Essex car rentals

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Booking Insights
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Cheap car rentals in Essex

These are the best prices for Jul 9 - 16.
Toyota Yaris car
Toyota Yaris
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$20/day
Skoda Fabia car
Skoda Fabia
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$20/day
Peugeot 408 car
Peugeot 408
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$36/day
Volkswagen Passat car
Volkswagen Passat
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$52/day
Peugeot 5008 car
Peugeot 5008
or similar Van
5
3
4-5
$60/day
Ford Explorer car
Ford Explorer
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
$27/day
Fiat 500 car
Fiat 500
or similar Small
2
2
2-3
$22/day
Mercedes-Benz CLA car
Mercedes-Benz CLA
or similar Luxury
5
5
4-5
$62/day
Volkswagen Multivan car
Volkswagen Multivan
or similar Van
5
2
4-5
$79/day
Mercedes-Benz E-Class car
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
or similar Luxury
5
5
4-5
$79/day
Mercedes-Benz GLA car
Mercedes-Benz GLA
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$54/day
Kia Sportage car
Kia Sportage
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$26/day
Class Standard SUV car
Class Standard SUV
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$26/day
Kia Stonic car
Kia Stonic
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
$27/day
Class Commercial Truck car
Class Commercial Truck
or similar Commercial
5
3
2/4
$54/day
Hyundai i40 car
Hyundai i40
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$71/day
Volvo XC90 car
Volvo XC90
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$198/day
Booking Insights

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Essex car rentals

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Essex with confidence.

How far in advance should you book a rental car in Essex?

You should book your rental car in Essex around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Essex?

The cheapest month to rent a car in Essex is January at an average cost of $30/day. August is the most expensive month to rent a car in Essex when prices are $51/day on average, which tends to be 19% above the yearly average rental price for Essex.

What rental car company in Essex has the most locations?

Avis operates 24 locations in Essex, more than any other rental company.

Essex car rental price comparison by vehicle type

Find the right rental car in Essex by comparing prices across vehicle types.

Small cars

$18 - $38

All Car Types

$49 - $92

How much does it cost to rent a small car in Essex?

How much does it cost to rent a medium car in Essex?

How much does it cost to rent a large car in Essex?

How much does it cost to rent an SUV in Essex?

How much does it cost to rent a van in Essex?

How much does it cost to rent a luxury car in Essex?

Small car rentals in Essex typically cost around $28 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $18 per day which is about 36% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 59% cheaper than the average rental in Essex, making them ideal for budget-conscious travelers.

Medium car rentals in Essex typically cost around $68 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $34 per day which is about 50% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually the same price as an average rental in Essex.

Large car rentals in Essex typically cost around $84 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $46 per day which is about 46% less than the yearly average. Large cars are typically 20% more expensive than the average rental in Essex, but offers more comfort for longer trips.

SUV rentals in Essex typically cost around $87 per day. The best time to book is February, when prices average $57 per day which is about 35% less than the yearly average. SUVs are typically 22% more expensive than the average rental in Essex, but provide extra space and capability for groups or road trips.

Van rentals in Essex typically cost around $97 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $69 per day which is about 29% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 30% more expensive than the average rental in Essex, but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.

Luxury car rentals in Essex typically cost around $114 per day. The best time to book is February, when prices average $73 per day which is about 36% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 41% more expensive than the average rental in Essex, but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.

Good to know

Most popular agency

Most popular car type

Average price

Good deal

GREEN MOTION
Small
$36/day
$26/day

Top tips for renting a car in Essex

  • We recommend choosing a smaller, compact, vehicle when hiring a car in Essex, like a standard or economy vehicle. This is because the towns in the county are quite small, with narrow roads in places, as well as old road layouts. However, if you are travelling with the family, or are planning to leave Essex to the surrounding countryside, an SUV or 4x4 is a great choice too. Luxury or convertible cars are also popular choices for vehicle hire in Essex for those on a business trip or celebrating a special occasion.
  • Like the rest of the UK, it’s illegal to use your mobile phone or satnav in your hands whilst you’re driving your hire car. If you need to use a device because of an emergency, it’s always best to pull over once it’s safe to do so. If you’re travelling with young children under the age of 12, it’s a legal requirement to use a child seat, it’s easy to add this to your booking when hiring a car – your child may be exempt from this if they are over the height of 135cm, but it’s always best to wait until they are the correct age to be as safe as possible.
  • You can hire a car in Essex and use it beyond the county to the rest of the UK; however, if you are planning to visit Scotland and Wales it’s important to note that journey distances are quite long. We recommend making plenty of stops along the way, perhaps overnight if you are travelling to Scotland. Car hire companies in Essex will not charge you extra for this service; however, it’s important to consider that some companies have a limit on mileage, with charges if you go over this amount. It’s therefore best to select a company with unlimited mileage if you are hiring a car in Essex and planning on leaving England.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in Essex for $26 or less
  • Small rental cars in Essex are around 58% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in Essex

  • Should I rent a car in Essex?

    Hiring a car in Essex is a great way to visit the county and surrounding area. Use your car to drive easily between the Essex coastline, Layer Marney Tower, Colchester Castle and Audley End House and Gardens – this can all be done in one day when you hire a car. Essex is connected to several main roads so you can quickly and easily get to popular locations outside of the county, like London, Cambridge, Oxford or Kent. Most hire companies allow you to drop off your car at another branch location if you want to start your trip in Essex and finish it in a different town or city.

  • What is driving like in Essex?

    The speed limits in Essex vary throughout the county, the legal speed limit in town centres is usually between 20mph and 30mph, depending on the size of the town. The dual carriageways have a top speed limit of 60mph and the limit on the nearby motorways is 70mph. If you are going from Essex to Kent, you’ll need to pass through the Dartford crossing, which you need to pay for. You no longer pay when at the Dartford crossing itself and instead have to pay online by midnight the day after you cross, or at a PayZone store if you prefer to pay in person.

  • How old do you have to be to rent a car in Essex?

    You have to be a minimum of 21 years old in order to hire a car in Essex and must have held your driving licence for at least a year before renting your vehicle. Even if you meet these requirements, you may still be limited as to which vehicle you can rent, as some larger and more powerful vehicles have higher age restrictions. You may also be subject to a young driver surcharge, it’s best to check with your chosen car hire company in Essex in advance as to their exact policy if you are under the age of 25.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in Essex?

    On average a rental car in Essex costs $35 per day.

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

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

  • Where should I rent a car in Essex?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in Essex are Stansted (43% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Essex), Colchester (26%) and Basildon (9%).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in Essex?

    On average a rental car in Essex costs $244 per week ($35 per day).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in Essex?

    On average a rental car in Essex costs $1,046 per month ($35 per day).

Car rental directory

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in Essex

    15 Locations

  • free2move

    Free2Move car rental locations in Essex

    12 Locations

  • keddy

    keddy by Europcar car rental locations in Essex

    12 Locations

  • greenmotion

    GREEN MOTION car rental locations in Essex

    9 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car rental locations in Essex

    8 Locations

  • firefly

    Firefly car rental locations in Essex

    7 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car rental locations in Essex

    4 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car rental locations in Essex

    4 Locations

  • flizzr

    FLIZZR car rental locations in Essex

    4 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car rental locations in Essex

    4 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car rental locations in Essex

    4 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car rental locations in Essex

    3 Locations

Car rental locations in Essex