Manchester car hire

Famous for cultural icons from The Smiths to Granada TV's Coronation Street, Manchester is the largest city in northern Britain and full of surprises. Football, music, shopping and world-class arts festivals - it has it all. And don't forget the industrial heritage.

Many of Manchester’s car rental companies, including Enterprise, Budget and Hertz, can be found at Manchester Airport. These are some of Manchester’s cheapest rental companies, especially when you book ahead. You’ll also find several car hire firms scattered conveniently across the city.

Car rental in Manchester is cheapest when you book in advance online – you’ll also save time at the rental office if you get everything arranged beforehand. Meanwhile, if you’re after something more specialist, such as one-way car hire or long-term car hire, booking in advance is also recommended. For bigger groups, minibus hire options are also available. Compare the cheapest before you book.

As you’d expect from a major international hub, Manchester Airport is well set up for renting a car. So much so, in fact, that it has its own area dedicated to rentals. The aptly named Manchester Airport Car Rental Village is located just next to the airport’s Terminal 1 and 3 long-stay car parks and a free shuttle bus runs every 10 minutes from the terminals.

The village is open seven days a week, although exact opening times can vary between operators so be sure to check when yours is open. Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, National, Alamo, Hertz and Sixt are all located here, so there’s plenty of choice – whatever budget you’re on, you should be able to find a deal that works for you.

From here, it takes just under half an hour to get into the centre by car if you take the A5103 (Princess Road).

Although you can drive around Manchester’s city centre quite easily, it’s surprisingly compact meaning that public transport or by foot is probably the easiest way to get from A to B. In addition, the roads can get incredibly busy during peak times and parking – if you manage to find it – can be eye-wateringly expensive. So, stick to walking, buses and the Metrolink trams for the centre.

While you’re exploring central Manchester, take a few snaps of the gothic façade of Manchester Town Hall, discover the hidden treasures of the John Rylands Library and have a nose around Manchester Art Gallery before slurping on noodles in Chinatown.

If you are planning a trip to Old Trafford and want to take things at your own pace, then hiring a car in Manchester is a great shout. Both Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Old Trafford have ample parking facilities; just make sure you allow plenty of time to find a space on match days.

Fans of retail therapy should also take the car to the Trafford Centre, the second biggest shopping centre in the UK. You can keep the kids happy with a short detour to SEA LIFE Manchester too, just a few minutes from the shopping mall.

Manchester is on the doorstep of some of England’s most dramatic countryside, and Castleton, a beautiful village in the Peak District, is just an hour’s drive east via the A57. Chatsworth House, one of the most majestic stately homes in the entire country, is 30 minutes further south.

The historic estate Tatton Park, with its Tudor hall and neo-classical mansion is even closer: just a 30-minute drive from Manchester city centre, or 13 minutes from Manchester Airport.

If you’ve got more time to spare, consider heading north to the Lake District to take in some of England’s biggest lakes and highest peaks. Alternatively, drive to nearby seaside resort Blackpool for white-knuckle roller coasters, fish ‘n’ chips and maybe even some ballroom dancing.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.