Hire a car through KAYAK for your stay in Colchester and explore this charming Essex town without restriction. A hire car gives you the freedom and flexibility to discover the vast surrounding countryside or enjoy a day at the nearby coast, which can be reached in a 40–50-minute drive. You can even spend the day seeing all the sights of London from Colchester. It’s roughly 45 miles to Upminster underground station, where you can park up and take the tube or train into the city centre.
London Stansted Airport is approximately 40min away from Colchester and offers multiple car hire companies to choose from. The likes of Avis, SIXT, Europcar, Alamo and more are all on hand at Stansted’s Car Hire Village with a wide range of vehicles available to suit you. Follow the yellow signs marked ‘Car Hire Village’ to take the shuttle bus from the bus/coach station outside the main terminal. You’ll have your Colchester car hire and be on the road in no time.
Colchester is a small, historic town with many narrow and cobbled streets that may require extra attention when driving. There are also roads in the centre designated for pedestrians only. Adding a sat nav when you take out your car hire in Colchester will be useful in navigating your way around without accidentally turning the wrong way down a one-way street. If this happens, don’t worry. Drivers in Colchester are mostly calm and patient.
Being a popular place to live for those commuting in and out of London for work, traffic in Colchester can be busy during rush hour. It’s advisable to avoid the A12 both ways during peaks hours of 7:00–9:00 and 17:00–19:00. Outside of this period, roads are generally quiet with a slight rise in traffic on weekends. Rain is common and snow is possible in winter, which can be hazardous when driving up or down Colchester’s steep and winding streets – something to be mindful of when choosing your car hire in Colchester.
Book your car hire in Colchester at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Mini car hires in Colchester are around 52% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Colchester
A small economy vehicle is ideal for picking your way through the narrow streets of Colchester. For longer trips on the motorways, for example into London, a saloon may be more comfortable. If you plan on visiting the nearby national parks with the family in tow, a sturdy SUV will probably serve you best, especially in cold, wet weather.
In the centre of town, strict measures have been taken for the safety of pedestrians with the enforcement of a 20mph speed limit, which continues up towards North Station. The A12 around Colchester has a 70mph limit. Always remember to adjust your speed to the condition of the road and be mindful of cameras at intersections.
Finding a parking space in Colchester is not too difficult. There are plenty of parking garages in the centre of town for long and short stays. St. John’s Multi-Storey Car Park is a great place to park and is just a short walk from all the sights. Expect to pay around £2.90 for 2h here. Parking is available at North Station, although it is a 20min walk to the centre of town and slightly more expensive at roughly £5 for 2h. Alternatively, you can take the 66 bus or grab a taxi, which usually costs between £5 and £6.
The average price of fuel in Colchester is R121,77 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between R1 461 and R1 948, depending on the car size.
Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Colchester.