Interested in van hire? Requirements that generally determine your eligibility include a full UK driving licence, a minimum age of 21 (provider-dependent), and having fewer than 6 points on your license. However, there are a few other supplier-specific criteria that you might need to match. Essentially, your entitlement to hire a van depends on proof that you are a safe and legal driver who will return the van in acceptable condition.
In this article, you will discover the requirements you must meet to be eligible for van hire. Additionally, you will learn what you can do to become eligible if you are not currently.
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Am I Eligible to Rent a Van?
To rent a van, you must possess the correct and accurate personal documentation, sufficient experience, and an adequate insurance policy.
What Documents Do I Need to Hire a Van?
A Full, Valid, Physical UK Photocard Driver’s Licence.
Your license proves your identity, confirms your address, and ensures you are legally allowed to drive a van. You must have held your full driver’s licence for at least one year, if not two, to be eligible to hire a van.
Provisional and digital licences are not a valid driving licence for van hire.
A physical photocard license is essential because paper licenses are usually refused by hiring companies. The only occasion on which a hiring company might accept a paper licence is when you provide it along with a valid passport.
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A DVLA Check Code
You must generate a DVLA check code from the official gov.uk website so your hiring company can confirm points or bans on your license. It also confirms that you have the correct licence entitlements for the specific van you are hiring.
Your DVLA check code is valid for 21 days from the date you submit the application.
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Can I Hire a Van If I Have Points on My Licence?
You can still hire a van if you have points on your licence. But the number of points different companies allow varies significantly. Some providers allow hiring for those with 9 points on their licence, but others limit the number of points to 3. Furthermore, if you are under 25, you may be limited to only 0 points.
Your hiring company will also consider the severity of your penalty on your eligibility for van hire. Major offences (e.g., drink driving) will almost always result in refusal.
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Proof of Address
Sometimes, van hire requirements include multiple proofs of address. Providing your hiring company with a bank statement, utility bill, or council tax bill dated within the last three months offers additional assurance. These documents help to prevent fraud, verify your identity, and ultimately, serve as an additional precaution.
If your hiring company requires multiple proofs of address, you can not use the same type of document twice. For example, most providers will not accept two utility bills and instead ask for a utility bill and a bank statement.
Since many hirers now have paperless billing, printed PDFs are usually fine.
Stricter companies may reject a bill on a smartphone screen. But this depends on the van hire requirements of your chosen provider.
Important Note: Proof of address must be in the lead driver’s name and match the address on your driving licence exactly. If you have recently moved and have not updated your licence, the hiring company may reject your application, even if you have proof of your new address.
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A Credit or Debit Card
You must have a credit or debit card in your name to secure a security deposit or pay late fees when hiring a van. Your card will allow your hiring provider to pre-authorise funds, guaranteeing payment without immediately withdrawing cash.
The payment card provided must be in the lead driver’s name. You can not use someone else’s card to vouch for the deposit if they are not the one signing the rental agreement.
The security deposit covers damages, theft, and issues upon return as part of your insurance excess.
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Can I Hire a Van With Bad Credit?
You can still hire a van with bad credit. However, you may have to pay a larger deposit or be limited to a smaller selection of vehicles. Ensure your credit score is correct before requesting a van, and, if possible, speak to a company representative to confirm your eligibility.
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Why do You Have to be 25 to Hire a Van?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be 25 to hire a van. This van hire requirement is more of a rule than a legal necessity. However, many hiring companies only offer van hire to those over 25 years of age, because hirers under 25 are at a statistically higher risk for accidents and claims.
If you are under 25 years of age, you may be subject to a Young Driver’s Surcharge, rather than a flat-out rejection. This daily fee is added to the rental payment and contributes to your increased insurance costs. You may also need to pay a larger security deposit, be restricted to smaller vans, and have held your full licence for at least 2 to 4 years. Generally, the van hire requirement for licence possession is almost universally 2 years.
Some companies offer van hire to customers as young as 21, but this varies significantly between providers. Check the terms and conditions of your chosen company to ensure you can hire their vans before making any payments.
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Can I be Ineligible to Insure a Hire Van?
You can be ineligible to insure a hired van for several reasons, including:
- Being under 25 years of age (your hiring company may necessitate additional fees and hire excess).
- Under 1 year of driving experience.
- Having previous driving convictions, bans or penalties.
- Experienced two or more vehicle accidents in the last 3 years.
- Not being licensed to drive a van over a particular weight. (For example, a Category B licence allows you to drive a van up to 3.5 tonnes. So, if you need a heavier van, you need a Category C1 licence.)
The rental price usually includes the legally required insurance you need to hire a van. Therefore, you do not need to purchase a separate van insurance policy. However, there is a difference between being legal and fully protected.
Basic third-party cover (provided in your policy) pays for vehicle repairs and medical bills if you hit someone else or their property while driving your hired van.
An additional Collision Damage Waver covers the van itself, so you are not liable for the full value of the van.
Important Notes: Review your insurance policy carefully to ensure you understand your coverage. Some gaps you may not be aware of include:
- Lack of coverage for theft or internal damage.
- Exclusion of damage to the roof.
- Absence of coverage in the event of misfuelling (putting petrol in a diesel van or vice versa).
You can not add hired vans to your personal vehicle policy, as most Driving Other Cars extensions specifically exclude them.
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Can I Hire a Van and Take it Abroad?
Most hiring companies offer an official VE103 form (at an additional cost) that allows you to take your hired van abroad. You can not drive a hired van across any border under your standard rental agreement alone.
However, there is a criterion you must meet to be eligible to take a hired van abroad, which includes:
- Having no license endorsements or fewer than 6 points on your license.
- Providing the correct identifying documentation.
- Acquiring an official VE103 form.
- Arranging appropriate European insurance coverage through your hiring company.
- Getting explicit permission from your hiring company to travel abroad in their vehicle.
- Meeting the insurer’s risk criteria through a consistently good driving record.
- Purchasing the safety equipment that the country you are travelling to requires drivers to have.
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What is a VE103?
A VE103 proves that you, as a vehicle hirer, have permission from your hiring company to take the vehicle overseas. It is the only legal alternative to the V5C logbook. It is also mandatory for those driving in Europe and the Republic of Ireland. It contains the vehicle’s details, your insurance information, and your personal details. It is valid for 12 months, and your hiring company will supply it with explicit permission.
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Want to Hire a Van in London?
If you meet the van hire requirements and are looking to rent a van, choose Fairview Vehicle Hire as your provider. We have 5 branches and over 2,200 LEZ-compliant vehicles to choose from. So you are sure to find something you like. Whether you are a business or domestic customer, we offer some of the most competitive rates available.
If you are still unsure whether you are eligible for van hire, download the Fairview app. There, you can input your documentation and receive confirmation of your eligibility in just a few minutes. Not to mention, store your documents for faster checkout.
With short-term, long-term and flexible-hire durations available, we handle everything.
Browse our fleet and book your van hire over the phone, through our app, or online booking system.
