Southend-on-Sea car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car hire in Southend-on-Sea

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Mini car
Mini
M
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Economy car
Economy
M
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Compact car
Compact
M
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Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
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Standard car
Standard
M
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Full-size car
Full-size
M
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Luxury car
Luxury
M
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People carrier car
People carrier
M
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Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
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SUV car
SUV
M
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Commercial car
Commercial
M
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Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
M
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Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular car type

Compact

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Southend-on-Sea car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Southend-on-Sea with confidence.

How far in advance should you book car hire in Southend-on-Sea?

You should book your car hire in Southend-on-Sea around 73 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the best car hire company in Southend-on-Sea?

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Southend-on-Sea are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.0), Alamo (8.1), and Avis (7.5).
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Rated 8.0/10
Alamo
Alamo
Rated 8.1/10
Avis
Avis
Rated 7.5/10
Budget
Budget
Rated 7.3/10

What is the most popular car to hire in Southend-on-Sea?

Estate car cars (Ford Focus Wagon or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to hire in Southend-on-Sea. Estate car cars in Southend-on-Sea cost R2 337/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as R2 330/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Southend-on-Sea?

The cheapest month to hire a car in Southend-on-Sea is June at an average cost of R767/day. December is the most expensive month to hire a car in Southend-on-Sea when prices are R1 242/day on average, which tends to be 2 156% above the yearly average hire price for Southend-on-Sea.

Which car hire company in Southend-on-Sea has the most locations?

keddy by Europcar operates 2 locations in Southend-on-Sea, more than any other car hire company.
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KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Southend-on-Sea

  • Car hire in Southend on Sea is one of the best way to see this bustling coastal city. With long coastal strips to meander along, take your car out and spend a day at some of the picturesque outer-lying areas that public transport doesn’t always cover. Hadleigh Park and Hadleigh Castle are must-see sights a mere 22min out of the city centre, while Two Tree Island is just 14min out. For family fun, take a drive to Adventure Island and enjoy the rides and entertainment of one of the UK’s best theme parks.
  • When arriving in Southend by air, you will have several options of Southend on Sea car hire companies to choose from. keddy by Europcar, Europcar and Firefly are all based at London Southend Airport and waiting to assist you. All car hire companies are based landside, in the arrivals terminal of the airport. Additional car hire companies based in Southend On Sea include Sunny Cars on Southchurch Road, Budget on 114 Arterial Road and Enterprise on 196 Queensway.
  • Southend is quite a densely populated city. When it comes to the roads, there are two main carriageways bringing traffic into the city, many main roads and several smaller residential streets. Look out for pedestrians, as the foot traffic is quite high in areas such as the beach fronts and the high streets. It is advisable to book a sat nav to assist you with navigating the streets during your trip. With small coastal regions all around Southend, you will want to take advantage of having navigation and take fun-filled short trips to see some of the surrounding coastal areas.
  • As the biggest city in Essex with a substantially large business district, not to mention the UK’s longest beach pier, you will undoubtedly experience some traffic congestion in Southend at certain times of the day. The Southend Arterial Road and London Road are the two main carriageways coming into the city and are best avoided during peak traffic times around 8:00 and 17:00. Other than that, occasional peak hour congestion and some pier pedestrian traffic is easily avoided. Parts of the pier are best used as park-and-walk regions, particularly in the warmer months when holidaymakers descend upon Southend in larger numbers.
  • Mini hire cars in Southend-on-Sea are around 67% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Southend-on-Sea

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Southend-on-Sea?

    The type of car you choose to hire for your Southend experience will ultimately come down to what your itinerary looks like. With central Southend being more congested with smaller parking options, you may want to look at a compact city vehicle or an economy car that will assist when negotiating traffic. If you have plans to take to the surrounding coastal towns or countryside, a comfy 4x4 will serve you well, particularly in a larger group.

  • What’s the speed limit in Southend-on-Sea?

    Due to high foot-traffic in many parts of Southend, the speed limit is particularly well monitored by authorities. On average limits are 20mph in the city centre, beach fronts and residential suburbs. In other areas the speed limit rises to 40mph, with motorways allowing 60 and 70mph. Southend has almost 20 traffic cameras dispersed around key sites in the city centre, so it is advisable to look out for traffic signs at all times.

  • Where are the best places to park in Southend-on-Sea?

    With so many public walking areas and seaside attractions, Southend’s street parking near the beaches is usually very congested. It is advisable to look for public car parks close by or in the city centre that have very reasonable prices, depending on parking duration and days. Tickets range from £2 to around £18.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, Europcar, keddy by Europcar, U-Save and Hertz.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Gatwick airport (LGW)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Gatwick airport include keddy by Europcar, U-Save and Hertz.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Stansted airport (STN)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Stansted airport include DRIVALIA, GREEN MOTION and keddy by Europcar.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Heathrow airport (LHR)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Europcar, Sixt and Hertz.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Gatwick airport (LGW)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Europcar, keddy by Europcar, Sixt and Hertz.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Stansted airport (STN)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Europcar, keddy by Europcar, Sixt and Hertz.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Southend-on-Sea?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does a Compact car hire cost in Southend-on-Sea?

    A Compact car hire in Southend-on-Sea costs R2 337 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Mini car hire cost in Southend-on-Sea?

    A Mini car hire in Southend-on-Sea costs R778 per day, on average.

Southend-on-Sea car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8,0

Very Good

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

8.0

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Show locations

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

196-200 Queensway

+44 1702 746464

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

No reviews available

Alamo

8,1

Very Good

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Show locations

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

Eastern Perimeter Road

08713845932

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Avis

7,5

Good

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Show locations

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

114-120 Arterial Road

+44 344 544 6096

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Budget

7,3

Good

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Show locations

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

114-120 Arterial Road

+44 344 544 3754

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Europcar

7,0

Good

One location in Southend-on-Sea

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Locations in Southend-on-Sea

London Southend Airport

+44 371 384 3422

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

keddy by Europcar

6,9

Okay

2 locations in Southend-on-Sea

Show locations

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

Southend Airport

8713843422

Opening times not available

Unit 1, 329 Southchurch Road

+44 371 384 5932

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

6,9

Okay

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

Eastern Perimeter Road, London Southend Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

GREEN MOTION

5,5

Fair

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

Arrivals Terminal, Eastwoodbury Crescent

+44 1702 660220

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Firefly

No score available yet

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

London Southend Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Free2Move

No score available yet

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

Automotive Retail Park

+44 1702 563050

Monday09:00 - 12:00
Tuesday09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday09:00 - 12:00
Thursday09:00 - 12:00
Friday09:00 - 12:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Shouqi

No score available yet

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

London Southend Airport Eastern Perimeter Road

+44 871 384 3422

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Southend-on-Sea

Locations in Southend-on-Sea

Aviation Way

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

One traveller who hired a car in Southend-on-Sea gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.0

Car hire locations in or near Southend-on-Sea

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Everything you need to know for your car hire in Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea car hire information

Pick-up locationSouthend-on-Sea
Car types
Hire locations14
Airport locations8

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