Car Hire Truro

Car Hire

Like most Cornish towns, Truro is small yet perfectly represents the urban scene in this region of England. Its downtown core is about as charming as they come, easily walkable and full of tempting pubs, restaurants and shops. But the real attractions lie outside of Truro in the sublime Cornish countryside, and with a car hire you’ll have a nearly endless array of options for a day drive.

Who to Book With
A handful of well-known international rental chains have offices in Truro, including Avis, Hertz and Enterprise. Hertz has a kiosk at the railway station while the others are located in the Newham Industrial Estate right on the edge of town. There are also three major car rental firms at the Newquay Cornwall Airport just 12 miles north of Truro. Truro may be small but it’s a popular travel destination during the warmer months. To make sure you get the car you want at the right price, book online as early as possible.

Best Time to go
Cornwall’s climate can best be described as cool and damp. Even at the peak of summer the daytime highs rarely get above 20°C, a boon for travellers who enjoy cool weather. Spring and summer are also the seasons when it rains the least in Truro, so this is the best time for a visit.

Need to Know Essentials
The following are needed to collect your rental from the office:

- A valid EU or UK driver’s license or International Driving Permit
- A secondary form of photo ID
- The credit card you used to book the car
- A print-out of your rental confirmation if possible

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
Apart from the old town core, driving in Truro doesn’t present much trouble in terms of traffic. This is a mellow market town that only really gets busy in the summer. Parking can be found along the streets, though the many car parks are probably an easier option. There are a dozen city-run car parks located around the town, and each has its own policy concerning short- or long-stay time limits. Typically, an hour costs £1.30 and three hours is £4.10. Long-stay lots cap out at around £5.30 per day.

Truro’s single park-and-ride lot is another good option for drivers who don’t want to deal with parking in the city centre. It is free to park at this site just off A390 at Langarth Park in Threemilestone. Buses depart every 10 minutes to several stops in the centre of town between 07:00 and 18:00. Truro lies just 9kms off of the major A30 trunk road that connects to the A39. The A390 is another useful motorway that connects to the A38 to Plymouth and on the M5 at Exeter.

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

Transport

Truro and its surrounding area has a good bus system as the main form of public transportation operated by Truonian and First Group. The Cornish Main Line connects Truro directly to London by rail, and taxis are also available for quick trips around town.

Trains
Truro’s train station is located within walking distance of downtown. Being part of the Cornish Main Line, which runs between London and Penzance, there is frequent service to London’s Paddington Station as well as Plymouth, Edinburgh and towns in the Midlands. Check with National Rail for exact schedules and fares.

Taxis
There are a number of taxi companies like Ansum Cars operating within Truro that offer quick and easy transport around the city. They don’t usually cruise around town looking for fares, but you can often find one queued up at the train or bus station. It’s also easy to call a company for a fast pick. Fares are based on distance travelled using a metre.

Buses
Bus service is very good in and around Truro, with fares based on the destination. The regional company First Truronian handles many routes around Truro itself and the greater mid-Cornwall region, while National Express offers more distant routes starting out at Truro. The town’s bus station is located at Lemon Quay on Green Street.

Exploring

There aren’t a tremendous amount of attractions in Truro itself, but this charming little town makes the perfect home base for driving around the Cornish region. From the beaches of Newquay to unique English attractions like the Eden Project, there are all kinds of ways to spend a day if you have a car rental. The roads are in excellent condition, combining fast trunk roads and slower scenic country roads so that you can tailor just the type of drive you desire.

Recommended Drives

England’s Far South - A remote yet beautiful peninsula with Truro right at the gateway. Take your pick of roads to explore historic coastal towns like Falmouth and Saint Ives or venture all the way to the southernmost point in England at Landewednack. The driving route options here are limitless!

The Eden Project - This is an amazing attempt to teach people about the environment and its fragile interdependent biosphere. Both educational and entertaining, the combination of massive domed greenhouses and outdoor gardens gives you plenty to absorb. Activities, nature walks, a café and other attractions round off this unique wonderland.

Newquay - Truro’s quick seaside getaway, located to the north on the Cornwall coast. A dizzying selection of expansive beaches is just one highlight of a day outing here. There is also a charming town to explore, the Cornwall Maritime Museum, a zoo and amusement parks to ensure a full day’s outing.