I have to make a short trip to the UK next week. Does anyone have any recommendations for reliable car hire firms at Stansted Airport - or, perhaps, suggestions for those best avoided? I need a small car and don’t wish to pay any more than I have to!
Thanks in advance.
I’ve always had great service from Avis at Stanstead, but they’re located at the Holiday Inn Express, NOT the main Car Rental complex.
Both need you to use a free shuttle bus to reach from the airport terminal, but there’s an entirely different shuttle bus for the Holiday Inn Express/Avis which leaves from the bus terminal on the ground floor.
Thank you - it’s much appreciated.
Last couple of times I used Hertz, and specifically hired a Polestar because it was cheap as chips despite being a decent sized car (cheaper even than a Fiat 500!).
Edit: seems they’re not such a good deal any longer so not sure I’d recommend them now.
I’d second what @NotALot says about Avis/Budget.
I’ve found the cheapest prices on Travel Supermarket and Booking.com.
As was mentioned, you head towards the Holiday Inn Express by shuttle bus. Avis/Budget gives you free travel on this bus. You show the driver your car rental voucher. Bus is found at the airport bus stop 19.
It’s handy because the filling station is opposite the hotel where their office is. That saves much faffing around.
Downside is finding a parking spece during busy times when handing back the car, but the staff know it can be an issue. Another downside is that their office is open at weird times so it may not work out well for you when you pick up a car. Handing it back is no problem because you put the keys in a letter box. Not ideal as I like to get confirmation that there will be no extra charges when I hand back the car, but there we are.
I’ve hired with them 3 times over as many years because they’ve always been the cheapest for me. They’re also cheapest for me this year, so my 4th hire with them is booked.
I also stay in the hotel, Holiday Inn Express where the Avis/Budget office. I find that it all works out rather well.
Have used the Holiday Inn several times during UK visit as it was equidistant to all our relatives and it was very handy when arriving on late evening flights and departing on early morning ones.
The restaurant there did decent food at reasonable prices when we were there last July.
Ah, I’ve not eaten there other than brekkie.
I did have a cheeky pint one evening tho.…
I also did this at Stansted - i thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Polestar- quite convincing.
I’m a little suspicious of any company that advertises its new car’s outstanding feature as ‘Look! No rear window!’. Heaven knows what the great LJK Setright would have made of it 
There are a few cars in Lewisham that don’t have rear windows, I mean they should, did have 
I used Drivalia last time. The bloke who gave me the car spent time documenting every tiny scratch. Also a shuttle bus, I think to the Holiday Inn, not sure, but frequent.
I usually use Hertz/Dollar and opt for a small compact, for UK driving.
The last two hires I was given, Volvo V60 and a Lexus , both hybrid automatics, a bonus for me. I don’t know a lot about cars, but I cannot see a similarity with these cars to a Focus or Fiat 500, but 85 pounds for three days, cheap as chips @Gareth I was pleased to be covered with excess insurance.
A short shuttle bus ride to the off site car hire area.
Avis do offer delivery of your hire car.
Good to know.
My wife has taken to flying into Heathrow as car hire rates, especially if you do a couple of weeks, seem lower than Stansted. The only slight wrinkle is you have to hop on a shuttle and collect from T5 but she said it was easy. Amd of course you’re using a proper airport…