Car rental at Manchester Airport (MAN)

Compare car hire at Manchester Airport, where most companies share a Car Rental Village linked to the terminals by shuttle.

Photo: Jonny Gios / Unsplash

  • Compare in one search
  • No booking fees from Save60
  • Live prices on partner sites
  • Free cancellation on many rates
Renting a car at MAN

Manchester Airport sits right beside the M56, a short run from the M60 ring road and the M6, which makes it a natural starting point for exploring the north of England. The Peak District is roughly an hour away, the Lake District and Snowdonia around two, and Liverpool, Chester and the Yorkshire Dales are all realistic day trips. Comparing car rental here lets you weigh up the companies in the airport's rental village against those based a little further out.

If you're spending the first few days in Manchester city centre, you may not need a car straight away: trains and the Metrolink tram run from the airport into the city, and central parking is limited. Collect the car when you're ready to head for the hills or the coast. Demand rises sharply in school holidays and around big events, so booking early widens the choice, particularly for automatics and larger family cars.

Where to pick up your car

MANManchester Airport

Most of the major rental companies at Manchester operate from the Car Rental Village on Ringway Road, a short drive from the terminals rather than inside them. Free shuttle buses link the village with each terminal, typically every 10 minutes or so from early morning until around midnight. Follow the signs for car rental buses after leaving arrivals, and check with the driver that the bus is heading to the rental village, as not every bus serves every stop. A few companies use their own sites nearby with separate shuttles, so check your voucher. At the desk you'll need your licence, a credit card in the main driver's name and your booking reference.

Driving around Manchester: what to know

  • Greater Manchester has no clean air charge for private cars, but Birmingham's Clean Air Zone does charge older, non-compliant cars. Almost all current rental cars meet the standard; if yours is unusually old, check it on the GOV.UK vehicle checker before driving through.
  • Some routes towards Liverpool cross the Mersey at Runcorn, where the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges are tolled with no booths. Pay online by midnight the day after you cross, or check whether the rental company handles it, to avoid a penalty plus an admin fee.
  • Roads in the Peak District and Lake District are often narrow, steep and lined with stone walls, with sheep, cyclists and walkers around blind bends. Passes such as Hardknott and Wrynose are best avoided in a large car, and village car parks fill early on sunny weekends.
  • The M60, M62 and M56 around Manchester include smart motorway sections with variable speed limits and camera-enforced red X lane closures. The M6 Toll near Birmingham is the main road in the region with toll booths, and they accept cards.

Tips to avoid extra charges

  • If you're flying in from abroad and can't drive a manual, filter for automatics and book early: they're a smaller share of UK fleets and run out first in school holidays.
  • Manchester charges for using the drop-off zones outside the terminals, so on your last day return the car to the rental village and take the shuttle rather than dropping passengers at the terminal first.
  • UK licence holders may be asked for a DVLA check code; generate one on GOV.UK within 21 days of pick-up so the desk can view your record without delay.
  • Pick a full-to-full fuel policy and fill up before you reach the airport. The deposit held on your credit card is usually tied to the excess, so decide in advance whether you'll take the desk's excess reduction or rely on separate excess cover.

Manchester Airport on the map

Open in OpenStreetMap · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Car rental at Manchester Airport: questions and answers

Where are the car rental desks at Manchester Airport?

Most major companies are based in the Car Rental Village on Ringway Road rather than inside the terminals. Free shuttle buses run between the village and each terminal throughout the day, and the ride takes a few minutes. A small number of companies use other nearby sites with their own buses, so your voucher is the final word on where to go.

Do I need to pay a clean air charge driving from Manchester Airport?

Not in Greater Manchester, which has no clean air charge for private cars. Some other English cities, notably Birmingham, charge older cars that don't meet emissions standards, but nearly all current rental cars comply. London's ULEZ and Congestion Charge only matter if you plan to drive into the capital.

How far is the Lake District from Manchester Airport?

Windermere is roughly 85 miles away, usually around an hour and three quarters via the M6, though weekend and holiday traffic can add a lot more. The Peak District is much closer: Castleton and the Hope Valley are typically about an hour away, making them an easy first-day drive after landing.

Can I take a rental car from Manchester to Ireland or Europe?

Only with the rental company's agreement. Most require you to request it at booking, charge a cross-border fee and supply a VE103 certificate confirming you're allowed to take the hired car abroad. Ferries to Ireland leave from Holyhead and Liverpool, so tell the company if you plan to use one.

How old do I need to be to hire a car at Manchester Airport?

Many companies rent to drivers aged 21 or over who've held a full licence for at least a year, with a young-driver surcharge usually applied under 25. Some set higher minimum ages, and larger or premium cars are often limited to older drivers, so check the age terms of each rate before booking.

Car rental at other airports

All airports →
MIA · United States

Car rental at Miami International Airport (MIA)

Compare car hire at Miami International, where the main brands share a Rental Car Center reached by the MIA Mover train.

LAS · United States

Car rental at Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport (LAS)

Compare car hire at Harry Reid International, where the main brands share the Rent-A-Car Center a short shuttle ride away.

MCO · United States

Car rental at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Compare car hire at Orlando International, where the main brands have counters in the terminals and cars in the garages next door.

LIS · Portugal

Car rental at Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Compare car hire at Lisbon Airport for Sintra, Cascais, the Alentejo and the Silver Coast.

Before you pick up: the airport car rental checklist

Deposits, excess, fuel policy and the photos to take before you drive off.

Read the checklist