FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How old do I have to be to hire a vehicle?

You must be 25 years or over to drive all our vehicles with the exception of our Range Rover and Executive range of cars when you must be 30 years or over. If you are over 70 years we may need further information from you and get permission from our insurance company in order to process your hire.

2. What documents will you need to see when I hire a vehicle?

You will need to provide your full UK driving licence, either photo card or old paper style licence. If you only have the old paper style licence we will also need to see another form of photo ID. We will also need your National Insurance Number in order to complete a DVLA check on line. Also one other form of ID such as a utility bill.

3. I have a foreign licence. Can I still hire from you?

Yes. But it does depend on the country your licence has been issued in. If you hold a license issued in the EU, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand we can accept your hire as long as all other criteria detailed within these pages are fulfilled. If you hold a foreign licence from any other country we will need to refer your licence to our insurers, and therefore we will need to see and verify the licence prior to accepting your booking. This can only be done within standard office hours Monday – Friday so it would be advisable to provide as much notice as possible prior to hire to allow for this administration to take place.

Regardless of which country your foreign licence is issued we will need to see this licence together with your passport and another form of ID. We will need confirmation of your home address, if visiting the UK, as well as the address you are staying at in the UK. If you reside in the UK you can only use your foreign licence for 12 months before you must apply for a UK licence.

4. I have points on my licence. Can I still hire from you?

This is dependent on the date and nature of the offence(s). Please contact a member of our rental team who will be happy to advise. Please note if we are not informed of any convictions, penalties or offences currently showing on your licence, even if they have expired and it transpires upon collection of the vehicle there are convictions, penalties or offences on your licence that our insurers do not allow we cannot hire a vehicle to you and NO refund of hire or additional charges will be due.

5. Can I drive a minibus on my licence?

You can drive a 14 seater minibus on a standard licence as long as you are not using it for hire or reward.  If you wish to hire a 17 seater minibus you will require a D1 on your licence – and again not being using it for hire or reward.

6. Can I take the vehicle abroad?

No. We currently do not allow our vehicles to travel abroad.

7. How can I make a booking?

Please use our Online Booking Portal on our website www.cavershamvehiclehire.com to generate your vehicle hire quote and place your booking.  This will allow you to book your exact hire specifications easily and quickly and keep your payment safe and secure.  If you have any queries about our hire vehicles, hire process or particular requirements please do call a member of our Rental Team on 0118 9476 500 and we are happy to assist you.

8. When do I need to make payment?

Full payment for your hire period is taken at the point of booking. Should you wish to extend your original booking you must contact us in advance of your scheduled return time and pay the additional hire charges in advance of the extension of hire commencing.

9. What payment methods are acceptable?

We accept credit/debit cards with the exception of AMEX. We also accept BACS payments for the hire but all deposit payments must be made by credit or debit card.

10. How much is the deposit?

A security deposit is required for all rentals. All deposit payments must be made with a credit or debit card (not AMEX). Deposits will be refunded upon the safe and undamaged return of the vehicle. If applicable, any ancillary charges due may be deducted from the original deposit amount paid. Please see the deposit amount required for each vehicle category type below:

• Our deposit is £200.00 for Category 1 & 2 cars.
• Our deposit is £300.00 for Light, SWB & MWB Vans.
• Our deposit is £350.00 for Category 3 cars, LWB Transit Vans & 4×4 pick up trucks.
• Our deposit is £500.00 for executive cars, 7 and 9 seater cars & tipper trucks.
• Our deposit is £750.00 for minibuses & 3.5T Lutons.
• Our deposit is £1000.00 for Range Rover Cars.

11. How much is the insurance excess?

• Our excess is £500.00 for Category 1 & 2 cars.
• Our excess is £600.00 for Light, SWB & MWB Vans.
• Our excess is £750.00 for Category 3 cars, LWB Transit Vans & 4×4 pick up trucks.
• Our excess is £950.00 for executive cars, 7 and 9 seater cars & tipper trucks.
• Our excess is £1,100.00 for minibuses & 3.5T Lutons.
• Our excess is £1600.00 for Range Rover Cars.

12. Can I take out CDW to reduce my excess?

Yes. We offer CDW as follows:

• Reduce the excess from £500.00 to £200.00 for Category 1 & 2 cars from £10.00 per day or £70.00 per week.
• Reduce the excess from £600.00 to £300.00 for Light, SWB and MWB vans from £11.50 per day or £80.50 per week.
• Reduce the excess from £750.00 to £350.00 for Category 3 cars, LWB Transit Vans & 4×4 pick up trucks from £13.00 per day or £91.00 per week
• Reduce the excess from £950.00 to £500.00 for executive cars, 7 and 9 seater cars and tippers from £16.00 per day or £112.00 per week.
• Reduce the excess from £1100.00 to £750.00 for minibuses & 3.5T Lutons from £20.00 per day or £140.00 per week.
• Reduce the excess from £1600 to £1000 for Range Rover cars from £20.00 per day or £140.00 per week.

13. Can I add another driver to my Hire Agreement?

Yes. You can add an additional driver. The additional driver will need to provide the same information/documentation as the main hirer to hire the vehicle, and meet our driver criteria. Charges will apply. Please contact a member of our rental team for further information.

14. What is included in my price?

Unless you have specified extras to us your basic quote will include VAT, insurance cover for one driver, breakdown cover within the UK and 200 miles allowance per 24 hour hire period or 3000 miles allowance per month if hiring period is a month or monthly increments. Additional mileage will be calculated at 0.12p per mile unless you have hired a CAT 4 Executive Car then the additional mileage charge will be 0.15p minibus or per mile. Range Rovers, Minibuses and Lutons will be charged at 0.20p per mile.

15. Can I drop my vehicle back out of hours?

Yes. There is a facility for dropping the vehicle back after office hours but please note you will remain responsible for the vehicle until it is booked in by a member of our team when our offices re-open.

16. Do you deliver and collect to my location?

Yes. We offer a delivery and collection service subject to availability within a 10 mile radius of our location. A charge of £15.00 is payable for either collection or delivery. Alternatively, if you are arriving by train to Reading Main Station you can book a Meet & Greet service from the North Side of the station for a £10.00 additional charge.

17. Where do I collect my vehicle from?

Please collect your vehicle from our offices located at 19 Ardler Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks, RG4 5AE. See attached Google maps link (LINK).

18. Can I leave my car at your premises?

You may not leave your vehicle at our premises but there is on road parking on Ardler Road although there are weekday parking restrictions in place.  However, there maybe unrestricted parking available nearby.  Leaving your vehicle is entirely at your own risk. 

19. Can I open an Account with Caversham Vehicle Hire Ltd?

Yes. We do offer business customers an account facility. You would need to apply for an account and receive approval prior to receiving Account Customer benefits. Please contact a member of our rental team for more information or alternatively complete an Account Customer Application Form and email to info@cavershamvehiclehire.com

20. What are your Terms & Conditions?

Please find our T&Cs here.

21. Can I use one of your hire vehicles to tow?

No. Our insurance only covers our vehicle and will not cover anything being towed. Very few of our vehicles have a tow bar and even if they do it is not permitted for you to use it under our terms and conditions.

22. What should I do if I have an accident or damage the hire vehicle?

Any accident or damage to the vehicle must be reported to us immediately.  You will need to ensure your gather the third parties details including name, address, telephone number, make and model of third party vehicle and registration number.  We will also require photographs of the damage to our vehicle and the third party vehicle.  Date, time and location of incident.

23. What is your cancellation policy?

All cancellations must be in writing via email (using the email address provided within your online booking) to info@cavershamvehiclehire.com – verbal cancellations are not accepted.

If you cancel your booking with a minimum of two weeks’ notice you will receive a refund of your hire charges less the banking transaction fee charged at the time of booking as well as a £30.00 administration fee. 

Bookings cancelled within 14 days of hire will not be subject to a refund if your hire period is less than a two week period.  If your hire booking was in excess of 14 days you will be refunded the charges less 14 days hire, banking transaction charge and a £30 administration fee.

We would recommend you take out adequate travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.

23. Can I postpone or change my hire dates?

You may postpone or change your hire dates once without penalty, subject to availability. Further changes will incur a £30.00 administration fee.  Should you postpone and then subsequently cancel your hire booking no refund will be due.