Types of Van Rental
When people think of hiring a vehicle, they tend to think in terms of daily rental, or short term hire only.
The truth is that there are a wide range of hire options available for business and private users, offering the chance to rent vans for anything from a day to several years.
Here is a run down on the different options:
Short Term Hire / Daily Rental
The most common type of hire. Vehicles are rented on a daily, weekend or weekly rate for a short period - typically not more than a few weeks.
Long Term Hire
Long term hire is most commonly used by businesses that need an additional vehicle for their operations - perhaps for a couple of months, perhaps longer.
The hire company will provide preferential rates reflecting the length of the hire, and will take care of any maintenance or repairs that are required during the rental period - however long it is.
It may be necessary for the rental company to change the van being rented for an equivalent replacement - this will be done without cost to the hirer.
Contract Hire
Perhaps the best-known model for long-term van hire, contract hire means that you sign up to hire a van for a fixed period - typically 1- 3 years. Your contract will stipulate the maximum mileage you can do during this period, and you will probably have the option of including a maintenance contract.
A full maintenance contract will mean that the hire company pays for all repair and maintenance your van requires during the contract period - typically you will only be responsible for replacing the van's tyres and paying for fuel.
At the end of the contract hire period, you simply hand the van back and walk away - or change it for a new one!
Contract Van Rental
Contract rental is a short-term alternative to contract hire. It is normally aimed at people who require a rental van for 3-12 months, and do not wish to be responsible for maintenance or repair costs during that time.
Van Leasing
If you need the benefits of owning a van without all of the responsibilities, leasing a van may be the ideal solution.
Leases are usually available for periods of up to 5 years and often have no mileage restrictions. During the lease you will have the option of a maintenance contract for the van and at the end of the lease you simply hand it back to the leasing company, with no hassle or obligations.
Leasing often makes a good alternative to buying vehicles outright, whether you are a business or a private customer.
