Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of Campers do you have for Hire?
Every one of our campers is BRAND NEW, Imported VW Type 2 campers with water cooled engines. Direct from VW’s manufacturing plant in South America.
“The new world famous Volkswagen Type 2 is manufactured by VW Brazil and is powered by a fuel injected, water-cooled modern engine. This is fitted with electronic ignition and a catalytic converter exhaust system. The result of this modern technology is that your engine will always run beautifully no matter the weather conditions. Front servo assisted disc brakes and rear drum brakes are now also standard” Our campers are kitted out with all the modern comforts you could need, check out the main site for details.
We also hire Teardrop "Turtle" Trailers for Self-Tow hire on our VW Campers. Teardrop Trailers are a fantastic idea for those who wish to have a little extra space without losing the comfort of the camper, and act as a great awning upgrade or addition. Our Teardrop trailers include a kitchen with Gas and Water and 240Volts hook-up. Check out the full range of features in the eBook on the main site or contact us for price and availability.
What are your office hours?
Our office hours are between Monday to Sunday 09.00am to 7:00pm, please call 01268 515446 or email us anytime, we reply to all emails within 24 hours, but usually same day.
Where are you based?
We are based in Noak Hill, Essex with easy access to the A127, A12 and M25
Note: After booking you will be sent detailed instructions on how to find us.
Can we leave our cars with you while we are away?
Yes, you may leave your vehicle in our secure storage yard; this service is free of charge but entirely at your own risk.
What times do we Collect/Return the Camper?
Collection:
Drop – Off:
| Friday/Monday |
9 till 11am /2pm till 3pm |
Note: If you are deferring your pick up date, collection can be arranged either morning or afternoon depending on availability. Please contact us for further details.
What is the minimum/maximum age we can hire a camper?
25-70 Years, minimum 2 years full licence experience. Older and younger drivers must contact us before booking.
Can we book additional days?
Yes, we allow you to request additional days depending on season and demand, please contact us before booking with your hire period details.
Can we book custom hire periods?
Yes, you may request custom hire periods, dependant on season. Please contact us with the dates you require, in most cases custom booking is not possible during high season due to demand, but occasionally we have mid week availability.
Can we have one or more of our party drive the camper?
Yes, unlike some other hire companies we allow up to two different people to be named drivers at no extra cost. We will need to see all driving licences and a recent utility bill belonging to the second driver.
Can we travel abroad?
Yes, we offer European travel on all our campers which includes AA European cover and insurance for up to two drivers. Please confirm your hire requirements on the booking page, we will need additional information after booking in order to obtain a green card from our insurer, which includes D.O.B and number of persons traveling with you.
Mileage included in price;
| UK Hire; Exc.Ireland: |
Unlimited |
| UK & European Hire: |
Unlimited |
Note: UK hire does not permit travel in the Rebulic of Ireland, please choose European Hire when booking.
What happens if we break down?
Our campers are brand new, but just to be sure we supply all our campers with 24 hour UK and/or European recovery.
Is Jersey, Guernsey and Northern Ireland classed as UK travel?
No, If you wish to travel to these locations please select European Hire when booking. Please also be aware the Republic of Ireland is classed as European Travel.
How do I make a booking? When is the deposit required?
Please book online via are easy to use website booking system, once you have completed the booking a conformation email will be sent to your named email address detailing the conditions of hire and reservation information.
If you prefer you may call us during office hours to check availability and book over the phone.
A non-refundable deposit will be required for bookings made up to 6 weeks before collection then the full balance will be required to secure your booking. If your booking falls within 6 weeks of the reservation date we will require the full amount which can be sent via the website at the time of booking.
Deposit Required:
All hire terms require a deposit of £150 per week to be paid via the online checkout process during booking or over the phone if booking offline.
If you have any problems please feel free to contact us directly on 01268 515446
Security Deposit:
All hire periods require a refundable security deposit of £500.00 which can be paid online at the time of booking (Link sent with booking confimation), Cheque (7 clear days), Over the phone or in cash on the day of hire. If paying in cash the security deposit is refunded by cheque within 7 days, credit or debit card payments are refunded within 7 days back to your original card.
Is insurance included in the hire price?
Yes, all our prices quoted online and otherwise include ‘Fully Comprehensive Insurance’ for the named driver within the UK and on request a second driver providing they meet the necessary requirments set out in our Terms and Conditions.
I have points on my licence can I still hire a camper?
Yes, you can still hire a camper if your points are for a non serious offence i.e. speeding, providing they do not exceed 6 points. Simply uncheck the ‘No driving convictions’ box on the booking page and continue to book online. If your points are for a serious offence our insurer requires notification, please contact us before booking.
I have a non-UK driving Licence can I still hire a camper?
UK licence holders are permitted to hire a camper as per the Terms and Conditions. All other non-UK License’s please contact us with your details and we will confirm with our insurer any additional costs, if any. In most cases any international licence is accepted.
Are personal belongings covered by the insurance?
No, the insurance provided with the hire does not cover your personal possessions. We strongly recommend you take holiday/travel insurance to cover this.
Are we allowed to take animals on our trip?
Yes we allow one pet to travel with you as per the Terms & Conditions at an extra cost of £20 per hire period.
Please be aware we may charge an extra fee on return if the camper is considered to be excessively dirty or damaged by an animal travelling with you.
Due to the size of the camper and issue's regarding hygiene we only allow small dogs to travel in the camper, please contact us before booking if you are unsure.
What do we need to bring with us?
Our campers are fully equipped with a full range of kitchen utensils. You will need to bring your own bedding/sleeping bags pillows, towels and accessories.
Essentially you need to bring both parts of your Driving licence (Paper and Plastic) or if you have an older licence just the pink paper part, we also require a recent utility bill with your address matching your license to confirm your identity, please also bring a copy of the above for our records.
If you are travelling to Europe we will also need to see your passport and a copy as above.
We cannot allow hire without the above documents.
What Fuel do your campers run on?
Our campers run on basic (Ron95) unleaded petrol.
What optional extras do you supply with the camper?
Awning + Inner Tent (Top of the range Khyam Awning is charged @ £30.00 Per hire period)
Storage Tent (Comming Soon)
Booster Seat (For use in the front of the camper only using the three point seatbelts)
Additional Outdoor Table and Chairs (Great for the awning)
Bike Rack (2 Bicycle limit)
How do we receive discount privilages for the Camping and Caravanning Club?
When arriving at a club site simply display your club card (Given to you by us on arrival) and you will receive your discount of up to 30% (£7.00 per pitch per night) or after booking online with us simply call 0845 130 7633 (Club Sites) or 0845 130 8224 (Forest Holidays) and state you are using the Privilege Scheme, in order to book your desired site in advance. We suggest you go to the Camping and Caravanning Club website to search through their club sites which are all listed online along with detailed information on what each site has to offer. Booking online with The Friendly Club is reserved for club members only, but their staff will guide you through the process via the telephone.
Do you offer Gift Vouchers?
Yes, vouchers can be purchased online via the link on our booking page. Our vouchers start from £20.00. Each voucher is customisable with the amount and name of recipient and will be sent to the purchaser on completion of the checkout process.
Do you offer a valet service while we are away?
Yes we offer a simple wash and wax service up to a full professional valet. Please contact us after booking your hire period to confirm the valet service you require.
To view the valet services available please visit www.autoshinevalet.com