Let’s be honest – as a luxury chauffeur company, we’d love nothing more than to pick you up from Birmingham Airport in one of our gleaming Mercedes S-Class saloons. But we know that sometimes you just need to hire a car and hit the road yourself. So here’s our insider’s guide to navigating the sometimes confusing world of car hire at Birmingham Airport without breaking the bank.
The Real Deal with Birmingham Airport Car Rental
First things first – Birmingham Airport (or BHX to us locals) isn’t the easiest place to find cheap car hire. With its relatively compact terminal building, the car hire companies know they’ve got a captive audience. But that doesn’t mean you can’t snag a decent deal if you know what you’re doing.
All the major players have desks in the arrivals hall – Hertz, Avis, Enterprise and the rest. They’re all clustered together on the right as you exit customs, just before you hit Costa Coffee (where you’ll probably need to stop for a brew after your flight anyway).
Here’s something most guides won’t tell you: the car park where you actually collect your vehicle is a good 7-minute walk from the terminal. In typical Birmingham weather (read: probably raining), this isn’t ideal. Pack accordingly or you’ll be soaked before you even find your hire car!
Birmingham Airport Car Hire Prices: The Brutal Truth
Let’s cut to the chase. In 2025, here’s what you can realistically expect to pay when you rent a car at Birmingham Airport:
- Economy cars (Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa): £35-45 per day
- Compact cars (VW Golf, Ford Focus): £45-60 per day
- Family cars (Skoda Octavia, Peugeot 3008): £65-85 per day
- Premium vehicles (Audi A4, BMW 3 Series): £95-120 per day
But here’s where it gets interesting. Birmingham Airport car hire companies are notorious for their added extras. That £38/day economy car can quickly balloon to £75+ when they’ve finished with you. The insurance excess alone can be a wallet-busting £1,000 unless you pay their daily waiver fee (typically £12-18 per day).
How to Actually Find Cheap Car Hire at Birmingham Airport
As a company that spends our days shuttling clients around in luxury vehicles, we know a thing or two about the transport business. Here’s how to beat the system:
1. Book Your Car Hire Online, But Not Where You Think
Everyone tells you to book in advance online. That’s obvious. But what they don’t tell you is that booking through the rental company’s UK site rather than their global site can save you a packet. We recently checked Hertz for a one-week economy car hire – it was £247 on their international site but only £203 on their UK platform. Same car, same dates, 18% cheaper!
2. The “Arrive Late” Hack
Most car rental desks at Birmingham Airport close around 11 pm. If your flight lands at 9:30 pm or later, you’re in the danger zone. They might “upgrade” you (read: give you whatever vehicle they have left, usually a gas-guzzling monster) or worse, have no cars available despite your reservation.
The workaround? Book your limo hire starting from the NEXT day, then call the company directly and explain your late arrival. Most will accommodate you without charging for the extra night, and you’ll get better vehicle availability.
3. The Birmingham Location Loophole
Here’s a trick that’s saved our clients hundreds: Birmingham Airport car hire is typically 15-25% more expensive than picking up the same vehicle in Birmingham city centre. If you’re staying a few days, take the quick 10-minute train ride from Birmingham International station to New Street, then collect your car from there instead.
For example, hiring a Ford Focus for a week from Avis at the airport currently runs about £345, while the same car from their city location costs around £275. Well worth the £3.80 train ticket, wouldn’t you say?
The Best and Worst Car Hire Companies at Birmingham Airport
Based on our clients’ feedback and our own mystery shopping:
Worth Your Money
Enterprise consistently offers the best balance of service and price at BHX. Their car park shuttle is more frequent than others, and they’re less aggressive with the upselling tactics.
Approach with Caution
Without naming names (rhymes with “budget”), some companies at Birmingham Airport have a reputation for mysteriously finding “damage” when you return your car. Always, ALWAYS take time-stamped photos of your vehicle before leaving the car park.
Car Type Reality Check for Birmingham
Having chauffeured countless clients around the West Midlands, we know which vehicles actually work best in and around Birmingham:
Compact Cars: Your Best Bet
The roads in Birmingham city centre are notoriously tight, with parking spaces that seem designed for Matchbox cars. Larger vehicles are a nightmare on streets like Colmore Row or navigating the Bullring car park. A compact car will save your sanity as well as your wallet.
Avoid SUVs Unless Necessary
Birmingham’s multi-storey car parks typically charge by vehicle height. That Range Rover might look impressive, but you’ll pay up to £5 more PER DAY in many city centre car parks.
Birmingham-Specific Driving Tips No One Tells You
When you hire a car from Birmingham Airport, you’ll immediately face some unique challenges:
- The A45 Confusion: The main road from the airport into the city is a maze of lane changes and poorly marked exits. Set your navigation BEFORE you leave the car park.
- Fuel Station Trap: The closest petrol station to Birmingham Airport (the Esso on Coventry Road) charges about 15p more per litre than ones just 2 miles further away. Keep driving to the Tesco in Sheldon to fill up more cheaply.
- The Clean Air Zone: Central Birmingham now has a Clean Air Zone. Most rental cars are compliant, but double-check with your car hire company to avoid a nasty £8 daily charge.
Long-Term Car Hire: The Numbers Game
Staying in Birmingham for more than a couple of weeks? The economics change dramatically. Most car hire companies at Birmingham Airport offer significant discounts on 28+ day rentals. We’ve seen monthly rates as low as £495 for economy cars, which works out to just £17.50 per day.
But watch for mileage limits on these deals. Most cap you at around 2,000 miles per month, with steep charges for excess distance.
Why We Sometimes Recommend NOT Hiring a Car
As much as we love vehicles (it’s literally our business), there are times when car hire at Birmingham Airport just doesn’t make sense:
- Just visiting the city centre? Birmingham’s tram and bus network is extensive, and often faster than driving when you factor in parking.
- Heading to a major event at the NEC? Traffic can be nightmarish. The train from Birmingham International station takes 10 minutes to the city with no parking headaches.
- Business trip? Consider that black cab from the airport to your hotel might cost £35, while your car hire will sit in a hotel car park costing £15-25 per night.
The Bottom Line on Birmingham Airport Car Hire
For all our love of luxury vehicles, sometimes a simple hire car is what you need. If you’re looking for cheap limousine hire in Birmingham, follow our insider tips, book well in advance, and be wary of the extras.
And if all this sounds like too much hassle? Well, you know where to find us. Our chauffeur service might just end up cheaper than you think when you factor in all those hidden car hire costs!
Need something more special than a standard rental car? Our Mercedes fleet and professional drivers are just a call away. No hidden charges, just straightforward luxury transport throughout Birmingham and beyond.
