Southampton car hires from £20/day

For driving around in the busier areas of town it’s perhaps best to get an economy or a compact car. You can step that up to a roomier saloon if you prefer, or take advantage of the coastal scenery in a convertible or sports model. If you want to get more off the beaten track or are travelling as a family, you could go for a spacious 4x4 or an MPV. This will allow you to explore everything that the Southampton area has to offer. You can also find car hire in Southampton offering minibuses for larger groups.

You’d be well advised to drive with caution in Southampton and pay close attention to speed limits. The local community takes them seriously, especially on busy roads like Maybray Way in the Bitterne neighbourhood, which is well known for its speed cameras. The speed limit is 30mph virtually across the board, until you reach the outlying areas, where on some roads like Bassett Green Road it is raised to 40mph.

The centre of Southampton is zoned as a City Centre Pay and Display Zone that operates every day of the week, even on bank holidays. This divides the city into parking areas where times are limited. The inner zones only allow a maximum of 2h, while others allow up to 10h of parking time. You can expect to pay roughly £4 to £5 for 2h, and many have adopted cashless instant transactions using mobile apps for your convenience.

On average a car hire in Southampton costs £46 per day.

Car hire companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, Avis, U-Save, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, Arnold Clark, EZ Drive Car Rentals and Routes Car & Truck Rentals.

Car hire companies onsite at Gatwick airport include U-Save and Routes Car & Truck Rentals.

Car hire companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION and Routes Car & Truck Rentals.

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

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION and Avis.

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION and Avis.

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

A Standard car hire in Southampton costs £52 per day, on average.

A Full Size car hire in Southampton costs £99 per day, on average.

An Economy car hire in Southampton costs £43 per day, on average.

Most car hire providers in Southampton offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car hire in Southampton, check out KAYAK's car hire insurance guide.

In the UK, motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road. Speed limits in the UK are displayed in miles per hour rather than kilometres per hour, so be aware of the conversion when driving, as vehicle speedometers often display km/h. There are also many roundabouts, so it's important to know how to navigate them correctly. Drink-driving is also a serious offence, and the limit is lower than in some other countries, so it's best to avoid alcohol completely if you're driving.

Many car hire companies in Southampton have age restrictions in place, which may make it more difficult for young drivers to hire a car. Typically, drivers under 25 will be subject to higher insurance premiums or may be required to pay a young driver surcharge. However, some car hire companies do offer options for young drivers, so it's worth checking the terms and conditions before booking.