Hire Car Recommendations

[Chriss]

Hi all,

Anyone recommend a hire car firm? I used to use Arnold Clark, reasonable prices but for £10 extra I can use the car as a bumper car and not be charged any extra.

I don't intend to use it for such, but don't want to pay the excess for a tiny little scratch that I didn't do.

Thanks
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[The Artist]

Enterprise are good. Cheap and cheerful.

Most places will have huge excess and the fully comp options but they do cost money.

My advice would be drive carefully.

[Dazbo666]

I've used Enterprise a number of times over the years.
Not exactly the cheapest option, but good quality cars, and always had great customer service
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[JonB]

I used to work for enterprise. Weekend Special deals are good, can get a basic car for £35 for the weekend friday to monday. £10/day to reduce your excess.

Just to note, I rarely took the £600 excess, it is a myth that a little scratch and you'll lose your money, their big aim is customer service.

But if you have something like a puncture, chip on the windscreen, they will take full excess and refund the difference after the repair is complete so be prepared to have to surrender the full amount initially. Also if you are involved in an accident that is not your fault they will still take the excess until the insurance claim has confirmed 100% that you were not at fault.

Cheers,

Jon.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Chriss]

My worry about excess comes after I hired a car (big company, wasn't Enterprise but a similar one, I forget which), parked it and when I came back to the car someone had opened their door onto it. Tiny little exchange of paint. Back then I was far too naive and was totally honest with them. £600 excess lost straight away. Worst bit was I saw the same car a few months later with the same car park ding!

Arnold Clark had a total waive of excess option. I hired a van from them, tied a bike down in the back. The bike fell over ripping the floor up. They just shrugged and said that's why it's good to get the extra add on! Shame they're only up north!
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Rogerborg]

I'd suggest a lot of it is down to the individuals in your local branch.

Back in 1998 or so I had a rental from Enterprise arranged through my work. A full year later () they got in touch saying "Oi, when are you paying us for the smashed up door on that Mondeo?"

Response, after some head scratching and recollecting: "The Mondeo that you delivered with a broken door that wouldn't stay shut? The Mondeo that I never drove? The Mondeo that your delivery monkey replaced with a Primera, saying 'Nah, mate, it'll be fine' when I offered him some rope to stop the door swinging open? That Mondeo?"

Hmmmmm.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Easter Bunny]

For my experience ringing round very few hire companys could offer a zero excess I di find one thou South Mids Hire zero'd the excess for £15 per day or £50 for the week
their webby is www.southmidshire.com
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[iooi]

Just remember whoever you use make sure you get the forms signed off that list any damage when you pick it up and also when you return it....

Surprising how many cars get damaged after you have left them.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Poseidon]

Another vote for enterprise. Used them for cars and vans. Their availability is excellent, their service is top notch and their vehicles are always in excellent condition. They're one of the few companies around these days that actually seem grateful for your custom. As others have said, for 10quid a day you can get the excess waived. They do take a 150deposit when you pick the car up to cover fuel etc and if you take it back with less fuel than when you picked it up, they only charge you pump prices as opposed to some companies that charge a highly inflated price (one such company I used several years back charged £1.30/l when the pump price was around 90p/l). Whilst on the topic of fuel, they operate a "bring it back with the same amount you rented it with", as opposed to a "return filled to the brim" policy. Full to the brim policy scares people into squeezing as much diesel into a van's tank as possible for fear of being charged a highly inflamed price from their fuel deposit and as we all know, full to the brim diesels cause spills.
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[The Artist]

[Poseidon]

[The Artist]

[Poseidon]

Again a lot of cars come with alloys as standard. I just returned a ford focus to them that I'd hired for a week and that came with alloys, built in sat nav system, bluetooth phone kit, usb and 3.5mm sockets for auxiliary music devices in the centre console etc.
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[Black Knight]

Hi,

Hire often from Enterprise. As above echo recommendation. Their collect and drop off service saves taxi fees too.

With regard to the excess, I have bought insurance elsewhere at a much better rate.

I'll have to look up the details and reply later but essentially I bought a 1 year policy for £60 odd.

It covers any excess charges in full up to £2K and gives you additional cover such as theft/personal injury.

You can buy single trip but if you're hiring more than a few times the annual policy is excellent value.

Edit, found it - https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/questor-insurance-car-hire/car-hire-insurance.aspx?AgentID=300182
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

[Faldo]

I've used Enterprise many times (about 20 times). They were the only company that would hire to me due to being young with a less than clean licence.

Never had a problem with them and will use them again.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[WishayKillie]

Yeah another one for Enterprise. Good customer service and decent pricing too. I used to use them quite a lot to travel up to Aberdeen on one way trips. If I remember correctly it was £30-40 with a £10 excess waiver. If you say you work offshore you get a special deal too.
Best experience I had was when I went to pick up my car and they said they didnt have any small cars left (Fiesta, Corsa etc) so gave me a Mondeo ST TDi instead for no extra cost , that was a fun drive up to Aberdeen at 2am
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Current; 10' Aprilia Dorsoduro 750.
Previous; 05 Triumph Daytona 600, 08' Ducati 1098s.
"Needs a check-up, fae the neck up!"

[apple tango]

Can anyone tell me what type of I.D. Enterprise ask for? Their website pretty much only says to take your licence and a credit card.

One company I've hired from before needed 2 utility bills/bank statements dated within the last 6 weeks which was actually pretty hard for me to get hold of.
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CBR125 -> Bandit GSF600 '99 -> SV650 02

[Poseidon]

I always take two proofs of address plus photo ID. Bank statement, utility bill, passport and drivers licence are my choices.

It might be slight overkill, but it's better to be over prepared than be turned away.
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[ReallyOldGit]

[JonB]

[mike1234]

[KnuckleShot]

Why have you replied to a thread that is over 4 years old!?

[Evil Hans]

And changing the OP's quote to some shit about Camper Vans? And linking to the Indian version of the SkyScanner site?

You utter Spammy McShiteSpam. I hope your nob rots and falls off.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.