Season is the main factor in price. January is typically the cheapest month, while summer and the December holidays see the highest demand. Booking around 1 to 2 weeks ahead usually secures a good rate for cheap car hire Stansted, though for peak dates it pays to book earlier. The table below shows the seasonal pattern.
| Season | Demand | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| January and winter | Lowest | Best value, from around £13 per day |
| Summer and December | Peak | Highest demand, book early |
| Rest of year | Moderate | Good value, book 1 to 2 weeks ahead |
Driving from Stansted to London and East Anglia
Stansted Airport sits about 35 miles North East of London in rural Essex, connected to the M11 by the A120 at Junction 8. For the capital, head South on the M11 to the North Circular, allowing around an hour depending on traffic. Stansted itself is well outside any congestion zone, but central London has both a Congestion Charge and the ULEZ, so many visitors park on the outskirts and take the train in, though most modern hire cars meet the ULEZ standard.
Heading the other way, the M11 North leads straight to Cambridge in around 45 minutes, while the A120 opens up the Essex countryside and coast. This is where car hire Stansted Airport really earns its keep, on the drives out across East Anglia that public transport reaches only slowly and indirectly.
Choosing the Right Hire Car at Stansted
For most visitors a small or medium car is the ideal choice for cheap car hire Stansted, economical, easy to park and well suited to both London traffic and the country lanes of Essex and Suffolk. Compact cars are the most popular and best value car hire Stansted Airport category. For families or longer drives into East Anglia, a medium car or compact SUV adds comfort and space.
When comparing car hire Stansted Airport deals through getcarhire.com, filter by transmission, mileage and fuel policy. Choose a full-to-full fuel policy to avoid inflated refuelling charges, check for unlimited mileage if you plan a longer tour, and book an automatic in advance if you need one, as manuals are standard in the UK.
Exploring Cambridge and East Anglia from Stansted
Stansted is the natural gateway to the East of England, with the capital to the South and the historic cities and gentle countryside of East Anglia to the North, and car hire Stansted Airport is the key to all of it.
Cambridge and the East
The jewel within reach of car hire Stansted Airport is Cambridge, around 45 minutes North up the M11, with its world-famous university, riverside colleges and punting on the Cam. Beyond it, East Anglia opens up: the cathedral city of Ely, historic Norwich, and the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate and Audley End House all make wonderful days out by hire car.
The Essex Countryside and Coast
Closer to the airport, rural Essex rewards exploring, with the medieval wool town of Thaxted and its windmill, ancient Hatfield Forest and Mountfitchet Castle all nearby. Further afield lies Constable Country on the Essex and Suffolk border, the landscape that inspired the painter, along with the historic town of Colchester and the Essex coast around an hour away on the A120.
Car Hire Stansted Airport: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does car hire at Stansted Airport cost?
Car hire at Stansted Airport starts from around £13 per day for a small car, with an average of £40 to £58 per day. January is typically the cheapest month and summer the busiest, so booking 1 to 2 weeks ahead, or earlier for peak dates, secures the best value.
Where do you collect a hire car at Stansted Airport?
Most suppliers are based at the Car Rental Village on Coopers End Road, beside the airport, reached by a free shuttle bus from the terminal forecourt every 10 minutes. The village is open 24 hours. Bring your licence, a credit card in the main driver’s name and your booking confirmation.
How far is Stansted Airport from central London?
Stansted is around 35 miles North East of London, about an hour by car via the M11 and North Circular depending on traffic. The Stansted Express train also runs to central London in around 50 minutes, but a hire car is far better for exploring Cambridge and East Anglia.
Can you drive to Cambridge from Stansted Airport?
Yes. Cambridge is around 30 miles North of Stansted Airport, about a 45 minute drive up the M11. A hire car is the easiest way to reach Cambridge and the wider East of England, including Ely, Norwich and the Suffolk coast.
Is car hire cheaper at Stansted than other London airports?
Often, yes. As a major budget airline hub, Stansted tends to offer some of the lowest car hire rates of the London airports, with small cars from around £13 per day. Booking in advance and comparing suppliers through getcarhire.com secures the best value.
Do you pay the ULEZ or Congestion Charge from Stansted?
Only if you drive into central London. Stansted Airport and rural Essex are well outside the zones. Most modern hire cars meet the ULEZ emissions standard, but the London Congestion Charge still applies in the centre, so check before driving in.
Find Your Cheap Car Hire Stansted Airport Deal
From the bright lights of London to the ancient colleges of Cambridge and the gentle countryside of Essex and Suffolk, a hire car is the key to the East of England. Compare cheap car hire Stansted Airport deals with getcarhire.com, collect your car at the Car Rental Village, and set off to explore the capital and East Anglia at your own pace. Enter your dates below to see the latest car hire Stansted Airport deals.