Car Hire in Cardiff

The capital city of Wales is a thriving hub of music, nightlife, and sport. Cardiff is home to the country’s key sporting championships, traditional and warming Welsh food, and a lively shopping and music culture. If you are looking for a true Welsh experience, Cardiff will certainly show you a good time.

The location of Cardiff makes it a great base for discovering surrounding areas in South Wales, and across the water into Bristol and Dorset. Take your rental car along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast to see the some of the iconic striped yellow-blue Jurassic limestone cliffs.

Economy car hire in Cardiff is available from 2 stations across the city. If you choose to fly, you can pick up your car rental from Cardiff Airport, or pick up from the more central location of Cardiff Roath.

From smaller car rentals such as the Fiat 500 and Vauxhall Corsa; to bigger models like the Peugeot 5008 and luxury car hire, Europcar has a fleet to get you on your way.

In Cardiff, car hire is available for short and long term rental periods.

To hire a car in Cardiff - if you live within the EU, you just need a valid driver’s licence. If you live outside the EU, you can drive in the UK for up to 12 months using any valid driver’s licence.

Signposts and speed limits are labelled in miles per hour. The national speed limit is 70 miles per hour (112 km/h) for cars on motorways and dual carriageways, 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) for single track roads, and 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) for built up areas.

There is a toll to pay on the M48 Severn Bridge and the M4 Second Severn Crossing when you enter Cardiff via the southwest of the UK.

In Cardiff, the parking system largely operates under a ‘pay & display’ system. Some parking zones allow you to park your car for up to 4 hours, whereas other areas including multi-storey car parks, have a longer time period. Certain residential areas around the city have on-street parking, meaning you can park on the pavement during non-peak hours. Many car parks operate under a cashless system, where you can pay for parking via telephone, internet, or app.

Road traffic coming in and out of Cardiff is heavier during peak hours, at the beginning and end of the working day (7.30am-9.30am & 4.30pm-6.30pm), and at weekends. Bear in mind that the traffic is also dense when there are sporting events on at the Millennium Stadium.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving with a phone (either calling or texting) is strictly prohibited.

With expansive green spaces, Cardiff Bay and a lively centre, the Welsh capital has more than enough to keep you entertained. Art and history lovers are not left out with Cardiff National Museum - in a beautiful neoclassical building - hailed as one of the best in the UK. Hungry stomachs have come to the right place, with fresh fish restaurants and award-winning curry houses at the tip of the iceberg.

Cardiff is a great base for day trips to the surrounding beaches, ancient sites, and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty. The Brecon Beacons, the Cotswolds, and the Mumbles are all worth a visit.

Moving on from Cardiff by a car, Bristol (44 miles/70 kilometres), Bath (55 miles/88 kilometres) and Gloucester (66 miles/108 kilometres) are within driving range.

We are proud to be European leaders in car rental. To find out more about the Europcar car hire experience, be sure to visit our car rental page!