It makes sense you need a valid driving licence to obtain a UK car hire. But what are the little driving licence details you should know before you attempt to rent a car?

In the UK, all drivers must have their full licence for a minimum of 12 months prior to renting a car. Both parts of the driving licence must be presented at the company when choosing a car hire. This include the photo card and the paper counterpart of the driving licence. At no time are photocopies acceptable. You should also have additional identification to confirm your identity, such as a second credit card, a passport or a utility bill from within three months from the same address as your driving licence.

If you have points on your driving licence, you can still rent a car with up to 6 points. However, if you have more than 6 points on your driving licence, you are usually not allowed to get a car hire. For drivers with a DD, DR or BA within the last 10 years, it is unlikely you will be able to hire a car. If you have drunk driving or no insurance offences, it will inhibit your ability to get a car hire for up to 5 years or longer.

For drivers unable to locate their driving licence, in some situations a DVLA licence check can be done with 3 forms of photo identification. These checks are done when the DVLA office is open during business hours on Monday through Friday, with limited hours on Saturday mornings. There is a fee to check driving licences through the DVLA.

If you are visiting the UK, you must also have your driving licence for at least 12 months prior to renting a car and must be entitled to drive the group car chosen. For those who have a driving licence not written in English, an international driving licence in English must accompany the foreign driving licence.

When you know what to expect, you can have your driving licence, indentification and paperwork in order so the car hire process goes smoothly. Remember to bring originals as photocopies are never acceptable for a rental vehicle.

For some young people, the first time they experience a ride in a UK car hire is during their prom or wedding. Having a chauffeur to whisk you away to a special event makes it even more magical and memorable. Another benefit of hiring a chauffeur is nobody has to drive when they are tired or if they had a few drinks.

Unfortunately, a major reason for fatal car crashes is driving while intoxicated. Another reason for car accidents is driving when you are tired and not alert. While hiring a chauffeur adds elegance to your prom or wedding, it is also a safe way to be transported throughout the night. Because the chauffeur is not participating in the reverie, their sole focus is to safely drive you where you need to go.

Everyone enjoys having a chauffeur to shuttle them around on prom night or their wedding day. You can ride around in the prestige vehicle of your choice without worrying about all the little details, including taking the wheel. You never have to worry about getting too tired or tipsy to drive because your chauffeur will be waiting to drive you to the next destination. Why should this pleasure be restricted to proms and weddings?

There are many other occasions in your life when a UK car hire would be appropriate. When you graduate college, you’ll want to celebrate your accomplishment. A chauffeur can drive you around town in style while you revel in the fact you are college graduate. After you have your first baby, a chauffeur can ride you, your little one and your family home from the hospital safely. When you plan a reunion with your mates from school, arrive in a prestigious car hire to show off your status. You can even hire a chauffeur to enjoy a night out on the town with your family. After you become a business mogul, a chauffeur can whisk you away to that important meeting to close the deal while you work on last minute details.

Once you appreciate the convenience of a UK car hire on your prom or wedding night, you will want a chauffeur to escort you to all the major events in your life. Appreciate greater comfort and safety when a chauffeur takes the wheel.

When you decide to visit the UK to tour the scenic country in a car hire, get familiar with the regulations for driving first. Knowing the rules of the road in the UK ensures your trip is pleasant. After all, you cannot enjoy your holiday if you wind up paying fines or even going to prison because you are unfamiliar with the local regulations.

You can drive a rental car with your national license in the UK as long it is in a language with Roman numbers and letters. If you have a license other than one from the UK, you need to have an international driving permit in English. Your drivers license must be carried with you all the times when you are in the UK.

Now that you have your car hire, you are ready to start driving the roads for new adventures. The rules in your country may be different, so carefully consider the regulations in the UK. Remember to drive on the left side of the road and pass on the right. If you speed or drive dangerously, there are severe penalties including imprisonment so engage caution before driving. Drinking and driving incurs steep fines and prison sentences so don’t drink and drive. Radar and speed cameras are used to determine whether a driver is exceeding the speed limit.

Carefully observe roadside signs, usually indicating speed limits of 30 miles per hours to 70 miles per hour depending on the type of road. Always wear seat belts in all seats in the front and back of the car hire. Children under 12 years old are not to sit in the front seats unless they are youngsters in infant or booster seats. Always be polite to UK drivers and police as this is the proper protocol. Fines incurred in rental cars may be charged to your credit card so be careful to observe the rules when driving and parking.

When parking, the restrictions are shown on signs. If there are yellow lines on the roadside, you cannot park in that area. There is no stopping for any reason near double yellow lines. There are parking metres and machines called “Pay and Display” where you pay to park. The maximum parking time you are allowed in most paid parking areas in the UK is two hours.

Finally, make sure you fill up with the right kind of fuel for your rental car. The car hire may use unleaded super 95/98 petroleum or diesel. Most service stations in the UK accept debit and credit cards for payment but verify before you start to get your gas.

When you are well-prepared for your UK holiday and car hire, you are certain to have a wonderful time!

We’ve discussed the benefits of renting a car for both short term and long term use. A rental car is the perfect way to drive in style without paying top dollar for car payments, insurance and ongoing maintenance. You can change your car whenever you want so you can drive a luxury sedan to that important meeting or a sporty convertible on a special date. But what exactly to you need to start renting a car?

When you are well-prepared, the car rental process is quick and smooth. Bringing along the proper documents ensures a speedy interaction so you can on the road right away. Whether you are a local or traveling, having the following documents ensures you get the vehicle you want, when you want it:

• a valid drivers license;
• a current passport;
• your actual credit card so identifying numbers and marks may be taken – the card should bear your name;
• additional proof of your name and address, such as a current utility bill; and
• any automobile insurance policies you may currently have to assist you in deciding whether extended insurance cover is necessary.

If you are a UK driver, you must bring your photocard driver’s license and the accompanying driver record document. On occasion, car rental companies ask questions regarding the personal driving record of a potential renter. If the renter’s driving history does not meet the company’s established criteria, the car rental may be denied. This helps to control insurance and liability costs for all car renters. There are companies that accept high risk drivers, so do your research before trying to rent your dream vehicle.

When you rent a car, you can also add additional drivers. Some companies charge a fee for this convenience. An additional drive must meet the minimum age requirements designated by the car rental company and have their own driver’s license and credit card. Your additional driver should also have a clean driving record. This ensures you will get your desired rental vehicle and you won’t be dealing with unwanted accidents caused by a well-meaning friend or family member with a poor driving record.

Renting a car is an easy process when you bring a few simple documents to verify your identity, driving record and ability to pay. Once you get through the process, you can rent the vehicle of your choice for any reason. Go on an extended holiday, show off your success at a reunion or simply experience the rush of driving around in your dream car.

A long term car rental offers many benefits to the driver. Instead of having the responsibility of car ownership, a driver can enjoy the vehicle of their choice for one consistent price. A increasing number of business people, parents and teens are taking advantage of long term car hire to meet their transportation needs.

Business Benefits

A car hire enables business people to choose a car based on their weekly or monthly schedule. Whether a business person wants a hired driver for a special meeting or an economy sedan for a long trip, a rental car can be immediately customized the meet the need. Business records are easy to keep because they are simply based on the car hire costs. There are no worries about specialized business insurance. No matter how long the business trip is, repairs to the vehicle are covered.

Parental Benefits

Taking a family vacation can be a disaster if the car breaks down. A rental car is covered anywhere and anytime during emergencies so parents feel reassured they won’t be stranded with their little ones. For everyday use, the budgeting is simple because all the expenses of the vehicle are covered in the rental fee. There are no car payments, insurance costs, warranty bills or repairs costs to exhaust the budget when you have a long term car rental. Best of all, you can exchange the car at any time to meet your growing family’s needs. As you have more children or your children get older, you can trade in a sedan for an SUV or an economy car for a mini-van.

Teen and Young Adult Benefits

Teens can hire a car to try various models while they earn money to buy their dream vehicle. Trying before you buy is a wise way to make your first major investment. By trying out rental cars on a long term basis, first time drivers can discover their favorite vehicles. A teen may be surprised to discover they prefer a luxury sedan to that sports car they always wanted. Young adults attending college have the luxury of a car for summer use without maintaining vehicle expenses throughout the school year. Students staying on campus don’t need a car and its related costs during the school year. A long term car rental is the perfect way to get on the road for summer fun and during college breaks to visit family.

Senior Benefits

A long term car rental is great for seniors on the go who don’t want the trouble of keeping up with vehicle maintenance and expenses. Visit family, take a vacation or just go for a long Sunday drive in the car of your choice. Feel reassured that breakdowns are covered no matter where you are. Best of all, you only pay to have the car when you need it.

A long term car rental is an affordable, convenient means way for people of all ages to get on the road in style.

When you get a prestige hire, you can try your dream car before you purchase it so you can find out if it’s everything you really want.  If you can’t afford to purchase your fantasy ride, a prestige hire gives you the opportunity to live large without having to find a new career.

Whether you prefer a sports car, luxury sedan or SUV, you can get the prestige hire of your choosing.  See how well that sports car handles the long and winding road.  Experience the relaxation and comfort of a luxury sedan that glides along.  Tackle any terrain in a bold SUV that takes you from the country club to the hunting club. 

You may decide to get a prestige hire to make a special appearance.  Perhaps you’re going a gathering of mates from university or a former job and you want to arrive in an impressive ride.  Or maybe you’re attending a family reunion, wedding or formal event and want to show everyone how well you’re doing.  You may even want to have a prestige hire to attend a business meeting or party of great importance.  Having the right car can give you the appearance and confidence you need to close the deal. 

Besides the invaluable opportunity to look fabulous in a prestige hire, you can test drive your favorite luxury vehicles before making a major purchase.   Renting a car is a great way for first-time luxury buyers to experience a variety of different models to make a more educated decision.  Veteran prestige car owners can compare the newest models to see which one is the best on the block.  There are also practical advantages to comparision shopping with prestige hires including:

-find out how comfortable you feel driving a car in everyday circumstances and not just for a ten minute test drive;

-gather firsthand knowledge about the cost to run the car including gas and general maintenance;

-make a final decision based on experience, for example, a veteran SUV driver considering a sports car or a luxury sedan owner looking for a sportier ride; and

-get to know the little things about the car before you buy it such as whether the seats are comfortable for long rides and if it offers all the amenities you want.

A prestige hire give you the chance to drive your dream car without making a major investment.

Whether you have a long or short journey, hiring a car chauffeur can free you to do more important things. Instead of dealing with traffic and road rage, you can be working, sleeping or partying while your chauffeur safely drives to your destination.

A busy executive or time-challenged business owner will appreciate the extra time to get caught up on work. With laptops, cell phones, PDAs and mobile office options that all fit in a briefcase, you can take your work to go while your chauffeur does the driving. Have an air of prestige when you arrive at meetings or corporate gatherings in a hired car. You can even conduct private meetings in a chauffeur car hire on your way to that big deal closing. When a chauffeur does the driving, you can devote profitable, productive time to your business enterprises.

Families and executives need the extra time to catch up on sleep in today’s busy world. Whether you’re on a family vacation or a business trip, a chauffeur car hire will give you a chance to grab some necessary relaxation to fuel your activities. Have more fun on your getaway and be more alert during your business meetings when you get sleep instead of dealing with traffic for hours. When you hire a chauffeur to drive, you arrive refreshed instead of exhausted.

You can even take time out to party and relax when you have a chauffeur. Many people, including famous celebrities, put their own lives and the lives in jeopardy by drinking and driving. Hiring a car chauffeur gives you the chance to party without guilt or worry. Nobody has to be the designated driver and everyone can have a good time. Kick back instead of driving and let a chauffeur take care of the road while you take care of the good times.

Hiring a car chauffeur can ultimately save you money, too. When you land that major business deal because you had time to prepare instead of raging at traffic, you benefit from having a chauffeur. Catching up on your sleep instead of missing meetings or arguing with your family is priceless. Saving lives and avoiding fines or jail time when you go out to party makes a hiring a car chauffeur absolutely invaluable.

Save your time and energy on your next trip and get a car chauffeur so you can close deals like a mogul, sleep like a baby or party like a rock star.

A

Additional Driver

When there is more than one driver associated to a rental, the second, or subsequent, driver is referred to as the additional driver. There may be a charge applied for each, or all, additional drivers.

Airport Surcharge

An additional charge which applies at certain airport locations, and which is included in the rate quoted at the time of reservation.

B

Barn Doors

Barn doors are the name given to the twin rear doors on most vans - each opens to the side, just like traditional barn doors. These are good for getting tall objects inside the back of the van.

 
continue reading "Car Hire - Jargon Buster"

You can find a number of companies offering car and van hire on a long-term (usually three years or over) basis. Prestige contract hire is available to individuals, Sole Traders, Partnerships and Ltd Companies. For businesses, it offers major incentives in terms of tax and administration costs.

For individuals, it appeals to those who are looking to finance a luxury car with the benefit of fixed payments that cover maintenance, warranty and breakdown cover. A lease or contract will also build the costs of road tax into payments.

Prestige Contract Hire for businesses
The main benefit of Prestige Contract Hire for businesses relate to administration and tax. If you acquire some sort of contract or lease, rather than purchasing your company cars, you’ll have off balance sheet funding, avoid disposal costs, and avoid the costs of depreciation (and avoid a large initial cash payment).

If the vehicle is used exclusively for business use, you’ll also be able to claim the VAT back. In terms of administration, it means that you’ll not have to worry about things like tax and breakdown cover, since this will be covered by the contract hire company.

Funding a Prestige Vehicle
Contract Hire (PCH) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) offers more affordable ways to finance a luxurious car such as a Ferrari or Aston Martin, and avoid the depreciation trap. At the highest end of the prestige car hire market, you’ll find the Ferrari.

The F430 Spider, based on a combination of the latest F1 technology with style from the 1961 racing cars starts at a selling price of 137,000. Prestige contract hire perhaps a more realistic way of getting your hands behind the wheel, at around 2,000 pounds a month for businesses plus deposit of around 6,000 pounds: and you’ll be tied into a contract of around 48 months and cover an expected 10,000 miles per annum. Other vehicles available under this type of scheme include Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover and Audis.

For Personal Contract Hire you are required to pay fixed rentals for a fixed period, and then simply return the vehicle at the end of the period. Road tax will usually be covered, and you can opt to be covered for warranty or breakdown packages as part of your monthly payment.

Personal Contract Purchase could be used by people who have been given a monthly vehicle allowance, to allow you to finance the purchase a vehicle at the end of a term, for an amount agreed at the outset - the Guaranteed Future Value (GFV or ‘balloon payment’). You may also be free to hand the vehicle back at no further cost (although you may lose your original deposit), or part exchange it for a different vehicle using the difference between the GFV and the actual value.
For both types of contract, monthly payments are based on factors including:

How much is the vehicle worth new?
How much is your deposit?
How long will the contract last?
What is your estimated mileage?

If you have a specific car in mind, the prestige contract hire firm you chose should be able to find a deal that suits your needs.

About the author

Shaun Parker has been at the forefront of the prestige car leasing industry for the past ten years. To find out more see www.ambervehiclesolutions.co.uk

Car hire companies have a bad reputation for over-charging customers and piling on extra surcharges for damages, fuel consumption and mileage that has nothing to do with the renter. Hopefully, this quick guide will let you know what to look out for when renting a car abroad.First of all, shop around before you go. The internet is an invaluable tool for this, and you can ask friends which rental companies they’ve used too. Booking well in advance can get you great discounts, and if you book with a popular group, you may be able to get a free upgrade.

Finally, before driving away, perform some perfunctory maintenance checks. This includes checking the brakes, headlights (in some countries it’s mandatory to have them on at all times), wipers and washers, indicators and locks are all working. It’s also worth looking at the oil and water levels, and checking the tyre pressures at the nearest garage. If they haven’t already been offered, ask for the car’s manual and contact numbers in case of any problems.

Check the stated times of collection and return. This is where many unscrupulous rental companies can sting you. If your return time is even half an hour later than your collection time, you could be charged for an extra day. Try and make sure you return the car on or before the collection time to avoid this.

Decide who is going to be driving the car. As in the UK, drivers between the ages of 25 and 75 are seen as the safest, so keep this in mind when selecting your main driver. Some car rental firms will rent to 18 year olds, but the costs are likely to be higher. Likewise, having an additional driver on the rental agreement can bump up the cost, regardless of age.

One of the biggest scams pulled by car hire companies is charging you for existing damage. With this in mind, check over the car thoroughly before you drive it away. Some firms will present you with a written list of existing damage, so compare this to the car. If you notice anything that isn’t on the list, point it out, and try to take pictures with your camera (showing the date) or mobile phone. This will prove that the damage didn’t occur while the car was in your possession.

If your car hire contract promises a full tank, check this too before driving away. Some hire companies charge you for the difference between the fuel level on return and the amount to fill up. This is almost always more than the pump price, so by filling it up yourself and keeping the receipt, you can avoid this charge.

If you’re travelling with a small child, it may be a legal requirement for there to be a child seat fitted. These are usually added onto the cost of car rentals, and fitted by the hire company. When you pick up your car, check that the seat is secure.

Finally, before driving away, perform some perfunctory maintenance checks. This includes checking the brakes, headlights (in some countries it’s mandatory to have them on at all times), wipers and washers, indicators and locks are all working. It’s also worth looking at the oil and water levels, and checking the tyre pressures at the nearest garage. If they haven’t already been offered, ask for the car’s manual and contact numbers in case of any problems.

[tags]international, car, hire, abroad[/tags]