Cheap car hire Manchester Airport deals start from around £8 a day, with every major supplier gathered together in the airport’s dedicated Car Rental Village. Book car hire Manchester Airport before you fly and pay far less than the walk-up desk rates quoted on arrival. Manchester is the largest airport in the North of England and the natural gateway to some of Britain’s finest driving country, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and North Wales are all within easy reach by road.
Getcarhire.com compares car hire Manchester Airport prices from Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Alamo and National in a single search. 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 at Manchester Airport Cost?
Cheap car hire Manchester Airport costs from around £8 a day for a small car booked in advance in the low season, rising to roughly £35 to £55 a day for a medium car in the summer peak. Booking early and choosing a smaller car is the surest way to the cheapest rate. The table below is a realistic guide for cheap car hire Manchester Airport booked online ahead of travel.
| Car class | Typical price (booked ahead) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small / Economy | From £8/day | City breaks, couples, low fuel costs |
| Medium / Estate | £25 to £55/day | Families, luggage, touring the North |
| SUV / 4×4 | £40 to £80/day | The Lakes, the Dales, winter trips |
| Premium / People carrier | £60 to £120/day | Groups, comfort, longer trips |
| Rates are indicative for cars booked online in advance and vary by season and supplier. Book early and travel outside the summer peak for the cheapest car hire Manchester Airport deals. | ||
The Manchester Airport Car Rental Village
Manchester Airport keeps all of its car hire in one place: the Car Rental Village, a dedicated facility beside the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 long-stay car parks. Rather than hunting for separate desks, you collect your bags, hop on the free shuttle bus that runs from all terminals roughly every 10 minutes, and arrive at a single site where every major supplier sits side by side.
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, National, Alamo, Hertz and Sixt are all based in the Village, which is open seven days a week, though individual operator hours vary, so check yours when you book. Having every desk together makes collection quick and, more usefully, makes it easy to compare what you have actually booked against the car you are given. Reserve online in advance through getcarhire.com and your car will be waiting when you arrive.
Getting Out of Manchester Airport: the Road Network
Manchester Airport sits about 9 miles south of the city centre and is exceptionally well connected by road, which is what makes car hire Manchester Airport such a strong base for a road trip. The airport feeds straight onto the M56 motorway, which links to the M60 ring road around Manchester, and from there to the M6, the spine of the North West. Central Manchester is around 20 to 30 minutes away depending on traffic.
That motorway access opens up the whole region quickly: the M6 runs north to the Lake District and south to Birmingham and the Midlands, the M62 strikes east towards Leeds and the Yorkshire Dales, and the A-roads south lead into the Peak District and on to North Wales. Few UK airports put so much varied driving country within such easy reach.
Scenic Drives from Manchester Airport
The real reward of car hire Manchester Airport is what it unlocks. Three of England’s most beautiful national parks, plus the mountains of North Wales, are all within a comfortable drive, making Manchester the ideal launchpad for a road trip in the North.
The Lake District (about 1 hour 45 minutes)
Straight up the M6, England’s most celebrated landscape of mountains and lakes is under two hours away. Windermere, Ambleside and the high passes of Wrynose and Hardknott reward a hire car like nowhere else in England. See our guide to the best scenic drives in the Lake District for the full routes.
The Peak District (about 1 hour)
The closest national park to the airport, the Peak District’s dales, edges and passes such as the Snake Pass and Winnats Pass make a perfect day out or a gentle first leg. Our Peak District scenic drives guide has the best of them.
The Yorkshire Dales (about 2 hours)
East on the M62 and north, the Dales offer rolling green valleys, dry-stone walls and classic touring roads like the Buttertubs Pass. A wonderful contrast to the rugged Lakes, and explored in our Yorkshire Dales scenic drives guide.
What You Need to Hire a Car at Manchester Airport
To arrange car hire Manchester Airport you usually need to be at least 21, though drivers under 25 normally pay a young driver surcharge and the widest choice of vehicles opens up at 25 and over. You will need a full driving licence, a second form of ID such as a passport, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit. If your licence is not in English, bring an International Driving Permit alongside it.
Check the fuel policy when you collect the car, full-to-full is usually cheapest, and inspect the vehicle for any existing damage, photographing anything you find before you drive off. A few minutes at the desk when you collect your car hire Manchester Airport booking saves disputes later.
Driving in the UK: the Essentials
The UK drives on the left. Speed limits are 30 mph in towns (sometimes 20 mph), 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, enforced by cameras. Seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants, and using a handheld phone while driving is illegal. Motorway service areas are frequent, and fuel is widely available. For official guidance, the UK government driving pages are the most reliable source.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire Manchester Airport
How much is car hire at Manchester Airport?
Cheap car hire Manchester Airport deals start from around £8 a day for a small car booked in advance in the low season, rising to roughly £35 to £55 a day for a medium car in summer. Booking early and travelling outside the peak gets you the lowest rates. Getcarhire.com compares all the major suppliers in one search with insurance and taxes included.
Where do you collect a hire car at Manchester Airport?
All car hire Manchester Airport bookings are collected from the Car Rental Village, a dedicated facility beside the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 long-stay car parks. A free shuttle bus runs from all terminals roughly every 10 minutes. Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, National, Alamo, Hertz and Sixt all have desks there.
What age do you need to be to hire a car at Manchester Airport?
Most suppliers require you to be at least 21, with a young driver surcharge for those under 25 and the widest choice of cars available from 25 and over. You will need a full licence held for at least a year, a second form of ID, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit.
What can you visit with a hire car from Manchester Airport?
Manchester Airport is the gateway to the North. The Peak District is about an hour away, the Yorkshire Dales around 2 hours, and the Lake District under two hours up the M6. North Wales and Snowdonia are also within easy reach, making Manchester one of the best UK airports for a scenic driving holiday.
Compare Cheap Car Hire Manchester Airport
From a quick city break to a full road trip through the Lakes, the Dales and the Peak District, Manchester Airport is the ideal place to pick up your car. Getcarhire.com compares cheap car hire Manchester Airport deals across all the major suppliers in one search, with insurance and taxes included and free cancellation on most bookings. Book before you fly, collect from the Car Rental Village, and the North of England is yours to explore.