Hiring a van can be ultra-useful if you are sorting out your garden, emptying your loft, or moving house. Not everyone can hire a van, however, so it is important to know what criteria you need to meet.
Valid driving licence
If you are looking at van rental Bristol and elsewhere for a vehicle weighing less than 3.6 tons, you only have to hold a standard UK licence to hire it and drive it. It is worth noting, however, that the vast majority of vans have manual transmissions, so it is likely that you need a full licence.
Driving endorsements
The likes of autolynecarvanrental.co.uk and other van hire companies may also want to know about any driving endorsements on your licence, such as those received for speeding. You can either print out a copy of what is known as your licence summary from the government website or get a code that enables you to share the information with your van hire company. If you print it, the information is valued for up to 30 days.
A code enables the van hire company to look at your summary online via the website. To sign up, you will need the postcode shown on your licence, your national insurance number, and the number on your driving licence.
Age matters
There are also age restrictions in relation to hiring a van, which can vary according to which company you use and the type of van you want to hire. Some companies will allow you to hire smaller vans from the age of 23, but you may have to pay a young driver surcharge for each day you have the vehicle. For larger vehicles, such as Ford Transit Lutons, Volkswagen Transporters and Ford Transits, you may have to be at least 25. The minimum age for hiring a van in the UK is 21.
The right van
If you can hire a van, you need to make sure you pick the right one for the job; therefore, you must consider factors such as size, load capacity, and what you need to lift in and out.
