Renting a Car at Birmingham Airport

Last updated: 30 July 2026

Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the UK's third-busiest and serves England's second city. Car rental desks are housed in the multi-story car park opposite the terminal — a 5-minute covered walk via the skylink. Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Alamo share the ground floor. BHX is perfectly positioned for exploring the Midlands, Cotswolds, and Welsh borders.

🎯 Quick Tip

The M6 motorway near Birmingham is Britain's most congested — avoid driving through the city during rush hour (7–9 AM, 4:30–6:30 PM). Use the M6 Toll road (£7.90 for cars) to bypass the worst bottleneck between junctions 3a and 11a.

Compare QEEQ, Economybookings, AutoEurope & GetRentacar at BHX

Economybookings.com

Aggregates 800+ rental companies including all major brands operating at BHX

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AutoEurope

Best for premium brands and one-way drops within Europe from Birmingham

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QEEQ

Strong fleet selection at Birmingham Airport with competitive United Kingdom rates

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GetRentacar.com

Marketplace of local owners and agencies with live inventory in 80 countries — check live listings at BHX

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Airport Pickup Tips

From BHX arrivals, follow the covered walkway to the Car Hire Centre in Car Park 2. It's well-signposted but the walk takes 5–7 minutes. Present your booking reference, passport or UK driving licence, and credit card. UK operators accept foreign licenses for up to 12 months. If your license isn't in English, bring an IDP. Pickup takes 15–20 minutes.

UK rental cars are driven hard on narrow country lanes — check for hedge scratches along both sides, scuffed alloy wheels from tight curbs, and stone chips on the bonnet. Use your phone flashlight to inspect under dim car park lighting. Note the mileage reading if your booking has a daily limit.

Explore Birmingham by Car

From Birmingham, you're centrally positioned for Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's birthplace), the Cotswolds, Warwick Castle, and the scenic Welsh border country — all easy day drives.

Top drive from Birmingham: Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle loop

Full Birmingham Car Hire Guide →

Hotels near Birmingham Airport

Landing late or returning the car before an early flight? The map below compares live hotel prices around Birmingham Airport and nearby areas — handy for the night before pickup or drop-off:

Getting from Birmingham Airport to the City

BHX is 13 km southeast of Birmingham city center. Take the A45 west then join the M6 for central Birmingham (20 min). For the Cotswolds, head south on the M42/A46 toward Stratford-upon-Avon (30 min). For Wales, take the M6 north then M54 west (Shrewsbury: 75 min). For London, the M40 south takes about 2 hours.

Green Motion and local operator Flexicar have offices on Coventry Road, 1 km from BHX. Green Motion offers free terminal shuttle and specializes in newer hybrid vehicles. Rates run 10–15% below the terminal Car Hire Centre, and their fleet tends to be newer than the major brands.

What to Know Before Driving from BHX

UK drives on the left. Motorway speed limit is 70 mph (112 km/h), A-roads 60 mph, and urban areas 30 mph. Average speed cameras are everywhere on the M6 and M42 near Birmingham. Fuel is sold in litres but distances are in miles. Congestion charge doesn't apply in Birmingham (unlike London), but a Clean Air Zone charges older vehicles £8/day in the city center.

Remember: UK drives on the LEFT. The gear stick is in your left hand, the indicator stalk is on the right (it's reversed from continental cars). Practice in the car park before joining the roundabout-heavy roads around BHX. Roundabouts give priority to traffic from the RIGHT — the opposite of what right-hand-drive countries expect.

Fuel Stations Near BHX

Shell and BP stations are on the A45 near BHX. Average fuel prices: unleaded £1.50/L, diesel £1.55/L. The Tesco Extra on Coventry Road (5 min from BHX) typically offers fuel 3–4p/L cheaper than branded stations. Fill up there before returning your car to the airport.

Local Driving Tip

The M6 toll road bypasses Birmingham's notorious Spaghetti Junction for £8 and saves 30–45 minutes during peak hours. The city centre has a Clean Air Zone — daily charges apply to older petrol (pre-Euro 4) and diesel (pre-Euro 6) vehicles.

Car Hire at BHX — FAQ

Do I need a credit card to rent a car at Birmingham Airport (BHX)?
Not necessarily. GetRentacar accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards with about 15% paid online and the balance to the owner. The other platforms leave the decision to the local supplier, and most of them want a credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in the United Kingdom?
Most suppliers set a minimum of 21 and add a young-driver surcharge below 25. GetRentacar is the exception here: its marketplace rents from age 18. QEEQ shows the young-driver fee inside the displayed total, so the price you compare is the price you pay.
Which car rental platform is cheapest at Birmingham Airport (BHX)?
No platform wins everywhere. Compare a broker against a marketplace on the same dates and judge by the total including insurance and deposit — that is where the difference sits, not in the headline rate.
Is it cheaper to rent at BHX or in Birmingham?
Airport locations carry concession fees that typically add 10–15% to the base rate, so a city branch can be cheaper. Against that, off-airport pickup costs a shuttle and time, and one-way drop-offs are simpler from the airport. For short rentals the premium is often smaller than the transfer into Birmingham.

More Airport Car Hire in United Kingdom

✈️ London (LHR) ✈️ Edinburgh (EDI) ✈️ Manchester (MAN) ✈️ Glasgow (GLA)