If you're staying in central Bristol, you don't need a car: the harbourside, Clifton and Stokes Croft are all walkable or a short bus ride apart, and a hire car mostly just gives you something to park. If you're planning day trips to the Cotswolds, the Mendips or the Welsh coast, hiring one is worth it, and the easiest places to do it are the desks at Bristol Temple Meads station and Bristol Airport, both of which carry Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar and Sixt.
Where to hire a car in Bristol
Bristol Temple Meads
Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, Sixt, Alamo, National and a handful of smaller operators all have desks at or within a short walk of Temple Meads. Europcar's office is on the station approach near Platform 3, and Sixt is about a 10-minute walk away on New Thomas Street. This is the most convenient pickup point if you've arrived by train and want to head straight out of the city rather than into it.
Bristol Airport
All the major chains operate from the airport's rental village, a short walk or shuttle ride from the terminal. This is the obvious choice if you're flying in and driving on, but it's a poor choice if you're staying in Bristol itself, since you'd then have to find (and pay for) parking in the city centre for a car you don't need yet.
Bristol city centre
Enterprise has a city centre branch, useful if your own car is off the road and you need a temporary replacement, or if you want to collect after settling in rather than lugging luggage from the station.
Do you actually need a car in Bristol?
For getting around the city itself, no. Bristol's bus network, the harbour ferry and a compact centre cover most of what visitors want to do, and our guide to getting around Bristol covers the alternatives in more detail. Where a car earns its keep is on the day trips from Bristol that don't have good direct train links, such as the Mendips, rural Somerset or the smaller Cotswold villages.
The Bristol Clean Air Zone
Bristol operates a Clean Air Zone covering the city centre, and older diesel and petrol vehicles that don't meet emissions standards are charged a daily fee to drive inside it. Modern hire cars are almost always compliant, but it's worth checking the specific vehicle's registration on the zone's checker before you travel, especially if you're renting an older or larger vehicle. Full detail is in our Clean Air Zone guide.
Parking a hire car in Bristol
If you do bring a hire car into the centre, don't assume you can park on the street outside your accommodation. Large parts of Bristol close to the centre are residents' parking zones, and short-stay street parking is limited and metered. Multi-storey car parks and Park & Ride sites on the edge of the city are usually the more reliable and cheaper option; see our parking guide for the full breakdown of car parks and rates.
One-way hires and returning to a different city
If you want to pick up in Bristol and drop off elsewhere, for example in London or Cardiff, most of the major chains allow this but charge a one-way fee that can be substantial, particularly for cross-border drop-offs into Wales. Confirm the fee before booking rather than at the counter, since it's rarely shown clearly until you select a different return location.
Comparing pickup points
| Pickup point | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Temple Meads | Arriving by train, heading straight out of the city | Limited on-street parking nearby if you need to load up |
| Bristol Airport | Flying in and driving onward | Poor choice if you're staying in Bristol itself |
| City centre branch | Local top-ups or replacement hire | Fewer vehicles in stock than the bigger desks |
FAQs
Do I need to pay a Clean Air Zone charge in a hire car? Only if the specific vehicle doesn't meet the zone's emissions standard. Most current hire fleets are compliant, but check the registration against the zone's online checker before you drive in, since the fee and any penalty for non-payment fall on the driver, not the rental company.
Is it cheaper to hire at the airport or at Temple Meads? Pricing varies by day and demand rather than location specifically. Airport desks sometimes carry extra airport concession fees baked into the daily rate, so it's worth comparing the total price at both, not just the headline daily figure.
Can I return a Bristol hire car to a different city? Yes, with most of the major chains, but expect a one-way drop-off fee on top of the rental cost. Ask for this figure upfront.
Do I need a car to visit Bath from Bristol? No. There are frequent direct trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa taking around 15 minutes, which is faster and cheaper than driving and parking in Bath.
Where can I park a hire car overnight in central Bristol? Multi-storey car parks are generally the safest and most predictable option for overnight parking. Avoid unmarked residential streets close to the centre, since many are residents' parking zones enforced at all hours.
What documents do I need to hire a car in Bristol? A full valid driving licence, a form of photo ID, and a credit card in the driver's name for the security deposit are standard across all the major chains. Non-UK licence holders should check whether an International Driving Permit is required alongside their home licence.