Dartford Terms and Conditions

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEBSITE IS A BOOKING/ENQUIRY/CONTACT SERVICE OPERATED BY PRACTICAL CAR & VAN RENTAL LTD ON BEHALF OF OUR FRANCHISEES. ANY BOOKING/ENQUIRY/CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE FRANCHISEE AND ANY LEGAL CONTRACT IS ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE RENTER AND THE FRANCHISEE DIRECTLY, NOT PRACTICAL CAR & VAN RENTAL LTD. THE DETAILS OF THE LEGAL ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE FRANCHISEES WEBPAGE OR BY CONTACTING PRACTICAL HEAD OFFICE ON 0121 772 8599.

• All drivers and/or payees must show valid original driving licences plus 2 forms of ID, copies are not accepted. ID's must be no less than 3 months or 12 weeks old. See below for the GB licence check procedure.
• All pricing is per day and subject to availability.
• Minimum rental period is 24 hours (unless stated otherwise).
• All rentals include insurance (subject to excess, breakdown cover, mileage (subject to local limits) and VAT).
• All rentals are subject to the insurance qualification of all driver's full details can be found:- Terrms & Conditions PDF.
• Collision Damage Waiver may be available – please ask for details.
• The Damage and Theft excess may vary by location – please ask for details.
• Van Rentals are subject to an overhead roof damage excess.
• Additional Drivers are acceptable at an additional cost.
• Drivers must have held their licence for a minimum of 12 months (or 2 years if the driver is under 25 or a non UK licence holder and local restrictions may apply too).
• Deposits by credit or debit card are required on all rentals. Payment is generally taken when you collect the vehicle, however this policy varies, please check with your renting location as some sites require a booking deposit.
• When you reserve a vehicle with us we will assume your drop off time is the same as your pick up time UNLESS YOU MAKE IT CLEAR OTHERWISE.

Car Hire Age Range: 23-75 (this may vary on some makes and models)
MPV Hire Age Range: 25-75 (this may vary on some makes and models)
Van Hire Age Range: 23-72 (this may vary on some makes and models)
Minibus Hire Age Range: 25-70 (this may vary on some makes and models)
Drivers outside these ranges may be accepted subject to insurance clearance (surcharges may apply)

• Foreign Licence Rules - We must be able to read and understand the licence presented and establish it is valid. We cannot accept an International Drivers Permit on its own without the original under any circumstances. European Licences with the EU symbol are acceptable without an International licence. IDP's are intended for the purpose of translation and validity of the original. The onus is on the Renter to provide a translation to confirm all our Insurance Risk questions.
• Sat Nav units may be available - please ask for details.

Each of our franchisees is a separate legal entity and as such Practical Car & Van Rental Ltd can not and will not be held responsible for any financial recompense or legal liability deemed appropriate by any third party.

Cancellation and No Show Policy

If your travel plans change, you may normally cancel your booking free of charge anytime up until 24 hours before your rental is due to start except rentals commencing on a Monday which require 48 hours notice of cancellation. Please check with your renting site if the local terms are different.

If you fail to pick up your car or van on the day your rental is due to start, or do not cancel with more than 24 hours notice prior to the time it is due to start, you will be required to pay at least £50 or the locations own designated fee.

Vehicles are subject to availability. If not available a free upgrade to the next vehicle group will be offered. The location you want to book with will give you a minimum 48 hours notice in the event that they have to cancel your booking in extreme unforeseen circumstances, Cancellation would only occur after every effort has been made to source an alternative vehicle/transport and where a free upgrade would not be appropriate.

GB Driving Licence Checking procedure.

You may check your licence yourself online no more than 72 hours in advance OR check at the rental office when you collect your vehicle.

This will add a few minutes to the normal procedure so please allow time for this to be done.

This is essential for Rental Companies to do in order to comply with the Insurance Companies Rules.

To check you will need your Driving Licence, National Insurance Number and Post Code.

First go to this web site address:- https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Log in with the full 16 digit driver number, National Insurance Number and Postcode.

Then choose to SHARE the driving licence information, this page can be printed as well. If you cannot print - no problem - BUT make sure you bring the SHARE code to the rental office along with the licence and your ID. NB note the share code is case sensitive​.

All GB Drivers Must Do This

On arrival at site the renting location will enter the SHARE code that you the driver(s) have been given. This will be printed and retained (on ONE page) all of the drivers information. The rental company has to have this information for their Insurance Company.

There is also another option for GB customers who have trouble on the web checking their own licence or who don't know their National Insurance number. If GB licence holders cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 (national rate from a land line) and DVLA will provide you with a SHARE code. Monday to Friday 8.00am to 7pm, Saturday 8.00am to 2pm. National Insurance number NOT needed.

Alternatively you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 (national rate from a land line) and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person or organisation. You have to go through 3 levels of options which are 1 - 4 - 2. This permission is valid for 7 days. Monday to Friday 8.00am to 7pm, Saturday 8.00am to 2pm. National Insurance number NOT needed. The nominated site who needs the information then calls DVLA, states who they are and that there is a verbal message allowing them the information. DVLA will then give the details the site needs (entitlements and endorsements).​

Opening Times

Opening Times

• Monday to Friday: 9:00 to 18:00 
• Saturday: 09:00 to 18:00 (last collection must be 30 mins before we close)
• Sunday:Closed

Out of Hours Returns
We do not allow out of hour drop offs to return vehicles. All rental vehicles are the renters responsibility until signed in by an employee of the company.

Driving Licence and Additional Documents

A full and valid driving licence must have been held for a minimum of 2 years and must be in the renter’s current address.

Upon collection of the vehicle, please bring your photocard driving licence. We no longer require the paper Counterpart, instead we will be required to complete an online licence check.

Please follow the link below to create a onetime 'Share Code', allowing us to access your driver record. This code is valid of 21 days. 

www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Alternatively if you are unable able to access the internet you can obtain a 'Share Code' by calling the DVLA on 0300 0830013.
If you do not know your National Insurance number, please call 0300 790 6801 to leave permission for the hire company to be check verbally.  

Proof of address must also be brought to confirm the renters current address. This can be a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months.

Deposit and Damage

Full or part payment must be paid for a rental to be secured.

Payments for online bookings will be taken from the card details given when the reservation is received. 

A £250 deposit is required to be held against a credit/debit card.

If the vehicle is returned and there is damage to the vehicle that was not recorded on the check out sheet at the beginning of the rental, the location will charge you up to the agreed Excess unless the damage is caused negligently then the charge may exceed the Excess.

Any charges for Damage will either be retained from your Authorisation* or taken on your nominated payment card. You will be telephoned if any of these charges are relevant and a receipt will be sent to you within 24 hours of the money being debited. An administration fee may be applied.

Goods in transit are not covered as part of the inclusive insurance that comes with the hire of a vehicle. Any contents/ personal belonging lefts in an unattended vehicle are left at the hirers own risk. Practical Dartford cannot be held liable for any losses/ damages.  

Mileage Allowance

We offer an inclusive 'Free' mileage allowance on all rentals:

Vans: Daily mileage allowance is 250 miles

Cars: Daily mileage allowance is 150 miles

Renters exceeding the set miles per day will be charged at 20p per mile for any miles over the limit. 

Fuel Policy

We operate a 'full to full' fuel policy on our vehicles. Vehicles must be returned full of fuel as per check slip. If the fuel proves to be less, the customer will be charged.

Congestion Charges and Fines

You are liable for the payment of all Congestion Charges and Traffic Violation Fines along with any fines or subsequent charges incurred during the period of your rental. Notification of these will be telephoned or emailed to you, along with a receipt for payments which will be taken by your nominated payment card. An administration fee of £15 will be applied.

Dart Charge

If you use the Dartford Crossing while in one of our vehicles, please let us know as the crossing fee will be added to your invoice at the end of the rental. Failure to do so will result in a £15 fee for each crossing, as well as the normal rate. 

Pets in Vehicles and Smoking Policy

For health and hygiene reasons we do not allow the transportation of pets in our vehicles.

In line with legal guidelines there is a strict ban on smoking and vaping within our vehicles. 

Any evidence of smoking or the carriage of animals in our vehicles will incur a £45 penalty charge and any damage caused to the interior of any vehicles will be charged at full repair costs.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEBSITE IS A BOOKING/ENQUIRY/CONTACT SERVICE OPERATED BY PRACTICAL CAR & VAN RENTAL LTD ON BEHALF OF OUR FRANCHISEES. ANY BOOKING/ENQUIRY/CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE FRANCHISEE AND ANY LEGAL CONTRACT IS ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE RENTER AND THE FRANCHISEE DIRECTLY, NOT PRACTICAL CAR & VAN RENTAL LTD. THE DETAILS OF THE LEGAL ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE FRANCHISEES WEBPAGE OR BY CONTACTING PRACTICAL HEAD OFFICE ON 0121 772 8599.