Self Drive Hire Insurance

Cover For Hire Vehicles

• What Is Self Drive Hire Insurance?

  Self Drive Hire Insurance is suitable for businesses, companies or individuals running vehicle rental and vehicle hire services, whereby they hire out their complete fleet or selection of vehicles to members of the public.

  Self Drive Hire Insurance cover is different from a Motor Traders insurance policy. The Motor Traders insurance policy would cover the vehicle(s) whilst is not being hire out. Typically the vehicle hire business will cover in place for vehicles whilst they hire out and also when they are not.

  Operating a self-drive hire company comes with all sorts of risks. Balancing these risks and your profits can be tricky you must properly appraise drivers and manage your vehicles all while promoting profitability.

  Things get even trickier when operators have to insure a whole fleet of vehicles rather than just a few. More cars for hire means more risk exposure, and reducing this exposure is vital for the success of any self-drive hire company. A poor claims history can increase your premiums and operating costs.
  The following provides an overview of self-drive hire insurance and several ways to manage the risks associated with offering self-drive vehicles for hire. Self Drive Hire Insurance is specifically related to the period and time of the hire. The hire premium is calculated on the basis of period and the hirer and also any other person required to drive during the hire period as an additional driver.

  To set up a Self Drive Hire business, these are the insurance policies you should be considering:

  • Self Drive Hire Insurance
  • Motor Traders Insurance
  • Business Insurance
• What is Covered in Self-Drive?

  Self-drive hire cover is divided into three main types:

  • Third party only (TPO) covers damages to other peoples' vehicles or property and any injuries they sustain in an accident with your vehicle.
  • Third party fire and theft (TPFT) covers damage to or loss of your vehicle caused by fire or theft in addition to the cover provided by TPO.
  • Comprehensive (COMP) covers TPO, TPFT and most other types of damage, including vandalism.

  COMP cover is the most common, accounting for about 85 per cent of the UK motor insurance market. However, it still has some general exclusions that may apply to damages or loss caused by the following:

  • Use of a vehicle by a driver not covered under the policy
  • Radioactive contamination
  • War risks
  • Riots and civil commotions
  • Earthquakes

  Self-drive hire cover is typically separated into two payment structures: pay-as-you-go or an annual policy with monthly premiums. The appropriate cover will depend on an operator's business - if a business operates year-round with very little variance, an annual policy will be more cost-effective.
  If a business operates primarily in only one season, a pay-as-you-go policy will provide adequate cover and charge a lower premium during months with slower business operations.

• Who has Covered Self-Drive Hire Insurance?

  The length of the hire contract will dictate whether the vehicle is insured under the hirer's or operator's insurance policy. Normally, long-term contracts require hirers to insure the vehicle under their existing policy, and short-term contracts require only the operator's insurance.

  For short-term contracts, each hirer must produce a driving license for inspection and complete a short proposal form to be covered under the operator's insurance. Companies will typically request the following information:

  • Ages of drivers
  • Occupations of drivers
  • Licence details, driving experience, and motoring accident/conviction history

  This information will be used to calculate risk and indemnify the operator in the event of a hirer deliberately falsifying information. If the operator can prove staff followed the correct procedures to acquire information from a potential hirer, the business will not be held liable. Therefore, operators should stress the importance of consistent and thorough techniques when interviewing potential hirers.

  Long-term hirers who must secure their own insurance cover will have to complete a form with information underwriters use to calculate risk. These forms ask for:

  • Identity: name, trading name, address and contact details
  • Personal details: date of birth, licence details, hire car driving experience and employment status
  • Vehicle use: estimated annual kilometres travelled, operating radius, licensing details and copies of documentation
  • Vehicle details: number of seats and passengers the vehicle is licensed to carry, any accessories (such as two-way radios), overnight parking information and any no-claims discounts

  Whether hirers are securing their own cover or falling under the operator's, age is a deciding factor in determining self-drive hirer risk. Most self-drive hire companies will rarely hire cars to drivers under the age of 21 because younger drivers have a disproportionately higher number of accidents compared to older drivers. Insurers also typically require drivers between the ages of 21 and 25 to have held a full driving licence for a certain period of time in order to hire a car. Most insurers charge higher premium rates and policy excesses to drivers under 25.

• Risk Management

  There are several practices self-drive hire companies can adopt to manage their risk:

  • Prior inspection: Conduct an inspection of the vehicle accompanied by the hirer before handing it over to identify and record any previous damage. This will prevent any 'unexplained' damages.
  • Vehicle maintenance: Service and maintain vehicles according to manufacturer specifications to promote longevity and increase safety.
  • Limiting duration and distance: Implement a program that limits consecutive and total kilometers traveled. Use tachographs, or machines that measure vehicle speed, distance and driver activity, to ensure compliance.

  As the operator of a self-drive hire business, you face tremendous risk. But purchasing comprehensive self-drive hire cover and instituting proactive risk management tactics can help bolster your business and ensure future profitability. Contact Arkwright Insurance Brokers today at 01204 392 525 to learn more about self-drive hire insurance.

  If you own a business which hires out cars, vans and trucks to individuals, companies and businesses, then it is good to know that your insurance policy protects you against any unwanted or unforeseen circumstances. Your vehicles are your business and it, therefore, pays to protect them with a comprehensive courier van insurance policy you know you can rely on.

  Whether you have your vehicles stored or displayed or whether you hire them out to the public, self-drive hire insurance can protect you and your company against damage, theft, fire and more. Arkwright can advise you on the range of rental car insurance policies available and can tailor-make policies to best suit your individual requirements. We also cover against car rental excess in the UK and Europe and offer cover against damage, theft, windscreen, tyres and more.

• Types Of Rental Vehicles We Insure
  • Private Cars used for self drive hire
  • Business Cars used for self drive hire
  • MPVs hired out to customers
  • Minibuses hired out for self drive hire
  • Vans rented out for short periods
  • Motor homes hire
  • Campervans hired for holiday periods
  • Taxis - vehicles rented out for taxi hire
  • Horseboxes rented out to customers
• Insurance Cover for Self Drive Hire Companies

  If you're a self drive car hire business, we have insurance cover to take care of all your needs. From a vehicle rental business to renting private cars, we have everything covered. So if you're a vehicle rental company looking for a reputable insurance broker, let our team help. We will be happy to discuss our insurance costs and what our insurance covers. From insurance premiums to the cost of our rental vehicle insurance, we will be there for you.

  Why Choose Arkwright Insurance For Self Drive Hire Insurance?

  When it comes to self drive hire insurance cover, our experts at Arkwright Insurance Brokers have you covered. We have been providing insurance to self drive hire clients for many years now, so regardless of your needs or the type of cover you require, we will be there to help.
  Some of the main reasons why we believe that you should choose us for self drive hire insurance are:

  • We provide telephone support for all our customers
  • Customers can pay annually or with monthly instalments
  • We provide cover for all policies and personal requirements
  • We offer short term and annual cover to customers throughout the UK
  • We offer the best prices - Call us for further details

  For more information about us or our self drive hire insurance, please waste no time and be sure to give our team a call today. We will be there to help get the right price for your insurance.

  We Cater To Your Needs

  If you're a self drive hire business looking for insurance for rental vehicles, we're here for you. We offer insurance for hire vehicles, rental vehicles and self drive hire vans rented by you. So, upon choosing us you can always be sure of a quality service and competitive price with us.

  Contact Arkwright Insurance For Self Drive Hire Insurance Cover

  For self drive hire cover, let our expert team at Arkwright Insurance Brokers. We provide insurance for self drive hire business cars. So whether it's a one off insurance cover or an agreement with vehicle rental companies to provide on going insurance, we're here to help you.
  Be sure to give us a call to find out more about our insurance cover for self drive hire businesses. From discussing the cover for a particular vehicle rental business model to self drive hire operators, we will be happy to help in any way we can. Get your FREE self drive hire insurance quote today!