Car & Van Hire in Cardiff

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Car Hire in Cardiff with Enterprise

The Welsh capital is a wonderful city getaway. With Europe’s biggest waterfront development, beautiful gardens, broad streets and close proximity to some of Wales’ most iconic landscapes – it’s a perfect place for setting out on day trips into the country when the hustle and bustle gets tiring. After wandering around Bute Park and visiting Cardiff Castle, hire out an Enterprise car and drive into the magical Brecon Beacons National Park.

If you’re flying into Cardiff and need a car when you land, you can get help at our Cardiff Airport branch counter. If you find yourself in the city centre, visit the Cardiff City Centre branch on Penarth Road close to Cardiff Central train station. If you’re in the east side of the city, you can find us on Ipswich Road at our Cardiff Roath branch or if you’re in the west visit us in our Cardiff Leckwith branch on Hadfield Road near Cardiff City Stadium.

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 Cardiff

Stroll down the biggest waterfront development in Europe

Being the ninth biggest city in the UK and the capital of Wales, Cardiff has seen a major redevelopment in the recent decades. The ‘bay’ as it’s locally known, was once a crucial port in the Welsh coal trade, but it’s now turned into the biggest waterfront development in Europe and provides entertainment for the city. You can witness the incredible Wales Millennium Centre in all its glory – a building made up entirely of natural materials sourced within Wales. It’s an arts centre which also houses a theatre and a selection of food and drink locales. For a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle, you don’t have to travel far. Park at Havannah Street Car Park and walk down into the Cardiff Wetlands Reserve to stand on The Jetty – a viewing platform in the water where you can birdwatch and see the nearby marina with beautiful yachts.

Discover the history of Cardiff Castle

If you want to explore the town a bit, take a walk down Bute Park and make your way down to the historical Cardiff Castle – a Norman motte and bailey fortress from the 11^th century built on top of a third century Roman fort. Follow that up with some drinks at The Bootlegger on Womanby Street to listen to some live jazz or visit the grand Prince of Wales pub, a converted old theatre with interesting décor.

Pack some hiking gear and visit the Brecon Beacons peaks

Cardiff is also a great hub to set out on day trips from, as it’s close to iconic Welsh sights and places. A great place to start is a trip to the Brecon Beacons National Park to see the moorlands, woods and mountain peaks. Hire an SUV from one of our branches, capture the picturesque vistas once you’ve climbed Pen y Fan, and see the Bronze Age burial cairns. If mountains aren’t your thing, you should tour down to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Stop off at the harbour town of Tenby to see its colourful waterfront houses and see the ruins of 13^th century walls and castle. A short drive from there, you can find Whitesands Bay with its beautiful sandy beach. Whatever you might have planned for your time in Cardiff, it’s worth venturing out in the comfort of your Enterprise rental, so get a quote for your stay above to explore this corner of Britain.

Tips for Driving in Cardiff

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

·         In Wales, you drive on the left like in the rest of the UK. Remember to give priority to those coming from the right on junctions and on roundabouts.

·         Cardiff uses standard UK speed limits. Most built-up area roads will have a 30mph limit with some 20mph limit zones. Single and dual carriageways are also aligned with standard national speed limits, unless specified otherwise on road signs.

·         The A4232 junctions at Culverhouse Cross, Leckwith and Atlantic Wharf get busy during peak hours, so plan your journey ahead if you’re on a schedule.

·         There is plenty of on-street parking around Cardiff but you can also find designated outdoor and multi-storey car parks, which usually have hourly charges.

·         If you decide to venture out of the city into the countryside, make sure you’re aware of animal warning signs and especially sheep near farmland. Reduce speed and use the car’s full beams at night, but make sure to turn them off if you see an animal to prevent them from getting dazzled.

·         If you drive into the Brecon Beacons, be mindful of twisty roads and pinhead turns with steep gradients. Take extra caution when exiting turns as it may be slippery and easy for the car to lose traction.

·         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.