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Hi
Visiting the UK from NZ in late Aug for appx 5 weeks and will have 4 bikes ... We're looking at car/van hire, ideally something which the bikes can go inside (along with 4 people) or maybe something with a rack. Complete nightmare trying to find anything. Any ideas?
Preferably not the big companies are theyre an absolute ripoff. Perferably southeast (surrey/ london/ north of london) but NW/ wales/ mids would work too. Any ideas welcome...
Thanks
can't advise on a company in the south east - but an economical way to get four people seated and secure space inside for bikes is to look at crew-cab transit vans - room for 5 adult sized passengers and space for bikes and luggage in the back. It would be quite a workman-like vehicle, and probably have the hire company's logos on it, rather than a lifestyle day-van, but its a way of getting a the benefits of both a car and a van for about the price of a car. The alternative is some sort of 8/9 seater minibus and some seats out - but that would typically be double the price and the bikes would be on show
the 'big companies' are not necessarily a rip off. Prices are up across the board for car and van hire due to general shortage of supply globally of vehicles so its going to cost 'more than you expect' no matter who you hire from
Be aware that typically when you are booking a vehicle you're typically booking a type of not a particular make and model. If theres a picture of a golf on the website you're actually booking 'something like a golf'
How many people are needed? If it's just 2 simply rent an estate from the usual set of companies, someone with a big lot at an airport is a good idea as if it doesn't all fit in you can normally blag an upgrade to the next size up
For 5 weeks might be better to buy one and then sell it when you’re done? I would think depreciation would be less than 5 weeks hire cost.
Remember to get excess protection insurance independently - My policy from insurance4carehire is around £60. Hire companies its £10+ a day.
I mainly use enterprise. Not the cheapest but a very good policy on damage returns ie they do not nit pick over scratches and vehicles are always in good condition
I have hired cars a lot. I will not use cheap companies because of bad experiences with them. Enterprise seem to use some sort of dynamic pricing so it can vary a lot but they do discount for longer hire periods. Hire car prices seem to have more than doubled over the last couple of years
would a big people carrier work for you?
https://www.saxonsselfdrive.co.uk/ are local to me in south-east London. They have VW kombis and shuttles in their fleet.
Worth a look on the sites like Turo as well, there’s someone near me with a Merc V-class available to rent.
I routinely hire cars for work. It's been a nightmare for the last couple of years. If you want to carry 4 bikes then hire a van. Or maybe a pickup truck with a box on the back. But that will need a specialist hire company.
There is no such thing as an estate in hire car world any more. Just SUVs with small boots.
We normally want a car big enough to carry four people and luggage. Order the biggest thing listed and get a Corsa! The hire car companies sold half their fleet during COVID and now haven't been able to replace them due to supply issues with new cars. They all seem to operate on a ”that's all we've got".
Endless rail strikes aren't helping.
I've never tried to hire a cycle rack.
Another option could be to hire a VW transporter/camper van. That will be expensive but comfortable.
There is no such thing as an estate in hire car world any more
Nonsense. Group h on avis (first company I checked) https://www.avis.co.uk/drive-avis/fleet/cars
As above, you need a crew cab van. Google your way through the options. Northgate seems ok.
Hire a big estate car and buy a rack? Give it to charity or sell if you have time.
Have a look at HH Van Hire in North London for vans etc and at The Garage Car Rental in Croydon for cars.
https://hhvanhire.co.uk/van-hire/crew-van/
http://www.thegaragecarrental.co.uk/car-hire-croydon/
awesome thanks folks.
crew cab
of course! I'd been searching for double cab, explains why I didnt find anything ..
hire a VW transporter
yeah, thats what I normally drive. Do the job very nicely (or something like it).
8/9 seater minibus ... would typically be double the price
Yeah, thats what I found. Which runs into thousands extra.
would a big people carrier work for you?
From experience with sharans and estima/previa, no, they wont fit inside even with the wheels off, to much bulk ... it'd be a bikerack job. With a bikerack I'd be interested tho.
sites like Turo
OOh I like that. Surprised theres no vans on there but might be able to find someone with a bikerack I guess. Building on what tjagain said tho, do they nitpick? (thanks tjagain, didnt think of that)
Prices are up across the board for car and van hire due to general shortage of supply globally of vehicles
not what Ive been experiencing. You cna hire a camper here for 20 quid a day at the mo. sure that would be a crummy one but its crazy cheap (due to recession= fewer tourists= competition I expect but Im guessing)
Enterprise seem to use some sort of dynamic pricing
That make sense, pricing was nuts when I looked. LIterally cheaper to buy even for 5 weeks and assuming zero resale value. Insane. Do u know how the dynamic pricing works?
For 5 weeks might be better to buy one and then sell it when you’re done? I would think depreciation would be less than 5 weeks hire cost.
Yes I agree, and I'm open to that but selling it afterwards is the problem. Here in NZ we have loads of buyback schemes - Garage makes a fat profit buying back the same thing they just sold with not many extra Ks on it, user gets it cheaper - everyones happy (as long as its a half decent vehicle). But UK doesnt seem to have them?
sites like Turo
You have to watch out - the initially attractive price can be increased significantly by mandatory insurance that's charged on top.
I'd just hire a crew cab van, unrefined but at least when you turn up whatever they offer you will have the correct number of seats and a load area, at worst you'll end up with a Crafter rather than a T5.
Nonsense. Group h on avis (first company I checked) https://www.avis.co.uk/drive-avis/fleet/cars/blockquote >
Indeed, then you turn up and get an 'upgrade' to a Vauxhall Moka.
not what Ive been experiencing. You cna hire a camper here for 20 quid a day at the mo.
Yep, but the whole point of this thread is that presumably "here" isn't the UK where car hire is currently a complete lottery.
I used to hire cars for £20 a day. Recently its been £60
Indeed, then you turn up and get an ‘upgrade’ to a Vauxhall Moka.
Exactly this. Unless you have RyanAir luggage an Estate is never going to turn up!