Chelmsford car rentals from $54/day

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Chelmsford with a pick-up date of 4/14 and drop-off date of 4/17. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.

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Cheap car rentals in Chelmsford

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
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Vauxhall Corsa car
Vauxhall Corsa
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$58/day
Ford Focus car
Ford Focus
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$59/day
Kia XCeed car
Kia XCeed
or similar Medium
5
3
2/4
$65/day
Peugeot 5008 car
Peugeot 5008
or similar Van
5
3
4-5
$245/day
Kia Picanto car
Kia Picanto
or similar Small
2
2
2/4
$54/day
MG HS car
MG HS
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
$111/day
Kia Cee'd SW car
Kia Cee'd SW
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$135/day
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Chelmsford

  • The city of Chelmsford lies midway between the capital London and the city of Colchester and this part of Essex County is striated with major roads like the M11, M25 and A12, coursing in all directions. Discovering the small towns and villages in this region is best managed with a car hire in Chelmsford, which affords the flexibility of making unscheduled stops and detours in places unreachable by public transportation. Southend-on-Sea is a 20-mile trip east via the A130/A127, and Mersea Island is 27 miles via the A12.
  • London Southend Airport (SEN) and London Stansted Airport (STN) are two airports 20 miles outside of the city, so either one is a good choice to collect your car hire in Chelmsford. Options are limited at London Southend, but there’s a handful at London Stansted including Alamo and Avis. The car hire area at London Southend is located on the Ground Floor of the terminal building neat Costa, whereas you’ll need to ride the free shuttle bus to the Car Hire Village at London Stansted. The shuttle stop is situated forecourt of the terminal building and departs every 10min.
  • Lying within the London commuter belt, many Chelmsford residents work in the capital and that translates to heavy commuter train traffic, as well as significant vehicular and pedestrian movement not to mention motorcycle and bike riders.
  • Within the city, secondary roads like the A1016 or B1007 will experience tie-ups and you should expect gridlock along primary roads, such as the A12, A130 and A414 leading in/out of the city. You can take the A12 practically all the way to London from Chelmsford and that doesn’t bode well if you’re on the carriageway during morning and evening rush hour traffic. Avoid this central vein from 06:00-09:00 for southbound traffic and from 18:00-21:00 northbound to escape the congestion. If you intend on driving south, the A414 or the A130 are alternates routes, which may provide some relief.
  • Book your rental car in Chelmsford at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Compact rental cars in Chelmsford are around 66% cheaper than other car types, on average
See more tips

FAQs about renting a car in Chelmsford

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Chelmsford?

    Whether you drive a compact, SUV or luxury saloon you shouldn’t experience any major headaches driving around Chelmsford in your hired car. As such, the type of vehicle you choose comes down to budget and number of passengers along for the ride. Generally, smaller cars are easier to park, with better mileage per litre.

  • What’s the speed limit in Chelmsford?

    The legal speed within Chelmsford city limits is 30mph, unless you encounter posted signs which dictate otherwise. Dual carriageway roads, such as the A12, A130 and A414, all carry a top speed limit of 60mph and if you find yourself on the M11 or M25 then you’re good for a tidy 70mph. As always, observe proper driving etiquette at all times and be mindful of traffic cams and CCTV near major junctions to avoid possible fines.

  • Where are the best places to park in Chelmsford?

    On-street parking under the auspices of Chelmsford City Council is pay and display and has a 2h limit, which costs £1.20, otherwise you pay in 15-minute instalments. After 18:00-20:00 Monday through to Saturday, you can usually park in these areas (for example Victoria Road and Waterloo Lane) for free and on-street parking is free all day on Sunday. Alternatively, you can use one of the private parking concerns like NCP or Q-Park if it’s more convenient.

  • Can I rent an automatic car in Chelmsford?

    Based on our information, car rental agencies in Chelmsford only have manual transmission cars.

  • How much is gas price in Chelmsford?

    The average gas price in Chelmsford is $6.58 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $79 and $105, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular rental car in Chelmsford?

    Intermediate (Peugeot 3008 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Chelmsford.

  • Which car rental companies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, U-Save, Dollar, Arnold Clark, Budget, Allegiance and EZ Drive Car Rentals.

  • Which car rental companies are at Gatwick airport (LGW)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Gatwick airport include U-Save, Dollar and Budget.

  • Which car rental companies are at Stansted airport (STN)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION and Budget.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Heathrow airport (LHR)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Dollar, Budget, and Sixt.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Gatwick airport (LGW)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Dollar, Budget, and Sixt.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Stansted airport (STN)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Dollar, Budget, and Sixt.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in Chelmsford?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Chelmsford?

    An Intermediate car rental in Chelmsford costs $113 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Full Size car rental cost in Chelmsford?

    A Full Size car rental in Chelmsford costs $101 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Compact car rental cost in Chelmsford?

    A Compact car rental in Chelmsford costs $49 per day, on average.

  • Should I get insurance when renting a car in Chelmsford?

    Most car rental providers in Chelmsford offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Chelmsford, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

  • How many car agencies are operating in Chelmsford?

    KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 10 car rental agencies in Chelmsford.

  • What do I need to know before booking a car rental in Chelmsford?

    Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).

  • Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Chelmsford?

    KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Chelmsford so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.

See more FAQs

Chelmsford car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Europcar

10.0

Wonderful

Read 1 review
Best rated

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

One location in Chelmsford

Show locations

Locations in Chelmsford

3 Montrose Road

+44 371 384 9984

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.0

Very good

Read 1 review

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

6.0

One location in Chelmsford

Show locations

Locations in Chelmsford

Roxwell Road

+44 1245 344555

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

No reviews available

Sixt

7.4

Good

One location in Chelmsford

Show locations

Locations in Chelmsford

Transit House, Brockley Road

+44-844-4993399

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

7.0

Good

One location in Chelmsford

Show locations

Locations in Chelmsford

23 Robjohn Road

+44 843 309 3018

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

keddy by Europcar

6.9

Okay

One location in Chelmsford

Show locations

Locations in Chelmsford

3 Montrose Road

+44 371 384 9984

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

GREEN MOTION

5.5

Fair

2 locations in Chelmsford

Show locations

Locations in Chelmsford

Chelmsford Delivery

Opening times not available

Chelmsford Downtown

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

FLIZZR

7.4

Good

One location in Chelmsford

Locations in Chelmsford

1 Brockley Rd

+44 844 499 3399

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Firefly

No score available yet

One location in Chelmsford

Locations in Chelmsford

23 Robjohns Road

+44 843 309 3018

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Chelmsford

Locations in Chelmsford

3 Montrose Road

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

No score available yet

One location in Chelmsford

Locations in Chelmsford

Jones Of Chelmsford

+44 1245 350453

Monday08:30 - 17:30
Tuesday08:30 - 17:30
Wednesday08:30 - 17:30
Thursday08:30 - 17:30
Friday08:30 - 17:30
Saturday08:30 - 17:30

Filters

No reviews available

2 travelers who rented a car in Chelmsford gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6.7

Car rental locations in or near Chelmsford

Good to know

Most popular car type

Intermediate

When to book a rental car in Chelmsford

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

Chelmsford car rental information

Pick-up locationChelmsford
Car typesCompact, Compact SUV, Compact station wagon, Economy, Intermediate, Mini, Minivan
Rental locations11
Airport locations0
Popular agenciesGREEN MOTION , keddy by Europcar, Europcar

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