Taking Hire Car Abroad

[pdrake007]

Im thinking of taking a hire car to Le Mans (Ive only got 2 seats and theres 3 in our group) does anyone know which hire companies allow you to take their cars out of the UK and still include insurance and breakdown?

[MrCJN]

Enterprise or Europcar do it (maybe both, it's one with a greenish logo)

More will do it.

[vincegail]

I usually take an AVIS rental from Belgium to Le Mans, but I know they also let you take it to the UK, so I guess the other way round works too?

And I normally see plenty of different hire cars from the UK at Le Mans, so I don't think it will be a problem!

[surveyor]

You will need to get a special form (I forget the number) which is the Hire equivalent of the V5.

I was charged a bit more for the rental and made to pay an upgrade for European breakdown last year.

[Troubleatmill]

I hired an MPV from Enterprise in Windsor a few years back.
Explained it was going to Le Mans - no problems. Very cheap too.

[Shewie]

Not usually problem. I used Hertz a few years ago for similar reasons. Think there was a small extra charge as they have to give you a documentation pack in case you get stopped. Worth asking for a diesel as it's cheaper than unleaded in France.

[paulyv]

Most cars I have rented have automatically said in the conditions that it can go abroad for a certain number of days. Just check, but you should not be looking at significant extra cost.

[Harryh87]

Northgate vehicle hire worked out cheapest overall last year for us, we hired a transporter van, i cant remember the price but 3 seats and loads of space for pushbikes, tents, BBQ etc was a win!

[pdrake007]

Thanks everyone, looks like it wont be as much of a problem as I first thought!

[struttob]

Also if you get caught at a ridiculous speed the Gendarmes cannot confiscate the car and sell it as it is not your property (I assume)

Bob

[OvalOwl]

struttob said:

Also if you get caught at a ridiculous speed the Gendarmes cannot confiscate the car and sell it as it is not your property (I assume)

But if you do drive like a moron and get caught doing limit+50km/hr they can ban you from driving which could be tricky if you don't have a backup driver.

[Davwlk]

I used National Rentacar from Halesowen without any problems. When I said I was going to Le Mans they upgraded me at no extra cost. I paid £295 in 2009 and £320 in 2010 for 10 days.

[Andy Pandie]

surveyor said:

You will need to get a special form (I forget the number) which is the Hire equivalent of the V5.

I was charged a bit more for the rental and made to pay an upgrade for European breakdown last year.

It's a VE 103B, also needed for company cars. But if hiring and the hire company are aware, it's usually included even at short notice, I have arranged hire the same day as travel in the past.

[Max M4X WW]

Andy Pandie said:

surveyor said:

You will need to get a special form (I forget the number) which is the Hire equivalent of the V5.

I was charged a bit more for the rental and made to pay an upgrade for European breakdown last year.

It's a VE 103B, also needed for company cars. But if hiring and the hire company are aware, it's usually included even at short notice, I have arranged hire the same day as travel in the past.

Does this apply for leased cars?

[FraMac]

We hired an estate car from County Van & car hire in Stockport (if you live on the south coast, not much help - sorry) about four years ago.

All went without a hitch, and they made sure we had emergency people we could contact in France in case the car went sick (it didnt).

This'll sound like daft advice (apologies) but make sure you tell the company you're going to be abroad, and for how long. As m'learned friend noted above, get two people insured to drive it, just incase you have an intimate moment with the french police, and they ask you for a momento (eg your licence).

[Andy Pandie]

Max M4X WW said:

Andy Pandie said:

surveyor said:

You will need to get a special form (I forget the number) which is the Hire equivalent of the V5.

I was charged a bit more for the rental and made to pay an upgrade for European breakdown last year.

It's a VE 103B, also needed for company cars. But if hiring and the hire company are aware, it's usually included even at short notice, I have arranged hire the same day as travel in the past.

Does this apply for leased cars?

If you haven't got the V5 you need the owners permission. The VE 103B's are available from 'all' the major breakdown services, I got one up for my company car the other week from the AA. Phone call made Friday morning, received the following day (Saturday) registered post, normally take a week but I paid extra as it was a short notice trip thrown at me by my boss