Cornwall Car Hire

Why Hire a Car in Cornwall?

Cornwall rewards the visitor with a car. Many of its best beaches, fishing coves, gardens, heritage sites and clifftop walks sit well away from the railway, and rural bus services can be infrequent, so a hire car lets you fit more into a short break and reach places that public transport does not serve conveniently. Whether you are planning a week of surfing on the north coast, a tour of the Penwith peninsula around Land's End and St Ives, or day trips from Truro to the Roseland and the south coast, having your own transport gives you the freedom to set your own timetable.

This Cornwall car hire guide brings together car rental firms in the county's main arrival points and regional hubs, so you can compare who is near where you are landing, arriving by rail or staying. Every listing shows contact details and practical notes taken from the operator's own information.

Car Hire by Arrival Point

Newquay Airport car hire. Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) is at St Mawgan, about five miles north-east of Newquay, and is the county's main airport. Hertz, Europcar and Enterprise all have desks in the P3 car park area, a short walk from the terminal, so you can collect your keys and be on the road towards Padstow, Polzeath, Newquay or the A30 within minutes. There is no taxi rank at the airport, so a car hire booking made in advance is often the simplest way to leave the terminal – or pre-book a transfer if you prefer not to drive.

Truro and mid Cornwall. Truro is Cornwall's cathedral city and rail hub, with car hire at Truro station and at a branch on Newham Road Industrial Estate. It is a practical base for Falmouth, St Mawes and the Roseland, St Austell and the Eden Project.

Penzance and west Cornwall. The main line ends at Penzance, and car hire is available at Longrock on the edge of town. From here it is a short drive to St Michael's Mount, Marazion, Land's End, Sennen and the north Penwith coast towards St Ives, and the Isles of Scilly ferry also sails from Penzance. A local firm offers free delivery and meet and greet at stations, the airport, the heliport and the ferry.

North Cornwall and Bude. If you are staying on the north coast between Bude, Boscastle and Tintagel, a local operator in Bude covers North Cornwall and North Devon with free delivery and collection within two miles of its branch, which can save a long journey from the airport or a mainline station.

Plymouth and east Cornwall. Plymouth is the main gateway into south-east Cornwall across the Tamar, with Hertz and Enterprise branches in the city, handy if you are arriving by train from London or the Midlands and heading for Looe, Polperro, Fowey or the Rame Peninsula.

Tips for Renting a Car in Cornwall

• Book ahead in summer and school holidays – demand for hire cars at Newquay Airport and Truro rises sharply in peak season.
• Check branch opening hours – several branches close on Sundays and some airport desks are weekday only, so confirm collection and return times, particularly for late arrivals.
• Choose a smaller car for country lanes – many Cornish villages, coves and car parks are reached by narrow roads with passing places.
• Have your documents ready – hire firms usually ask for a full driving licence, photo ID and, for some renters, a DVLA licence check code.
• Plan your parking – popular beaches and harbour towns fill early on summer days, so allow extra time or use park-and-ride where offered.

Looking for somewhere to stay while you explore? See our self catering cottages, holiday accommodation and bed and breakfast listings.