Car Hire in Bristol

Part of our guide to car hire in the United Kingdom.

Driving and Parking in Bristol: What You Need to Know

• City centre driving: Bristol sits where the M4 and the M5 meet, and the M32 carries traffic from the M4 at junction 19 into the city centre. The A38 leads south from the city to Bristol Airport, and the A4 runs east towards Bath. The centre is compact, with a harbour, one-way systems and many bus lanes, so set the satnav before you move off. Drive on the left throughout, and at roundabouts give way to traffic from the right and travel clockwise.
• Clean Air Zone: Bristol operates a Clean Air Zone in the central area, marked by road signs with a green cloud and the letter D. Private cars that do not meet the emission standard pay £9 a day. Petrol cars meeting Euro 4, 5 or 6 (roughly 2006 onwards) and Euro 6 diesel cars (roughly late 2015 onwards) are not charged. The zone operates 24 hours a day, every day, with charges applying from midnight to midnight. Payment can be made from six days before to six days after your journey, and a missed payment can lead to a penalty charge notice of £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Check the registration on your booking confirmation at gov.uk/clean-air-zones and ask the supplier at collection how any charge is handled on your vehicle.
• Parking: Trenchard Street (BS1 5AN) is a multi-storey long-stay car park with 936 spaces, open 24 hours, and a height limit of 2.057 m. Payment is by cash or card at the machines before you exit, and the daytime tariff runs from £2.70 for one hour. Bristol City Council also runs Queen Square, Wapping Wharf, Brunswick Square and College Street as short-stay car parks, and Temple Gate, Redcliffe Parade, Portwall Lane, Lower Guinea Street and The Grove as long-stay car parks. Tariffs change, so read the signage before you leave the car. Never park on double yellow lines.
• Bus lanes and restricted zones: Many main roads carry bus lanes, and some city centre streets are limited to buses, taxis and cyclists at set hours. The hours are shown on the sign at the start of each lane, so check before you enter. Bus lane contraventions are enforced by camera and result in a penalty charge notice.
• Toll roads: There are no toll roads in Bristol. The tolls on both Severn crossings on the M4 ended on 17 December 2018, so the drive into South Wales carries no bridge charge. The nearest charge is the Dart Charge at the Dartford Crossing on the M25, which applies from 6am to 10pm every day. Cars pay £3.50 pay-as-you-go, or £2.80 with a Dart Charge account, and payment is due by midnight the day after you cross. A missed payment results in a £70 penalty charge notice.
• Speed limits: Limits are in miles per hour: 30 mph in built-up areas unless signed otherwise, with 20 mph zones common in residential streets, 60 mph on single carriageways, and up to 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Through Newport on the M4 in Wales, a permanent 50 mph limit applies and is enforced by average speed cameras. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal.
• Driving on the left: If you normally drive on the right, collect the car at a quiet time, take the first few minutes slowly and set the satnav before you move off. The driver's seat is on the right, and the most common mistakes are at roundabouts and when turning out of a car park onto a main road, so keep to the left and give way to traffic from the right.
• Best time to drive: Weekday commuter periods in the morning and late afternoon are the slowest times on the M32, the M4 and the M5. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are the easier windows for crossing the city, although the roads to the coast and to Bath slow on summer weekends.
• Road signs and junctions: At a stop sign, come to a complete stop and then give way to all traffic. Do not enter a box junction unless your exit is clear, and stop at flashing red lights at railway crossings until they stop flashing.
• Seat belts and alcohol: Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt, in the rear seats as well as the front. Children under 3 need a suitable restraint in any vehicle, and the driver is responsible for passengers under 14. The legal blood alcohol limit in England is 0.08 per cent, and the safest approach is not to drink at all if you are driving.

Top Places to Visit from Bristol by Car

• Bath — about 12 miles east along the A4, in roughly 25 minutes. The Georgian spa city is the easiest day trip from Bristol, and the A4 passes through Keynsham on the way. Bath has a compact centre with limited parking, so many visitors leave the car on the edge of the city and walk in.
• Cheddar Gorge — about 19 miles south, in roughly 30 minutes. The gorge cuts through the Mendip Hills, and the road through it is narrow and steep with limited passing places, so take it slowly and allow time for slower traffic in summer.
• Wells — about 17 to 22 miles south via the A39 or the A37, in roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on the route. England's smallest city centres on its cathedral, and it pairs naturally with Cheddar Gorge in a single day.
• Cardiff — about 40 miles west via the M4, in roughly 55 minutes to 1 hour. The Severn crossings are toll-free, and traffic builds on weekday mornings and Friday evenings. Confirm with the supplier that your hire allows travel into Wales before you set off.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Bristol?

Peak season: Demand rises over the school summer holidays, from late July to the end of August, and again around Christmas and Easter. Bank holiday weekends and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in August tighten availability, and the most popular vehicle classes are the first to go.

Shoulder season: Spring and autumn outside school breaks are steadier. Weekday availability is generally good, and trips to Bath, Wells and the Mendips are easier to plan around the weather.

Low season: January, February and the quieter weeks of November are the least busy. Winter hires suit business travel and city trips, but allow extra time on the M32 and the M4 on weekday mornings.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for school holidays and bank holiday weekends, and as soon as your dates are fixed for any hire that has to match a flight arrival. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty if plans change.

Before you drive away: Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, including all four sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior. Dated photographs give you a clear record of the condition you received, and they are the quickest way to settle any question about marks that were already there.

Fuel: Confirm the fuel type shown on your booking confirmation before you refuel, and ask at collection which fuel policy applies to your hire. Refuel before you set out on a long day trip so that you are not searching for a fuel station on the way.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Bristol

Payment is made in two steps. A rental prepayment confirms your booking online, with Instant Confirmation from the supplier. You then pay the balance directly to the supplier on arrival, when you collect the car.

The price and vehicle class shown at booking are the terms you receive at the desk. Because the full rental amount is not charged at the time of booking, you keep flexibility if your plans change, and cancellation is free.

The supplier may place an excess hold on the main driver's credit card at collection, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit. The amount is shown in your booking confirmation.

Car Hire Suppliers in Bristol

Car hire in Bristol is available through the following suppliers.

• Green Motion
• U-Save Car Rental

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Bristol

Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.

• Bristol Airport (BRS)