Car Hire Liverpool

Car Hire

Liverpool is a cultural icon of the United Kingdom. Standing for more than 800 years, this northern English port city is famous for three things – football, music and rich architecture. Liverpool was the home of the Beatles, and proudly displays this within the Beatles Story Museum. In addition, the Three Graces, Albert Dock, St Nicholas Museum and Matthew Street are among the city’s most important tourism sites. Travel just outside the city by car and you can also explore Merseyside and the relentless beauty of northwestern England.

Who to Book With
There is an exhaustive list of car rental companies found in the city centre and within the outer-districts of Liverpool. National, Thrifty, Hertz and Enterprise are among the more renowned firms providing rental vehicles to tourists. There are also many local companies operating inside the city. For discounts, book online before holidaying in Liverpool.

Best Time to go
The months of July and August are the busiest in terms of tourism in Liverpool. The weather during these months is mild and rainfall is at its minimum for the year, which is why most tourists choose this period to visit. The winter is still relatively mild, but rainfall is highest between October and December. Drivers should be extra cautious when travelling during these months.

Need to Know Essentials
Tourists will need to provide several important documents if they want to hire a car in Liverpool:

- A valid national or international driving license
- A passport
- A document proving the booking or rental deposit
- A valid credit card

Our FAQ's page provides more information.

Driving
Liverpool is a major UK urban area, and traffic congestion can be an issue in the early mornings and evenings. In addition, parking can be difficult to find in the centre of the city, and street-side parking can be expensive and it is limited. Nevertheless, there are also several multi-story car parks close to the main train station on Lime Street. The highways around Liverpool are well-maintained, and traffic is not usually a problem outside of peak times.

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

Transport

Liverpool is a large city and one of the UK’s leading metropolises. Therefore, public transportation is not only extensive, but also efficient. Taxis, ferries, buses and trains provide the bulk of the public transport options within Liverpool. Both the inner-city and the outskirts of Liverpool are well-connected by public transport, although the landmarks that surround Liverpool are more efficiently reached by car.

Taxis
There are two different types of taxis operating within Liverpool. Black cabs are in abundance and are the most popular form of taxis within the city. Private- hire taxis are also available, but unlike black cabs, they cannot be hailed from the street. These taxis must by pre-booked online or by phone. Black cabs are renowned for their knowledgeable and safe drivers, so are a great option for getting around Liverpool. Mersey Cabs is a reliable company that operates all over the city.

Buses
The effective bus network within Liverpool is organised by Merseytravel. Most routes within the city originate from one of the two main bus stations in the centre of Liverpool – Queen Square Bus Station (north and east routes) and Liverpool One Bus Station (south and east routes). On Saturdays, a night bus connects the downtown area of Liverpool to Merseyside and other city districts.

Trains
Liverpool boasts one of the busiest train networks in the entire country. Merseyrail is the leading body that operates trains within the city. There are four major train stations in downtown Liverpool, namely Lime Street, James Street, Moorefields and Central. There are also numerous other stations outside the city centre.

Ferries
There are regular ferry services running from Pier Head Ferry Terminal across to Merseyside. Seacombe and Woodside are the two ports connecting to Liverpool’s Pier Head Terminal. Merseyferries operates the services across to Merseyside.

Exploring

Liverpool is home to a number of exciting landmarks, but it is also famous for being the ideal base from which to explore the northwestern region of England. From coastal towns to ancient Roman settlements, there is a wide variety of daytrip options from Liverpool. Luckily for tourists, the highways and motorways around Liverpool make driving an easy option for getting around.

Recommended Drives

Chester - Resting just to the south of Liverpool, Chester has grown into a tremendously beautiful and historic city. It was one of the region’s most important Roman sites during the height of the Roman Empire, and many significant ancient sites can still be viewed today, including an amphitheatre, gardens and historical walls.

Manchester - This is about an hour’s drive from Liverpool, making it the perfect daytrip destination for visitors. Once inside the city, there are dozens of important sites to tour. Sports lovers will no doubt head straight to Manchester United’s Old Trafford. However, don’t forget to explore Chinatown, Castlefield and Manchester Cathedral.

Blackpool - Northwestern England’s most famous seaside-resort is a great place to visit for the day, especially during the summer months. From Liverpool, Blackpool and its trashy beach scene can be reached in about 45 minutes when driving. Simply take the M6 then turn left onto the M55.