Vans (for hiring)

Jono · 23 Oct 2008 at 15:05

Posting here instead of GD...

I need to rent a van, preferably one of those "luton" vans with the tail lift (needs to be pretty big) but I need to be able to drive it. I can drive up to 7.5 tonnes can't I? (passed test in 1997). Or is it 3.5?

Does Anyone know of a national company that's not awful or expensive that'll let you pick up late on a friday and drop it off somewhere else in the country lateish on a saturday?

Thought I'd ask before I go ringing around a bunch of companies. SixT, for example, has an incredibly useful online quote system that keeps telling me the branch I want to pick up/drop off at isn't open at the time I want, but won't tell me what the opening times are. It does tell me somewhere else on the site, but that's not the point.

jamoor · 23 Oct 2008 at 15:44

try 1car1

aproctor · 23 Oct 2008 at 19:56

3.5 tonnes, older licences allow you to drive long wheel base iirc, but you should check when this was phased out.

Rainmaker · 23 Oct 2008 at 20:03

I think it was 1997 that the rules changed, so you'll have to check what date. You might be lucky

I used a local indy company for years, but once I found Enterprise I didn't go back. £25 a day for a Connect/Kangoo/Astra van, £35 for a Transit, etc. Very reasonable and they're always in good nick too.

The only thing is, although they do great weekend specials on cars (about £12 a day) I think their vans are MORE expensive on a weekend, so it depends on your budget. They're very flexible though.

Scania · 24 Oct 2008 at 05:33

January 1 1997 is when the new rules came in, if you have "C1" on your licence, then you will have no problem driving a 3.5t vehicle as C1 covers you upto 7.5t.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547

Jono · 24 Oct 2008 at 12:58

Hmmm apparently I have a B, B1, f, k, p.

Something to do with tractors and cars. I'm sure I had more on my old paper license.

scratch · 24 Oct 2008 at 13:21

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
January 1 1997 is when the new rules came in, if you have "C1" on your licence, then you will have no problem driving a 3.5t vehicle as C1 covers you upto 7.5t.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547

I didn't pass my test until October 1997 and have a C1 on my licence :confused:

Jono · 24 Oct 2008 at 16:04

scratch said:
I didn't pass my test until October 1997 and have a C1 on my licence

I passed in August 1997. Do you have a new plastic card type of license? I just updated mine from pink/green paper flavour.

My mum is able to drive the mid-sized ford iveco trucks, with a proper cab (and a mobile dental surgery on the back) with the same sort of licence I have/had... I'm sure that weighs more than 3.5T.

MikeHunt79 · 24 Oct 2008 at 16:21

FWIW, I passed in 1998 and can only drive up to a 3.5 tonner