Frequently asked questions

Each driver must produce their driving licence on collection of the vehicle.

Details of any endorsements/penalty points for people who hold a UK driving licence are now kept online and not on the driving licence or paper counterpart. Each driver will need to visit www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence before arrival to create a licence check code which they must produce when they come in to collect the vehicle. The code is only valid for 21 days, can only be used once and is case sensitive, so please print or take a picture using a smart phone.

Alternatively, if you do not have access to a computer please bring your Driving Licence, National Insurance Number and identification, with this information you will be asked to access the Share My Driver Record website by means of a computer. There currently is no charge for this service.

If you are unable to do any of the above, you will be asked to give your permission verbally over the telephone to DVLA, so that they can disclose your driving licence information to us. This is a premium rate telephone service and there will be a charge of £7.20 inclusive of VAT per licence for choosing this option. Please note this service is only available Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturdays 8am to 2pm (not including Bank Holidays). We will be unable to hire to you if you select this option outside of their operating hours.

Drivers must meet the following minimum ages and driving experience to hire.

Cars

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 1 year.

MPV’s, All Tippers, VW Kombi and 4x4’s

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.

Light Commercial Vehicles

Between 23 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 1 year.

9 Seater Tourneo

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.

17 Seater Minibus

Between 25 and 70, having held a full driving licence for at least 5 years.

7½ Ton Commercial Vehicles

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.

For minibuses and 7½ Ton Commercial Vehicles, hirers must have passed their test prior to January 1997 or hold the relevant categories on their licence. Please check all endorsements with your local office when booking as some endorsements are not acceptable.

Licence issued in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries are treated equally. For ease of reference the Countries are listed below:

EU Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

EEA Countries

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Therefore, if you are from an EU/EEA country holding a valid community licence you can drive in line with the appropriate entitlement as per your driving licence.

It is a criminal offence to drive using a licence that is not valid in the UK.  In addition, if you do so, the insurance will be invalidated and you will be committing a further criminal offence of ‘driving without valid motor insurance’.

Non UK, EU, EEA Licences

Non UK, EU, EEA licences must be valid for the duration of the rental period. Should such foreign licences be in a foreign alphabet they must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit.

As a general rule, up to 6 points within the past 3 years can be accepted, for offences such as speeding, parking or construction and use. If you have endorsements for Driving while under the influence of Drink or Drugs, driving with No Insurance, Careless Driving, Reckless Driving, Theft or Unauthorised Taking of a motor vehicle or if you have been banned from driving within the last 10 years, it is recommended that you contact your nearest U-Drive location to check your entitlement to hire. If you have been banned or have more than 6 points on your licence you may still be able to hire subject to conditions.

Similarly, please contact us if you have had any motor accidents within the last 5 years, whether at fault or not.

Each driver will be required to show their driving licence at the time of hire. The older paper licence version must be accompanied with a passport or debit/credit card as additional proof of identification.

 Each driver will also be required to show 2 additional documents with their name and personal address. Documents must be no older than 3 months’ acceptable documents include, Bank Statement, Credit Card Statement, Current Council Tax Bill, Utility Bill, Letting agreement or Proof of Home Ownership.

 Please also refer to the FAQ headed: Driving Licence

Please contact your chosen U-Drive location if you envisage any difficulty with providing this identification or if you are hiring a vehicle to be taken outside of the UK.

If you unfortunately need to cancel your booking, please contact the branch you have booked from as soon as possible. We do not charge for cancellations however it may take at least 5 working days to refund any money due as a result of the policies operated by credit card providers.

 refund any money due as a result of the policies operated by credit card providers.

InterHire vehicles may be taken outside of the UK with prior permission and the correct documentation being supplied. Our pricing structure includes:

• Breakdown Cover
• Green Card or equivalent
• Hire Charges
• Insurance
• Mileage
• VE103B form

We also include the following European Travel Kits:

• Carry Bag
• Spare Bulbs and Fuses
• First Aid Kit
• High Viz Vest(s)
• Warning Triangle(s)
• Breathalyser(s)

It is the hirers responsibility to check what documentation, equipment and additional requirements are required in the countries that you will be travelling in or through. U-Drive cannot be held responsible for any fines or penalties imposed.

France has introduced a “clean air” scheme for some cities, known as the CRIT’Air. Vehicles are required to display a sticker or “vignettes” to show the emissions that the vehicle produces. The scheme is currently operating in Paris, Lyon, Genoble, Lille, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Chambery and Marseille. U-Drive can apply for the sticker on your behalf but must be given at least 7 days notice. An additional admin charge of £12.00 inclusive of VAT will apply.

Useful Websites:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad/

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad/checklist/

https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

You can have as many additional drivers as you require, all drivers will be required to show their driving licences and a small charge will apply for each additional driver.

Additional drivers will be required to show appropriate Identification, details are contained within this FAQ's section.

Cars

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 1 year.

MPV’s, All Tippers, VW Kombi and 4x4’s

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.

Light Commercial Vehicles

Between 23 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 1 year.

9 Seater Tourneo

Between 25 and 75, having held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.

17 Seater Minibus

Between 25 and 70, having held a full driving licence for at least 5 years.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) reduces the excess payable by the hirer in the event that the hired vehicle has been involved in a collision. This is a contractual waiver that must be taken at the start of the rental period rather than an insurance product. Typically, this will reduce the excess from £1,500 down to £125 - £75, depending on endorsements, driving experience, type of vehicle being hire and the intended use of the vehicle. The hirer is normally responsible for the excess if:

• The accident is their fault.
• There is no one to claim against, typically this will be as a result of the third party details not being obtained.
• The other driver has no insurance.

Collision Damage Waiver does not cover:

• All Glass, (excluding windscreen) and tyre damage.
• Damage caused above windscreen height of a commercial vehicle.
• Damage caused to the vehicle when not on the public highway.
• Theft of the vehicle, where the original keys cannot be returned.
• Acts of Vandalism.
• Malicious Acts.
• Damage caused by the negligence of the hirer (for example, racing or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).
• If the terms and conditions of the rental agreement are breached

If you are involved in an accident, please call the Accident Helpline immediately.

Complete the details on the “bump” card provided at the commencement of hire and exchange details with this third party. Do not admit liability for any accident.

In the unlikely event of a breakdown please call the Breakdown Helpline quoting the membership number and vehicle registration as shown on your rental contract.

Driver induced faults may not be covered and could therefore be chargeable. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Incorrect Fuel Used
• Wheel change
• Out of fuel
• Locked out or Lost/broken key
• Road Traffic Accident Recovery (Subject to fault) 

We also provide breakdown cover for vehicles going off the UK mainland. Every effort will be made to get you back on the road as soon as possible.

InterHire currently accepts debit card, credit card and cash as payment for the hire and also for the deposit. We are unable to accept American Express or Diners Club Cards.

Please be aware when paying your deposit by debit or credit card, some card and merchant providers as well as some banks can take up to 5 days to refund the money to your account.

If you get caught speeding, illegally parking, failing to pay the London Congestion Charge or any other offence whilst driving one or our vehicles your details will be forwarded to the enforcing authority, plus we will charge you a £30.00 inclusive of VAT an administrative fee for each and every occurrence.

Customers are required to return vehicles with the same amount of fuel as when they collected the hire vehicle. If a vehicle is returned with less fuel a charge will be applied, current charges per litre are displayed in the rental office. Please note that our charges are higher than the forecourt prices.

Refunds will not be given for vehicles returned with excess fuel.

The Congestion Charge is an £11.50 daily charge for driving a vehicle within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday.

 https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge

Refunds for early returns will only be given if we have received at least 24 hours notice before the vehicle is returned. Deposits will be refunded when the vehicle is returned in the same state as it was let out.

Some locations have facilities for vehicles to be returned outside of normal trading hours, please check at time of booking. In the event that this service is available and for the avoidance of any doubt, the hirer remains responsible for the vehicle until it is checked in by a member of staff on the next working day.