Car hire in Swindon is a good idea if you want to explore the area and have flexibility. Situated almost midway between the cities of Bristol and Reading, Swindon is a large town with a flourishing energy and electronics presence and holds the distinction of being the home of the UK Space Agency. Oxford and its world-famous university lies about 30 miles to the north-east via the A420, while Reading, home to the annual Reading and Leeds Festival, is about 40 miles east via the M4. Both are within easy reach with a car hire.
Hertz, Avis and National are among the list of providers operating at Bristol Airport (BRS) where you can obtain a car hire in Swindon. This airport is closest (42 miles away) to Swindon and likely the most convenient place for car hire pick up. The Car Hire Centre is located near the Silver Zone Car Park and requires a trip on the free shuttle to get there. The collection point for the shuttle is not far from the terminal entrance, just follow the signs once you exit the Arrivals Hall. They run about every 10min and are available 24h a day.
The M4, which bypasses Swindon to the south and east, as well as the A419 coursing along the eastern and northern fringe, are obvious markers for morning and evening rush hour traffic if you are heading beyond the town. There is an intricate system of roundabouts in the downtown area to manage the flow of traffic that may present delays and gridlock on occasion. Additionally, the two transfer bridges in close formation near the Gorse Hill district could prove tricky. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorbikes also share the streets so exercise caution at all times.
If you intend to avoid morning traffic jams you should either depart earlier than 07:00 or later than 10:00 to make your journey more enjoyable. Be advised that it’s not uncommon to experience tie-ups in the early afternoon hours of 13:00-15:00, especially near educational institutions and commercial centres like shopping malls. Inbound traffic should encounter delays from about 19:00 until about 20:30, notably along the M1 and A419.
25% of our users found rental cars in Swindon for $68 or less
Book your rental car in Swindon at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Economy rental cars in Swindon are around 67% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Swindon
Some car rental companies in Swindon which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Europcar, Enterprise and Budget
On average a rental car in Swindon costs $89 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 Swindon found in the last 2 weeks is $25.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Europcar ($74/day) and Enterprise ($140/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Europcar Unit 8 Crompton Road SN25 5AY (3 miles from city center).
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Swindon. 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 Swindon is $8.47 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $102 and $135, depending on the car size.
Economy (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Swindon.
A Economy car rental in Swindon costs $28 per day, on average.
A Compact car rental in Swindon costs $75 per day, on average.
A Mini car rental in Swindon costs $63 per day, on average.
In Swindon, cars are most frequently rented at Europcar Unit 8 Crompton Road (3 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Swindon costs $623 per week ($89 per day).
On average a rental car in Swindon costs $2,670 per month ($89 per day).
Most car rental providers in Swindon offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Swindon, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
You shouldn’t anticipate having any trouble negotiating the streets of Swindon so your choice of vehicle remains a personal choice. Economy and compact cars tend to be the most popular hires and are great with petrol and parking, but can be limited in terms of storage and passenger space.
Unless otherwise indicated, travelling at a speed of 30mph within the town is the legal limit. There are a few 20mph zones in areas where cycle and foot traffic is higher than normal. If you encounter single carriageways roads, the speed limit is capped at 50mph and along dual carriageways the maximum is 60mph. Whereas on the M4 motorway, driving your Swindon car hire at 70mph is allowed.
There are nearly 30 public parking spots managed by the Swindon Borough Council. Of them, six are the on-street parking variety, with a maximum limit of 1h and a rate of £0.50 per 20min. If you have a large vehicle the multi-storey parking garages may be more suitable. Tariffs here start at £1.40 per hour and they are open from Monday-Saturday from 08:00-20:00. On-street parking is typically free after normal business hours (20:00-08:00) and is always free on Sundays and bank holidays.
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 Swindon so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 10 car rental agencies in Swindon.