Some Bath car providers already include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection Waiver into the hire price but not all of them. We recommend always be aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Bath.
Keep in mind that car rental insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your rental. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a no-deductible option to your Bath car rental.
Considered one of Britain’s most attractive cities, a car hire in Bath affords you the convenience of discovering its charms with the flexibility of exploring the greater Somerset region in ways where other modes of public transport fall short. American Museum and Gardens is about 2 miles from the city centre and filled with spectacular colonial era artefacts and fascinating Civil War antiquities. Take in the sights on the 58-mile drive down to Poole and tour the famous Poole Lighthouse, as well as the stunning natural harbour.
SIXT, Enterprise and Alamo are part of the list of companies at Bristol Airport where you can pick-up a Bath car hire after your flight arrives there. Upon exiting the Arrivals Hall, follow the directions to find the collection point for the special shuttle bus, which will transport you to the airport’s dedicated Car Hire Centre near the Silver Zone Car Park. The shuttle runs every 10min and is available round the clock daily. Once you collect your vehicle, it’s a drive of approx. 20 miles before you reach Bath.
Bath is one of the UK’s most visited cities due in large part to its collection of Roman baths and popular yearly festivals, so a huge amount of foot traffic should be anticipated along with a steady stream of vehicles, motorcycles and bikes. Roads prone to traffic congestion during rush hours include the A4 (Lower Bristol Road), which dissects the city east to west, as well as the A367 and A3039, which are primary arteries downtown. Secondary roads connected to these tributaries may also be vulnerable to tie-ups so add a bit of extra time if necessary.
Rush hour traffic in Bath can typically be expected in the morning from 07:00-09:00; during afternoon lunch from 13:00-15:00 and again during the evening hours between 18:00-20:00. If you need to be in the downtown area during these hours it’s better to use public transportation unless time is not a factor. If you have a sat nav you can always find alternative routes to skirt troublesome areas when entering and exiting the city limits.
25% of our users found a car hire in Bath for £48 or less
Book your car hire in Bath at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Mini car hires in Bath are around 4% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about car rentals in Bath
Some car hire companies in Bath which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Europcar, Enterprise and Budget
On average a hire car in Bath costs £64 per day.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Alamo (£56/day), Enterprise (£58/day) and Europcar (£65/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at Enterprise Lower Bristol Road BA2 9ES (2 miles from the city centre).
The average price of fuel in Bath is £6.19 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £74 and £99, depending on the car size.
Mini (Toyota Aygo or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Bath.
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
A Mini car hire in Bath costs £52 per day, on average.
A Economy car hire in Bath costs £22 per day, on average.
A Compact car hire in Bath costs £24 per day, on average.
In Bath, cars are most frequently hired at GREEN MOTION The Old Forge, Bridgewater Road (15 miles from city centre).
On average hiring a car in Bath costs £448 per week (£64 per day).
On average a car hire in Bath costs £1,921 per month (£64 per day).
Compacts and small economy cars are ideal for roaming around old cities like Bath whose downtown streets tend to be narrow and filled with tight corners. Larger passenger vehicles like SUVs and intermediate-sized saloons may be challenged navigating these roads, but if you’re travelling with a few relatives or friends they are ideal for maximum comfort.
Speed limits within the city of Bath are set at 20mph. You can drive faster along carriageways like the A367 and A3039, usually between 30mph and 50mph. On the A4 outside of the city you may proceed at a maximum speed of 60mph, but this decreases as it traverses through the downtown area. The speed limit along motorways like the M4 is set at 70mph. Major junction points always have traffic cameras and CCTV installed so reduce speed on the approach to avoid incidents or fines.
Due to the huge influx of visitors yearly, there is a plethora of on-street parking bays administered by the Council. These are for short stays usually between 2 and 4h where you pay and display your receipt as proof of purchase. Expect to pay a minimum of £2.50 per hour when parking in the city centre between 08:00-19:00 but all on-street parking is free from 19:00-08:00 and all day on Sundays and bank holidays.