Terms and conditions of hire
Definitions
“the Hirer” the individual, company or body signing the hire contract
“the Vehicle” the motorhome specified in the hire contract
“the Company” SARL Direction France including where applicable its partners, employees, suppliers or sub-contractors acting on behalf of the company
Acceptance
Submitting a booking form or paying any part of the hire fee implies full acceptance of these terms and conditions by the Hirer and on behalf of everyone in their party.
Use of the Vehicle
The Hirer agrees that the use of the Vehicle is expressly limited and restricted to the Hirer. The Hirer agrees that he/she has examined the Vehicle and that it is undamaged and in good condition and repair, mechanically and otherwise, except as may be specifically noted on the vehicle check out form.
The Hirer must NOT:
- allow or permit the Vehicle to be used for any illegal purpose, race, contest or performance test of any kind;
- allow or permit the Vehicle to be used on anything other than a sealed surface;
- allow or permit the Vehicle to be used to tow or push anything, without the written consent of the Company;
- sublet or let the Vehicle on hire to any other person;
- carry more passengers than may be properly accommodated by the seat belt restraints provided in the Vehicle or carry a greater load than that for which it was built;
- drive whilst under the influence of drugs or whilst having a blood alcohol content that exceeds the legal limit in the country in which the Vehicle is being driven;
- carry passengers for payment of any kind;
- use the Vehicle when it is damaged and unsafe;
- operate or permit the Vehicle to be operated in breach of any legislation, regulations, rules or by laws relating to road traffic and use;
- take the vehicle to a ski resort between the months of November and April.
The Hirer must:
- maintain all of the Vehicle’s engine oil, brake fluid and engine coolant levels to the manufacturer's specifications and ensure that the tyres are maintained at the manufacturer's recommended pressure as provided in the Vehicle manual;
- keep the vehicle keys under their personal control at all times and produce such keys if the Vehicle has been stolen;
- generally do all things necessary to keep and maintain the Vehicle in its current state and condition;
- ensure that when the vehicle is in motion, passengers are seated in the designated seats, wearing the seat belt provided and comply with any applicable child restraint laws;
- ensure that when the vehicle is in motion the gas is turned off, all windows in the accommodation part of the Vehicle and all internal and external doors are closed and properly secured.
Security deposit
The Hirer must pay a Security Deposit of €2000 at the time of collection of the vehicle. The Security Deposit will be returned to the Hirer within 14 days of the Vehicle return date, provided the Vehicle is returned on time, undamaged, in a clean condition, with a full fuel tank and full vehicle inventory. The Hirer’s liability is not limited to the sum held as a security deposit and in the event of damage to or loss of the vehicle, the total amount of the Hirer’s liability will be notified to the Hirer within 14 days of the hire finish date or 28 days should the Company need to refer to an external repairer or supplier to ascertain the cost of repairs. The Security Deposit can only be taken by a credit card with the Visa or MasterCard symbol and will be authorised but not debited from the card. The credit card used for the Security Deposit must be valid for the duration of the hire period.
Driver licencing
Drivers must be between the age of 25 yrs and 70 yrs at the start of the hire period unless otherwise agreed by the company. Only drivers who produce a valid licence (which must be valid for the whole hire period) and who attend the hire depot in person are allowed to drive. Photocopies, faxes and scans of licences will not be accepted. Anyone wishing to drive the Vehicle must produce a full drivers licence which must have been held for a least two years. If the licence is not in a language that uses the Roman alphabet, an International Drivers Licence is also required. If the drivers licence has no photo, other identification with a photo to prove identity must be produced (for example, a passport, National ID card etc). United Kingdom residents must provide both parts of their driving licence (i.e. the paper copy and the photo card). Licences showing endorsements (points) will be considered on an individual basis. Normally 3-6 points for speeding or traffic signal violations will be accepted but any endorsements must be notified to the Company for consideration at the time of booking. No refund will be allowable if drivers cannot comply with these terms. In addition to the Hirer, additional drivers can be added for a fee of €25 per week, provided they meet the criteria and conditions as specified above.
Insurance cover
Our Vehicles are covered by fully comprehensive Insurance for the period of each rental. This insurance is valid in the majority of Western European countries. Travel to Eastern Europe is limited to the European Union countries. The Hirer must inform the Company at the time of booking if they plan to travel outside of France. The Hirer will be responsible for the excesses shown below unless third party liability can be established. Insurance cover is provided subject to acceptance of the driver(s) by the company
Insurance Excess
There is an Insurance Excess which must be paid by the Hirer in the event of loss of or damage to the Vehicle or its equipment where no third party liability can be established. See the table below for details of Insurance Excesses. The Company does not offer insurance to cover the excesses in the policy but such cover is available for hires of less than 31 days duration from UK based Questor Insurance Services Limited. This insurance can be purchased from as little as £6.99 per day on Questor’s web site: www.questor-insurance.co.uk/direction-france. Payment can be made in GBP £ or Euros €.
| Insurance cover | Insurance Excess |
|---|---|
| Theft of the hired vehicle (or damage caused by the attempted theft of the vehicle) its equipment or contents | €1000 |
| Damage to the hired vehicle through collision with an identifiable third party vehicle | €1000 |
| Any damage to the hired vehicle except where the damage is caused by collision with an identifiable third party vehicle | €2000 |
| Theft of the hired vehicle if stolen with keys inside Up to replacement value of vehicle Windscreen breakage (where the windscreen cannot be repaired free of charge under insurance) | €250 |
| Damage to and loss or theft of personal belongings | Not insured |
Where damage to the vehicle is caused by collision with a third party vehicle, there must be clear identification of that vehicle and an Accident Report Form, signed by both parties, must be submitted to the Company.
The following losses are not insured and therefore the Hirer remains liable for the full cost of repair or replacement as a result of:
- Damage to the interior of the vehicle
- Damage to the underside of the vehicle
- Damage due to neglect, misuse or unauthorised use of the vehicle
- Damage due to freezing weather conditions (e.g. allowing the water system to freeze and cause burst pipes or fittings)
- The loss of the vehicles keys or locking the keys in the Vehicle (this may include replacing the locks)
- Damage to tyres, wheels, mirrors and vehicle accessories
- Use of incorrect fuel (the correct fuel to use is Diesel)
- Recovery of or damage to the vehicle in the event that it has been driven on an unsealed surface or has become bogged down or stuck
- The insurance excess applies in respect of each claim, not the hire period as a whole.
- The insurance does not cover damage to or loss of personal belongings. We strongly recommend that the Hirer purchases holiday insurance to cover personal belongings.
Theft of the Vehicle
The vehicle is covered by insurance in the event of theft. However, the insurance is not valid if the Vehicle is stolen whilst the keys are inside it. In this instance, the Hirers liability is not limited to the amount of the Security Deposit. For your own protection, we advise you to lock the Vehicle whenever it is unattended and always remove the keys from the vehicle and keep them on your person when parked, even if only for a few minutes. This condition applies in all circumstances, including for example, whilst filling up with fuel.
Early termination of the hire contract due to damage to the vehicle
Any damage to the vehicle which prevents it’s continued use constitutes early termination of the hire agreement. Following any damage, the Company may require the hirer to deliver the vehicle to a location of the Company’s choice (including the Company depot) for assessment. Only the Company or it’s appointed representatives may make an assessment of damage to the vehicle and decide upon it’s continued use. In the event that the hirer cannot continue to use the vehicle, there will be no refund for unused days of hire and the Company’s liability will be limited to the benefits provided under the roadside recovery insurance.
Accident and loss reporting
Any accident, loss or breakdown (no matter how small) must be reported to the company immediately. By doing so, the Company may be able to help mitigate the Hirer’s liability under the Insurance Excess arrangements. The Hirer may also be required to complete an Incident Report Form or make a written statement on return to the hire depot.
Any accident involving another vehicle, damage to other property or resulting in injury to any party must be reported to the police within 24 hours and the Hirer must complete an accident report form. The Hirer must return a copy of the completed Police report to the Company. In case of the theft of the Vehicle, it is mandatory to file a report with the police within 24 hours of the theft. A copy of the Police report and the keys of the vehicle must be returned to the Company. The Hirer may be liable for the replacement cost of the Vehicle if the keys and the report are not returned to the Company.
In addition to the cost of repairs or replacements, the Hirer is liable to pay the Company an Accident Administration Fee of €45.
Breakdown and malfunction of the vehicle equipment
The Vehicle is insured for roadside recovery in the event of a major breakdown. It is the responsibility of the Hirer to arrange roadside recovery by contacting the roadside recovery company directly, using the 24hr helpline provided in the Vehicle. In the event of a breakdown that cannot be repaired, the Company will endeavor to provide a replacement vehicle. If no replacement vehicle is available, the liability of the company will be restricted to the benefits provided under the roadside recovery insurance. The roadside recovery insurance does not cover minor faults or failure of the systems in the accommodation part of the vehicle (such as heating/hot water, electrical system or fridge/freezer). In the event of a fault with such systems, the company will endeavour to identify a local repairer to assess and repair the fault and may require the hirer to deliver the vehicle to a location of the Company’s choice for assessment and repair during their hire period. The Company do not offer refunds or compensation for any inconvenience or delay caused by a breakdown or fault repair.
Reservation / Cancellation
A non-refundable deposit is required with the booking form to confirm the booking (this is usually 30% of the hire price but can vary). The full balance is to be paid 45 days prior to departure. In the event that the booking is placed less than 45 days prior to departure, the hire price must be paid in full. Failure to pay the full balance 45 days prior to departure may result in cancellation of the booking and loss of the deposit. Cancellation of the booking at any stage prior to departure will result in the loss of any monies paid unless the Company can replace the booking, in which case there will be a return of all monies paid by the Hirer less an administration fee of €100 plus any shortfall between the price of the originally booked hire period and the price of the replacement booking. Cancellations can only be accepted in writing. If a vehicle is collected later than or returned earlier than the booked hire period for any reason whatsoever, no refund will be given.
Departure formalities
The collection time for the Vehicle is 1400 to 1700 hours on the commencement date of the hire period unless the Company agrees to an alternative time in advance. Upon arrival, the Hirer should expect to fill out a hire agreement, to leave a Security Deposit of €2000, to show a valid driver's licence and to inspect the vehicle before leaving. Please respect our collection times and allow around one hour for departure formalities and vehicle familiarisation.
Return formalities
The return time for the Vehicle is strictly between the hours of 0930 and 1100 on the agreed day of return unless the Company have agreed to an alternative time by prior arrangement. The Hirer must return the Vehicle in a clean condition. The Vehicle and its inventory will be checked for damage and any shortages. The Hirer will be deemed to have returned the Vehicle to the Company only when the Company takes possession of the keys and the Vehicle and upon completion of a vehicle check in form. The Hirer will remain responsible for the Vehicle until such time as the Vehicle is deemed to have been returned.
The Company’s definition of a clean condition is:
Late return
If the Hirer is going to be late returning for any reason, they must advise the Company immediately. Returning the Vehicle after the due return time, without prior agreement will result in a charge of €250 per day or part thereof.
Vehicle availability
If the reserved vehicle is not available due to circumstances beyond the Company’s control, the Company reserves the right to substitute a comparable vehicle at no extra cost to the Hirer. In the event that no substitute vehicle is available the responsibility of the Company is limited to the return of all monies paid by the Hirer.
Violation of road regulations
The Company is not responsible for speeding tickets, parking tickets or other infraction during the hire period. The Company will supply the Hirer’s details to the authority levying such penalty and will provide the Hirer with a copy of any traffic violation notice. A €30 administration charge will be charged for each occurrence.
Animals
No animals are permitted in our vehicles. If the Hirer chooses to ignore this policy, the full cost of any cleaning or repairs for damage caused by animals will be incurred by the Hirer.
Smoking
The Company operates a strict no smoking policy in all vehicles. If the Hirer chooses to ignore this policy, the full cost of any special treatments, cleaning or replacements to eradicate the odours left by smoking will be incurred by the Hirer.
