Renting a Car at Birmingham Airport
Last updated: April 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.
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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 →
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.