Can I pay for my self-drive hire insurance policy in instalments?

Yes. In most cases we can arrange for you to pay for your self-drive hire policy in six or ten monthly instalments at competitive rates. Credit terms are subject to acceptance of your application and full written details are available on request.

Can my self-drive hire customers pay in cash?

Yes, as long as they pay the deposit via a cleared and traceable method. This can include PayPal, bank transfer, credit, or debit card. Even a cheque is acceptable as long as it is cleared before the vehicle is hired.

Can you insure self-drive hire operators in all areas of the UK?

We can cover self-drive hire risks in most regions of the UK, subject to insurer’s acceptance.

Do I have to verify the ID of the driver when I hire out a vehicle?

Yes, you must verify the hirer’s identity using a form of photo identity, such as a passport and two recent utility bills (dated within 60 days) sent to the same address as on the driving licence. You also need to take a copy of their photocard driving licence and a rental agreement must be completed per hire per driver. We recommend all evidence obtained is kept for a two year period in addition to the rental agreement and proof of the hire deposit payment.

How quickly can I obtain a self-drive hire insurance quotation?

We will normally be able to indicate a premium immediately over the phone, or you can use our online quote form.

What does 'off-hire cover' mean?

‘Off-hire cover’ means insurance for your hire vehicles when not on hire – for example, when being driven by a named driver or when parked at your premises. We automatically include this cover at no cost to you.

What factors affect the premiums that self-drive hire insurers charge?

The main factors include the type of vehicle involved, the value of the rental vehicles, the area of the country in which your operation is based, and the claims history of the business. Named driver's points and claims will also affect premiums and excesses.

What happens if I get clearance from the insurer that I can hire vehicles to young drivers or someone with a poor driving record?

Usually, there will simply be an increased excess for the hirer. However, sometimes you may need to charge an additional premium. The precise terms will be confirmed on a case-by-case basis.

What is a 'minimum and deposit premium'?

You may be required to pay a ‘minimum and deposit premium’ even if you don’t complete the first year of cover, or change to a vehicle that commands a lower premium. Insurers normally remove this on your first renewal. Policies are non-refundable if cancelled, as of 01/12/2022.

What is a co-insurance clause?

A co-insurance clause makes you responsible for a proportion of any loss. For example, a 25% co-insurance clause would mean that you are responsible for a quarter of any loss, with the insurer covering the remaining 75%. On self-drive hire insurance policies, a co-insurance clause is often applied to ‘theft by hirer’.

What is meant by the term 'theft by hirer'?

Theft may occur when a hirer fails to return a vehicle at the end of a hire period, or treats the hired vehicle as his or her own property – for example, by selling it to another party.

What is self-drive hire insurance?

Self-drive hire insurance is a specific insurance for vehicle hire companies and individuals. Businesses or individuals that want to rent out their vehicle(s) must have an insurance policy to cover them when a vehicle is out on-hire, and give cover when it’s not on-hire as well - something a standard vehicle policy cannot offer. A vehicle rental company must have self-drive hire insurance.

What sort of excess can I expect on my self-drive hire policy?

Your excess will vary depending on the type of vehicle, age of driver, and the track record of your business. The minimum excess on our self-drive hire insurance policies is generally £500, which applies to most damage claims. A co-insurance clause of 25% specifically applies to theft by hirer claims. High value and performance vehicles will generally have a higher excess, but these will be shown in your quote. The policy will generally include an additional excess for young drivers, typically £200 for a driver aged between 23 and 24 years.

What sort of vehicles can you cover with a self-drive hire policy?

We can arrange self-drive hire insurance for most types of vehicle including motorhomes, motor caravans, campervans, horseboxes, and splitter vans. We can refer car and van risks based on previous self-drive hire experience and clear claims experience history.

Will an insurer make exceptions to allow me to hire to drivers who would not generally be covered?

Yes. We realise that you need an insurance partner with a flexible and realistic approach to help you maximise value from your self-drive hire fleet. We contact the insurer directly and get a swift response so you won’t miss the opportunity to hire.

Will there be restrictions on the ages of drivers that can hire out my vehicles?

Yes. Generally, drivers aged between 21 and 79 will be accepted at normal terms provided they have held a full license for at least two years and have a good driving record. Drivers aged over 79 may be accepted but at a higher rate. For splitter vans or high-risk vehicles there may be further age restrictions applied.

Self Drive Hire Insurance | Cover for Fleets or Single Vehicles

Name: Self-Drive Hire Insurance
Brand: Alan Boswell Group
Rating: 4.9 (1420 reviews)

If you’re looking for a quote for a single vehicle, please use our online quote system.

Self-drive hire insurance is vital if you rent out a vehicle to members of the public. Policies are primarily made up of motor insurance, which covers the driver and your vehicle or fleet while in use under a rental contract. Not only is it a legal requirement, but it provides peace of mind that your investment is protected if the worst happens.

Unlike pay-as-you-go self-drive hire insurance, our comprehensive annual insurance not only includes the motor insurance element but also provides off-hire cover. That means you and other named drivers are insured if you want to use the vehicle without a rental contract.

The Alan Boswell Group Difference

Alan Boswell Group is a self-drive hire insurance specialist. We’ve been arranging insurance cover for businesses for more than 40 years and have access to a panel of the country’s leading insurers.

Our dedicated team looks after self-drive hire clients from across the UK; everything from large fleets of commercial hire vans, small family-run motorhome hires, storage companies who also offer their customers a hire van, and splitter vans taking bands on tour. We help you with any claims, supporting you through the process.

We’ve also put together a range of useful guides, articles and tips for motorhome and campervan owners in our knowledge hub.

Motorhome and campervan guides

Self-drive hire insurance adviser at Alan Boswell Group

How our customers rate us

Excellent customer communication. Very helpful and clear over the T&Cs. Good response to queries and questions.

Mr Chaplin - Self-Drive Hire Insurance

4.9/5 1420 reviews

Self-drive hire insurance in detail

We arrange self-drive hire insurance for a selection of vehicles, including motorhomes, campervans, splitter vans, horseboxes, classic cars, and vans (depending on experience). We also offer self-drive hire breakdown cover, liability cover, and legal expenses insurance to cover all your needs.

With us you’ll get fully comprehensive annual insurance for your vehicle(s) while on hire or static at the home or business address.

No surprising costs

The premium you pay will cover as many hires as you wish with no limit on mileage.

Fire cover

Some motorhomes and horseboxes can get additional cover for fire damage caused by cooking and heating risks.

Entertainers welcome

We can offer splitter van cover without restrictions on people in the entertainment industry.

EU cover

Can be included free of charge.

We won’t expect you to complete forms for every hire you arrange; you can hire your vehicle(s) whenever you want to whomever you want within a given criteria. To review the driver criteria, please read our driver referencing page.

Self-drive hire - driver referencing

In the event you need to make a claim, you will be assigned a dedicated claims handler who will understand the importance of getting the vehicle back on the road with minimal disruption.

Make a claim

Additional covers

The following additional covers are available to enhance your vehicle protection:

Breakdown cover

UK and EU use available.

Commercial legal expenses

Covers a variety of legal issues including motor disputes, contract cover, and tax investigations. Also gives access to a legal helpline 24/7, 365 days a year.

Liability

Whether you're running your business from your home or from a commercial unit, you risk being sued if a visitor is injured on your premises or by your vehicle. Liability insurance will cover the subsequent legal expenses and compensation claims.

Cyber insurance

No matter what your business, you are reliant upon technology in some way or other. Whether you use it to store customer records, make online sales, or issue electronic documentation, it is likely to be a vital part of your organisation. If that technology fails, your business could be exposed to a gap in productivity, damage to your reputation, or even a fine.

Directors' and Officers' insurance

An essential policy for protecting the personal liabilities of your business’ directors and key personnel (officers). The personal liabilities of directors can be unlimited, D&O covers the cost of successful claims and legal expenses relating to alleged wrongful acts of your business’ directors and key managers.

Vehicle types

You can insure a wide variety of vehicle types with our self-drive hire policy. Furthermore, with our policy, you do not need to purchase a separate personal use policy, as our self-drive hire policies already provide cover for it.

Call Assist breakdown cover

At Alan Boswell Group we offer breakdown cover from Call Assist, which provides UK only and UK & European cover, without restrictions to vehicle dimensions, and regardless of who is driving the vehicle.

To discuss adding on Call Assist breakdown cover to your policy, contact the self-drive hire team on 01603 649744 or by email.

For more information on how to prevent breakdowns, read our guide.

Breakdown prevention guide