Driving license & Age Related Questions
Q: Can I drive a van on a car license?
A: As long as the maximum gross (loaded) weight of the van is not more than 3.5 tonnes, you can drive a van on a car license. Almost all rental vans fit this category, so you should have no problems
Q: How old do I need to be to hire a van?
A: Legally, you can drive any van up to 3.5 tonnes
from the age of 17, assuming you have a valid car (category B) license.
However, the reality is that insurance costs mean that many van hire
companies require you to be 25, although there are some which will rent
to people age 21 upwards - often the smaller, local rental companies
will do this. See van hire age guidelines for a list of age restrictions by hire company.
Q: Can I hire a van with an automatic transmission?
A: Automatic vans are becoming more common, but they are still fairly
rare in the UK. If you have a car license that is restricted to
automatics only (Category B with information code 78) it is worth
trying the major rental companies for an automatic van, but you may
have difficulties finding one.
If you are affected by this, try finding a friend with a full car
license to drive for you. Alternatively you could try renting a large
estate car instead - these might be easier to find with automatic
transmissions and can be as big as a small van.
Q: I am still learning to drive. Can I drive a van on a provisional license with a qualified passenger like I can with a car?
A: Legally you can, but you will not find a rental company who will
allow this. Hiring vehicles is for qualified drivers only,
unfortunately.
Q: What is a C1 license, where can I get one and do I need one?
A: C1 is the driving license category that enables you to drive goods vehicles (lorries/trucks) of up to 7.5 tonnes laden weight.
Most rental vans are "plated" at a maximum of 3.5 tonnes
- so can be driven on a car (category B) license. However, several van
hire companies also offer 7.5t trucks for rent, and these will require
a C1 (or C/C+E) entitlement on your driving license.
Van Driving Tips
Q: Are vans difficult to drive?
A: Modern vans are very easy to drive, with power steering,
dashboard-mounted gear sticks and smooth, strong turbo-diesel engines.
In fact they can sometimes feel a little too much like a car - you need
to remember that your van will be bigger and heavier than a car and
require a lot more care and forward planning, especially when loaded.
Remember to take it easy on roundabouts and corners, plan further ahead
than normal and adjust the wing mirrors before you set off, and you
should have no problems.
Q: What kind of fuel consumption will I get from a van?
A: Modern vans normally have turbo-diesel engines which are both
powerful and fairly fuel efficient. For a guide to the fuel economy of
different types of van, see our What Size Van? page which includes typical mpg figures for each type of rental van.
Remember that almost all vans run on diesel, not petrol. Make sure you
do not run out of fuel, as unlike petrol engines, diesel engines cannot
be started easily after running out of fuel.
General Van Information
Q: Do vans have central locking, electric windows, air-con, stereos, etc?
A: They can do - just like cars, it depends on their specification. In
reality, most rental vans do not have luxury extras like electric
windows and air-con, but almost all will have a stereo,
fully-adjustable seats and often central locking - everything you need.
Q: What kind of fuel consumption will I get from a van?
A: Modern vans normally have turbo-diesel engines which are both
powerful and fairly fuel efficient. For a guide to the fuel economy of
different types of van, see our What Size Van? page which includes typical mpg figures for each type of rental van.
Remember that almost all vans run on diesel, not petrol. Make sure you
do not run out of fuel, as unlike petrol engines, diesel engines cannot
be started easily after running out of fuel.
Van Hire Questions
Q: I need to rent a van for several months - can I find a company offering long-term rentals or contract hire?
A: Yes. A great many van hire companies serve the business market and
offer long-term rental and contract hire services. Ask hire companies
local to you first - if they don't do it they will probably be able to
suggest a company that does.
Q: Can I rent a van by the hour?
A: Most van hire companies have a minimum rental period of 24 hours.
However, Europcar does offer hourly rental - subject to a low minimum
charge of around £14. Check it out here.
Q: Can I take a rented van abroad?
A: Some hire companies allow their vans to be taken across European
Borders, The English Channel or the Irish Sea - and some don't. Please
check the terms and conditions for each supplier to determine if they
offers this service.
Q: Can I rent a child or baby seat to fit the van I'm hiring?
Many rental companies will provide suitable baby, child or booster
seats, but these must always be ordered in advance to guarantee
availability - otherwise you may be required to provide one yourself to
comply with the law.
What Do If Problems Occur During The Hire
Q: What do I do if my rented van breaks down?
A: Any reputable van rental company will provide full breakdown cover
for all their vehicles. There should be details of who to call in the
vehicle, and so you should simply be able to make a call and have a
breakdown service come out to you.
If it can't be fixed at the roadside, you will either be provided with
a replacement van or taken (with your van and possessions) to your
final destination (and back again!).
Q: What happens if I accidentally put petrol in instead of diesel?
A: Stop as soon as you realise your mistake and call out your hire
company's breakdown service. They will pump out the incorrect fuel and
provide you with enough diesel to get you to the next garage. You are
likely to be billed for any recovery or repair costs, as it was your
fault.
Q: What happens if I get pulled over by the Police?
A: If you are pulled over for any reason whilst driving a rental
vehicle, the same rules will apply as when you are driving your own
vehicle - lights, tyres, etc. must be in correct working order,
seatbelts must be present and in use where required and the vehicle
should be safely loaded within its limits.
This is a good reason to check a rented vehicle properly before setting
off in it - in many cases, the driver is responsible whether it is
their vehicle or not.
Q: What happens if I get caught speeding in a hired van?
A: If you are caught speeding in a hired van, the hire company will
provide your details to the police when requested and you will receive
the normal penalty for the offence.
By driving a vehicle you take responsibility for it - ownership is not usually relavent.
Q: What happens if I get a puncture in a hire van?
A: Most van wheels are basically the same as car wheels and the
procedure for changing them is virtually identical. Your van should
have a spare wheel and the necessary tools for changing a wheel - if it
does not or if you are not comfortable doing it, just call out the hire
company's breakdown firm. It is far better to get professional help
than to do it wrong and risk your safety.
Note:
There are some wheels you should not try to change. Do not try to
change the rear wheels on a van with twin rear wheels and do not try to
change the wheels on a 7.5 tonne lorry - if done incorrectly this can
be very dangerous. If you are not sure what you are doing, do not do
it.
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