Car Hire in Leicester

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

Driving and Parking in Leicester: What You Need to Know

• City centre driving: The A594 Central Ring is a largely dual-carriageway distributor road about 3.75 miles long, and the A6, A47, A50, A607 and A426 all meet it. St Nicholas Circle gives access to the old town and the western retail core, and a one-way system in the south-east means the two directions of the ring use different roads there. Read the lane signs early, set the satnav before you move off, drive on the left throughout, and give way to traffic from the right at roundabouts.
• Parking: The city council counts more than 9,000 off-street spaces in the centre. The main car parks include Highcross, Haymarket, Newarke Street, St Nicholas Circle, Welford Road, Dover Street and Phoenix Square. Four NCP car parks, at Abbey Street, East Street, Lee Circle and the Rutland Centre, closed permanently on 27 March 2026, so older directories may still list them. Charges and height limits are set by the operator, so read the signage at the entrance before you leave the car. Never park on double yellow lines.
• Bus lanes and restricted zones: Bus lanes run on many main roads into the centre, and the hours are shown on the sign at the start of each lane, so check before you enter. Bus lane contraventions are enforced by penalty charge notice. Leicester has no London-style ULEZ or Congestion Charge.
• Toll roads: There are no toll roads in Leicester. The nearest charge is the Dart Charge at the Dartford Crossing on the M25, which applies from 6am to 10pm every day, with cars paying £3.50 pay-as-you-go or £2.80 with a Dart Charge account. Payment is due by midnight the day after you cross, and a missed payment results in a £70 penalty charge notice. Ask the supplier at collection how the Dart Charge is handled on your vehicle.
• Speed limits: Limits are in miles per hour: 30 mph in built-up areas unless signed otherwise, with 20 mph zones common on residential streets, 60 mph on single carriageways, and up to 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal.
• Best time to drive: Weekday commuter periods in the morning and late afternoon are the slowest times on the ring road and its approaches. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are easier for crossing the city.
• 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.

Top Places to Visit from Leicester by Car

• Bosworth Battlefield — about 12 to 14 miles west, in roughly 27 minutes. The Heritage Centre and Country Park at Sutton Cheney (CV13 0AD) lies near Market Bosworth, about 6 miles from junction 1 of the M69, and brown signs with crossed swords mark the final approach. Check the centre's ticket page for parking charges before you go.
• Rutland Water — about 23 miles east, in roughly 41 minutes. The reservoir has several car parks, including Whitwell (LE15 8BL) for watersports and cycling, Sykes Lane at Empingham (LE15 8QL) for the visitor centre and playground, and Normanton (LE15 8HD) beside the church. The perimeter track is 15.1 miles, and the car parks charge by the hour.
• Nottingham — about 27 miles north, in roughly 34 minutes. The route runs directly north through the East Midlands, and the journey is easy to plan as a day trip.
• Birmingham — about 45 miles south-west, in roughly 48 minutes. The drive links Leicester with the West Midlands and suits a day trip or an onward journey.

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

Peak season: Demand rises over the school summer holidays, from late July to the end of August, and again around Christmas and Easter, when families and students return to the city. 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 Bosworth, Rutland Water and Nottingham 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 ring road and the A46 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 Leicester

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 Leicester

Car hire in Leicester is available through the following supplier.

• Green Motion

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Leicester

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.

• Leicester St Nicholas Circle