Some Bedford 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 Bedford.
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 Bedford car rental.
Explore Bedfordshire in the best way possible, with the flexibility that a car hire in Bedford gives you. Take in the local sites, as well as those further afield, at your own pace and don’t let public transport dictate your movements. Bedford car hire is perfect for if you are staying in the historic market town of Bedford and want to explore the countryside. You can take a 6-mile drive to the popular tourist area of Willington Dovecote and Stables in about 15min, which is quicker than other modes of transport.
The closest international airport to Bedford is in Luton, which is approximately 18 miles from the town centre. At London Luton (LTN), you will find a great selection of car rental companies for your onward journey. Pick between companies such as Avis, Enterprise and Hertz, which are all located in the Car Hire Centre just a short shuttle bus journey away from the terminal entrance. At the airport, the free shuttle bus will arrive at Bay C outside the airport arrivals door of the terminal building, before taking you to the Car Hire Centre.
As towns go, Bedford is quite large, so having a car to explore the tourist sites is definitely beneficial. You might want to consider adding a navigation system to your Bedford car hire to ensure you don’t take a wrong turn. Due to its popularity as a market town, the streets can get busy with visitors, so be careful of any tourists who are looking at the buildings and not taking notice of the oncoming traffic. You may also notice a larger amount of cyclists down by the Embankment, so care should be taken when driving along the river.
During rush hour, which is normally between 8:00 and 9:00 and 17:00 and 18:00, traffic increases as a result of locals going to and from work. It’s advisable to try planning your travel around these times to avoid any delays. Weekends also get very busy with visitors who want to explore the historic market town, so be prepared for more traffic during these times. The worst hit roads are Manton Lane and Clapham Road, which meet at a junction and often get very busy. During the summer, people flock to Bedford Embankment for walks, many of whom drive in from outside the town, so it’s expected to be busier in general during warmer months.
25% of our users found a car hire in Bedford for £44 or less
Book your car hire in Bedford at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Mini car hires in Bedford are around 84% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about car rentals in Bedford
Some car hire companies in Bedford 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 Hertz
On average a hire car in Bedford costs £55 per day.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Europcar (£46/day) and Enterprise (£87/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at Europcar 171-175 Tavistock Street MK40 2SD (1 miles from the city centre).
The average price of fuel in Bedford is £7.33 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £88 and £117, depending on the car size.
Mini (Class Mini Car or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Bedford.
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
A Mini car hire in Bedford costs £10 per day, on average.
A Standard car hire in Bedford costs £14 per day, on average.
A Compact car hire in Bedford costs £45 per day, on average.
In Bedford, cars are most frequently hired at keddy by Europcar 171-175 Tavistock Street (1 miles from city centre).
On average hiring a car in Bedford costs £385 per week (£55 per day).
On average a car hire in Bedford costs £1,650 per month (£55 per day).
Bedford is a historic market town so, as you can imagine, it’s smaller than most cities. A smaller car may therefore be a better choice for your car hire in Bedford so that you can navigate the roads with ease and find parking quicker.
Bedford has introduced some 20mph speed limits in residential zones across the town in order to increase safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. There are still some 30mph zones within the town centre as well, which can identified by the road signs.
Bedford has some great places to park, which are only a stone’s throw away from the local amenities. Lurke Street Car Park and Duckmill Lane Car Park offer reasonably priced alternatives to on-street parking. On Sundays, all council car parks are free of charge to the public, whilst you can get free parking during weekdays after 18:00 too. On Saturdays, the first two hours of parking are free too, should you only need to nip into the town.