Bedford car hires from £18/day

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a car hire in Bedford with a pick-up date of 11/5 and drop-off date of 25/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
Driver's age: 26-65
Fri 10/5
Fri 17/5

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Cheap car hire in Bedford

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Economy£19/day
Compact£21/day
Intermediate£25/day
People carrier£81/day
Full-size SUV£67/day
Mini£18/day
Intermediate SUV£23/day
Compact SUV£24/day
Compact estate car£37/day
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Bedford

  • By collecting your cheap car hire in Bedford, you afford yourself the opportunity to explore some of the surrounding area, and you can visit a few of the most popular tourist destinations nearby. The ancient university city of Cambridge is only 31 miles away and you can get there in your hire car in about 50min. Another great option is to visit London, which is only 57 miles away, taking about 1h 30min to arrive. However, you should keep in mind that there is a circulation fee that you must pay when entering London with your car hire.
  • There are plenty of extra accessories that you can add to your Bedford car hire, including things like air conditioning and sat-nav, which could be very handy if you are exploring the local area. You can add extra drivers onto your package and there are both baby seats and booster seats that you can ask for to make your journey safe if you're travelling with children.
  • You will need to be at least 20 years old when picking up your cheap car hire in Bedford, and there may be a surcharge for drivers under the age of 25 to cover any extra insurance costs. You will need to have held your driving licence for at least 12 months before collecting the hire car, and you will need to show a valid driver’s licence. Most companies ask that you pay by credit card. You may be able to contact the car hire company to see if you can pay by debit card.
  • 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 £25 or less
  • Book your car hire in Bedford at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Intermediate hire cars in Bedford are around 47% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about car hire in Bedford

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Bedford?

    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.

  • What’s the speed limit in Bedford?

    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.

  • Where are the best places to park in Bedford?

    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.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Bedford?

    On average a car hire in Bedford costs £37 per day.

  • What is the cheapest car hire company in Bedford?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at keddy by Europcar (£18/day), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (£26/day) and Europcar (£37/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at keddy by Europcar 171-175 Tavistock Street MK402SD (1 miles from the city centre).

  • How much is the price of fuel in Bedford?

    The average price of fuel in Bedford is £5.62 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £67 and £90, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Bedford?

    Intermediate (Citroen Grand C4 Picasso or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Bedford.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Europcar, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, Sixt, Hertz, Budget, Avis, keddy by Europcar and Virtuo.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Gatwick airport (LGW)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Gatwick airport include Europcar, Hertz, Budget, keddy by Europcar, Dollar and Routes Car & Truck Rentals.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Stansted airport (STN)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Alamo, Hertz, Budget, keddy by Europcar, National and Routes Car & Truck Rentals.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Heathrow airport (LHR)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Europcar, Sixt, Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, Budget, Avis, Dollar and National.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Gatwick airport (LGW)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Europcar, Sixt, Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, Budget, Avis, keddy by Europcar and Dollar.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Stansted airport (STN)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations include GREEN MOTION, Europcar, Sixt, Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, Budget, Avis, keddy by Europcar and Dollar.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Bedford?

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

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Bedford?

    An Intermediate car hire in Bedford costs £44 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Luxury car hire cost in Bedford?

    A Luxury car hire in Bedford costs £100 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car hire cost in Bedford?

    A Standard car hire in Bedford costs £95 per day, on average.

  • How much does a car hire in Bedford cost for a week?

    On average a car hire in Bedford costs £256 per week (£37 per day).

  • How much does a car hire in Bedford cost for a month?

    On average a car hire in Bedford costs £1,097 per month (£37 per day).

  • Should I get insurance when hiring a car in Bedford?

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

  • What are the legal driving requirements for using child seats in Bedford?

    Children must use a child seat until the age of 12, or until they reach the height of 135 cm tall, whichever one comes first. Until they are the age of 15 months, children must be placed and securely fastened in a rear-facing child seat, which, after 15 months, can be turned to face the front. You can ask for a child seat to be included with the car when you pick it up.

  • What are the rules of the road when driving in Bedford?

    The legal alcohol limit in Bedford is the same as in the rest of England and is set at 80 mg. If you are caught driving with more then you may face fines or more serious consequences. You can only use your phone if it is hands free, and all passengers must wear their seat belts when the vehicle is moving. The speed limit is normally 30 mph in the urban areas of Bedford unless otherwise signposted, and in rural areas it is 60 mph. The speed limit is the national limit of 70 mph on the motorway.

Bedford car hire reviews and directory

Europcar

10.0

Wonderful

1 review
Best rated

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

8.0

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

171-175 Tavistock Street

+44 371 384 5904

Opening times not available

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Jul 2022

KAYAK
I booked the wrong date but despite cars being in high demand the staff were able to amend the booking and get me on my way without any extra charge. Really grateful for their help and patients.

1 out of 1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.1

Very Good

1 review
Most popular

2 locations in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

25 Caxton Road

+44 1234 353555

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Elstow Park And Ride

+44 1234 385936

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

No reviews available

Firefly

9.6

Wonderful

No reviews available

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

1 Windsor Road

+44 123 448 0127

Monday08:30 - 17:30
Tuesday08:30 - 17:30
Wednesday08:30 - 17:30
Thursday08:30 - 17:30
Friday08:30 - 17:30
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

keddy by Europcar

7.6

Good

No reviews available

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

171-175 Tavistock Street

+44 371 384 5904

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Avis

7.4

Good

No reviews available

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

Station Road

+44 344 446 040

Monday09:00 - 12:00
Tuesday09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday09:00 - 12:00
Thursday09:00 - 12:00
Friday09:00 - 12:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

6.9

Okay

No reviews available

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

Unit 1 Manor Park

+44 123 448 0127

Monday10:00 - 16:00
Tuesday10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday10:00 - 16:00
Thursday10:00 - 16:00
Friday10:00 - 16:00
Saturday10:00 - 16:00

Filters

No reviews available

Routes Car & Truck Rentals

2.9

Poor

No reviews available

Cheapest deal

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

171-175 Tavistock Street,bedford

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Free2Move

No score available yet

2 locations in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

Barkers Lane

+44 1234 270000

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Chalton House Uk1-101-135 Luton Road

+44 20 3318 5096

Monday09:00 - 12:00
Tuesday09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday09:00 - 12:00
Thursday09:00 - 12:00
Friday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Bedford

Show locations

Locations in Bedford

171-175 Tavistock Street

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

2 travellers who hired a car in Bedford gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.3

Car hire locations in or near Bedford

Good to know

Most popular agency

GREEN MOTION

Most popular car type

Intermediate

Average price

£37/day

Good deal

£25/day

When to book a car hire in Bedford

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

Car hire insurance in Bedford

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) & Theft Protection Waiver

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 being aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Bedford.

Deductible

Keep in mind that car hire insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your hire. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a non-deductible option to your Bedford car hire.