thrifty uk - bristol airport car hire companies
The Company, initially called Scot Hire, began as a partnership between Clive Spokes and Maureen Bull, which was run from their home. Clive completed all the vehicle maintenance and Maureen ran the administrative side of the business.In 1973 they were able to rent a small office in a garage in Exeter, with 4 parking spaces.
In 1976 negotiations were started to purchase the company’s first site.
In June 1979 Scot Hire made its first bulk purchase, six Vauxhall Chevettes. Expansion has continued, ever since, with new branches being opened and the vehicle fleet growing in number as the years have gone by: Today Scot Group Ltd runs an average fleet of 9,000 cars, and 3,000 vans and minibuses.
Back in 1996 the Company also changed its name from Rotacell Ltd T/A Scot Hire to Scot Group Ltd T/A Scot Hire to encompass all areas of the growing business and in 1999 Nigel Spokes assumed a controlling interest in the Company. Whilst remaining a private family-owned concern, the business is now operated by the current board comprising of Chairman Nigel Spokes, Managing Director Roger Hancock and Financial Director Peter Granados.
The company launched Scot Prestige in 2003, which now offers Customers the choice of renting vehicles from extensive Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW and Volvo product. This part of the Company is now incorporated into the Thrifty brand.
In 2005 the Company was offered the opportunity to acquire the UK master franchise for Thrifty Car & Van Rental in the UK and it was decided the opportunity with Thrifty was too good to miss. So on 1st April 2006 Scot Group became Scot Group T/A Thrifty Car & Van Rental. As owner of the Thrifty master franchise for the UK it has enabled the Company to grow on a far greater scale than ever before and we intend to one day become the leader in vehicle rental in the UK. With such growth will come increased career opportunity and security for each of our employees, upon whom the Company’s future success depends.
Thrifty currently have 90 locations within the UK and the Head Office of the Company is based at 12 Marsh Barton Road, Exeter where the Accounts, Personnel, Insurance, Fleet and Car Sales departments are based. There is also a Central Office in High Wycombe which houses the Sales, Reservation and Credit Control functions and a refurbishment site where the majority of the Company's maintenance and accident repairs are carried out based in Nuneaton.
Thrifty UK Rental Terms for travel between 01-Jan-2011 and 31-Dec-2016
Please be advised if you do not adhere to the Terms & Conditions regarding Driver Age, Payment, Driving Licences & history, Identification Required and Rental Payment Terms when collecting your vehicle our Cancellation Policy will be enforced. If you cannot fulfil the stated ID requirements please contact the renting location prior to booking to discuss options.Vehicle images
Vehicle images are examples only, specific models cannot be guaranteed.
Price
Rates include insurance (subject to the damage liability of the vehicle), VAT, breakdown cover & unlimited miles (unless otherwise stated). Porsche rentals are subject to a limit of 100 miles per day and excess of £1 per mile. N.B. The term "unlimited mileage" assumes a vehicle on a rental in excess of 28 days will incur no more than 2000 miles during this period. If your mileage is likely to exceed 2000 miles per month please contact the renting location for full details before placing your booking
Driver age
All drivers must be aged between 21 and 75 inclusive. Drivers aged 21-24 may only rent cars up to Standard category, Economy and Short Wheel Base Vans.
Drivers aged 21-24 must hold a full driving licence for a minimum of 24 months which is free of endorsements.
Drivers must be aged 30 to 75 to rent a luxury or Porsche vehicle and have a licence for at least 24 months that is free of endorsements
A daily charge of £12.00 (incl VAT) applies to drivers aged 21-24 and 70-75 inclusive.
Insurance
Insurance is subject to a damage liability which varies according to vehicle size.
Damage Liability Reduction (reducing the excess to £0 for cars and £250 for vans) is available at participating locations for an additional cost but is not available to drivers aged 21-24 or 70-75.
Reduction of damage liability from £500 to zero (cars only) £13.00 per day, 1 to 3 day hires
£12.00 per day, 4 to 6 day hires
£8.00 per day, 7 to 14 day hires
£6.00 per day, 15 days or longer
Reduction of damage liability from £750 to zero (cars only) £18.00 per day, 1 to 3 day hires
£17.00 per day, 4 to 6 day hires
£12.00 per day, 7 to 14 day hires
£9.00 per day, 15 days or longer
Reduction of damage liability from £1000 or more to zero Not available
Reduction of damage liability from £750 to £250 (vans only) £13.00 per day, 1 to 3 day hires
£12.00 per day, 4 to 6 day hires
£8.00 per day 7 days or longer
Damage Liability for car groups Economy to Full Size is £500, all other groups are £750 except the Prestige 4 x 4 and Luxury Automatic which are £1000 and Luxury 4 x 4 and Porsche which are £3500
Please note Glass and Tyre cover is not available for Luxury or Porsche rentals. Glass and tyre cover excluding Prestige £5.00 per day, 1 to 6 day hires
£4.00 per day, 7 to 14 day hires
£3.00 per day 15 days or longer
Glass and tyre cover Prestige Vehicles £13.00 per day, 1 to 6 day hires
£12.00 per day, 7 to 14 day hires
£8.00 per day 15 days or longer
Damage Liability waiver may be withdrawn at any time (for example, due to extreme weather conditions) at the discretion of Thrifty management.
Fuel Policy
All vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the hire.
• If a rental is for 5 days or more a tank of fuel must be purchased at pick up. No refunds will be made on any unused fuel
• If a rental is for 4 days or less and you return the vehicle part full you will be charged for missing fuel at the end of the rental at the locally determined price.Please note a surcharge will be applied for this facility
Payment
Payment is required by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) or UK debit card (Switch, Solo, Maestro, Visa Electron, issued on UK banks only). Cash, cheque, and pre-paid credit cards are not accepted. Other people may pre pay for a rental but the credit or debit card presented at the start of the hire must always be in the name of the main driver. Other people paying for the rental at pick up (or additional rental charges in the event of a pre-payment) is not acceptable.
Please note that for Luxury 4 x 4 rentals,2 credit cards will be required for the value of the excess (£3500) plus the cost of the hire
For Porsche rentals, 2 credit cards will be required for the value of the excess (£3500) plus the cost of the hire and any applicable delivery charges will be preauthorised at the start of rental(this may be split between 2 cards)
Overseas hires
• All cars (other than Prestige models), people carriers with fewer than 8 seats (including the driver) and commercial vehicles up to 3.5tonne LWB) may be taken outside the UK to the following countries only:-
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (excluding Ceuta and Melilla), Sweden and Switzerland
• An overseas surcharge will be quoted for taking a vehicle outside the UK and this includes provision of vehicle documentation legally required (form VE103, which indicates approved drivers and limit of countries to be visited) and European breakdown cover (full policy will be given at commencement of hire – certain exclusions apply)
• There is a mileage limit on rentals during which the vehicle is driven overseas as follows:-
1 – 6 days 200 miles per day
7 days + 700 miles per week + 100 miles per additional day
Any miles driven in excess of these limits will be charged at 15 pence per mile (including VAT) at the end of the rental
• Excess waiver products are not available on rentals during which the vehicle is driven overseas
Driving Licences & history
Anyone who will be driving the Thrifty vehicle must present a valid driving licence with their current address, in person, at the time of collection. No copies of licences will be accepted.
IMPORTANT: On collection of vehicle, renter must produce: valid driving licence (both parts of UK licence) - we cannot accept an expired photocard
Drivers aged between 25-75 must have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months. Licence endorsements up to 9 points are accepted. If the driver has been banned from driving for a DD, DR or UT offence, or has been disqualified for 12 months or more, we will only rent 5 years or more after the return of the licence.
Drivers aged 21-24 must have held a licence for at least 24 months and be free of current endorsements.
Drivers must be aged 30 to 75 to rent a luxury,prestige or Porsche vehicle and have a licence for at least 24 months that is free of endorsements.
Minibus rental is only available to renters holding category D1 on their licence.
Identification required if UK Resident. If you cannot fulfil the stated ID requirements please contact the renting location prior to booking to discuss options.
When collecting the vehicle, the Lead Driver must present
• a valid driving licence. If old (paper-only) style, official photo ID must also be presented. If new (photocard+counterpart) style, both parts are required. We cannot accept an expired photocard (see Driving Licences section for further details)
• If the licence does not show current home address (this includes licences issued in EU countries and driver resides in UK), a valid passport or national identity card must be presented
• 2 additional forms of ID to confirm home address. One must be the credit card/bank statement for the credit card/debit card being presented for deposit and additional charges. The other should be a formal document (eg. utilities bill) both must be dated within 8 weeks of date of hire and be the original documents
• a credit or debit card in their own name (see section on Rental Payment terms for further details). For Porsche rentals, 2 credit cards will be required.
• additional drivers must present a valid driving licence (both parts of new UK Licence are required - we cannot accept an expired photocard) plus passport or national identity card if licence does not show current home address
• Please contact the location prior to hiring if you have any questions regarding identification required.
The Lead Driver may be subject to a search with Experian for the purposes of verifying his/her identity. To do so Experian may check the details supplied by the Lead Driver against any particulars on any database (public or otherwise) to which they have access. They may also use these details in the future to assist other companies for verification purposes. A record of the search will be retained. By agreeing to Thrifty terms & conditions, you are consenting to this search.
Minibuses may only be hired with a licence showing a D1 entitlement
Identification required if non UK Resident. If you cannot fulfil the stated ID requirements please contact the renting location prior to booking to discuss options.
When collecting the vehicle, the Lead Driver must present
• passport (or national identity card if European citizen if this has been used to enter the UK)
• a credit card in their own name (please note non UK debit cards are not accepted)
• a valid driving licence from country of residence (licence must show an English translation if not issued in Europe)
• travel documentation confirming dates of arrival and departure to/from the UK
• Additional drivers must also present a valid driving licence from country of residence (licence must show an English translation if not issued in Europe)
Vehicles with more than 9 seats (including the driver) may not be rented by non UK Licence Holders
17 seat Minibuses may not be rented by non UK residents
Rental Payment Terms
Please read this carefully. If there is anything you do not understand or do not agree with, please ask any member of staff at your Thrifty location.
Thrifty guarantees to have the vehicle you reserve or a higher classed vehicle available at the time and date you request.
When you collect your rental vehicle you will be required to present a credit or debit card, which will be charged as follows:-
a) payment by credit card - if you choose to pay by credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express) your card will be pre-authorised for the rental charges and any additional charges agreed to plus a further amount of £150. When you return the vehicle at the end of the hire period, the total additional charges, including any charges for fuel, damage, etc will be calculated, and your card will then be charged for the final amount. At this point the pre-authorised amount will be released back to your credit card account. This may take up to 10 days, depending on your card issuing bank.
b) payment by debit card - if you choose to pay by debit card (Switch, Solo, Maestro, Visa Electron, issued on UK banks only) your card will be charged at the start of the hire for the rental charges and any additional charges agreed to plus the value of the damage liability excess on the vehicle. Should you choose to accept a damage liability waiver reduction your card will be charged for the additional charges plus a further £150, however, please note that Thrifty reserves the right to withdraw the option to purchase damage liaiblity waiver, for example, due to extreme weather conditions. When you return the vehicle at the end of the hire period, the total additional charges, including any charges for fuel, damage, etc will be calculated, and any overpayment will be credited to your card. Please note this process may take up to 5 working days. If you elect to pay by debit card, one of the additional forms of ID (see Identification required section) must be a copy of the bank statement for the account the debit card is issued on.
Payment by debit card is not allowed on Prestige, Luxury or Porsche vehicles. Please note Thrifty Car Rental operate a CHIP and PIN facility only.
In the event that you return the vehicle earlier than the date originally specified on the voucher, no refund will be made.
If you wish to return the vehicle after the time originally specified, you should contact the branch to agree this. You will be charged for every day or part-day you have the vehicle after the original agreed date and time at the rate specified on the rental agreement when you collect the vehicle.
Rental period
You will have the vehicle for the rental period shown in your Reservation Confirmation. If you do not bring the vehicle back on time, or if you do not contact us and get our agreement to an extension of your rental, you are breaking the conditions of this agreement. We can charge you for every day or part-day you have the vehicle after you should have returned it to us. Until we get the vehicle back we will charge you the daily rate specified on the rental agreement when you collect the vehicle.
Rental Agreement
You will be asked to sign a Rental Agreement when you collect your hire vehicle.
Terms of booking on this website
Information disclaimer
The rates on this website are often heavily discounted. This is due to our negotiated rates and bulk buying power. On very rare occasions, a rate may be displayed incorrectly due to our, or a vehicle supplier's error. In such a case, if you book with us at a quoted rate that is incorrect, we will notify you of any price change and give you the option to proceed or cancel. We make every effort to keep information on our site up to date, but we cannot guarantee this website is free of errors or omissions and retain the right to update or change the information published at any time.
Liability
To the extent permitted by law we/the owners of this website will not be liable to you or to any third party (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including but not limited to any accident, injury, delay or loss of enjoyment) arising out of your reliance upon information contained on this website, including but not limited to your use (or inability to use) any products or services described or procured through this website.
When you pick up your vehicle, you will be required to sign a rental agreement with the supplier of the vehicle. Your rental and use of the vehicle will be governed by the terms of the rental agreement and any other documentation or information provided to you by the supplier at the time you pick up your vehicle. The rental agreement is between you and the supplier and we will not be liable to you or to any third party in relation to the terms of the supplier's rental agreement or any other documentation provided to you by the supplier at the time of pick up.
While we will make reasonable efforts to ensure we are representing only reputable suppliers, we make no warranty about the fitness or suitability of any third party (supplier) product or service and will not accept responsibility for the quality or fitness of any vehicle. We welcome feedback from our customers on their experience with our suppliers. We may, at our discretion, provide you with reasonable assistance in resolving any dispute you may have with a supplier.
Our total liability to you in relation to your use of this website and the information contained on this website will not exceed the dollar amount of the deposit we have received from you in relation to your booking/rental. Refunds will not be made for bookings cancelled due to inclement weather. Again, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance. Your use of this website is governed by the laws of New Zealand and the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.
Booking information
To make a booking you must complete our booking form which is easy to follow and secured with the latest encryption technology. Once we receive your form, we will, subject to availability, confirm your booking by emailing you a confirmation voucher and invoice.
If you are booking via phone, please make sure you have read the terms and conditions of the vehicle you wish to rent first. Our reservations consultant will ask you if you have read the terms and agree to them before proceeding. The onus is always on the renter to ensure they make themselves fully aware of the terms displayed on our website.
Information disclosure
In booking on this website you acknowledge that we disclose your information to your selected Supplier in order to provide the requested rental services.
Vehicle capacity and fitness to drive
Under no circumstances are you permitted to carry more passengers than the vehicle you rent is legally registered to carry, and if you do your insurance may be invalidated. The number of seatbelts (and passengers) is indicated next to each vehicle on this website. Luggage capacity where shown is an indication only and we will not be responsible should you be unable to fit your entire luggage into a vehicle. It is your responsibility to choose a journey that is within your capabilities. A vehicle supplier can refuse to rent a vehicle to any person who is in their opinion unfit to drive or does not meet eligibility requirements. In such circumstances we will have no further liability to you.
Refund Policy
We are committed to providing a quality service and aim for complete customer satisfaction. In the event of cancellation, any refunds or penalties are detailed in the terms and conditions of your selected vehicle that you are asked to read and accept at time of booking. In the event you are unsatisfied with our service, please contact us within 48 hours of placing your booking or request and we will work to resolve any issues and determine if compensation is due. In the event you have completed your rental and are unhappy with your vehicle, we are happy to assist you in seeking compensation from the operator of the vehicle.
This website is owned and operated by Car Rental Republic Ltd, a specialist in worldwide car rental distribution. Our financial centre and marketing office is based at Level 4 Excelsior House, 6 Commerce St , Auckland, New Zealand. Thank you for booking with us.