Cheap Car Hire Coventry
About Car Hire in Coventry
Coventry is a diverse and cohesive city with a relatively young population, situated in central England. It's known for the medieval Coventry Cathedral, and legend has it that this city was the birthplace of St. George, dragon slayer and patron saint of England. Over the past decade, Coventry has become increasingly ethnically diverse, with just under half of its school-aged population from an ethnic minority background in 2021. Its central location puts it in the perfect spot to access some of England's best sites, countryside areas and thrilling activities by road. Enjoy Travel can help you with selecting the best possible vehicle, to make your trip as swift, smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Coventry Airport is located three miles southeast of Coventry city centre, in the village of Baginton, Warwickshire. The airport no longer serves commercial flights, however is still used for general aviation and as a pick-up and drop-off location for car hire. Companies such as Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Budget, Thrifty and many more, are all available from the airport.
Downtown Car Hire in Coventry
Travelling around Coventry by public transport is fairly simple with a great system of local buses and trains. However, hiring a car will give you more freedom and flexibility to explore the city and surrounding areas in your own time. You may have a wider variety of options with vehicles and prices when hiring from the city, rather than the airport. Parking spaces aren't too difficult to find around Coventry, especially the city centre. There are plenty of free off road spaces, pay and display carparks, and on street paid parking - all at affordable prices.
Driving in Coventry
Coventry is a student city that is easy to get to, and get around in. However, if you wish to get behind the wheel in the UK, you must possess one of the following:
- A valid full driving licence issued in a European Community/European Economic area (EC/EEA)
- A valid, full national licence issued in your country
- A provisional (learner's) driving licence issued abroad is not valid for use in the UK
- You must have held a full licence for a minimum of 1 year to drive a hire car. Note that for rentals in Ireland, some suppliers like Avis require their customers to hold a valid driver's licence for 8 years of which 2 must be at a full driver's licence qualification.
There are also age requirements in order to hire a vehicle in the UK:
- 17 years or over to ride a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125cc, or power not exceeding 11kW
- 19 years or over to ride a motorcycle not exceeding 35kW, and
- 21 years or older to ride a motorcycle unlimited in size/power
- 17 years old or more to drive a car
Here are some driving tips for you to note before you start travelling across the British roads:
- Always drive on the left-hand side of the road
- When approaching a roundabout, give priority to traffic approaching from the right, unless otherwise indicated
- All vehicles must give way to emergency services vehicles in a safe way
· You can be fined up to £500 if you don't wear a seat belt
- The maximum amount of alcohol allowed in the blood is 0.08 per cent. There is a Penalty of up to £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment and 12 months withdrawal of driving licence if it is a first time offence.
Top Road Trips from Coventry
Coventry is in a perfect location in the centre of England making it simple to travel either up north, or down south. You're in between major UK Cities such as London and Manchester, and whether you’re a fan of nature or busy cities, there are amazing day trips from Coventry to suit every taste.
- Birmingham - If you're the mood for the buzzing city life, then head over to the UK's second biggest city for an experience of historic architecture, magical artwork, beautiful canals, exciting shopping and even Cadbury World! If you have children, you will score big delicious brownie points (pun intended) by taking them to this incredibly fun and educational adventure. You'll be taken through the history of cocoa, the journey of how Cadbury started, as well as be given a load of chocolate to munch on! Birmingham is just a 30-minute drive from Coventry and a worthwhile day trip with so much to see and do.
- Stratford-upon-Avon - Only a 25-minute drive away, and you'll feel as though you have been zapped back in time to the Tudor world. Literature nerds buckle up! Because this town was the home to none other than... William Shakespeare! You'll be able to visit Shakespeare’s house which has now been turned into a museum. Take a moment to notice the low ceilings and windows as you enter the house of one of the greatest British poets and playwrights, and really soak in the atmosphere as it'll make you feel as though you have been taken back into Shakespeare's world. It's exciting during the summer, as street performers and actors cover the outside areas giving you a taste of Shakespeare's genius.
- This place is honestly one of the best day trips that you could do from Coventry, not only for the experience of Shakespeare, but because of how picturesque and aesthetically pleasing this town is with the pubs, restaurants and other buildings that seem as though they've been stuck in time.
- Kenilworth - Fancy exploring a part of English heritage? Only six miles from Coventry (ten-minute drive away) you'll arrive at a magnificent castle with beautiful Elizabeth gardens. This castle is an exciting medieval fortress, filled with tiny narrow paths waiting to be explored. The Gardens are always elegantly displayed with flowers and a birdhouse which offer multiple hidden spots for talking and reading.
