Car Hire in Hoddesdon

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

Driving and Parking in Hoddesdon: What You Need to Know

• Town driving: Hoddesdon lies in the Borough of Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, on the River Lea and the Lee Navigation, about 20 miles north of London. The A10 is linked to the town by the A1170 Dinant Link Road, and a bypass opened in 1974 keeps most through traffic out of the centre. Roundabouts are frequent on these approaches, so give way to traffic already on the roundabout, which comes from the right, and drive on the left throughout.
• Parking: Town centre parking includes the supermarket car parks at Asda on the High Street (EN11 8HD), Sainsbury's on Brewery Road (EN11 8HF) and Morrisons on Amwell Street (EN11 8UD). Charges, time limits and rules for non-customers are set by each operator, so read the signage at the entrance before you leave the car. Never park on double yellow lines.
• Restricted zones and speed limits: Hoddesdon is in Hertfordshire, 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 Hoddesdon. 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 A10 and the approaches to the M25. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are easier for crossing the town and reaching the main roads.
• 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: Broxbourne station, on the West Anglia Main Line, has trains to London Liverpool Street in about 35 minutes, roughly every 20 minutes. Many visitors take the train into the city and keep the car for Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, which avoids central London traffic and parking altogether.

Top Places to Visit from Hoddesdon by Car

• Hertford — about 5 miles north, in roughly 10 minutes. Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire and is reached by road via the A10 and the A414. Hertford Castle Gardens (SG14 1HP) sit in the centre of the town beside the remains of Waytemore Castle, where archaeological digs have dated medieval graves to the 10th century. Check the council's information for the car park you plan to use.
• Hatfield House — about 12 miles west, in roughly 20 minutes. Use the postcode AL9 5HX and leave the A1(M) at junction 4, then follow the brown signs via the A414 and the A1000 to the Visitor Car Park, because a satnav may route you through Old Hatfield. Parking for cars is free, and the entrance is through George's Gate.
• Cambridge — about 36 miles north, in roughly 47 minutes. The route follows the A10 corridor, and the Greater Anglia service from Broxbourne to Cambridge North is an alternative if you would rather not drive into the city.
• Central London — about 21 miles south, in roughly 45 minutes off-peak, though weekday traffic can lengthen the journey considerably. Most visitors take the train from Broxbourne and keep the car for Hertfordshire, because the whole of Greater London lies inside the ULEZ.

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

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 stay with family in Hertfordshire and the Lea Valley. 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 Hertford, Hatfield House 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 A10 and the M25 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, so that you return the car as the supplier expects.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Hoddesdon

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 Hoddesdon

Car hire in Hoddesdon is available through the following supplier.

• Green Motion

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Hoddesdon

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.

• Hoddesdon Delivery