Car Hire in Sussex
Welcome to the Enterprise Sussex car rental page. Choose from a wide selection of cars ranging from smaller economy cars to larger SUVs and people carriers
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Car Rental in Sussex
In south-east England with beaches and cliffs looking out over the English Channel, the lush and historic counties of East and West Sussex are considered to have some of the most beautiful countrysides in England - including the South Downs and the wooded Wealds. The busy coastal strip is dotted with seaside resort towns, harbours and pleasure marinas. Here, the main city of Brighton and Hove boasts an impressive seaside pier with amusements, art, culture and diverse entertainment to delight almost all tastes.
Our main branches are situated in New England Street, Brighton and on Kingsway in Hove. To the east of the region, our branches serve customers in Hastings, Eastbourne and Uckfield. Similarly, to the west, we offer rental vehicles from our depots in Horsham, Hayward's Heath, Crawley and Worthing.
Our Vehicles for Hire in Sussex
With Enterprise, you can rely on a wide choice of modern, reliable vehicles. For easy parking, why not select a mini, economy or compact model? Options include the exciting Toyota Aygo, the nippy Vauxhall Corsa (in three or five door versions) or the flexible Ford Focus. People carriers are perfect for families planning holiday trips to Sussex, particularly to the South Downs and castles or coast. You may wish to consider Vauxhall Zafira Tourer or a full-size SEAT Alhambra.
For comfort over distances, the Skoda Octavia or Vauxhall Insignia saloon ease motorway travelling. Alternatively, for countryside roads and tracks we suggest the Toyota Rav 4x4. Other options include the Porsche Cayman premium coupe or Mercedes E250 convertible, subject to availability.
Finally, nine-passenger minibuses such as the Ford Transit Custom Tourneo are ideal for larger groups, organised walking excursions, getting to sports fixtures or for self-drive airport runs.
Attractions in Sussex
A good choice of exhibitions and festivals means that there is nearly always something going on in Sussex. In the largest resort of Brighton, the landmark Royal Pavilion building helped the area to fame and remains a tourist attraction to the present day. The Dome is host to the acclaimed Brighton Festival, a mixed arts celebration held every May. There is a diverse choice of entertainment to suit young and young at heart, from club goers to theatre lovers. The Palace Pier and expansive shingle and pebble beaches look out over the waters of the channel and in fine weather, a ride on the Brighton Wheel gives great views over the five-mile beach. The city also has a racecourse while, back in the centre, The Lanes are full of Bohemian art and craft shops and designer clothes stores.
With a car, Sussex can be explored easily, from spectacular Beachy Head in the east to Harting Down in the west. Ramblers and cyclists will love the numerous coastal paths and, for those who appreciate relaxing by the seaside instead, Worthing has sand and pebble beaches with a Victorian pier more given over to angling than to amusements. The roads north-westwards from here lead to the South Downs area. With the convenience and flexibility of a rental vehicle, why not drive out to Arundel Castle? This restored Norman castle and impressive example of Gothic architecture dates back to the year 1068, just two years after the Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings.
In East Sussex, Drusillas Park and Zoo is situated near Alfriston, just off the A27 Lewes Road. The attraction covers around ten acres and has a play zone with slides for children. Sandcastle builders could head for the large beach at Camber Sands near Rye, which has the only sand dune system in the east of Sussex.
Places to Visit Outside Sussex
When you have seen the local area, Sussex is also well placed for planning trips to the surrounding regions of Greater London, eastwards to Kent or westwards through the South Downs National Park into Hampshire. Here, visitors can choose from the naval city of Portsmouth or the modern seafront at Southampton.
Nearby, the appeal of the New Forest attracts visitors to its leafy groves, wildlife reserves, nature walks and historic houses with beautiful gardens. Other options include the Dorset coastline or a short ferry crossing across the Solent to visit the Isle of Wight.
Airport Car Hire
The closest airport for travelling to Sussex is London Gatwick, situated to the south of London and approximately 20 miles (31 kilometres) from Brighton. This main London airport has an on-site Enterprise office and excellent connections to the M23 motorway. Confirming your airport car hire is quick and straightforward - with a few details and clicks, your vehicle will be reserved and our Enterprise staff will await your arrival.
Alternatively, London Heathrow airport is 37 miles from Brighton, while the smaller regional airport at Southampton is approximately 39 miles to the west.
Parking and Traffic Information in Sussex
Entry and exit roads to popular destinations, including Brighton's seafront and centre, tend to be subject to traffic jams and tailbacks during major summer weekend events and bank holidays.
Sussex is served by a good network of main roads. However, in addition to occasional weekend lane closures, the A27 is subject to long-term improvement road works particularly between the A270 and A293.
Cheap Van and Car Hire
Enterprise in Sussex offers great prices across its large fleet of vehicles, whether you need a 3-door economy car, roomy SUV or 9-passenger people carrier. Book online in advance for the best deals on cheap car rental, or visit our knowledgeable staff in branch for friendly, personal service.
Enterprise offers a wide range of new vans from our city and neighbourhood branches. Explore the full fleet of passenger vans and larger commercial vehicles online or visit us in branch where our staff can help you find your perfect vehicle. Visit our Sussex van hire page to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- What are the driver's licence requirements for car hire in the UK & Ireland?
All drivers must present a full valid driving license. If the driving license is written in a language and characters different to those of the country of rental, an International Driving Permit is also required. Learn more about car hire driving licence requirements here.
- Can I hire a car with a debit card?
We accept payment by either a debit or credit card in the name of the renter. A credit card is required if you are renting a People Carrier, Compact Elite, SUV, Premium, Luxury or Executive vehicle. Learn more about our accepted card payment methods here.
For more FAQs, please visit our FAQ page.