Our Contract

 

When you book with us you are confirming acceptance of the conditions defined in the agreement.

 

Rental period

 

Our hire period begins at 5pm and finishes at 5pm, unless otherwise agreed.  The length of your rental period will be confirmed on your booking form.  Rental periods may be extended, up to a maximum of 30 days, subject to availability.

 

Late return of a vehicle is breaking the conditions of this agreement. If you arrive late or return the car late up to one hour over the agreed rental time you will incur a £25 fee. Over an hour late returning the car to us will constitute another hire period.  We will charge the published day rate for each 24-hour period (or part thereof) you retain the car, after the initial rental period.

 

Your responsibilities

• You must look after the vehicle and the keys to the vehicle. Lost keys will be charged at £250 per set
• You must always lock the vehicle when you are not using it, and use any security devices fitted to it or supplied with the vehicle
• You must not tamper with the trackers fitted to each vehicle. Any attempt to do so will alert us.
• You must always protect the vehicle against bad weather which can cause damage
• You must make sure that you use the correct fuel. All our cars are fuelled with super unleaded, high-octane petrol
• You must not exceed a daily allowance of 100 miles. All additional miles must be pre-agreed and will be charged at £3 per mile
• You are responsible for any damage to the vehicle caused by hitting low-level objects, such as bridges, low branches, speed humps or kerbs or the use of incorrect fuel
• You must not sell, rent or dispose of the vehicle or any of its parts. You must not give anyone any legal rights over the vehicle.
• If you wash the car via valet or jet wash and damage is caused this will be your responsibility and will affect the security/damage deposit that you pay
• You must not let anyone, including you or any other drivers, work on the vehicle without our permission. If we do permit you, we will only give you a refund if you have a receipt for the work
• You must let us know as soon as you become aware of a fault with the vehicle. If you continue to drive the vehicle after it develops a fault then you may be liable for the cost of the consequential damage
• You must bring the vehicle back to the location at the time agreed. One of our staff must see the vehicle to check that it is in the same condition as at the commencement of hire. If we have agreed that you may return the vehicle outside business hours, you will remain responsible for the vehicle and its condition until it is re-inspected by a member of staff
• You will have to pay for reasonable costs of repair if:
• Damage occurs to the interior of the car as this is not covered by
  the insurance; or
• You have damaged the outside of the vehicle as this is not covered by
  insurance
• Before you bring back the vehicle you must check that you have not left any personal belongings in the vehicle
• You must abide by any specific instructions relating to each car as explained during the familiarisation process
• If you damage our vehicle through driving that we consider reckless, dangerous or inappropriate you will be liable for the full cost of repair irrespective of the insurance excess in place.
• You must bring your driving licence with you when you collect the car, if you fail to do this we will have to carry out a DVLA check and you will be charged £25.

You must not:

• Use the vehicle for any illegal purposes.
• Use the vehicle for racing, pace making, competitions, rallies, track days, trials or speed tests whether on the road, track, off-road, land prepared for such use or the Nurburgring Nordschleife and whether the event is organised or informally arranged;
• Use the vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs;
• Drive the vehicle outside England, Scotland and Wales, unless we have given you written permission;
• Load the vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s maximum weight recommendations and make sure that the load is secured safely;
• If the vehicle is a commercial vehicle, use it for a purpose for which you need an operator’s licence if you do not have one
• Use the vehicle for towing
• Use the vehicle for hire or reward
• Use the vehicle for reliability testing and speed or teaching someone to drive
• Load the vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s maximum weight recommendations 

We can decide to terminate your hire midway through if you disobey speed limits or drive excessively recklessly.

Before you return the vehicle you must check that you have not left any personal belongings in the vehicle.

• Vehicles must always be returned back to us during opening hours
• We will not accept responsibility for vehicles damaged or stolen from outside our premises if dropped off after hours
• If we have agreed that you may return the vehicle outside business hours, you will remain responsible for the vehicle and its condition until it is re-inspected by us 

Identification

 

Your driving licence must be produced every time you hire a vehicle from us. In addition, you must produce two further means of identification, which must include a utility bill to you at your present address or an official letter to you at your present address.

 

You will also be required to leave a telephone number where you can be contacted either during the day or evening.

 

We reserve the right to refuse your rental if you do not produce your driving licence or ID for any other reason.

 

Driving Licence

 

All drivers must have a current, full valid driving licence. UK Licence holders, with the new style driving licence MUST produce both the photo card and the paper counterpart if applicable. Drivers with foreign driving licences must present their national licence, plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) if a non-EU, EEA resident (an extra insurance policy fee is required to cover international licenses). All other drivers may drive in the UK for up to one year from the commencement of residency by the current DVLA restrictions. Sight of their Passport is required for proof of entry. Copies of this information have to be taken and will be kept on a secure storage device for 3 years according to our insurer’s terms and conditions and the law. 

You must meet the following criteria:

• You are between the ages of 25 and 75 years of age.
• Have a full UK or EU licence for a minimum of 2 years.
• Have not had your licence suspended for any period within the last three years.
• Have not been involved in more than one fault incident within the last three years.
• Have no more than two convictions with a maximum of 3 points per conviction.
• Have not obtained a BA, DD or UT conviction

 

Additional Drivers

 

In addition to the main hirer, it is possible for other hirers to be insured upon prior request. Please contact hello@cuttotheclassics.co.uk at least 5 working days before your booking.

 

You need to bring your licence with you when you hire the car and provide a copy of your licence beforehand.

 

You can check the status of your licence by clicking on the link below:

 

Check your licence status

 

Please make sure you save the PDF copy of your licence status and either send it to us by email or print it off and send it.

 

Our Responsibilities/Reliability

 

Whatever the purpose of the hire we will always do whatever we can to ensure the hire runs smoothly and easily. However, it is a condition of hire that old vehicles are less reliable than modern cars and both parties accept this risk when entering into this contract.

 

We assure you that the vehicle is roadworthy and suitable for renting at the start of the rental period. We will not hire a vehicle with known safety or reliability faults and therefore this may result in cancellation. Given the nature of the vehicle and its age, it is a condition of hire that you accept that it inevitably will have some defects. Such defects are acceptable under our agreement provided they do not compromise safety and reliability.

 

Naturally, classic cars are less reliable than modern cars. For this reason, we offer a generous service in the event of a breakdown. If the car fails before or during hire we will provide an alternative car where possible or the opportunity to choose different dates. It is the nature of classic cars that they are less reliable and require more maintenance than other forms of hire vehicles. Similarly, parts supply for such vehicles is not the same as it is for modern vehicles. It is therefore a condition of this agreement that you accept the increased risk of non-availability or breakdown before or on hire as an inherent element of hiring one of our vehicles.

 

If we cannot provide the vehicle you have booked for your chosen hire dates our responsibilities are as set out below.

 

We are not responsible for any consequential loss in any circumstances arising from breakdown or non-availability.

 

Our Responsibilities

 

We have maintained the vehicle to at the very least the manufacturer’s recommended standard. We keep full records of servicing, parts and maintenance work. All the cars are attended to by experienced professionals.

 

We assure you that the vehicle is roadworthy and suitable for renting at the start of the rental period. In addition, if you are not renting the vehicle for business purposes, we are responsible for loss caused by:

• The vehicle not matching our description of it
• The vehicle not being of the quality that you would be entitled to expect from a rental vehicle;
• The vehicle not being fit to drive; or not having the legal right to rent out the vehicle.
• We are responsible if someone is injured or dies because of our negligent act, or failure to act.
• We are also responsible for losses you suffer because of us breaking this agreement. Losses are foreseeable where you and we could contemplate them at the time the vehicle is rented.
• We are not responsible for indirect losses which happen as a side effect of the main loss or damage and which are not foreseeable by you and us (such as loss of profits or loss of opportunity).
• If a vehicle breaks down we are obliged to offer and deliver a replacement vehicle and to recover the faulty vehicle free of charge. This vehicle may not be the same type but will be of a classic nature.
• We are not obliged to offer refunds in the event of a breakdown if a replacement is supplied within good time of you notifying us of a breakdown.

 

Property

 

We are only responsible for loss or damage to property left in the vehicle if the loss or damage results from our negligence or a breach of the contract.

 

Conditions for Using the Vehicle

 

The vehicle must only be driven by you and any other named driver, or by anyone else we authorise in writing. Anyone driving the vehicle must have a full valid driving licence and meet the following criteria:

• be aged between 25 and 75 on the final day of hire
• has not been convicted of a motoring offence, had their licence suspended or had their licence endorsed with more than 6 fixed penalty points within the last five years
• has not been convicted of a non-motoring offence
• has not been refused motor insurance
• does not have a mental or physical defect or infirmity that affects their ability to drive an un-adapted vehicle (if in doubt, please contact us)

If the number of points on your licence changes between sending us a copy of your licence and the hire day you must notify us immediately.

The hirer will not:

• use the vehicle for hire or reward;
• use the vehicle for any illegal purposes;
• use the vehicle for racing, pace-making, reliability testing and speed or teaching someone to drive;
• use the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• drive the vehicle outside England, Scotland, or Wales, unless we have given you written permission;
• load the vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s maximum weight recommendations and make sure that the load is secured safely;

We would recommend a test drive, to ensure that you have a comfortable experience, if you are over 6ft and/or over 20 stone.

 

Overseas Travel

 

With prior approval, it may be possible that our vehicles may be taken abroad, although there are restrictions regarding taking them into some countries. A surcharge will apply when taking a vehicle outside the U.K. and extra charges will be applied to provide a Green Card.

 

Towing

 

You or any other authorised driver must not use the vehicle for towing.

 

Payment

 

The full cost of rental plus the relevant security deposit must be paid and cleared before any vehicle is released for rental. We also require credit card authorisation. All cars must be in the name of the booker.

Delivery and collection to a home or location other than handover with us in West London is charged depending on the distance.

 

Cancellations

 

All cancellations necessary need to be made in writing to us 10 days before the hire date. This is because we will have made logistical plans around your booking and may have had to cancel other hires to suit yours. We can either rebook your date or create a voucher for later use.

If a hire is cancelled less than 7 days before the hire period, we hold the right to retain the full payment amount, including your 25% booking deposit.

 

Charges

 

We work out our charges using our current published price list. In the event of vehicle damage, you immediately forfeit your insurance deposit. If the damage is less than the value of the deposit we will refund the difference once the vehicle is repaired.

 

You will pay the following charges:

• The rental and any other charge we work out according to this agreement;
• Any charge for loss or damage resulting from you not keeping to your responsibilities
• A refuelling service charge if you have used, and not replaced, the quantity of fuel that we supplied at the start of the original rental. The charge will be based on the rates printed on this rental agreement or at the place where you rented the vehicle.
• All fines and court costs for parking, traffic or other offences, such as congestion charge and ULEZ fines (including any costs which arise if the vehicle is clamped). You must pay the appropriate authority any fines and costs if and when the authority demands this payment. If you do not, you will be responsible for paying our reasonable administration charges which arise when we deal with these matters.
• The reasonable cost of repairing any extra damage which was not noted on our Condition Form at the start of the agreement, whether you were at fault or not (depending on 4). And the reasonable cost of replacing this vehicle if it is stolen, depending on any insurance you have (as set out), if any when we demand this payment.
• The full cost of any mechanical damage to the vehicle arising from misuse or failure to stop in the event of a fault developing. This cost is to be applied only following an independent assessment of the vehicle
• Any costs or charges arising from the use of incorrect fuel
• Any charges arising from Customs and Excise seizing the vehicle, together with a loss-of-income charge while we cannot rent out the vehicle, if and when we demand this payment.
• Any published rates for delivering and collecting the vehicle.
• Interest which we will add every day to an amount you do not pay us on time, at the rate of 4% a year above the base lending rate of Barclays Bank from time to time.
• Valued added tax and all other taxes on any of the charges listed above, as appropriate.

You are responsible for all charges, even if you have asked someone else to be responsible for them.

Insurance

 

Our vehicles are supplied with third-party insurance cover only and full UK breakdown cover. 

 

Your deposit payment is at risk if you damage the bodywork or mechanicals of the vehicle.  In the event of bodywork damage to our vehicle or a third party, we will automatically retain the full deposit.  If the repair cost for bodywork is less than the deposit you will be refunded the difference after repair. If the cost is more, your credit card will be charged the additional costs.

In the event of mechanical damage caused by improper use or mis-fuelling, you will be liable for the full cost of repair, even where this exceeds the deposit excess.  Improper use is defined as driving the vehicle without due care or sympathy or failing to operate the car in line with our advice and guidance.  This does not include mechanical breakdown and repair due to component failure caused by general wear and tear.  In the event of a dispute, the nature and cause of the damage will be assessed by an independent arbitrator.

 

Please note, for non-UK drivers there is an additional £250 cost to provide appropriate insurance cover.

 

No Smoking and Pets

 

Please do not smoke or allow pets into our vehicles. Failure to comply will result in the hire being cancelled and a charge of £25 being levied.

 

Fuel

 

We will note on the pre-rental checks the reading of the fuel gauge. You are requested to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel as you commenced the rental. A refuelling charge will be made if it is necessary to bring the level of fuel up to where it was when you took the vehicle which will be deducted from your deposit.

 

All our cars require super unleaded, high-octane petrol.

 

Gift Vouchers

 

Gift vouchers are to be paid for in full at the time of purchase. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and are non-transferrable. No refund can be issued once a gift voucher has been issued. Once purchased we can discuss how you use it against either one car, or maybe a few.

 

What to do if there is an incident or you have an accident

 

If there is an incident resulting in any damage to any vehicle we will hold your pre-authorisation until the insurers have resolved the issue.

 

If damage to our vehicle due to an incident is proved to be a third party at fault and all other matters have been cleared with the insurers your deposit will be refunded.

• Hirers accept full liability for cosmetic and mechanical damage caused by negligence.
• If you have an incident, call us immediately – failure to do so will result in the loss of the security deposit.
• You will be responsible for covering all damages if it is proven that a hirer was the cause of an accident through reckless, careless or negligent driving of our vehicle.
• If you have an incident you must not admit responsibility. You should get the names and addresses of everyone involved, including witnesses. You should also:

1. Make the vehicle secure and all occupants safe
2. Tell the police straight away if anyone is injured or if there is a disagreement over who is responsible
3. Call our number straight away.
4. You must then fill in our incident report form when you return the vehicle. If this is not possible, verbal details can be taken from you but a copy of the information you have supplied will need to be verified and signed by you.
5. In either case you must report the incident to us within 24 hours.

Severance

 

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any Court of competent jurisdiction such provision shall be severed and the remainder of the provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect as if this Agreement had been agreed with the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision eliminated.

 

Please note that cover is subject to the expiry date on the cover note. If the date and time is overlapped with the return of the vehicle, contact must be made with the hire company to extend cover to ensure continuation of insurance cover.

 

The Insurance cover is invalid if hire has been paid for in cash.

 

In signing this agreement you also agree to all terms and conditions specified and accept that we make take payment from the pre-authorised amount for additional charges and accept the vehicle as described in accompanying documentation.

 

Data Protection and GDPR Compliance

 

You agree that we may use any information you have given us to carry out our market research. If you break the agreement we can give this information to credit reference agencies, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), debt collectors and any other relevant organisations.

1. **Data Collection and Usage** - We collect and process personal information (for example., name, date of birth, photo ID, proof of address, DVLA check code) to fulfil our self-drive classic car hire services. Credit card details are processed securely for transactions only. 

 

2. **Data Storage and Security** - Personal information is stored securely in compliance with GDPR. Credit card details are destroyed immediately after the transaction is verified and the hire has been fulfilled. 

 

3. **Data Retention** - Personal data is retained only as long as necessary for the hire or as required by law. Information is securely destroyed within 30 days after the hire and deposit return. 

 

4. **Your Rights** - You can request access, correction, or deletion of your personal data, or object to its processing. Contact us at hello@cuttotheclassics.co.uk. 

 

5. **Data Breach Notification** - We will notify you and relevant authorities of any data breach within 72 hours. 

 

6. **Contact Information** - For data protection queries, contact us at hello@cuttotheclassics.co.uk. 

 

By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, you agree to this GDPR and Data Protection Clause and consent to the processing of your data as outlined.

 

Cancellation and Refund Policy

 

Upon booking, we will collect a 25% deposit of the hire amount which is non-refundable.  The non-refundable balance is due 10 days before the hire period commences. Classic cars are by their nature old and inevitably, on occasion, they break down or are involved in collisions making it impossible for us to supply the exact car that you booked. In these unlikely events, we will either;

• offer you an alternative that is a close match to the car you have booked or arrange for you to have the original car at no extra cost at a later date when the car is back on the road
• issue you with a voucher valid for 12 months for the same value that can be redeemed against a car
• postpone your booking until the car is available again

We cannot be held responsible for hotel bookings, travel expenditures or any other expenses incurred. If your car is for a wedding or other special occasion please consider the consequences if the car were to become unavailable due to a breakdown, repairs or accident.

 

We are always disappointed if we cannot fulfill a booking to the customer’s specification but breakdowns do happen and we feel it is only fair that you understand the risks.

 

The balance of the hire charge must be paid at least 10 days before the hire.  Should you wish to cancel your booking, please email hello@cuttotheclassics.co.uk. 

 

Security Deposit

 

A security/damage deposit will be required at the time of hire. This will be in the form of a credit card authorisation and debit card payment starting at £2,500. This is protection for us against a hirer not taking care of our car (smashed wheel, cracked bumper, rips in seats etc).

 

This is a standard feature of many hire contracts and is intended to encourage hirers to have financial responsibility for our treasured classic vehicles. Deposits will be refunded to the hirer assuming no damage is caused after a thorough vehicle check by our workshop specialists.

 

The deposit will be held by Cut To The Classics. If there has been proof of reckless driving, proof of breaking speed limits (we generally have a ‘two strikes, you’re out’ rule) and general misuse of the car.

 

Or if after review in our workshop, it has been identified that a hirer has broken a part, both mechanically or interior trim, seat, dash etc.

 

Any toll or congestion charges incurred including ULEZ will be deducted from the deposit if the car enters the zones.

 

We reserve the right to increase the security deposit for non-EU drivers and for drivers not satisfying the minimum requirements (subject to referral to our insurers).

 

Data Protection

 

You agree that we may use any information you have given us to carry out our own market research. If you break the agreement we can give this information to credit reference agencies, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), debt collectors and any other relevant organisation. 

 

Governing Law

 

This agreement is governed by the laws of the country in which the agreement is made. Any dispute may be settled in the courts of that country.

 

Customer Complaints/Feedback

 

We welcome your feedback, please address your comments to:

hello@cuttotheclassics.co.uk

 

If you have a problem or complaint on the day, you must bring it to the attention of the staff at Cut To The Classics as soon as possible so they have a chance to put matters right (please make a note of the member of staff you dealt with).

 

Cut To The Classics will endeavour to respond to any complaint within 48 hours of receiving it.

Please ensure before any complaint is made that you have read and understand fully our terms and conditions.

 

Your statutory rights are not affected.

 

Our terms and conditions comprise the agreement between us. Please ensure you read these terms carefully as failure to read them is not a defence in law.