Car hire in Dover will allow you to take full advantage of all the tourist attractions in the coastal region of Kent, including the famous White Cliffs, with their seemingly endless view over the English Channel from South Foreland Lighthouse. You’ll also be able to drive out to Castle Hill where Dover Castle stands, built in the 12th century. Drive 4 miles out from Dover to St. Margaret’s Bay to enjoy 6 acres of sustainable landscaped gardens in Pines Garden.
You’ll land at Southend Airport if you’re flying to Dover, and you’ll immediately appreciate the freedom of a hire car, as it’s just over a 40-mile drive from there to the town itself. The airport has a dedicated car hire centre inside the terminal, on the landside, next to where the coffee shops are. To collect your car you won’t need to take a shuttle bus, as you can simply walk a couple of minutes to the airport’s on-site parking area.
The main thing to take into account with Dover car hire is that it’s one of Europe’s busiest ports, so there is a lot of traffic that supports this ecosystem, whether it be commuters who work there or cargo being transported. This leads to a variety of different vehicles going at different speeds on the roads, with lorries being plentiful among them. The town is also a tourist attraction in itself, with thousands of people coming to see its iconic cliffs.
Expect a proper rush hour in Dover every morning and evening due to all the port activity. This can last from around 07:30 till 09:00 in the morning and usually starts from around 16:00, peaking at 17:00 in the afternoon. The M2 is the major road that links Dover with London, so that obviously gets very busy. The same can be said for the A20, especially where it meets the A2 from Canterbury. The recommended alternative routes are the A258, the A256 or the B2011. Also try to avoid the Whitfield roundabout during rush hours.
25% of our users found rental cars in Dover for $46 or less
Book your rental car in Dover at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Intermediate rental cars in Dover are around -66% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Dover
The type of car hire in Dover to choose will be dictated by the amount of traffic in the area where you’re intending to stay. If you prefer to be in the centre of town, then a city car or a compact saloon or saloon are the obvious choices, along with a smallish MPV. Once you’re driving on the B roads around the countryside your choices open up: you could get a larger SUV or 4x4, or treat yourself to a luxury or sports model.
Speed limits in Dover vary quite extensively depending on the traffic and pedestrian density in the different parts of the town. There are zones here: in the city centre and built-up areas it’s generally 30mph, with some roads marked as 20mph zones. On the more outlying roads you can go up to 40mph, while the larger carriageways that flow in and out of the city have a limit of 50mph.
The council provides free parking all over Dover. Main car parks include the two at Kearsney Abbey, and St Martin’s Battery. However you’ll have to take public transport from the adjacent bus stops, as these are around an hour’s walk from the centre of town. You can expect to pay around £2.60 for 2h at car parks like the one on Maison Dieu Road (a 3-minute walk to the town centre) and Ladywell, 5min away.
On average a rental car in Dover costs $70 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Dover found in the last 2 weeks is $36.
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Dover. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Dover is $6.92 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $83 and $111, depending on the car size.
Intermediate (Class Intermediate SUV or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Dover.
An Intermediate car rental in Dover costs $133 per day, on average.
An Economy car rental in Dover costs $56 per day, on average.
A Compact car rental in Dover costs $73 per day, on average.
In Dover, cars are most frequently rented at Europcar 116 Snargate Street (1 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Dover costs $490 per week ($70 per day).
On average a rental car in Dover costs $2,099 per month ($70 per day).
Most car rental providers in Dover offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Dover, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 9 car rental agencies in Dover.
Some car rental companies in Dover which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Europcar, Hertz and Enterprise
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!).
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Dover so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.