Southampton car rental information
| Pick-up location | Southampton |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Rental locations | 41 |
| Airport locations | 17 |
Cheap car rentals in Southampton
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| Minivan |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pickup truck |
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Southampton
- Southampton is a bustling port city with a host of coastal attractions nearby, so it’s a good idea to hire a car if you want the freedom to visit them all. We make car hire in Southampton easy and convenient, so you can use it to your advantage to reach outlying places like the New Forest or even to catch a ferry to the Isle of Wight. Additionally, a 14-mile drive out of town will see you at the Beaulieu & National Motor Museum, where you’ll find exhibits of famous movie cars.
- If you’re flying into Southampton Airport, you’ll find that it has a dedicated car hire section. Most of the main companies offer Southampton car hire at the airport, including Sixt, Alamo, Europcar, Hertz and National. Enterprise is to your right just after you leave the baggage carousel, while the others are in the car park opposite the terminal across Spitfire Loop, just a few minutes’ walk away.
- It’s relatively uncomplicated driving in Southampton as long as you’re not right in the city centre or in the docklands area. It’s one of the busiest sea-facing harbours in the UK, so you’ll probably find it easier to walk in these areas. The city is also known for its large green spaces and tranquil suburbs, like Ocean Village or the quaint Basset neighbourhood in the northern area of the city. Just be on the lookout for cyclists and people out walking.
- Congestion usually isn’t too bad in Southampton, although it has rush hours just like other cities in the UK. Weekends are generally best for uncongested exploring. Try to avoid routes like Canute Road, Havlock Road and the Western Esplanade between the hours of 05:00 and 09:00. The same applies during the evening rush hour, which lasts from roughly 16:00 to 19:00 on those busier roads.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Southampton for ₪80 or less
- Book your rental car in Southampton at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Economy rental cars in Southampton are around 63% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Southampton
What type of car is recommended for driving in Southampton?
For driving around in the busier areas of town it’s perhaps best to get an economy or a compact car. You can step that up to a roomier saloon if you prefer, or take advantage of the coastal scenery in a convertible or sports model. If you want to get more off the beaten track or are travelling as a family, you could go for a spacious 4x4 or an MPV. This will allow you to explore everything that the Southampton area has to offer. You can also find car hire in Southampton offering minibuses for larger groups.
What’s the speed limit in Southampton?
You’d be well advised to drive with caution in Southampton and pay close attention to speed limits. The local community takes them seriously, especially on busy roads like Maybray Way in the Bitterne neighbourhood, which is well known for its speed cameras. The speed limit is 30mph virtually across the board, until you reach the outlying areas, where on some roads like Bassett Green Road it is raised to 40mph.
Where are the best places to park in Southampton?
The centre of Southampton is zoned as a City Centre Pay and Display Zone that operates every day of the week, even on bank holidays. This divides the city into parking areas where times are limited. The inner zones only allow a maximum of 2h, while others allow up to 10h of parking time. You can expect to pay roughly £4 to £5 for 2h, and many have adopted cashless instant transactions using mobile apps for your convenience.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Southampton?
On average a rental car in Southampton costs ₪113 per day.
How much is gas price in Southampton?
The average gas price in Southampton is ₪26.12 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₪313 and ₪418, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Southampton?
Economy (Renault Zoe or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Southampton.
Which car rental companies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
Car rental companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA.
Which car rental companies are at Stansted airport (STN)?
Car rental companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA and Alamo.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, INTERRENT, and Alamo.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Gatwick airport (LGW)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, INTERRENT, and Alamo.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Stansted airport (STN)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, INTERRENT, and Alamo.
How can I find car rentals near me in Southampton?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Southampton?
An Economy car rental in Southampton costs ₪159 per day, on average.
How much does a Luxury car rental cost in Southampton?
A Luxury car rental in Southampton costs ₪304 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Southampton?
A Compact car rental in Southampton costs ₪323 per day, on average.
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in Southampton?
On average a rental car in Southampton costs ₪794 per week (₪113 per day).
How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in Southampton?
On average a rental car in Southampton costs ₪3,401 per month (₪113 per day).
Southampton car rental reviews and directory
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
10.0
Wonderful
3 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
4 locations in Southampton
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2022
Alamo
8.0
Very good
1 reviewCleanliness
9.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
6.0
3 locations in Southampton
Filters
Reviews
6.0 Okay
Aug 2019
Pros:
car Was better than I expectedCons:
1) Alamo found one of the types to have a chip out of it so keep our GBP 300 deposit. Absolutely certain it was not us who did that ( we only did 60 miles and the car was left in secure parking over night). ......double and triple check before you hire! Video your car,Sixt
7.6
Good
5 reviewsCleanliness
8.4
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.4
Value for money
6.8
2 locations in Southampton
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2022
2.0 Poor
May 2023
Budget
7.5
Good
1 reviewCleanliness
7.5
Comfort
7.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.5
Value for money
7.5
2 locations in Southampton
Hertz
7.4
Good
8 reviewsCleanliness
9.3
Comfort
9.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.6
Value for money
6.6
4 locations in Southampton
Filters
Reviews
8.4 Very good
Jun 2019
Pros:
Drop off was a matter of minutes.Cons:
Shuttle service from port would have helped. Had double wait time. One hour wait for taxi at port and one hour at Hertz pickup.10.0 Wonderful
May 2017
Pros:
Friendly and helpfulCons:
I liked everything10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2016
Pros:
Organized No fussCons:
Signage and parking arrangements confusing.4.0 Mediocre
Jun 2022
Europcar
7.0
Good
2 reviewsCleanliness
5.0
Comfort
7.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
7.0
2 locations in Southampton
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Oct 2023
6.0 Okay
Oct 2022
Avis
6.6
Okay
3 reviewsCleanliness
6.6
Comfort
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.6
Value for money
6.0
One location in Southampton
National
3.9
Poor
No reviews available
Cleanliness
7.9
Comfort
3.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
1.9
Value for money
5.9
3 locations in Southampton
Easirent
4.8
Mediocre
1 review2 locations in Southampton
Filters
Reviews
3.6 Poor
Apr 2017
Pros:
The lady that helped us was very patient and polite. She must meditate and listen to relaxing music in her free time to be able to cope with all the angry customers she gets.Cons:
Off airport. Compulsary insurance which costs a fortune. From the look of it the cars that were provided had quite some damage already so maintanance/turnover is questionable. Uber was a lot more afordable in our case. We ended up going back to the airport and taking a taxi.Firefly
9.6
Wonderful
No reviews available
2 locations in Southampton
keddy by Europcar
8.0
Very good
No reviews available
3 locations in Southampton
Thrifty
5.6
Fair
No reviews available
One location in Southampton
One location in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Unit G Woodside Trade Centre Parham Drive
+44 23 8001 6158
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Car Rental Centre
+44 371 384 3418
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No reviews available
2 locations in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
204 Millbrook Rd E
+44 844 499 3399
Car Rental Building Southampton Int.airport, Wide Lane
+44 207 018 8246
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No reviews available
2 locations in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Portsmouth Road
+44 23 8044 9232
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No reviews available
2 locations in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Car Rental Building Southampton Int.airport, Wide Lane
+44 148 987 8229
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No reviews available
One location in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Southampton airport
080 0170 1331
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No reviews available
One location in Southampton
Locations in Southampton
Toyota Snows Southampton
+44 1494 769810
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Southampton
When to book a rental car in Southampton
Airports serving Southampton
- Car rental London Heathrow Airport, Southampton
- Car rental London Gatwick Airport, Southampton
- Car rental London Stansted Airport, Southampton
- Car rental London City Airport, Southampton
- Car rental Bristol Airport, Southampton
- Car rental London Luton Airport, Southampton
- Car rental Southampton Eastleigh Airport, Southampton
- Car rental London Southend Airport, Southampton
- Car rental Bournemouth Airport, Southampton