Car Hire Birmingham Airport

Car Hire

At just over five miles southeast of Birmingham, Birmingham Airport is within easy reach of the city centre. Situated directly next to a motorway, the airport offers simple self-driving to the city or surrounding areas. Surrounding cities, such as Wolverhampton and Coventry, are within easy reach with car hire in Birmingham Airport. A number of car rental suppliers are represented within the main terminal.

Who to Book With
Six of the largest international car rental companies have desks at the airport. Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Europcar, along with Hetrz and National, are represented. Pick up and drop off is within easy reach of the main terminal. All suppliers offer pre-booking of a wide range of vehicles.

Need to Know Essentials
Have the following documents to hand at vehicle collection:

- A current driver’s licence (both parts)
- The credit card which was used for the reservation
- A passport
- A phone bill featuring the driver’s address
- The booking confirmation number or email

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Rental cars in the UK are usually manual. If you are used to an automatic, ensure you request such a vehicle in advance. Speed cameras are a common feature of UK roads, with fines issued to anyone caught driving over the limit. Always be aware of your speed and of the limits in the area you are driving in. In the cities, roads tend to follow a one-way system and traffic congestion can add to journey times. There are no toll roads and motorways are well signposted. Petrol stations are common and all accept cash and card.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving here.

Transport

With a free air-rail link system connecting directly with Birmingham International Station, getting from the airport to the city’s main train station is easy. There are a number of bus services that connect the airport with Birmingham city centre, and when this service ends at around 23:00, visitors can take a taxi if they have not opted to hire a vehicle.

Trains
Birmingham Airport is connected directly to 100 towns and cities. There is the free air-rail link system that connects the airport with Birmingham International Station. The rail link operates between 05:15 and 02:00 daily. From Birmingham International Station, there are services to London, Wolverhampton, Manchester and Liverpool. However, services can be expensive if not booked in advance. Birmingham New Street Station, in the heart of the city, is a 10-minute rail ride away from Birmingham International Station and a one-way ticket costs around £3.30. Rail operators include Virgin Trains, CrossCountry X, London Midland, Arriva Trains Wales and Chiltern Railways.

Taxis
Black cabs operate outside of the main building 24 hours a day. They can each take five passengers and standard fares increase after 21:00. Call +44 121 782 3744 for more information.

Taxi prices:
Birmingham Airport to Coventry is about £30
Birmingham Airport to Birmingham city centre is about £40
Birmingham Airport to Wolverhampton is about £50
Birmingham Airport to Manchester city centre is about £160

Buses
There are three Network West Midlands bus services that connect the airport with the surrounding area. The 900 service runs to Coventry and Birmingham, while the 777 service runs to Hams Hall and Coleshill Parkway. The number 966 runs to Erdington and Solihull. The bus stop is on site at the airport terminal. The services do not run 24 hours. Fares vary but start from £1.25 for a single journey.

Facilities

Terminals
Birmingham Airport has one main terminal serving over eight million passengers each year. A number of airlines have scheduled flights to the airport, including Flybe, Monarch, Ryanair and Thomas Cook. These airlines and others fly to a number of cities in mainland Europe along with destinations in the US and Australia.

Parking
There are three car parks at Birmingham Airport. The short-stay and drop-and-go car parks are around a minute’s walk from the main terminal, while the long-stay lot is around a 10-minute walk away. Facilities cost from £4 per day, with discounts for long stays. Valet parking is also available at the front of the terminal.

Wi-Fi
There is free Wi-Fi throughout the airport which can be accessed using any device with Wi-Fi capabilities.

Information Services
The visitor centre is conveniently located next to Arrivals. Here, passengers can get information on local attractions and events. There are also a number of help points located throughout the airport, such as at the long-stay car park entrance and exit, at the air-rail interchange and at the terminal entrance.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +44 871 222 0072
Call Centre: +44 800 655 6470

Accessibility
Birmingham Airport has a number of facilities in place for passengers with restricted mobility. There are ramps throughout the terminal and wheelchairs can be provided upon request. There is disabled persons’ parking and priority boarding. For assistance, passengers should approach the help desks or call the service centre or their airline in advance.

Restaurants and Bars
There are a number of snack places, such as Café Nero, Prêt a Manger and Costa, where passengers can grab a quick bite to eat. There are also a number of restaurants for those with more time, with Frankie and Bennies and Wetherspoons both located in the main terminal. Both serve alcohol, as does Blank et Noir champagne bar.

VIP Lounges
No1 Traveller Lounge
Aspire Lounge by Servisair

Money and ATMs
There are ATMs located throughout the main terminal, next to Arrivals and Departures. Cash machines can dispense a range of currencies depending on which bank they are associated with. There are also a number of money exchange points throughout the terminal, at Arrivals and Departures.

Shopping
World Duty Free is the main shop for customers wishing to purchase duty free such as perfume, tobacco, alcohol and confectionery. There are also a number of branded shops, such as Superdry for clothing, Accessorize for jewellery and accessories, and Dixons for electronics.