As the second-largest city in the UK and a major hub of industry, commerce and major rail and road routes, hiring a car in Birmingham is the ideal way to explore this well-connected destination. Unmistakably cosmopolitan in nature, it has been a major cultural, recreational and administrative centre since the 14th century. If you want to explore the business districts or get on road trips into the West Midlands, a car hire can help you explore the vibrant energy of the city that is at once contemporary and eclectic.
Dollar Car Rental in Birmingham is the ideal way to traverse the city and beyond. Cruise through the city's colourful streets, venture to the Bullring for some shopping therapy, hit the road to the Cotswolds for a scenic escape, zoom off towards the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, or drive along Brindley Place’s canals – Birmingham is never short of surprises.
With Dollar Car Rental, you can be sure of a great ride for every vibe. Compacts are great for navigating the tight city roads or finding easy parking at congested spots. However, if you are planning a family road trip, it is best to opt for spacious SUVs with enough luggage and legroom. To get easy access to Birmingham’s Clean Air Zones, you can opt for environmentally friendly EVs. You can also choose manual to automatic driving options based on your driving comfort.
On top of everything, the Birmingham fleet of Dollar Car Rental meets modern emission standards (Euro 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol) and hence, is compliant with low emission rules. So, whether you need city car hire Birmingham or a large car hire Birmingham, you can drive anywhere inside the inner ring road without paying daily pollution charges.
Navigate with confidence, revel in affordability, and create lasting memories on your own terms. Hire a car and embark on your Birmingham adventure today – the road awaits!
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Found 2 Car Rental Locations in Birmingham
International Airport Birmingham (UK)
AIRPORT WAY ELMDON
Mo-Fr 0700-1900, Sa 0800-1600, Su 1000-1800
214106800
SANDY LANE BIRMINGHAM
Mo-Th 0800-1630, Fr 0800-1800, Sa 0900-1300, Su Closed
1212850310
Discover budget-friendly vehicles for unforgettable travels*
* Rates include tax and are based on a 7 days car rental from 21-09-2026 - 28-09-2026
It is a safe and well-lit paid parking area, near attractions like Library of Birmingham, Symphony Hall, and ICC. Since it also offers convenient connections to local tram routes and Birmingham New Street station, you can park your car and also use public transport to explore the busy areas. This is also the culture and event area of the city.
Located in Birmingham city centre, this is a great space for high-end shopping or dining near the canal. You can easily go to the Mailbox dining precinct, Gas Street Basin canals, and a short walk to New Street railway station,
For electric vehicle users, Birmingham is committed to sustainability. Here are some charging points across the city:
This is a good parking spot if you want to charge your car and while charging, you can explore: the Chinese Quarter, Gay Village, or nearby Grand Central.
You can enjoy shopping at the Bullring while getting access to high-speed charging at this parking spot.
A reliable fast-charging station along a major entry corridor into the city.
Speed limits in Birmingham vary based on road classification, pedestrian traffic, and surrounding environment. There are no fixed speed limit by area and you should keep a watch on the road signs to know the speed limits. Some of a common speed limits are:
On residential streets or near schools: 20 mph (32 km/h)
On built-up urban areas and major city corridors: 30 mph (48 km/h) (keep a watch on road signs)
On outer roads leading toward motorways: 40–50 mph (64–80 km/h)
On Motorways: 60 mph (96 km/h) for single carriageways or 70 mph (112 km/h) for dual carriageways
A38 (M) Aston Expressway
Connects M6 motorway to the city centre.
Passes by iconic Spaghetti Junction, Aston, and ends near St. Chad's Cathedral.
Ideal gateway for your car hire in Birmingham, offering access to cultural landmarks and business hubs.
A4540 Middleway
Encircles Birmingham city centre.
Passes through vibrant neighbourhoods such as Edgbaston, Digbeth, and Highgate.
M6 Motorway
Major north-south artery stretching across England.
Begins at Rugby, passes Birmingham, and leads to Carlisle.
Major traffic hubs: A38(M) Aston Expressway, A4540 Middleway, and M6 Motorway often experience higher congestion levels.
Rush hours, spanning 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, tend to usher in heavier traffic.
Birmingham also has a Clean Air Zone within the A4540 Middleway ring road and this operates 24/7. Any non-compliant private vehicles face a daily charge of £8.
Petrol vehicles that meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that must meet Euro 6 standards are exempt from any charges.
Fortunately, all Dollar hire cars fully comply with CAZ standards, saving you from any daily charges or manual online payments.
Birmingham city centre also has strict bus and West Midlands Metro tram lanes, particularly around Grand Central, New Street, and Moor Street. You should watch for signs, as unauthorised entry into bus routes is not allowed and can result in fines.
One of the main tolls in Birmingham is the M6 Toll (Great Midlands Expressway). It is a faster, congestion-free bypass around the busy M6 corridor through Birmingham. Taking the M6 Toll can save significant travel time during weekday rush hours or long-distance journeys between London and the North West. Toll fees depend on the number of zones travelled and your vehicle class, with rates subject to periodic updates.
If you are driving on UK roads for the first time, these are certain things that you should keep in mind while driving in Birmingham:
Driving in the UK is on the left-hand side of the road.
At roundabouts, you should let approaching cars pass from your right.
Navigating the inner ring road system of Birmingham can be tricky due to one-way systems and pedestrianized zones, so you should keep a watch on the road signs.
Using an up-to-date GPS navigation app is highly recommended.
Shopping: You can drive to central car parks to explore Britain’s jewellery-making capital or shop at Europe’s premier retail destinations: the Jewellery Quarter & Bullring Shopping District. It is one of the most visited places in Birmingham for retail therapy.
Nature Drives: One of the top things to do is take a drive down nature, especially if you want to go to Sutton Park Nature Reserve or Woodgate Valley Country Park. These are also one of the top scenic drives in Birmingham.
Historic Tours: From Black Country Living Museum to Warwick Castle, if you want to hire an SUV and go for a family historic tour down different museums, Birmingham has several places you can reach with your rental car.
Cadbury World (Bournville): Take your rental car and then drive down to Cadbury World. This is a 30-minute drive from the airport and once in Chocolate World, you can explore the history of chocolate along with interactive exhibitions. One of the top family attractions in Birmingham.
Black Country Living Museum (Dudley): Take a Dollar rental car from the Dollar airport location and drive for around 40 minutes to this open-air museum. Walk through the industrial history of the West Midlands with restored historic buildings and streetcars.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses: Experience a 15-acre green oasis in Edgbaston featuring historic glasshouses and rare plant collections. It is just a 15 minute drive from the Dollar car rental location in Central Birmingham.
Warwick Castle: A long 40-minute drive down M40 from Birmingham can take you down to this 1,000-year-old medieval fortifications at Warwick built by William the Conqueror.
Stratford-upon-Avon: You can also take your rental car down to Stratford-upon-Avon to explore William Shakespeare’s birthplace.
Oxford and The Chilterns Scenic Route: Journey along the M40 corridor to tour Oxford's historic university colleges and drive through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Chiltern Hills.
Lickey Hills Country Park: Almost 10 miles away from Birmingham, you can enjoy panoramic views over Birmingham and the rolling Worcestershire countryside as you drive your rental car down this route.
Peak District National Park Drive: Head north toward Buxton and Bakewell to take in limestone valleys, moorlands, and historic estates.
Choosing a small car hire can be ideal for navigating tight city-centre streets, multi-storey parking ramps, and busy traffic.
Planning a group trip or heading out into the countryside? SUVs or mid-size car hire give you ample boot space for luggage, comfortable seating for five so that you can enjoy long family trips.
Enjoy seamless driving through inner-city traffic with hybrid options. Get easy access to emission-free zones without a worry about any pollution charges.
You can take the M42 south onto the M40, exiting toward the A429 through Gloucestershire for a scenic 1 and a half-hour drive into the heart of the Cotswolds.
When you are going down this route with your Dollar car hire from Birmingham, you can also visit Chipping Campden and browse the antique shops of the town Stow-on-the-Wold.
Travel north on the A38 toward Derby, taking the A515 toward Buxton and Snake Pass for a mesmerising 1-hour journey into Britain's oldest national park.
As you drive your rental car, you can try out traditional pastries in Bakewell or park your car and explore the underground limestone caverns at Castleton Caves.
Take the M54 west past Telford, joining the scenic A5 through Shrewsbury and Llangollen to reach the mountain passes of Snowdonia in approximately 2 and a half hours.
You can visit the UNESCO-listed Pontcysyllte Aqueduct or even absorb the spellbinding sights from the base footpaths of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
Yes, you do need to make a reservation in advance for a Dollar car rental in Birmingham. All you have to do is go to our website and share your desired pick-up location, pick-up date/time, drop-off date/time, and the driver's age. Then, choose your preferred car model, share your details, and complete payment.
Yes, you need a driving permit to book a car rental in Birmingham. Be sure to carry your driving permit with you at all times while driving your Dollar car rental in Birmingham.
If your rental car in Birmingham breaks down, call Emergency Roadside Assistance to arrange help. While the cost of this service is included in the car hire rate, any breakdowns caused due to the customer’s fault will be their responsibility.
Yes, you can pick up your car rental in the UK from Birmingham and return it to a different city. However, please note that a fee might apply for this service, which will be specified at the time of booking.
Yes, you will be charged an additional fee as a penalty if you return your rental car in Birmingham late. To avoid this, try not to exceed the designated time mentioned in your reservation. [policy link]
For prepaid car hire bookings in Birmingham, you can cancel by midnight two days before the date of your scheduled pick-up date for a full refund. If you cancel after this time but before pick-up, your refund will depend on our Cancellation Policy.
If you cancel a pay at location reservation, you can cancel free of charge right until the day of collection with no fee or penalty incurred. However, if you fail to pick up your car without cancelling, a No Show/Lost Rental Fee will apply. You can find the fee amounts in the Terms and Conditions.
FOR RENTALS IN ITALY - from 15th Nov to 15th Apr many cities in specific Italian regions are required by law to restrict rentals to only those vehicles equipped with snow chains or winter tyres. To comply with these regulations, Dollar equipped vehicles with snow chains - the price is included in the rental charges as Winterisation fee. Hence, for these vehicles there’s NO NEED TO BOOK snow chains as Extra.
IMPORTANT: Please check the rate details of your quotation on the right of this web page to verify if your booking includes Winterisation fee before booking snow chains in Italy.