Reading car hire
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Cheap car rentals in Reading
KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Reading
- Visiting Berkshire and seeing its many tourist attractions is much easier if you book car hire in Reading. And there really are some superb places to visit. The quaintest of all is the Museum of English Rural Life in the city centre, but venture further out and you’ll find plenty of other gems. A mere 10 miles from town is the ancient English settlement of Silchester, built in the 1st century by the Romans. There’s also Caversham Court with its enchanting gardens on the north bank of the Thames where it flows through the outskirts of the city.
- If you’re flying in, the nearest airport that services Reading is London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is just over 22 miles away. All the car hire desks are situated in Heathrow’s Terminals 2 to 5, and you can then take a free shuttle to the actual parking area to collect your Reading hire car. To do this from Terminal 2 or 3, go to the central bus station. Terminals 4 and 5 have shuttle departure points just outside Arrivals. All the major brands are represented, including Avis, Europcar, SIXT and Hertz. You’ll then have about a 45-minute drive to Reading itself.
- Be particularly careful when driving on the main Inner Distribution Road (IDR) through the city. There are numerous points on the road where it’s easy to become disorientated or where you need to be aware of concealed entrances. Pay special attention when coming from the Broad Street Mall car park on to the Castle Hill section of the IDR, as you can’t see the oncoming traffic until it’s virtually on top of you. Keep your wits about you on the A4074 too: although it’s a wide and generally safe road, it encourages speeding and sometimes reckless driving.
- The worst times to drive in Reading are during the week between 08:00 and 09:00. The evening rush hour isn’t quite as bad, although getting caught up in either of them will most likely add up to 20min to your trip. Once again, it’s the main IDR that is the source of most of the gridlock, so if you avoid the road at those times, you’ll find that your driving experience in Reading is a lot more pleasant.
- Book your rental car in Reading at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Economy rental cars in Reading are around 47% cheaper than other car types, on average
Reading car hire experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
FAQs about renting a car in Reading
What type of car is recommended for driving in Reading?
When you’re booking car hire in Reading, you’d be well advised to get a vehicle that is just big enough for your needs, especially if you’re intending to spend a lot of time in the centre of town. Choose a smaller economy car or a compact model, or perhaps a small MPV if you can. If you want more luxury, a smaller saloon will do the trick. Once you’re away from the city centre and driving out to the rural areas around it, you can take advantage of something roomier, like a luxury saloon or a more sizeable 4x4.
What’s the speed limit in Reading?
The speed limits can vary in Reading, with the usual speed limit set at 30mph. Other roads have had their speed limits reduced to 20mph. Make sure you check for signs when you’re driving on roads like Portman Road, where the speed limit has been reduced from 40mph to 30mph. Also keep an eye out for speed cameras near where Portman Road intersects with Chester Mews and Bridgewater Close.
Where are the best places to park in Reading?
In Reading itself you can park in any number of Reading Borough Council car parks. These include ones at Broad Street Mall in the city centre, on Queen’s Road about a mile away from it, and on Recreation Road, from where it’s roughly a 15-minute bus ride into downtown Reading. Prices average out at around £1 per hour, with some of them offering the first 30min for free.
How much is the price of fuel in Reading?
The average price of fuel in Reading is $11.13 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of uel costs between $133 and $178, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Reading?
Economy (Kia Sportage or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Reading.
Which hire car agencies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
Car hire companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Hertz, SURPRICE CAR RENTAL, Europcar, Avis, Sixt, Budget, Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Arnold Clark.
Which hire car agencies are at Gatwick airport (LGW)?
Car hire companies onsite at Gatwick airport include Hertz, Budget, Routes Car & Truck Rentals and U-Save.
Which hire car agencies are at Stansted airport (STN)?
Car hire companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION, DRIVALIA, Budget, Alamo, National and Routes Car & Truck Rentals.
Which hire car agencies 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, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sixt, Budget, Alamo and National.
Which hire car agencies 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, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sixt, Budget, Alamo and National.
Which hire car agencies 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, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sixt, Budget, Alamo and National.
How can I find car hires near me in Reading?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does an Economy car hire cost in Reading?
An Economy car hire in Reading costs $36 per day, on average.
How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Reading?
An Intermediate car hire in Reading costs $39 per day, on average.
How much does a Standard car hire cost in Reading?
A Standard car hire in Reading costs $40 per day, on average.
Reading car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Sixt
10.0
Wonderful
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
Fronting Rose Kiln Lane
+44 20 7018 8246
Filters
No reviews available
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
7.3
Good
Read 2 reviewsCleanliness
9.3
Comfort
9.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.6
Value for money
7.3
3 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
171 Basingstoke Rd
+44 118 975 8200
Cow Lane
+44 118 956 9466
Qpark Car Park, Chatham Street
+44 118 956 0777
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sept 2023
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2022
Europcar
2.0
Poor
Read 1 reviewCleanliness
2.0
Comfort
2.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
2.0
Value for money
2.0
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
6-8 Commercial Road
+44 371 384 9952
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jul 2022
Hertz
6.4
Okay
Cleanliness
6.4
Comfort
6.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.4
3 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
131 Wokingham Road
+44 118 324 0558
131 Wokingham Road
+44 118 324 0558
25 Boulton Road
+44 118 986 1313
Filters
No reviews available
Firefly
9.6
Wonderful
2 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
131 Wokingham Road
+44 118 324 0558
Filters
No reviews available
National
8.7
Very Good
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
Cow Lane
+44 118 956 9466
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
6-8 Commercial Rd
+44 371 384 9952
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
45 Caversham Road
+44 344 544 9736
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
45 Caversham Road
+44 344 544 9785
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
37B Caversham Rd
+44 844 499 3399
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
38 Portman Road
+44 118 939 4394
Peppard Road
+44 118 972 1114
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
15 Trafford Rd
+44 118 951 1123
Filters
No reviews available
Car hire locations in or near Reading
Good to know
Most popular car type | Economy |
|---|
When to book a car hire in Reading
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Reading
Car rental at airports serving Reading
Reading car hire information
| Pick-up location | Reading |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 20 |
| Airport locations | 0 |