Eligibility & Licences Drivers must be over 23 and under 70 years of age, of good health, and have held a full driving licence valid for the vehicle to be hired (see Licence FAQ) for at least one year. To be eligible for motorhome hire you MUST advise us of licence endorsements at the time of booking in order we may arrange insurance cover but persons with serious or extensive convictions within the past five years (at the time of vehicle collection) may not be permitted to drive the vehicle. Drivers who have been involved in more than two accidents in the past three years should also advise us at the time of booking. If you are in any doubt please contact us. A full licence MUST be produced at the time of vehicle collection. If this is a photo-card licence you must produce both the card AND the paper counterpart licence. We will need to check your licence for endorsements prior to you taking the vehicle. You can allow us to view you licence details by visiting the DVLA website and generating a "Check Code" this is a one time code for us to VIEW ONLY your eligibility to hire the vehicle. Please visit www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence for more details and to generate a code. If you do not have access to a computer, don't worry. You can bring with you your Photocard and paper licence, along with your National Insurance number utility bill and we can let you have access to one of our computers to generate the code for us to view. Visitors from abroad are advised to obtain an International Driving Licence. If you do not meet these criteria it does not automatically disqualify you from driving, but we shall need to refer to our insurance company to check if they will offer insurance cover. It is highly unlikely that additional costs will be charged but the damage deposit/insurance excess may be increased by the insurer in some circumstances. Please just contact us for more details. Documentation A current and valid driving licence must be shown by all potential drivers of the vehicle upon collection. If this is a photo-card licence you must produce both the card and the counterpart licence. You will need to provide the following documentation at the time of vehicle collection: Motorhome Hires: Driving Licence (if a photocard licence this includes the counterpart licence) Utility bill or similar as proof of address Credit/debit card for incidental items/costs For motorhome hires a standard form Rental Agreement will need to be completed at the time of motorhome collection. This is a legal document which specifies both the Hirer's and Solar Motorhome Hire's obligations and liabilities whilst the hire is in force. Full completion of this document is necessary to ensure insurance cover is valid and you will receive a copy as proof that the vehicle has been legally hired. Should you wish for more details of this form prior to collecting the vehicle then a copy of the Rental Agreement document can be sent to you on request. Vehicle Collection & Return The hire period normally commences at 4.00pm daily excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays and terminates on the agreed day for return at noon for Hirers returning to our site. Earlier collection times and weekend collection may be arranged depending upon availability. All hire vehicles are based at our site at Unit 44 Bailie Gate Industrial Estate, Sturminster Marshall, Dorset BH21 4DB. See Contact Us page for map and directions. Payment A deposit of £500 (25yrs - 70yrs) £750 (23yrs - 25yrs) for motorhomes is payable on reservation. This acts as a reservation deposit initially and then acts as the damage deposit (see FAQ) during the hire. This sum is fully refundable at the end of the hire provided the vehicle is returned clean, undamaged and on time. The hire charge is payable 28 days prior to commencement of hire. Payment of both deposit and final balance may be paid by Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, cheque or bank transfer. In the event any amount is not paid when due, the Company reserves the right to treat this as a cancellation of the hire by the customer, in which case our usual cancellation policy will apply. Insurance The hire vehicle is comprehensively insured by the Company. The Hirer is responsible for the excess of £500 (25yrs - 70yrs) £750 (23yrs - 25yrs) for motorhomes. In the event of any damage, including loss of or damage to equipment, damage to tyres, mirrors, windscreen and roof lights or windows, howsoever caused, during the period of hire, the cost of repair will be deducted from the booking/damage deposit paid upon reservation. The Hirer's personal property is not covered by the Company's Insurance. Hirers are welcome to leave their cars with us for the duration of their hire. All cars are left at owners risk and the Company can accept no responsibility for any damage or loss during this time, unless the Company is responsible due to a failure to take reasonable care. Deposit Refunds Deposits are refunded in full provided that the vehicle is returned clean, undamaged and on time. Unemptied toilets will be charged at £30 for emptying and cleaning. Refunds are paid after cleaning and inspection of the returned vehicle but within ten days of termination of the hire. Refunds would usually be made using the method by which the deposit was first paid by the Hirer. No Smoking laws It is now an offence for the Hirer to smoke, or allow anyone to smoke, in any of our hire vehicles and the signs displayed in each vehicle make this clear. The Company has an obligation to all clients to maintain the vehicles smoke-free and therefore, should the Hirer return a vehicle in which smoking has occurred this will result in the loss of all the deposit paid to cover the costs of taking the vehicle out of service for fumigation or cleaning. Breakdowns & Accidents Every effort is made to ensure that the hire vehicle is satisfactory for the purpose of hire and in a safe and roadworthy condition when it leaves Company premises. In the event of a breakdown, recovery and repair services are provided for each motorhome. The Hirer is responsible for notifying to the Company any fault as soon as it becomes apparent in order that the Company may make reasonable efforts to perform its obligations under the hire contract. The Company will only accept liability for reasonable expenses occurred by the hirer where these conditions are complied with. In these circumstances instructions for the necessary repair or the purchase of replacement faulty parts at a cost not exceeding £50 may be given by the Hirer who will be reimbursed after presentation of receipted invoices. Approval from the Company must be obtained in respect of repairs or replacements in excess of £50. The Company can accept no liability for accommodation charges, replacement vehicle costs or other claims arising from breakdown, accident or other causes. All accidents should be reported immediately by telephone to (01202) 632488. A completed Accident Report Form must be produced at the termination of the hire. Limitations, Liabilities and Cancellations The Hirer shall not :- Drive or allow the vehicle to be driven at a speed in excess of the legal limit. Allow the vehicle to be driven by any other person except authorised members of his own party who possess a current, valid driving licence and who are eligible to drive. Lend or hire the vehicle to a third party. Create a lien on the vehicle for repairs or for any other reason. Tow any trailer behind motorhomes without having obtained the Company's written permission prior to collection of the vehicle. The Company reserves the right to :- Make reasonable changes to the rates and conditions of hire at any time up to the point of written acceptance by the hirer. Substitute another vehicle or cancel the hire in the event of :- A vehicle being returned damaged resulting in its unsuitability for hire. The late return by a previous hirer. Refuse a hire to any individual who is reasonably considered unsuitable to undertake the hire. In such circumstances the intended Hirer shall be entitled to request a refund of monies paid, which will not be unreasonably withheld by the Company. Our policy of continuous fleet improvement means that vehicle specifications and designs may vary. The vehicle features and layouts shown in our brochure(s) and on our website(s) are provided as an example only. Hirer Cancellations Should the Hirer cancel the booking, the Company will endeavour to re-let the vehicle and, if successful, the amount paid will be refunded less an administration charge of £50+VAT. If the Company is unable to do so, the Hirer will be responsible for the sum already paid on a scale proportionate to the length of time before the hire commences, as set out below :- Exceeding 28 days from hire date - Loss of deposit Less than 28 days from hire date - Loss of Hire charges Hirers are strongly advised to obtain their own insurance cover to safeguard against such losses.