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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Classic car hire from Great Escape is a simple joy. On this page we’ve tried to answer some of the most common questions we get asked when people hire our cars including Jensen Interceptor, Alfa Romeo Spider, Jaguar XJS V12 convertible, Morris Minor Traveller 1000 and Jaguar E Type V12 Series 3 convertible. But please contact us by email or on 01527 893733 if you have a specific question.
| Prices | Location | Hire Package |
| Buy Online | Gift Vouchers | Availability |
| Terms | Rental Charter | HCHG |
Where are you based?
We have four sites in the UK - Inkberrow, Worcestershire (Cotswolds Site), Harrogate (Yorkshire Site), Lincolnshire (near Grantham), Shropshire (near Shrewsbury) and Stowmarket (Suffolk Site). For more details click here. We can arrange transfers from local airports and rail connections. For security reasons we only provide precise location details when you book.
how long is the hire period?
We operate a transparent 24 hour hire period - so when you pay for a day, you get a full day. Our hires normally start at around 5-6pm and finish at 5-6pm. You can hire one of our classic cars for as long as you wish. The minimum hire period is 24 hours.
can i pick the car up before 5pm?
We can generally accommodate earlier starts provided the car is available. If you would like to collect the car earlier than 6pm please call us on 01527 893733 before you book.
can i add extra drivers?
Our hire package includes the price of one named driver. You can add extra drivers for a small extra charge up to a total of 4 drivers.
are the cars easy to drive?
Our cars are generally very easy to drive - if you are familiar with manual or automatic gearbox cars then you will settle into any of them quickly. They each have particular characteristics and these will be fully explained to you when you collect the car.
how accessible are the cars?
We aim to make our fleet of cars as accessible as possible for all drivers. Our collection sites are wheelchair accessible and we have negotiated insurance cover that is as flexible as possible. Our fleet of cars includes saloons, large coupes with large doors, automatics and vehicles with power steering wherever possible. If you have particular requirements do please let us know on 01527 893733 and we will do our best to accommodate you.
what is the deposit?
Like all car hire companies, our insurance includes an excess in the event of damage. When you collect the car we will take a credit card deposit from you to cover the excess. We take this as a credit card authorisation so we don't take money from your card unless the car is returned damaged.
how do you send out the gift vouchers?
You can choose to have your gift voucher sent to you or the recipient. If we send it to you we will send you a blank, unmarked brown envelope with the voucher inside. We make sure that it is not obviously a gift.
can i reach you by train or plane?
Most of our sites are very close to railway connections and airports. We can offer a collection and return service to airports and stations if booked in advance. Depending on the length of hire this service may be free of charge.
can i leave my car with you?
If you are collecting one of our cars from our storage site then we can provide secure parking, either outside or in our locked garage. The site has 24 hour security and is very discreet. However, parking is at your own risk and we cannot be responsible for your vehicle or possessions.
Can I take one of your cars abroad?
The limitations of our insurance mean that our classic cars are generally available for hire in the UK. But we can usually accommodate overseas travel - call us on 01527 893733 to discuss your plans. For our terms and conditions click here.
aRE THE CARS RELIABLE?
We are totally committed to hiring very high quality classic cars. We invest constantly in the servicing, maintenance and improvement of our vehicles. Our breakdown rate is 2% of all hires. However, you are hiring a classic car and the risk of breakdown is inevitably higher than with a modern car. We do everything we can to make our cars reliable but we cannot guarantee this in all cases.
What happens if the car breaks down?
Our classic cars are covered by AA Roadside & Relay breakdown recover. If the AA patrol cannot get you going they will return you either to our site or to your accommodation. We will try to provide you with an alternative car, but this is not guaranteed and is not a condition of your hire. We maintain our cars to high standards but they are old cars and the risk of breakdown is higher than it will be with a modern car. Full details on breakdown recovery are contained in the Information Pack supplied with each car and our policy is explained in our terms and conditions.
What insurance cover do you provide?
Every driver is covered by our specialist comprehensive cover insurance. Our insurance carries a typical £750 excess (varies by car), which is why we take a refundable deposit. If you return our car with damage we may use this deposit to cover our loss.
Who is insured to drive the cars?
Our insurance restricts use to drivers between 25 and 75 (inclusive) who have held a full driving licence for at least five years. We cannot hire the cars to anyone who has received more than two speeding offences within the last three years or who has been convicted of a more serious motoring offence at any point. There are a number of other restrictions – for full details see our terms and conditions. If you are in any doubt about eligibility, please email us or call 01527 893733.
What is the deposit for?
In addition to your hire fee, we take a refundable £750 deposit from your credit or debit card before you hire a car. We inspect the car with you before the hire period using a standard BVRLA Vehicle Inspection Report, which you sign to confirm the condition of the car. We will return your deposit in full if you return the car just as you collected it.
If the car is damaged we will discuss the problem with the hirer. We are reasonable and realistic but if we feel they are to blame we will obtain a quote for rectifying the work. Damage to our vehicles also costs us in time and lost revenue, which we may charge for. We cherish our cars and hope that you will treat them as if they were your own.
Can I use the car for track days?
Unfortunately not. Track days are increasingly popular but our insurance restricts use to public roads. If we discover that you have used ours on a track then you will forfeit the full insurance excess. Some of our cars are fitted with tracking systems.
What fuel do the cars use?
Our cars run on unleaded. They will run happily on any unleaded fuel but we prefer that you use non-supermarket fuels. Supermarket fuels tend to have less detergent in them, which can lead to increased engine wear.
