Car & Van Hire in Brighton and Hove

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Car Hire & Van Rental in Brighton with Enterprise

Jokingly referred to as ‘London-on-Sea’, it’s not hard to see why this nickname came about. Brighton might not be as hectic as the capital, but it definitely lives up to the name thanks to its unique atmosphere and beautiful seafront. From the picturesque Brighton Pavilion, to antique shopping in North Laine and arcade fun on Brighton Pier, the coastal gem is an ideal place to visit.

You can only make your trip to Brighton better by renting a car to tackle the beautiful cliff-side roads and explore the surrounding region. You can find our Brighton branch behind Brighton train station on New England Street. You can also get a rental car from our Hove branch on Kingsway, close to the beach and opposite the King Alfred Leisure Centre car park.

Enterprise Car Rental Services

At Enterprise, we understand our customers need flexibility when hiring a car or van.  To ensure you recieve the best experience, we offer a number of car rental services that would help meet customer needs.

Things to do in Brighton

Relax on the shingle beaches

Brighton is a great place for a beach escape, but it also has a great selection of tourist attractions and plenty of fantastic places you can drive to or through. Many people wonder why the Brighton seafront has a beach made up of pebbles and the answer is quite surprising. It’s because the shingle was embedded into the chalk cliffs that have been weathered over the years – causing this 200 mile strip of pebble beached coast, instead of sand that forms when harder rocks grind down. After witnessing this quirk for yourself, walk down the Brighton Pier and have a go on one of the arcade machines or grab a classic meal of fish and chips with vinegar from one of the seafront’s eateries. You can see the city from a bird’s eye perspective if you get on the British Airways i360 – a glass-enclosed viewing platform that lifts you 162 metres in the air. If you want to sight-see one of the most unique historical buildings in England, the Brighton Pavilion is simply a beautiful but mindboggling palace. It’s a former royal residence built in 1787 and it’s heavily inspired by Indo-Saracenic architecture, making it look otherworldly when compared to the surrounding buildings.

Drive the length of the famous chalk cliffs

Brighton is also an ideal place to start a coastal road trip, because the views from cliff-side roads and seeing the blue sea from rolling hills of the South Downs is simply unforgettable. The national park is great for hiking and cycling, but it’s also full of quaint historical villages like Alfriston. Take the A259 towards the east and you will be met with a beautiful view of cliffs and the sea for hours. You can take a detour through Beachy Head and visit the Beachy Head Lighthouse and marvel at the size of the chalk cliffs. The road takes you further through Hastings, the location of the famous medieval battle, all the way to the village of Rye where you can stop off and make your way down to Camber Sands beach. It’s the widest and longest stretch of sandy beach in the region, with beautiful dunes and a kite surfing centre. No matter what you need during your trip or what kind of car you prefer, an Enterprise rental will take you around Brighton and out of the city to make memories to last a lifetime.

Tips for Driving in Brighton

When driving around Brighton and the surrounding area, there a few key things to remember:

• Brighton has a 20mph limit on most of its streets, with a few roads retaining the standard national 30mph limit in built-up areas outside the 20 zones. The rest of single and dual carriageways are aligned with standard national speed limits, unless specified otherwise on road signs.
• The city centre is filled with surprising gradients on hilly roads and they can be quite tight, so make sure you are confident driving a manual car with a clutch in such conditions.
• The A259 is an unforgettable cliff-side driving experience, but within Brighton’s boundaries, the road is heavily congested at peak times. If you need to drive out or into Brighton during those times, use the A27 road instead when possible.
• When you drive into the South Downs National Park, be wary of animal warning signs. Reduce your speed when safe to do so and use full-beam headlights to see crossing animals like deer, but make sure to switch them off to prevent dazzling animals on the road.
• Some country roads in East Sussex can get very tight, especially in historical villages. Make sure you know the size of your rental car and reduce speed when coming up to other vehicles.
• In an emergency, dial 999 or 112 on mobiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do I need to hire a car with Enterprise?
   The essential items you will need to bring to an Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch when hiring a vehicle are a valid drivers licence, valid ID, and a credit or debit card. You will also need to prove you are over 25 years of age, and there may be additional documentation required for international drivers. Learn more about what you need when hiring here.
   
2. Do I need insurance to rent a car or van?
   No. At Enterprise you don't need to purchase insurance as we provide a damage waiver within the cost of your hire. You can, of course, take option to purchase additional protection products to reduce the excess further to give you complete peace of mind. Visit our car hire insurance page for further details.
   
3. How old do I need to be to hire a car or van?
   All drivers must be a minimum of 25 years old. Only drivers over 30 years old may hire full-size MPVs, premium vehicles/exotic cars and Luton vans. Younger drivers might be interested in Enterprise Car Club. Learn more about age requirements for hiring a vehicle here.
   
4. What are the driver's licence requirements for car hire in the UK & Ireland?
   All drivers must produce a full, valid driving licence. Non-EU licence holders are required to have an international driving permit if the licence is not in English. All renters must produce photographic ID - this can be a passport or driving licence. Learn more about car hire driving licence requirements here.
   
5. Can I hire a car with a debit card?
   We accept all major debit cards except for Maestro, Electron, Solo and pre-paid cards. To hire our 4x4s and premium vehicles, we require a credit card. All cards MUST have the main driver's name on it. Learn more about our accepted card payment methods here.
   

For more FAQs, please visit our FAQ page.