Wedding car hire - how expensive?

[Tom_C76]

My Dad is thinking about buying a 1920s car, a lovely 6 seater open top thing, and is contemplating whether he can justify this on the income he'd get from doing wedding hire. Anyone know how much it costs to hire such a car for the big day?

TIA

Tom

[Dilligaf10]

For that type of car you could probably get about £300 per hire for it but bear in mind you won't get that every weekend. If it is open top you might need a contingency plan for inclement weather and you will have to change your insurance.

Something seems to ring a bell that the licencing requirements might be changing soon but can't be sure. We are covered as we are plated as Private Hire vehicles anyway.

[Tom_C76]

Thanks for that, the car has full weather gear anyway, so rain wouldn't be a problem aside from having to clean it afterwards. I'll get him to talk to the local council to check on any licensing issues.

Tom

[srob]

Without being patronising, has he had much experience of 20's vehicles?

I've always assumed that lots of companies use repro-20's cars for reliability. As someone that does quite a few miles on 1920's motorbikes (and spends quite a bit of time on the side of the road covered in oil, grease and petrol fixing them), the reliability would be a concern to me. Especially after that woman sued the photographer for messing up her wedding pics this week.

I hope that doesn't sound too patronising, just might be worth getting a backup plan in place in case it does go wrong.

[GTIR]

Every man and his fog has this idea, most give up!

You will need a backup modern car for when his breaks down (it will). Also weddings are seasonal, nothing from September to April and always on a Saturday so don't expect one everyday. You can only do one wedding a day.

You will need insurance, public liability and possibly a hire and reward licence.


Saying all that it can be fun and you will always get some fit bridesmaids.

[oobster]

We spent £634 for 3 silver daimlers back in 2005. I think the price is dependant on the mileage.

[Gareth79]

When I looked at using my old Caprice a couple of years ago most specialist insurers will offer wedding hire cover for a small amount extra, some have it inclusive. The licensing authorities had exemptions for wedding hire, but I think it came under a provision that also excluded limos, and they are tightening that so hopefully they keep a wedding exemption. The exclusions were hires which were done on a pre-arranged fixed amount of time, not a distance basis.

[fivesixseven8]

Not old cars but when trying to book a new Phantom for our wedding in march, I was getting quoutes of £300-£400 an hour! Usually backed up with crap like 'well, it's not a car just anyone can drive sir'. WTF, it's a fking car!

If he can do it for a sensible price then there is a Market for wedding services at sensible prices.

[gbbird]

Hired a modern Bentley Turbo for my forthcoming wedding. Cost was abut £200 IIRC

g

[Tom_C76]

Thanks all. I think he's looking more as an excuse to buy the thing rather than a profit making business plan, but I'll pass all of this on to him.

[plg101]

Talk to a specialist insurer - eg Footman James. I think they have just dropped the number you can do from 10 a year to 3...

Add liability insurance (may be packaged with wedding insurance), talk to local authority.

[Podie]

GTIR said:

Every man and his fog has this idea, most give up!

at the typo...

[bazking69]

You'll need a backup car incase it breaks down. So that is two cars to buy, tax, insure, MOT, maintain and run. Then you have the small matter of maintaining a 90 year old car.

It's been done and rarely cuts a profit. If you looked at it as a means to help maintain a car you want then fine, but as a business it sucks.

I've lost count of the number of people I've come across who have bought an S class Merc for a couple of grand, had the occasional booking through word of mouth, then been landed with a big bill on a ropey old Merc that has killed it off.