Car Hire in Harlow

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

Driving and Parking in Harlow: What You Need to Know

• Town driving: Harlow is a post-war new town in west Essex, close to the Hertfordshire border, and the M11 runs along its eastern side. Junction 7 serves the town, and junction 7A, opened on 10 June 2022 as a £76 million scheme, gives a second access with a new link road to Gilden Way. Junction 8 is the exit for Stansted Airport and Takeley. Roundabouts are frequent on the town's main roads, so give way to traffic already on the roundabout, which comes from the right, and drive on the left throughout.
• Parking: Town centre car parks include the Harvey Centre, Water Gardens, Terminus Street (postcode district CM20) and Wych Elm. Harlow Council sets charges by car park, with some short stays free and different tariffs for weekdays and weekends, so read the signage at the entrance before you leave the car. Never park on double yellow lines.
• Restricted zones and speed limits: Harlow is outside London's ULEZ and Congestion Charge zones, so neither applies in the town. If your route continues into Greater London, check Transport for London's rules before you cross the boundary. The usual limits apply: 30 mph in built-up areas unless signed otherwise, 60 mph on single carriageways, and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
• Toll roads: There are no toll roads in Harlow. The nearest charge is the Dart Charge at the Dartford Crossing on the M25, which applies from 6am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays. 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 at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge. A missed payment results in a £70 penalty charge notice. Ask the supplier at collection how the Dart Charge is handled on your vehicle.
• Best time to drive: Weekday commuter periods in the morning and late afternoon are the slowest times on the town's main roads and the M11 approaches. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are easier for crossing the town and reaching the motorway.
• 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.
• 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.
• Train and car together: Harlow Town station has trains to Stansted Airport in about 17 minutes. Many visitors take the train for the airport and collect a car for Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, which avoids driving and parking at the airport.

Top Places to Visit from Harlow by Car

• Bishop's Stortford and Hatfield Forest — Bishop's Stortford is about 7.6 miles away, in roughly 14 minutes. For Hatfield Forest, leave the M11 at junction 8 and take the B1256 towards Takeley. The National Trust site is an ancient royal hunting forest with a Georgian shell house beside a lake, and the postcode CM22 6NE leads to the Estate Office, with the main entrance about 1 km further along the road. Parking is free for National Trust members and charged to other visitors.
• Stansted Airport — about 12 miles away, in roughly 15 minutes, by the M11. Stansted Express trains from Harlow Town take about 17 minutes, so the car is the better choice when you are continuing beyond the airport.
• Saffron Walden and Audley End — about 21 miles north, in roughly 30 minutes. Audley End House and Gardens (CB11 4JF) lies about one mile west of Saffron Walden on the B1383, reached from the M11 at junction 8 or 10. English Heritage lists free parking, with an overflow on grass, and the main gate has a height limit of 9 ft 6 in.
• Cambridge — about 34 miles north via the M11, in roughly 40 minutes. The motorway runs directly to the city, and a park and ride site on Madingley Road on the western edge keeps the car out of the centre.

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

Peak season: Demand rises over the school summer holidays, from late July to the end of August, and again around Christmas and Easter, when visitors arrive for Stansted flights and family stays in west Essex. Bank holiday weekends tighten availability in the same way, 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 day trips to Hatfield Forest, Saffron Walden and Cambridge are easy to plan around the weather.

Low season: January, February and the quieter weeks of November are the least busy. Winter hires suit day trips and business travel, but allow extra time on the M11 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 or a train arrival. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty if plans change, and the balance is paid at the desk on collection, so nothing is charged in full at the time of booking.

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. Fuel stations in the town include sites on Edinburgh Way and Fifth Avenue, so you can refuel close to the centre before a return.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Harlow

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 Harlow

Car hire in Harlow is available through the following suppliers.

• Green Motion
• U-Save Car Rental

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Harlow

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.

• Harlow Delivery