Car Hire in Preston

Preston sits at one of the best-connected road junctions in the North West — the M6, M55, and M65 all meet within a few miles of the city centre. That geography makes it a useful base for car hire whether you're heading into the city on business, out to the Lake District, or across to the Yorkshire Dales.

In brief: Preston has several rental suppliers operating from the city centre and near the railway station, with wider choice reachable at Manchester Airport 45 minutes south. You need a valid driving licence, photo ID, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. Weekly rates almost always undercut daily bookings if you're renting for four days or more.

Renting a Car in Preston: What to Expect

Preston is a mid-sized city rather than a major airport hub, which shapes how car hire works here. There is no single "arrivals hall" with a row of desks — instead, suppliers operate individual depots across the city, most within a five to fifteen minute drive of the centre or the railway station.

The main practical benefit of renting locally rather than at a major airport is price. Preston depots avoid airport concession surcharges, which typically adds 10–15% to daily rates at somewhere like Manchester or Liverpool John Lennon. On a week-long booking, that difference is often enough to justify a rail journey into Preston to collect.

The trade-off is fleet depth. Popular categories — mid-size hatchbacks, compact SUVs, family estates — are well-stocked. Specialist requests such as luxury vehicles, electric cars, 9-seat minibuses, or specific automatic models can be harder to secure locally and are worth pre-booking as early as possible.

Where to Pick Up in Preston

Enterprise Preston operates from Ribbleton Lane, roughly a ten-minute drive northeast of the centre. Fleet leans toward economy and mid-size categories, with strong weekend availability.

Europcar Preston runs from Watery Lane, closer to the town centre and railway station. Good for shorter rentals and business travellers.

Arnold Clark has a significant presence across Lancashire and typically offers the most competitive weekly rates for longer bookings. Their Preston branch is on Blackpool Road.

Preston Railway Station — several suppliers arrange collection with a short transfer from their nearest depot. The exact process is confirmed on your booking voucher; some list "Preston Station" but require a five-minute shuttle to the depot itself.

Manchester Airport (MAN) is 45 minutes south via the M6 and worth considering if you need specific vehicle types unavailable in Preston or if your onward journey takes you south anyway.

Preston Rental Rates by Season

Preston pricing follows North West regional patterns rather than airport-driven spikes.

• January–February: Lowest rates of the year, particularly midweek
• March–April: Moderate; Easter week and school holidays push prices up sharply
• May–August: Peak season — half-term weeks and the school summer holiday see the highest demand
• September–October: Prices ease considerably; often the best combined weather-and-value window
• November–early December: Low rates return; Christmas week and New Year see a short rise

Booking two to three weeks ahead during peak windows makes a noticeable difference to both price and vehicle choice.

Preston's Real Advantage: Where the Roads Take You

The reason Preston works so well as a rental base is the road network. Within an hour's drive:

• Lake District National Park — 45 minutes to Windermere on the M6
• Yorkshire Dales — around 60 minutes to Skipton via the A59
• Forest of Bowland AONB — 30 minutes north, largely inaccessible by public transport
• Ribble Valley — 25 minutes east to Clitheroe and Whalley
• Blackpool and Lytham St Annes — 25 minutes west on the M55
• Manchester and Liverpool — 45 minutes to an hour by motorway
• Southport — 40 minutes via the A59

For anyone visiting the North West without a car, Preston is a smarter collection point than Manchester itself: less city traffic, cheaper base rates, and a direct motorway exit within minutes of the pickup depot.

Practical Pointers Before You Book

Weekly beats daily. If you're renting for four days or more, ask for the weekly rate. It almost always undercuts the daily rate multiplied out.

Confirm mileage terms. Some regional UK rentals carry a soft cap of 100 to 150 miles per day. If your itinerary includes a Lake District or Dales round trip, request unlimited mileage in writing before you collect.

Fuel policy — pick Full-to-Full. The alternative (prepaid fuel) rarely works out cheaper unless you plan to run the tank down entirely. Return the car with the same fuel level you collected.

Book automatics early. Manual gearboxes still dominate the Preston fleet. If you specifically need an automatic, book as far ahead as possible — same-day availability is unreliable.

Depot hours vary. Unlike an airport, Preston depots close in the evenings and often have shorter Sunday hours. Confirm your collection window matches the depot's opening times, especially for late train arrivals.

Last updated: July 2026 · Reviewed by CarRentalChoice Editorial Team · Supplier depot locations and vehicle availability may vary — confirm current terms with your chosen supplier before travel.