Reading car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Reading
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| Minivan |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pickup Truck |
KAYAK’s top tips for renting 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
- Compact rental cars in Reading are around 73% cheaper than other car types, on average
Reading car rental 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 gas price in Reading?
The average gas price in Reading is ₱399.42 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₱4,793 and ₱6,391, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Reading?
Compact (Fiat 500L or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Reading.
Which car rental companies are at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
Car rental companies onsite at Heathrow airport include GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA.
Which car rental companies are at Stansted airport (STN)?
Car rental companies onsite at Stansted airport include GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Heathrow airport (LHR)?
The only car rental company that offers shuttle or pick-up services from Heathrow airport to off-airport locations is GREEN MOTION.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Gatwick airport (LGW)?
The only car rental company that offers shuttle or pick-up services from Gatwick airport to off-airport locations is GREEN MOTION.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Stansted airport (STN)?
The only car rental company that offers shuttle or pick-up services from Stansted airport to off-airport locations is GREEN MOTION.
How can I find car rentals near me in Reading?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Reading?
A Compact car rental in Reading costs ₱1,077 per day, on average.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Reading?
An Economy car rental in Reading costs ₱1,091 per day, on average.
How much does a Mini car rental cost in Reading?
A Mini car rental in Reading costs ₱1,275 per day, on average.
Reading car rental reviews and directory
Sixt
10.0
Wonderful
6 reviewsCleanliness
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
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
May 2017
Pros:
An update by email on the type of CAR will help prepare better.8.0 Very good
May 2017
Pros:
Location was good, lovely car to drive and clean.Cons:
Not clear on website that you need two forms of IDENTITY, driving licence and passport so we had to go back home to get it.4.8 Mediocre
Dec 2015
Pros:
Car and price were good. Good location.Cons:
The car was filthy on the outside although they did offer me a car wash voucher. I didn't take it as I hadn't accounted for the extra time to get the car cleaned. By far the worst experience was being upsold the insurance excess waiver, even though I'd taken a policy with Kayak at the time of booking. I could kick myself for paying for this as its a complete rip off. The girl who served me sowed sufficient doubt in my mind that the policy I had already paid for (excess waiver), wouldn't in fact cover me should I damage the car. Take my advice, if you take out the excess waiver with Kayak, don't let Sixt sell you additional insurance for the insurance excess, which they quote as £1000. I opted for the 50% waiver which still cost 40% of the vehicle rental.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
7.3
Good
5 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
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Sep 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2022
Hertz
6.4
Okay
1 reviewCleanliness
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
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2017
Pros:
The gentleman who took our return was helpful and polite.Europcar
2.0
Poor
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
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jul 2022
Budget
7.5
Good
1 reviewOne location in Reading
Locations in Reading
45 Caversham Road
+44 344 544 9736
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jul 2017
Cons:
at local office, no response to calls and nobody picks. central call center just redirectsFirefly
9.6
Wonderful
No reviews available
2 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
131 Wokingham Road
+44 118 324 0558
Filters
No reviews available
National
9.0
Wonderful
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
Cow Lane
+44 118 956 9466
Filters
No reviews available
keddy by Europcar
7.6
Good
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
6-8 Commercial Rd
+44 371 384 9952
Filters
No reviews available
Avis
7.5
Good
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
45 Caversham Road
+44 344 544 9785
Filters
No reviews available
Thrifty
5.6
Fair
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
Reading City Wide
+44 118 951 1123
Filters
No reviews available
FLIZZR
8.2
Very good
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
37B Caversham Rd
+44 844 499 3399
Filters
No reviews available
Sunnycars
No score available yet
2 locations in Reading
Locations in Reading
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Reading
Locations in Reading
38 Portman Road
+44 118 939 4394
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Reading
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
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When to book a rental car in Reading
Airports serving Reading
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