Car Hire Coventry

Car Hire

Peacefully situated in central England's West Midlands, Coventry has an abundance of superb museums and outstanding architecture whilst being surrounded by vast areas of scenic countryside that are best explored by arranging car hire. With a rental vehicle, other cities in this part of the country can also be enjoyed.

Who to Book With
Visitors to Coventry have seven car rental companies to choose from. Companies conveniently located in the town centre include Thrifty, Europcar, Alamo, Eagle, Hertz, Avis, National, Budget and Enterprise. Making online reservations with these companies before heading to Coventry usually reduces the standard hire rates.

Best Time to Go
The summer months that run from June to August are the busiest in Coventry, as this is regarded as the best time to head to the destination. In late August, when the football season is in full swing, tourists are advised to book car hire and hotels weeks in advance if the local football team will be playing at the home stadium.

Need to Know Essentials
Bring the following when collecting a rental car:

- A valid driving license
- Photo ID other than the above
- The credit card used by the booker
- Printed confirmation of the rental

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Coventry city centre is easy to drive around, and the city is linked to various key roads, such as the M1 and the M6, as well as bypasses including the A45 and the A46. These roads give great access to the rest of the UK. Those wanting to park in the town usually to rely on the convenient Park and Ride facilities rather than waste time touring around looking for a street-side spot.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving in this country.

Transport

Touring through Coventry and to other spots around the town centre is definitely more convenient for visitors who have arranged car rental. Without that form of transport, however, tourists to Coventry will have to rely on either taxis or buses to take them around.

Trains
Although Coventry is without its own network of inner-city trains, the railways can be used to get passengers in and out of the town. Virgin Trains is the main operator of the services in this part of the country, and there are trains available to either London or Birmingham at least every hour or sometimes more often. A standard off-peak fare for a return ticket costs around £41 for an adult at present.

Taxis
Black cabs, which can be flagged down anywhere in the centre of Coventry, run on meters, but private companies usually only allow for journeys on fixed fares. Airports Direct is one of the main companies offering transport around Coventry and to and from the local airports.

Buses
The only bus service in Coventry is operated by South West Coaches, which runs a route linking the suburban areas to the town centre and to major employment sites. The bus isn’t particularly useful for visitors, as it is entirely geared towards residents travelling between home and work.

Exploring

Those with car hire can take the opportunity to explore various places on the outskirts of Coventry once they have enjoyed attractions in the town itself, such as the Whitefairs Museum, Ford's Hospital and the Holy Trinity Church. The majority of points of interest outside of Coventry are located in the Warwickshire countryside, including the likes of Stratford Upon Avon and Kenilworth.

Recommended Drives

Kenilworth - Reachable by heading down the A46 along Kenilworth Road, which is worth noting for its pretty rows of houses and lush greenery. Once they have arrived in Kenilworth, tourists can enjoy touring the town's famous castle.

Warwick - This is a classic English town that is easily reached from Coventry. Famous for being a university town, Warwick is also known for its nationwide-famous racecourse, which usually holds fun horse racing events at the weekends.

Stratford Upon Avon - This is a great daytrip destination for both historians and literary buffs alike, while perhaps being most famous as the birthplace of the great William Shakespeare. For this reason, it is visited by hundreds of thousands of worldwide tourists each year. Unmistakable by its classic Tudor-era houses, this town also plays host to music festivals such as Global Gathering, which is attended by partygoers from around Europe in the summer months.