Cheap car hire Bristol city and Bristol Airport from just £10 per day, with convenient pick-up and drop-off locations available across the city and at the airport terminal. Whether you are flying into Bristol Airport, picking up in the city centre, or arriving by train at Temple Meads, car hire Bristol gives you the freedom to explore the city and the wider South West on your own terms. Bristol is the largest city in the region and the natural gateway to Bath, the Cotswolds, Cheddar Gorge, the Mendips and the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.
Getcarhire.com compares car hire Bristol prices from Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Alamo and National in a single search, for both city-centre and Bristol Airport pick-up. The price you see includes insurance and all taxes, with no hidden fees added at the collection desk. For driving information across the rest of the country, see our full UK car hire guide.
How Much Does Car Hire in Bristol Cost?
Cheap car hire Bristol prices start from around £10 to £17 a day for a small economy car booked in advance, whether you collect in the city or at the airport. The figure you pay depends on the season, how early you book and the size of vehicle, with the off-season cheapest and summer and school holidays the dearest. Booking around four weeks ahead usually secures the best rate.
For the cheapest car hire Bristol deals, book early, choose the smallest car that suits your trip, and pick a full-to-full fuel policy to avoid inflated refuelling charges. A small car is also the easiest to handle on Bristol’s busy city streets and the narrow lanes of the Mendips, the Cotswolds and the South West coast. Compare live car hire Bristol rates in the search box above for your dates.
Car Hire in Bristol City Centre
You do not have to use the airport to hire a car in Bristol. There are pick-up and drop-off locations across the city, including near Bristol Temple Meads station and the city centre, which are ideal if you live locally, are visiting on business, or arrive by train. City-centre car hire Bristol is popular with residents needing a vehicle for a weekend away, families heading to the coast, and visitors exploring the wider region.
When driving in the city, note the Bristol Clean Air Zone, which charges the most polluting vehicles to enter the centre; most modern hire cars meet the standard, but it is worth checking. Park in official city-centre car parks rather than on-street where possible. With convenient pick-up and drop-off locations available, collecting a car in the city is quick and easy.
Car Hire Bristol Airport
Car hire Bristol Airport is the busiest option, and the airport is the largest in the South West of England. Bristol Airport has a single terminal, with the main suppliers, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Alamo, National and Drivalia, based in the car rental area a short walk from arrivals, plus value operators such as Green Motion reached by a quick shuttle. Because all the desks sit together, collecting your car and getting on the road is fast.
Bristol Airport sits just off the A38, around 8 miles Southwest of the city centre, a drive of roughly 25 minutes. The A38 connects to the M5 for Devon and the South West, and the M4 for Bath, London and South Wales. Booking car hire Bristol Airport in advance is far cheaper than the walk-up desk rates quoted on arrival, so compare deals before you fly.
Bristol: Your Gateway to the South West, Devon and Cornwall
Bristol’s central position is what makes hiring a car here so rewarding. Within an hour you can reach the World Heritage city of Bath with its Roman Baths and Georgian crescents, Cheddar Gorge and the cathedral city of Wells in the Mendip Hills, the golden-stone villages of the Cotswolds scenic drives, and Cardiff and South Wales over the Severn bridges.
Push South West on the M5 and within two hours you reach the beaches and moors of Devon and Cornwall, two of the most beautiful driving destinations in Britain. Bristol truly is the gateway to the South West, and few cities open up so much varied countryside so quickly. For inspiration and full routes, see our scenic drives guides for the Cheddar Gorge scenic drive, the Exmoor scenic drives, the North Devon scenic drives and Cornwall, all within easy reach of your Bristol hire car.
What You Need to Hire a Car in Bristol
To hire a car in Bristol, whether in the city or at the airport, you will need a full driving licence held for at least one year, a credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit, and photo ID such as a passport. Most suppliers require drivers to be at least 21, and drivers under 25 may pay a young-driver surcharge. If you hold a non-UK licence, bring your passport and, where required, an International Driving Permit.
UK licence holders should generate a DVLA share code in advance so the desk can view your driving record. Bring your booking confirmation, and read the fuel and insurance terms before you sign so there are no surprises. With everything ready, collecting your cheap car hire Bristol booking takes only a few minutes.
Driving in and around Bristol: the Essentials
The UK drives on the left. Seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants, using a handheld phone while driving is illegal, and strict drink-drive limits apply. In Bristol itself, watch for the Clean Air Zone, bus lanes and busy one-way systems in the centre, and use official car parks. Once out of the city, the fastest routes follow the M4, M5 and major A roads, while the most scenic run along narrow rural lanes through the Mendips, the Cotswolds and the coast.
Speed limits are 30mph in towns unless signed otherwise, 60mph on single carriageways and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways. On narrow country lanes, use passing places and keep your speed down. Full guidance is on the UK government driving pages (opens in new tab).
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire Bristol
How much is car hire in Bristol?
Cheap car hire Bristol starts from around £10 to £17 a day for a small economy car booked in advance, whether you collect in the city or at Bristol Airport, with the yearly average nearer £40 to £80 a day depending on season and vehicle. Booking about four weeks ahead and choosing a smaller car secures the best rates.
Can you hire a car in Bristol city centre rather than the airport?
Yes. There are car hire pick-up and drop-off locations across Bristol, including near Temple Meads station and the city centre, as well as at Bristol Airport. City-centre pick-up is ideal for residents, business visitors and anyone arriving by train rather than by air.
Where do you collect a hire car at Bristol Airport?
Most car hire suppliers at Bristol Airport are based in the car rental area a short walk from the single terminal’s arrivals hall, with a few operators reached by a quick shuttle. All the desks are close together, so collection is fast once your paperwork is ready.
How far is Bristol Airport from the city centre?
Bristol Airport is about 8 miles Southwest of Bristol city centre, just off the A38, a drive of roughly 25 minutes. Bath is around 50 minutes away, Cheddar Gorge and Wells about 40 minutes, and the Cotswolds and Cardiff roughly an hour.
What do you need to hire a car in Bristol?
You need a full driving licence held for at least a year, a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit, and photo ID such as a passport. Most suppliers require drivers to be 21 or over, and under-25s may pay a young-driver surcharge. UK licence holders should bring a DVLA share code.
Compare Cheap Car Hire Bristol
Car hire Bristol combines low prices, every major supplier, convenient city and airport pick-up, and an unbeatable position for exploring the South West. Whether you are a local needing a car for the weekend, a visitor arriving at Temple Meads, or flying into Bristol Airport on your way to Bath or the Cornish coast, a hire car turns the whole region into your playground. Book early for the cheapest car hire Bristol rates.
Compare cheap car hire Bristol deals from all the leading suppliers in the search box below, with convenient pick-up and drop-off locations available, insurance and taxes included, and no hidden fees. Find your best price and start planning your South West road trip today.