Self-Drive Car Rental in Birmingham, United Kingdom

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Choose from 76 pick-up spots

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There are 76 car hire providers in Birmingham. Check out the map below to find the most convenient pick-up spot.

Driving in Birmingham: What to expect on the road

Documents you'll need
A full licence, passport and credit card are required.
To rent a car in Birmingham, bring your driving licence, passport or ID, and a credit card. No International Driving Permit (IDP) is needed in Birmingham if your licence is in English and issued in the UK or EU.
Navigating city driving
Watch for roundabouts, roadworks and restricted turns.
Driving in Birmingham is straightforward but busy in parts. One-way streets and bus gates are common in the centre — use a navigation app to plan ahead and avoid routes with driving restrictions.
Tolls, emissions zones and charges
The Clean Air Zone affects some vehicles.
Birmingham has a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) that charges older, higher-emission vehicles. Check if your hire car qualifies. There are no toll roads within the city itself, but some bridges or motorways nearby may charge.
Parking your car in Birmingham
Parking is widely available but not free.
Street parking in Birmingham usually requires payment. Blue badge bays and short-stay zones are clearly marked. Multi-storey car parks and hotel parking offer better value if you're staying for more than a few hours.
Finding fuel or charging points
Fuel is easy to find — EV charging is well covered.
Petrol stations are common in and around Birmingham. EV charging stations in Birmingham are widely available — use Zap-Map or PlugShare to locate chargers near retail parks or city hotels.
Local driving style and tips
Driving is straightforward, but the city can get busy.
Roads in Birmingham are clearly marked and well monitored, with bus lanes and speed cameras across the centre. Take your time at roundabouts and watch for last-minute turns during peak hours.
Find Birmingham car hire deals

The most popular car rental companies in Birmingham

Choose from the best car hire companies in Birmingham

Hiring a car in Birmingham: Fast facts

Here's everything you need to know to hit the road happy.
Most popular car hire companyDrivalia
Most popular carCompact, 4-5 doors
Average daily price₹ 8,870
Best time to bookLess than 1 week before

How to book the best car rental deals in Birmingham

We’re frequently named as the most trusted travel search site out there. We scan hundreds of trusted travel providers and put it all in one place, allowing you to instantly compare car hire rates and then book with no fees. Here's how to get the most out of your Birmingham car rental search.

How to find a cheap car hire deal in Birmingham

  • Need a cheap rental car in Birmingham? With an average price of ₹ 8,870 a day, you're on the road to big savings. Whether you're wanting a compact ride, a family sedan, or something in between, we compare all the top deals to get you real value.

  • ₹ 2,496 is the cheapest daily price for a rental in Birmingham.

  • For longer trips, book a weekly rental from ₹ 8,741 and pack more sights into your itinerary.

  • If you want to time it just right, book around one week ahead to score the best price on a Birmingham car hire.

  • Green Motion, Drivalia and Alamo are among the top-rated providers in the city. They're a great starting point for comparing offers.

  • Whether you go with Green Motion or another supplier, make sure you understand the coverage on your Birmingham car hire. Some companies include a collision damage waiver (CDW), while others offer it as a paid add-on.

  • Consider booking a one-way rental. You might be able to score a good deal if the provider needs to relocate some of its vehicles. Discover the best available rates by selecting 'Return car to a different location.'

  • Save money on fuel by picking a vehicle with a 'Fair fuel policy.' You collect the car with a full tank and bring it back full, so you're only paying for what you use.

  • Hit every stop on your wish list by searching for rentals with 'Unlimited mileage.' Located under the 'Policies' filter, these rides let you go as far as you like with no extra cost.

Best value car hire options right now

  • The best value overall comes from this company, with average prices at ₹ 6,574 a day.

  • In second position is this provider, which offers daily rates of around ₹ 7,183.

  • The third option also shows up on the list of top-value suppliers. Drive off in one of their rentals for roughly ₹ 7,247 a day.

  • The Compact rental category is a solid choice if you can't decide what kind of wheels you need. It's also the car type that's rented the most in Birmingham.

Flying to Birmingham? Think about an airport pick-up

  • Make arrival day easier by booking a car hire at Birmingham Airport. If you're flying to Birmingham through this airport, simply collect your wheels after landing and go. The drive to the city centre is about 14 kilometres and takes around 25 minutes.

Compare car hire types in Birmingham

  • Small: Including classes like mini and economy, this cheap rental car in Birmingham puts you on the road for less. These zippy, fuel-efficient rides are good for city driving and short trips.

  • Medium: Choose from compact and intermediate cars that combine space, fuel efficiency and comfort. Easy to manoeuvre around cities and roomy enough for longer drives, they're well-suited to most travel needs.

  • Large: Offering a more comfortable driving experience and improved tech features, this Birmingham car hire category includes full-size cars. With roomier rear seats and ample storage space, they let you load up and transport everyone, and everything, with ease.

  • SUV: When the urge to explore hits, an SUV's all in. It's your perfect road trip buddy, ready for backroads, highways, and everything in between. These sports utility vehicles also promise extra space and improved safety features.

  • Van: Featuring options like commercial vans and trucks, this category of car for rent in Birmingham handles big loads and group travel with ease. They're tough, dependable, and ready for whatever task you throw at it.

Insurance and optional extras

  • Excess insurance covers the fee you'd have to pay if your Birmingham car hire is damaged or stolen. While not mandatory, you'll be glad to have it if something goes wrong. Keep in mind that insurance policies vary between providers, so make sure you know exactly what's included.

  • From GPS units to mobile Wi-Fi, the right extras can make every mile feel easier. Consider which features will help you make the most of your trip when you rent a car in Birmingham.

Good to know

  • The minimum age to rent a car in the United Kingdom is typically 21 years old. However providers may have their own rules, so always read your rental company's policy to find out what applies to you.

  • If the kids are tagging along, find out if you need to add a child car seat to your Birmingham car hire booking. Whether local laws require them or not, they're always the safest way for youngsters to ride.

  • Bring the right documents to make pick-up as quick as possible. You'll generally need your physical driver's licence (no electronic copies) and another form of photo ID. Bring a credit card with enough balance for the deposit too. If extra requirements apply, your booking will list them.

  • Driving in the United Kingdom may take some getting used to if it's your first time. Be aware that traffic travels on the left side of the road.

  • Keep within local speed limits of about 40kph in built-up areas and around 100kph on highways. Road signs will indicate if the limit is different.

  • A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08% applies in the United Kingdom. The only sure way to stay legal to drive is to skip the drinks.

  • Around 5pm is one of the busiest times for traffic around this destination. Try to avoid peak travel times generally for a more relaxed drive.

  • The British pound (GBP) is the currency you'll be using for everyday expenses and activities. Pay with a debit or credit card when you can, but have some cash ready when electronic payments aren't accepted.

Best hotels in Birmingham for drivers

  • Spend less time looking for a place to park and more time settling into the comfort of Domo Boutique Hotel Birmingham. About 2 kilometres from central Birmingham, it comes with parking, shuttle services and luggage storage.

  • Or make use of the accessible parking at Baloci. The city centre is roughly 3 kilometres from this option, which also features luggage storage and internet access.

  • Browse through the range of hotels in Birmingham for even more choices. Use the 'Parking,' 'Valet parking,' and 'Outdoor parking' filters to find exactly what you're after. You can even apply the 'Electric vehicle (EV) charging station' filter to limit results to EV-friendly stays.

  • After you've found a car hire deal in Birmingham and the right hotel, it's time to plan where to go first. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre and Bournville Experience are the perfect introduction to the city.

Hit the road: Where to drive to from Birmingham

  • Around 19 kilometres northwest of central Birmingham, Wolverhampton belongs on your itinerary. Make your way to must-see sights like Wightwick Manor and Gardens and Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

  • They've got hospitality down to a fine art at Redwings Lodge Wolverhampton Central and Barons Court Hotel, two reliable accommodation options with parking in Wolverhampton.

  • Add Milton Keynes to your journey too. Grab your cheap car hire in Birmingham and drive roughly 88 kilometres southeast to explore highlights such as Bletchley Park and Milton Keynes Theatre.

  • Milton Keynes has some comfortable places to stay such as Ramada Milton Keynes and Holiday Inn Milton Keynes - Central by IHG. Both give you somewhere to leave your car during your stay.

  • Still got fuel in the tank? Set out for Bristol, about 121 kilometres southwest of Birmingham. From Banksey to Clifton Suspension Bridge, it makes for a well-rounded adventure.

  • Next up: catching some z's. Mercure Bristol Holland House and Future Inn Bristol have room for both you and your wheels while visiting Bristol.

Frequently asked questions

On average, hiring a car in Birmingham will set you back around ₹ 8,870 per day or ₹ 33,664 per week. 
The cheapest car to rent in Birmingham is a compact SUV. The most popular is Compact, 4-5 doors.
The cheapest car hire companies in Birmingham are currently Wheego and U-Save.
Bagging the best car hire deal depends on when you book  – often, it pays to book your wheels as far in advance as possible. But according to our data, the cheapest month to rent a car in Birmingham is currently May.
On average, around ₹ 33,664. But the best price we found for car hire for a week in Birmingham is ₹ 8,741.
Based on everything we know about daily prices, the average cost to hire a car in Birmingham for a whole month is ₹ 257,086. 

But sometimes, you'll get a discount for booking a whole month instead of 3 and a half weeks. So play with your dates to find the best deals!
If you're looking for freedom to explore Birmingham, choose a car with unlimited mileage, or look for car hire deals with a ’full to full' fuel policy as opposed to a 'half-full to full' one.

We also clearly highlight car and van hire options in Birmingham that have free cancellation
Yes – you can easily find car hire companies that allow you to pick up your car in one place, and then drop it off in another. Just select ‘Return car to a different location’ when you search with us.
Public transport can only get you so far, and could be tricky to navigate with children or luggage. With your own set of wheels, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, for as long as you want. And you'll be able to discover more outside of Birmingham.
Most places – Birmingham included – allow under 25s to rent a car as long as they provide a valid driver's license and the correct documentation. It may cost slightly more due to a higher insurance excess for young drivers. 
The cheapest price we found for an economy car is ₹ 2,830 per day. The average price per day is around ₹ 12,866.
Of course. Most major car hire companies like Drivalia, Wheego and Green Motion offer baby and child seats as an add-on when you book.
Other travellers rated Europcar as the best overall in terms of experience.
Yes – van hire is available in Birmingham.