Essex car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Essex

...and more

Here is why travelers choose KAYAK

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customise your results.

Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.

Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.

Choose your dates

Mini car

Mini

Economy car

Economy

Compact car

Compact

Intermediate car

Intermediate

Standard car

Standard

Full-size car

Full-size

Luxury car

Luxury

Minivan car

Minivan

Passenger van car

Passenger van

SUV car

SUV

Commercial car

Commercial

Pickup Truck car

Pickup Truck

We recommend choosing a smaller, compact, vehicle when hiring a car in Essex, like a standard or economy vehicle. This is because the towns in the county are quite small, with narrow roads in places, as well as old road layouts. However, if you are travelling with the family, or are planning to leave Essex to the surrounding countryside, an SUV or 4x4 is a great choice too. Luxury or convertible cars are also popular choices for vehicle hire in Essex for those on a business trip or celebrating a special occasion.
Like the rest of the UK, it’s illegal to use your mobile phone or satnav in your hands whilst you’re driving your hire car. If you need to use a device because of an emergency, it’s always best to pull over once it’s safe to do so. If you’re travelling with young children under the age of 12, it’s a legal requirement to use a child seat, it’s easy to add this to your booking when hiring a car – your child may be exempt from this if they are over the height of 135cm, but it’s always best to wait until they are the correct age to be as safe as possible.
You can hire a car in Essex and use it beyond the county to the rest of the UK; however, if you are planning to visit Scotland and Wales it’s important to note that journey distances are quite long. We recommend making plenty of stops along the way, perhaps overnight if you are travelling to Scotland. Car hire companies in Essex will not charge you extra for this service; however, it’s important to consider that some companies have a limit on mileage, with charges if you go over this amount. It’s therefore best to select a company with unlimited mileage if you are hiring a car in Essex and planning on leaving England.
Book your rental car in Essex at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Compact rental cars in Essex are around 87% more expensive than other car types, on average

Should I rent a car in Essex?
Hiring a car in Essex is a great way to visit the county and surrounding area. Use your car to drive easily between the Essex coastline, Layer Marney Tower, Colchester Castle and Audley End House and Gardens – this can all be done in one day when you hire a car. Essex is connected to several main roads so you can quickly and easily get to popular locations outside of the county, like London, Cambridge, Oxford or Kent. Most hire companies allow you to drop off your car at another branch location if you want to start your trip in Essex and finish it in a different town or city.
What is driving like in Essex?
The speed limits in Essex vary throughout the county, the legal speed limit in town centres is usually between 20mph and 30mph, depending on the size of the town. The dual carriageways have a top speed limit of 60mph and the limit on the nearby motorways is 70mph. If you are going from Essex to Kent, you’ll need to pass through the Dartford crossing, which you need to pay for. You no longer pay when at the Dartford crossing itself and instead have to pay online by midnight the day after you cross, or at a PayZone store if you prefer to pay in person.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Essex?
You have to be a minimum of 21 years old in order to hire a car in Essex and must have held your driving licence for at least a year before renting your vehicle. Even if you meet these requirements, you may still be limited as to which vehicle you can rent, as some larger and more powerful vehicles have higher age restrictions. You may also be subject to a young driver surcharge, it’s best to check with your chosen car hire company in Essex in advance as to their exact policy if you are under the age of 25.
What is the most popular rental car in Essex?
Compact (MG ZS or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Essex.
How can I find car rentals near me in Essex?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in Essex
14 Locations
keddy by Europcar car rental locations in Essex
10 Locations
Free2Move car rental locations in Essex
9 Locations
Firefly car rental locations in Essex
8 Locations
GREEN MOTION car rental locations in Essex
7 Locations
Budget car rental locations in Essex
6 Locations
Europcar car rental locations in Essex
6 Locations
Hertz car rental locations in Essex
6 Locations
Avis car rental locations in Essex
4 Locations
Shouqi car rental locations in Essex
4 Locations
Sixt car rental locations in Essex
4 Locations
Sunnycars car rental locations in Essex
4 Locations

Most popular car type	Compact

Average daily price per month

Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

Everything you need to know for your car rental in Essex

Complete your trip to Essex

Flights to Essex

Hotels in Essex

Search for cheap rental cars in Essex with KAYAK and rent a car that suits you best. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best rental car deal at car rental locations across Essex.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights and car rentals with KAYAK.