Southend-on-Sea car hires from £18/day

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.

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.

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.

On average a car hire in Southend-on-Sea costs £43 per day.

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

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

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

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

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

An Economy car hire in Southend-on-Sea costs £35 per day, on average.

A Mini car hire in Southend-on-Sea costs £34 per day, on average.

A Standard car hire in Southend-on-Sea costs £71 per day, on average.

In Southend-on-Sea, cars are most frequently hired at GREEN MOTION Arrivals Terminal, Eastwoodbury Crescent (2 miles from city centre).

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

Southend-On-Sea is a holiday seaside town and the surrounding countryside has endless amounts of entertainment including restaurants and pubs. Plan your days with care as you must be aware that drinking and driving is taken very seriously and if you are over the allowed limit you could face jail time. The limit is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood so avoid that second pint and be safe on the roads.

You will need to present a valid driver’s license, plus a valid photo ID such as a passport or ID card. Non-UK residents must provide proof of return travel and accommodation details while staying in the UK. A credit card or an accepted debit card is required to cover the deposit and rental costs. If your driver’s license is not completely printed in English, you'll also need to produce an International Driver’s Permit.