Terms and Conditions

 

Our Rates Include  

Drivers Age
The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 23 and the maximum age is 75. If you are under 25 years old, an additional surcharge will apply. If you are aged 70-75, an additional surcharge will apply.

The age of the driver is taken as being that at commencement of the rental period for the entire duration of the rental period. Drivers aged under 25 are restricted to certain vehicle groups.

Cancellation / Refund Policy
Should you wish to cancel your reservation, please note that we do not provide refunds. 
Similarly, no refunds will be given for rentals ended early, late collections, no shows or cancellations made after the rental start date. 
Period of Rental / Extensions
The duration of your rental starts and finishes according to the pick-up and return dates and times detailed on your rental agreement. All rates are calculated on the basis of 24-hour units. If you wish to extend the rental period after collection of the vehicle but prior to the specified termination date, you should contact the renting branch by using the contact details provided on the rental agreement. Additional payment will be required prior to the extension being authorised. No refunds are payable on vehicles returned early. Unauthorised extensions are not permitted and we reserve the right to apply a 50% surcharge to the rental costs in their entirety should you retain the use of the rental vehicle beyond the contracted rental period without our prior consent.

Specialist Equipment Hire
Charges may apply for the rental of the following equipment:

Child seats are mandatory in UK and must be requested at the time of reservation. Although instructions will be provided, you will be required to fit the child seat yourself as we are unable to accept responsibility for this. Whilst we have a limited number of child seats and booster seats, these are subject to availability.

 

GPS Satellite Navigation units may be rented for the duration of the vehicle rental period. These must be requested at the time of vehicle rental reservation and are subject to availability.

In addition, a security deposit for any specialist equipment may be required at the time of pick-up.

Amendments
Please provide as much notice as possible to enable any changes to be made and confirmed to you. We may not always be able to accommodate any changes to your reservation due to other bookings and therefore such changes  are permitted at our sole discretion.

Delivery and Collection
Pick-up of your vehicle is at the rental branch specified at the time of booking. Upon request, delivery to a pre-agreed address may be available during normal working hours although a charge will normally apply for this service. Should you wish to have the rental vehicle delivered / collected this should be requested at the time of booking. In ALL cases of delivery and collection, you must ensure that you are present to receive / hand back the vehicle.

One Way Rentals
It is only possible to return your vehicle to a rental branch operated by Solus Drive Limited. Please check with our reservations department at the time of booking. International one way rentals are not permitted.

Out of Hours Charges
Only with our prior agreement, vehicles may be collected and/or returned outside of the normal branch opening hours. This will, however, attract an out of hours fee, details of which will be advised at the time of booking. You will remain responsible for the safekeeping of the Vehicle until such time as the keys are handed to us.

Driving Licences
Drivers must produce a full and valid British / National driving licence held for at least one year (some exclusions may apply). National driving licenses in non-Roman script must be supported by an International Driving Permit together with your passport. Where a driving licence is in more than one part, drivers must have all sections with them.

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that he/she has the appropriate driving licence. The rental branch / reservations dept must be informed of any endorsements on the driver's licence, as certain endorsements may not be accepted.

No refunds will be given for rentals rejected due to non-production of an acceptable driving licence or non-disclosed endorsements.

Faxed or photocopied licences are not acceptable.

Rental Documents
The terms and conditions on the rental agreement to be signed at point of pickup will form part of the overall contract of rental. You are advised to read all terms and conditions of rental and to raise any concerns with the renting branch prior to signing the rental agreement.

You should retain your rental documents and related receipts for a minimum of 28 days after returning the vehicle.

Additional Drivers
Should you wish to include additional drivers, a small daily charge is made. This option will be made available to you as part of your quotation request. It is important to note that each additional driver must be able to produce the required driving license at the point of pick-up (please refer to Driving Licenses above) and will be subject to the same qualification criteria as the main driver.

Deposits
All customers will be required to leave a pre-authorisation on their credit card at the time of pick-up to cover the collision damage / theft waiver excess, fuel and any additional charges for optional extras selected. To do so, a valid credit / debit card in the name of the hirer must be produced upon pick-up of the vehicle.

Where a deposit for fuel is payable, it will be refunded if the vehicle is returned with a full tank of fuel. If the tank is not returned full, we shall charge for fuel at its prevailing rate in addition to a refuelling charge.

Provision of Vehicles
Please note that we reserve the right to refuse to provide a vehicle to any customer who is, in our opinion, unfit to drive or does not meet the required qualification criteria.

Vehicle Groups / Suitability
Solus is unable to guarantee a particular make or model of vehicle. The vehicle shown on the website and any Prepaid Rental Voucher is for guidance only and may be substituted for an alternative similar or upgraded vehicle (at no extra cost). All vehicles are booked by vehicle group and whilst we will try to provide a vehicle within the group booked, if a vehicle within the group booked is not available, a larger vehicle will be supplied to the you at no extra charge. If you are dissatisfied in any way with the standard of the vehicle supplied, you must advise us immediately.

All rental vehicles are insured for a maximum number of passengers. This number, in the interest of safety, must not be exceeded. It is your responsibility to ensure that the vehicle being booked is large enough to meet your travelling requirements.

 

Seat belts must be worn by all occupants of the vehicle.

Cross-border Restrictions
Restrictions will apply when crossing country borders. Vehicles may not be taken outside the country of rental without our express prior permission. Please consult our reservations department at the time of booking as to whether the vehicle may be taken across international borders and, where so permitted, the additional costs applicable.

Collision Damage and Theft Waiver (CDW)
Your responsibility for any and all damage to the rental vehicle, howsoever caused, during the period of rental will, in most circumstances (see "CDW Exclusions" below), be limited to the excess / deductible applicable. This contractual arrangement is termed "Collision Damage Waiver" or "CDW".

You will be required to pay, as part of the overall deposit, the CDW excess / deductible amount applicable to the rental at the time of pick-up (see "Deposits").

In most cases, the CDW product includes Theft Waiver whereby, in the event of the rental vehicle being stolen (or any attempted theft of the vehicle), your financial responsibility is limited to the CDW excess / deductible amount provided the vehicle is used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement and the vehicle keys are returned upon termination of the rental. It is your responsibility to ensure that the vehicle and its keys are kept secure at all times. Please note that cover is not provided for the contents of the vehicle in the event of theft.

CDW Exclusions
There are a number of exclusions which include (but are not limited to):

Where the damage incurred is excluded under the CDW policy, you will be financially liable for the total costs resulting from said exclusion.

Excess Reduction (EXR)
Where this facility is offered, you may reduce your financial liability for the standard excess / deductible amount by purchasing Excess Reduction (EXR). However, please note that the exclusions applicable to both CDW and TW also apply to the EXR.

It is important to ensure that you sign a Vehicle Condition Report form upon pick-up of the rental vehicle and also at point of return of the rental vehicle to verify both the pre-rental and post-rental vehicle condition. Doing so safeguards your position in respect of any disputes regarding damage to the rental vehicle. In the event of an accident you must ensure that an Accident Report Form is accurately completed and a copy of this must be forwarded to us immediately upon termination of the rental. Details of any Police attendance (including references provided) and Third Parties involved must be recorded and provided to us.

All customers will be provided with a specialist personal injury claim service to assist with the pursuance of personal injury claims against third parties at no cost.

Excess / Deductible Collection
All customers will be required to leave a pre-authorisation on their credit cards at the time of pick-up to cover the collision damage / theft waiver excess. To do so, a valid credit / debit card in the name of the hirer must be produced upon pick-up of the vehicle.

If the vehicle is damaged or stolen, the pre-authorised deposit will be retained and treated as payment of the excess / deductible applicable.

Tax
All charges will include tax at the prevailing rate.

Any selected optional extras purchased by you locally will be subject to local taxes at the prevailing rate.

Solus reserves the right to levy any government increases in local taxes that may be introduced after the printing of these terms and conditions.

Car Type / Suitability
Solus is unable to guarantee a particular make, model or fuel type of vehicle as all vehicles are booked by vehicle group. The vehicles shown on our website and any Prepaid Rental Voucher issued are for guidance only and may be substituted by us for an alternative, similar or upgraded vehicle (at no extra cost).

If it becomes impossible to provide your booked vehicle due to breakdown or an accident, a similar or upgraded vehicle will be provided.

If you are dissatisfied in any way with the standard of the vehicle supplied, you must advise us immediately.

Mechanical Difficulties / Accidents
In the event of any mechanical difficulties or accidents involving your vehicle, it is important that details are reported to the local vehicle rental supplier immediately.

In the event of an accident you must also complete an Accident Report Form as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than the end of the rental period. Local police should also be notified in the case of accidents or theft and such detail should be provided on the Accident Report Form. Full details of third parties and witnesses should be obtained and such detail should be provided on the Accident Report Form.

You must not carry out any repairs to the vehicle without our prior express permission.

You should retain copies of all rental documentation in the event an insurance company is involved.

A Vehicle Condition Form must be signed on pick-up and return of the vehicle. Failure to do so may delay the investigation of any disputes regarding damage excess charges.

Your insurance cover and/or any Excess Reduction may be invalidated if this procedure is not followed correctly and this may prejudice any claim for compensation.

Customer Satisfaction
Solus advises all customers that upon collection of the rental vehicle they read all documentation provided prior to signing the local rental agreement. If after signing the agreement you are not entirely happy with, or have any queries relating to your hire, please contact us prior to departing the pick-up location. Should you still be dissatisfied, please contact our Customer Services Department in writing within 28 days of termination of the rental in question. Solus aims to resolve all customer complaints within 28 days of receipt; however, some complaints may take longer to resolve due to the nature of the complaint and the information required / provided.

General Conditions
The customer acknowledges that in making a booking with Solus he/she does so only on the basis of the material contained in our brochure, voucher, on our website or information provided on the phone by our employees. All bookings by our customers are subject to our terms and conditions.

Solus Drive Limited is an Independent Budget System Licensee. You should satisfy yourself that you understand and agree to the terms and conditions as shown on our rental agreement, as you will be subject to, and must comply with these terms, and the local law.

Solus will not be held responsible for any losses or claims resulting from the hirer or authorised additional driver(s) driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, causing wilful damage, off road driving or driving without due care and attention. The customer will be responsible in respect of such claims. This list is not exclusive.

Only those drivers who are approved and authorised by us may drive the rental vehicle. Any unauthorised drivers will be deemed to be driving the vehicle without the required insurance and may be open to prosecution.

The vehicle must not be used for any illegal purposes.

The vehicle must at all times be driven / used in accordance with the relevant local road traffic law. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct levels of tyre pressure, engine oil and other vehicle fluids are maintained at all times.

If the vehicle becomes non road-worthy a replacement will be provided at our sole discretion.

We can repossess the vehicle at any time.

The vehicle must not be used for private hire or for the carriage of passengers for gain or reward.

The vehicle must not be used to tow or pull unless designed for such purpose and unless the required towing equipment is fitted to the vehicle. No such towing equipment may fitted to the vehicle without our prior express permission.

We accept no responsibility for delays and/or any loss including consequential loss arising from breakdown or from any other circumstances.

Where our prior consent has been provided to take the rental vehicle outside of the UK, you undertake to ensure that the vehicle is checked for illegal immigrants prior to re-entering the UK. If the vehicle is seized by HM Customs & Excise then you will be liable for any storage charges incurred together with loss of rental income suffered by us.

Driver abuse of the vehicle is not covered by insurance or waiver.

 

If special cleaning of the vehicle is required due to the vehicle being returned in an unsatisfactory and/or excessively dirty condition, you will be charged by us for this.

The hirer is responsible for any and all fines or traffic charges incurred during the rental period. Solus will process such fines / charges and an administration fee of £40+ vat will apply. These costs will be charged to the hirer’s credit / debit card as provided at the point of booking.

All vehicles and offers are subject to availability. All information in these terms and conditions, including prices, is correct at the time of publication.

Consequential Loss
Solus is only responsible for losses you suffer as a result of Solus breaking this agreement if the losses are of a foreseeable consequence of us breaking the agreement. Losses are foreseeable where they could be reasonably contemplated by both you and Solus at the time our agreement is formed. Solus is 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 Solus (such as loss of profits or loss of opportunity).

Force Majeure
Solus shall not be liable itself or vicariously through any other vehicle rental supplier for either a failure to perform or delay in performing any of its obligations under or pursuant to this booking, voucher, reservation, rental or terms and conditions, if and in so far as performance is delayed, hindered or prevented by force majeure, which expression shall mean any event beyond the reasonable control of the party in question. In the event that the force majeure persists for more than 14 consecutive days, Solus may terminate and withdraw this booking, reservation or rental by giving 14 days notice to the client’s original billing address.

Rates
Solus reserves the right to change any rates / prices / offers from time to time. Prices can go up or down. Please check our website for all up-to-date prices / offers and services.

Terms of Use
The Terms of Use and your use of and access to the Solus website are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes arising between Solus and you out of or relating to your use of the Solus website.

Use of this website is unauthorised in any jurisdiction that does not give effect to all provisions of the Terms of Use including without limitation this paragraph. You agree that no relationship, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and Solus as a result of the Terms of Use or your use of this website. Our performance of the Terms of Use is subject to existing laws and legal process and nothing contained in this agreement shall prevent Solus complying with any law enforcement or governmental authority’s requests or requirements relating to your use of this website or information provided to or gathered by Solus with respect to such use and Solus shall have no liability in respect of such compliance. Although Solus cannot monitor the conduct of its users offsite, it is a violation of these Terms of Use to use any information obtained from this website in order to harass, abuse or harm other persons, or in order to contact, advertise to, solicit or sell to any user or person without their prior express consent.