Renting a van and going abroad with it

[Leicesterdave]

is this doable? I'm helping my mum and dad move their stuff here, they're moving from Switzerland back to the UK (god help them).

[V8mate]

Ask the van hire company?

[Lord Pikey]

There are a few that allow it, but be prepared to pay a premium over the normal rental.

[Super Slo Mo]

Basically, no. You can try, but it's very unlikely. I have a business account with one of the big rental companies, who said they might (only might, it'd have to be referred up the management chain) consider it as a one off, for us as a business customer (and a regular user), but it'd have to be under the terms of our own company insurance, not theirs.

[davemac250]

Yes but expensive.

Hertz allowed it a few years back.

I used a van from a local small hire company that I had hired from many times in the past so a bit of history.

They still took some persuading and I had to take out my own insurance as theirs wouldn't cover in Europe fully comp.

Don't go too big or the ferries get very pricey. Large 4x4 and big enclosed trailer can be a better option if you have access.

[Leicesterdave]

We'd only be talking citroen berlingo or VW caddy size van- but I'm surprised they don't allow it- they've got some stuff but not a lot either, so no point paying for a removal.

[Lord Pikey]

Ask in the LeMans forum, a lot of people in thier rent vans for the week away.

We rented a minibus over the new year with National i think. It can be done but takes a fair bit of googling

[Leicesterdave]

Lord Pikey said:

Ask in the LeMans forum, a lot of people in thier rent vans for the week away.

We rented a minibus over the new year with National i think. It can be done but takes a fair bit of googling

Cheers will do!

[V8mate]

Leicesterdave said:

We'd only be talking citroen berlingo or VW caddy size van- but I'm surprised they don't allow it- they've got some stuff but not a lot either, so no point paying for a removal.

Does a Berlingo hold much more than a family hatchback with the rear seats down?

[Leicesterdave]

V8mate said:

Leicesterdave said:

We'd only be talking citroen berlingo or VW caddy size van- but I'm surprised they don't allow it- they've got some stuff but not a lot either, so no point paying for a removal.

Does a Berlingo hold much more than a family hatchback with the rear seats down?

Well they'll have their Corolla full with seats down which leaves me with the van. Unless an estate would be better but I'd have to be more careful with scratches!

[tog]

I used a local company to me (Swindon) and it wasn't an issue at all - I don't think it cost extra, and they have laminated photocopies of the V5 ready for you to take with you. I jut said how long I needed it for, where I wanted to go (Milan and back), and they said fine, here you go. It was a high-top Transit IIRC.

[gtidriver]

What about renting from Calais.it's a bit of arsing about though.

Edited by gtidriver on Monday 29th March 09:02

[bazking69]

We hired a Renault Traffic for Le Mans through Abacus.

Granted it was a people carrier conversion, but we asked them to remove the third row of seats so we had room. I guess they could have removed the second row too if we had wanted to create in effect a van with windows.

[GuinnessMK]

These guys hire vans to go abroad in:-

http://www.usedvandealer.co.uk/for-hire.htm bottom left van is the one I've just had for a week.

Probably a bit far for you to come up for?

As said, if it's just a small van you need, hire a big estate?

[Leicesterdave]

GuinnessMK said:

These guys hire vans to go abroad in:-

http://www.usedvandealer.co.uk/for-hire.htm bottom left van is the one I've just had for a week.

Probably a bit far for you to come up for?

As said, if it's just a small van you need, hire a big estate?

Cheers all-

My only concern is that it's a small removal- so need a lot more careful with scratches in an estate than in a van!

[pcvman]

try www.anyvan.com, there not a hire company, but people bid to do the job for you, check out the site.

[grumpyscot]

Why not buy a second hand one with a warranty then flog it when you come back - might be cheaper in the long run (excuse the pun!). Or keep it, put a mattress in the back and.............

[Leicesterdave]

grumpyscot said:

Why not buy a second hand one with a warranty then flog it when you come back - might be cheaper in the long run (excuse the pun!). Or keep it, put a mattress in the back and.............

Would cost a fair bit more surely!

[frosted]

Dont listen to some people on here because they obviously dont know much yet they offer advice .

I'm currently renting a van from europcar and the only fee I have to pay extra is 59.99 for 1 extra driver and to reduce the excess to 0.

All the big rental companies that I rang were happy to let me take it abroad .

[F i F]

frosted said:

Dont listen to some people on here because they obviously dont know much yet they offer advice .

I'm currently renting a van from europcar and the only fee I have to pay extra is 59.99 for 1 extra driver and to reduce the excess to 0.

All the big rental companies that I rang were happy to let me take it abroad .

Thanks for that frosted as I couldn't square what was being posted with evidence from my own eyes on various ferries.

Plus by chance I'd been thinking about doing exactly this and already have a Europcar account. marvellous!