Terms & Conditions of Vehicle Hire

1. Who's Who

You, the Client, the Hirer: the person making the booking, who enters into a contract directly with the Vehicle Supplier.

The Vehicle Supplier: the company or person who owns and provides the vehicle and driver. They act independently of Premier Carriage, under their own name, and they're the ones responsible for delivering your booking on the day.

Premier Carriage, we, us: Premier Carriage Wedding Cars Ltd. We run the website, put together your itinerary, and handle the admin. We act as an agent for the Supplier; we don't own or drive the vehicles ourselves.

Hire Date: the date your vehicle and driver are booked for, whatever type of hire it is.

In writing: by email or letter. Where these terms ask you to do something in writing, email from the address we have on file is fine.

Type of Hire: one of the following, confirmed when you book:

• Wedding Hire: transport for a wedding ceremony and/or reception.
• Civil Partnership Hire: transport for a civil partnership ceremony and/or reception.
• Funeral Hire: transport in connection with a funeral.
• Filming & Photoshoot Hire: a vehicle supplied for photography, filming, TV, or advertising work, used as a prop or backdrop, where nobody travels inside it as a passenger. See section 7 for what this covers and doesn't cover.

Each type of hire works a little differently. Please tell us the right one when you enquire, and let us know straight away if what you need changes.

2. What These Terms Cover

2.1 These terms apply to all four types of hire above, with extra detail added where one type works differently to the others.

2.2 Wedding, Civil Partnership, and Funeral Hire, in a vehicle carrying up to 8 passengers and used only for that purpose, don't need a private hire licence under current UK law. See section 8 for the detail, including buses and coaches, which work differently.

2.3 Filming & Photoshoot Hire only works the way it's described in section 7: no passengers, ever, during that hire. If a shoot needs to actually carry someone in the vehicle on a road, even briefly, that's a different kind of booking with different insurance rules. Tell us before you book so we can work out if and how it can be done.

3. How Your Booking Is Confirmed

3.1 You ask, we check, the Supplier confirms and secures. When you tell us you'd like to book, we check with the Supplier that the vehicle is still available. Your booking only becomes a firm contract once the Supplier has confirmed they can do it and we've received your deposit. We'll let you know as soon as the Supplier confirms, and hold the vehicle for you for 48 hours to give your deposit time to reach us. If your deposit hasn't arrived within that window, we may release the vehicle back to general availability.

3.2 The deposit. Once the Supplier has confirmed, we'll ask for a deposit to lock in your date. This deposit covers the admin work of reserving your vehicle and taking it off the market for anyone else. Most deposits are £100; higher-value vehicles may carry a slightly higher deposit, which will always be shown clearly on your quote. Your booking isn't fully secured until we've received your deposit. If you're booking within 56 days (8 weeks) of your Hire Date, we'll ask for full payment instead of a deposit, see section 4.2.

3.3 If the Supplier can't confirm. If the vehicle turns out not to be available, we'll tell you straight away and either offer you an alternative or refund anything you've already paid.

3.4 Who you deal with, and when. We look after your booking on the Supplier's behalf, taking payments and updating your itinerary, until 28 days before your Hire Date. From then on, you deal with your Supplier directly for anything to do with your booking, and their contact details are on your itinerary. If you book within 28 days of your Hire Date, the handover happens once your payment is received and you and the Supplier both have the same itinerary. We're still happy to help after the handover if you get stuck; see section 13.

4. Quotes & Payments

4.1 Quotes. Your quote is valid for 6 weeks, and covers the total cost you'll pay, with your deposit amount shown clearly. There are no hidden extras beyond what's on your quote, unless your requirements change (see section 5). If we've made a genuine pricing mistake, we'll tell you within 14 days of your booking, and you can either accept the corrected price or cancel for a full refund.

4.3 How your payment is handled. The Supplier has asked us to collect payment on their behalf through our website. We're not the supplier and we don't own the vehicles; any money you pay becomes the Supplier's as soon as we receive it, and we pass it on to them. Card processing fees are paid by the Supplier, not you.

5. Changes to Your Booking

5.1 Checking your itinerary. Please check your itinerary carefully; anything not listed on it may not happen on the day. This includes checking that all timings and addresses, including postcodes, are correct. It's your responsibility to tell us about any mistakes, since your Supplier will plan the day around exactly what's written on your itinerary.

5.2 Making a change. Changes to timings, addresses, extra stops, or anything that extends the hire need to be sent in writing from the email address we have on file. We can't accept changes over the phone or through WhatsApp, Messenger, etc; this protects you as much as us. We'll send an updated itinerary to confirm any change; until you see that, assume the change hasn't gone through. Any extra cost will be agreed with you before we update anything. If a Supplier can't accommodate a change, we'll treat it as a cancellation (see section 10.3). From 28 days before your Hire Date, send changes to your Supplier directly (see section 3.4). Help with making changes.

5.3 Changing the vehicle. If you decide you no longer want the vehicle you originally booked, this counts as a cancellation (see section 10.1).

5.4 Access and location. Let us know at booking stage about anything unusual on the route: narrow lanes, unmade roads, low bridges, security checks, driver ID checks, or restricted access. Your driver can refuse to take the vehicle somewhere if it risks damaging it, and will find the nearest safe point to meet you instead if a route becomes blocked. It's your responsibility to sort out any permits or passes needed to access private or restricted locations.

5.5 Running over on the day. We can't guarantee extra time if you ask for it on the day. Any agreed extension has to be paid in cash there and then, or the hire ends at the originally booked time. Rates to extend your vehicle hire are shown on your itinerary confirmation, so you'll know the cost before you ask. How many hours do I need?

5.6 If your driver is delayed. If your driver hits a delay on the way to you, they'll contact you as soon as it's safe to do so, with an updated arrival time.

5.7 End of hire. Your hire ends once you've reached your final destination and the time on your itinerary is up. The driver is then free to leave, unless you or your nominated contact ask them to go earlier.

5.8 Double-checking before the day. You must call your Supplier directly two to three weeks before your Hire Date (and no later than 14 days before) to run through the full itinerary together. This is one of the most important things you can do to avoid problems on the day. Why and how to contact your Supplier.

5.9 Changing your date. Changing your Hire Date after booking counts as a cancellation, unless the Supplier agrees to move to a new date and the same vehicle is free. See section 10.1 or 10.4 (Force Majeure).

6. Passenger Safety, Vehicle & Damage

This section covers Wedding, Civil Partnership, and Funeral Hire, where people travel in the vehicle. For Filming & Photoshoot Hire, see section 7 instead.

6.1 Seat belts. You must wear a seat belt where one's fitted. Some classic and vintage vehicles are exempt; each vehicle page tells you if seat belts are fitted. If you have a medical exemption certificate, please send us a copy before your Hire Date.

6.2 Children. Tell us at the booking stage if anyone travelling will be under 14. At least one adult 18+ must travel with any children. Under-3s need their own car seat, provided by you; there's no exemption for this age group. Ages 3 to 12 (or under 135cm) need the correct restraint where seat belts are fitted, though they can travel unrestrained in the back of a vehicle that was never built with seat belts. These vehicles aren't licensed taxis, so the rules differ slightly from normal taxi journeys; check gov.uk for full details. If your driver has any doubt about a child's seating, they have the final say.

6.3 How many people can travel. Vehicles can't carry more people than the manufacturer's limit, shown on each vehicle page. Please think about comfort and clothing too, especially for vintage or classic cars as some tend to be smaller.

6.4 Smoking, food and drink. No smoking, including e-cigarettes. No food or drink unless the Supplier has agreed to it in advance.

6.5 Severe weather. If weather makes driving unsafe, the Supplier can swap the vehicle for something better suited, or cancel. This call is made by the Supplier and driver on the day. See section 10.5 for refunds in this situation.

6.6 Phones. UK law bans hand-held phone use while driving, so your driver may not answer while on the move; they'll get back to you once it's safe to stop.

6.7 Ribbons and night driving. Ribbons can block a driver's view after dark. Your driver decides whether to keep them up once it's dark, based on safety.

6.8 Belongings. Please double check you have everything before you leave the vehicle; the Supplier isn't responsible for anything left behind.

6.9 Clothing. Try to keep clothing away from parts of the car that could mark it, like tyres, exhaust or door hinges. The Supplier isn't liable for clothing damage, or for spills from drinks served in the car, unless the Supplier or driver caused it through their own carelessness.

6.10 Behaviour. Your driver can refuse to carry anyone who seems to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs if it's a safety risk. Abusive behaviour towards the driver can end the hire early, without a refund.

6.11 Damage. You're responsible for any damage caused by you, your party, or your guests, unless the Supplier or driver caused it. This includes damage from jewellery, buckles, cameras, or similar, and staining from mud, confetti, glitter, food, drink, or bodily fluids; this list is not exhaustive. A reasonable cleaning charge may apply if the car needs valeting after your hire, and the Supplier will show you how it was worked out.

6.12 Convertible roofs. Some of our vehicles have a convertible or soft-top roof. Whether the roof comes down on the day is the driver's call; weather, timing, and how cumbersome the roof mechanism is all play a part. As a rule, we don't drive with the roof down, as it risks wind damage to your hair, makeup, and outfit. Lowering the roof fully on classic and vintage cars can take time, and sometimes a second pair of hands, so if you'd like it down for photos or while the car's parked, ask us in advance so we can plan for it. If you haven't asked ahead of time, the roof may not be able to come down on the day, even if the weather looks perfect.

6.13 Photos and videos for marketing. The Supplier, their chauffeur, or Premier Carriage may take photos or videos of the vehicle at your event to use for marketing, on our website, social media, or promotional material. If you'd rather this didn't happen, just let us or the Supplier know before your Hire Date and we'll opt you out.

6.14 Animals, decorations and flowers. If you'd like to bring an animal in the vehicle, or add decorations or fresh flowers, please check with us or the Supplier before your Hire Date. This isn't something we can say yes to on the day; some vehicles and some Suppliers aren't able to accommodate this, often because of the vehicle's age, upholstery, or valeting requirements, so it needs agreeing in advance. Assistance dogs are always welcome where the vehicle can safely carry them; please tell us at booking.

7. Filming & Photoshoot Hire

7.1 No passengers, ever. This type of hire only works on the basis that nobody travels in the vehicle as a passenger, at any point. The vehicle is used as a prop, filmed or photographed while parked, or moved on a closed set with no one inside.

7.2 If that changes. If your shoot ends up needing someone to actually sit in the vehicle while it moves on a road, even for a short repositioning move, tell us and the Supplier before it happens. That's a different kind of booking with different rules for insurance and licence purposes, so the Supplier can decline it or ask for a separate arrangement.

7.3 Looking after the vehicle. Only handle, enter, or exit the vehicle in the way agreed with the Supplier and driver beforehand. You're responsible for making sure cast, crew, and equipment don't damage the vehicle; section 6.11 applies here too.

7.4 Insurance and risk assessment. It's your (or your production's) job to have the right production insurance and to carry out any risk assessment the shoot needs, unless the Supplier has agreed otherwise in writing. The Supplier's own insurance covers normal use of the vehicle and driver; it may not cover production-specific risks like stunts or simulated damage without being agreed first.

7.5 Who's in charge of the vehicle. The driver stays in control of moving or positioning the vehicle throughout the shoot, and can say no to any instruction they think is unsafe or outside what was agreed.

7.6 Using your photos and footage. Where a Supplier's vehicle appears in your finished photos or footage, that's covered by whatever you've separately agreed with the Supplier about usage rights. If the Supplier would like to use any images from the shoot in their own marketing, they'll ask you first.

7.7 Licensing. Because nobody travels as a passenger, this type of hire doesn't need a private hire vehicle licence. See section 8.4.

8. Which Vehicles Need a Licence

8.1 Wedding, Civil Partnership, and Funeral Hire, in a vehicle carrying up to 8 people and used only for that purpose, is exempt from private hire vehicle licensing under UK law.

8.2 This exemption covers the specific journey, not the vehicle or Supplier as a whole. If a Supplier or vehicle also does other kinds of work not covered by this exemption, that other work needs its own proper licensing.

8.3 Buses and coaches with 9 or more seats, including our Routemasters, are covered by separate bus and coach licensing rules (PSV), whatever they're being used for. Suppliers of these vehicles hold their own licence and their own qualified manager, entirely separately from Premier Carriage. We don't hold, and don't need, this kind of licence ourselves, since we don't own or run these vehicles.

8.4 Filming & Photoshoot Hire, as described in section 7, doesn't carry passengers, so it doesn't need a private hire licence either, as long as section 7.1 holds true.

9. If Something Goes Wrong

We've set out what you can expect from the Supplier, taking into account how the problem affected your planned itinerary. If the hire is not provided as detailed in your itinerary, you may be entitled to a part refund or full refund, depending on the cause and severity of the issue. Your itinerary shows the hire you've paid for and forms the agreement between you and the Supplier. The Supplier will deal with any complaint and pay any refund due. Premier Carriage will help you make contact and follow it up to make sure you're happy with the result, so please keep us copied in on any written complaint between you and the Supplier. Our Complaints page explains the steps. For advice on avoiding problems on the day, read what to do if your car is late or breaks down.

9.1 The first 15 minutes. We always advise you to set your collection time at least 15 minutes before you actually need to leave your collection address. Delays of up to 15 minutes will not attract a refund, whether or not you build in that 15-minute safety buffer. For your own peace of mind, seeing your car parked outside 15 minutes before it's needed is a great comfort, and your first photo opportunity.

9.2 Refunds if the Supplier, vehicle or driver is the cause. If the delay is the Supplier's, driver's, or vehicle's fault, and you arrive more than 15 minutes late at the next stop on your itinerary, you're due a refund. The amount reflects how much of your itinerary was affected, from a small percentage for a short delay up to a full refund if the vehicle couldn't do the job at all. The Supplier will work out a figure based on what was and wasn't delivered, agree it with you, and pay it within 7 days of agreeing it. Every situation is different, so we can't list every scenario here, but the principle is simple: the more of your itinerary you lost, the more you're refunded. If the Supplier doesn't get back to you, see 9.6.

9.3 When the Supplier isn't responsible. Some delays are nobody's fault: a road closed by a police incident, severe weather, or a genuine emergency, for example. You didn't cause it and neither did the Supplier. When that happens, the Supplier still refunds the value of any journey in your itinerary you did not receive, up to a full refund, but not the cost of the vehicle travelling to and from your itinerary.

9.4 Cancelling on the day. If a delay caused by the Supplier, driver, or vehicle is so severe that the vehicle can no longer serve any useful purpose for your itinerary, you can cancel it on the spot. This applies where you've already arranged, or are due to travel by, other transport instead. The Supplier will refund you in full, unless you've already travelled in the car and completed part of your itinerary, in which case you'll get a partial refund.

9.5 Extra time. If you'd rather extend your hire than take a refund, you can agree that with the Supplier or driver instead. It's your choice, as long as the extension is possible for the vehicle and driver. Because this makes up for the Supplier's own delay, it's offered at no extra cost to you, unlike an extension you request for your own reasons under 5.5.

9.6 If the Supplier doesn't respond. If you've raised a claim and the Supplier hasn't given you a decision within 14 days, tell Premier Carriage. We'll take it up on your behalf and press for a resolution.

9.7 If you're not ready when the driver arrives. If your driver turns up on time and nobody's ready, causing a delay to the day's timings, no refund is due. The Supplier has done their part.

9.8 Circumstances nobody can control (Force Majeure). If your planned itinerary can't go ahead because of a government ban, natural disaster, or similar, no cancellation charge applies. That wouldn't be fair, since it isn't anyone's fault. See section 10.4 for how this works with rebooking and/or refunds.

10. Cancellation and Refunds

There's a one-page summary of this section on our Cancellation & Refund Policy page.

10.2 Cancelling one vehicle out of several. If you cancel one vehicle from a multi-vehicle booking, only that vehicle is affected. Any multi-vehicle discount will no longer apply to the rest, which will be priced at the standard rate. You'll lose the deposit for the cancelled vehicle, but not for the others.

10.3 Cancelling because of an itinerary change the Supplier can't accommodate. Your deposit is lost. Anything paid above the deposit is refundable if this happens 57 days or more before your Hire Date; inside 56 days, section 10.1 applies, including the refund if the Supplier rebooks your date. This might apply to a big increase in mileage, a request outside the Supplier's normal service area, or a new location the vehicle can't safely or practically reach: narrow lanes, unmade roads, or restricted access can rule out larger vehicles such as buses, limousines, and stretched cars, even where a smaller vehicle would manage fine. See also section 5.4.

10.4 Force Majeure. If your event's cancelled by something outside anyone's control, like a government ban, war, or a pandemic, we'll move your payments to a new date. Any price difference from seasonal pricing or a different vehicle will be agreed with you first, or you can have a full refund, minus any costs the Supplier has already genuinely spent on your booking. No cancellation charge applies; that wouldn't be reasonable.

10.5 Cancelling because of bad weather. If the Supplier has to cancel for safety reasons before your hire, they'll refund you directly. If you want extra protection here, wedding insurance is worth considering.

10.6 If the Supplier cancels. If the Supplier can't provide your vehicle, they'll contact you directly to offer an alternative or a full refund, paid within 7 days.

10.7 If the vehicle is significantly changed. If a Supplier makes a major visible change to the vehicle, like a colour change, they need to tell you and us straight away. If you're not happy with the change, you're entitled to a full refund.

11. Breakdown or Unavailability

11.1 The Supplier is responsible for telling you and sorting out any breakdown or unavailability issue. We're happy to help find an alternative from our network if you need one.

11.2 Breakdown or unplanned repairs. A breakdown, accident or unforeseen mechanical failure does not necessarily mean the Supplier was at fault. However, if the booked service cannot be provided, the Supplier will offer an alternative where reasonably possible or provide a refund in accordance with section 10.6.

11.3 Breakdown on the day. Any refund will reflect what was and wasn't delivered, up to a full refund if the whole itinerary couldn't happen, but never more than what you paid for that vehicle.

11.5 Vehicle upgrades. If a Supplier upgrades to a newer vehicle, your original price still applies. If the colour is different to what you booked, you can accept it or cancel for a full refund.

11.6 Any other unavailability. The Supplier will contact you as soon as they know about a problem, sort a solution or refund per section 10.6, and let us know too so we can help further if needed.

11.7 Supplier insolvency. In the event of the death of a vehicle supplier, or if they stop trading or become insolvent before your Hire Date, your contract remains with the Supplier or their legal representatives. We'll help where we reasonably can, for example by passing on contact details for any appointed administrator or liquidator, and by helping you look for an alternative vehicle from our network. Any refund owed remains the responsibility of the Supplier or their insolvency practitioner, not Premier Carriage. We strongly recommend taking out wedding insurance to protect against this kind of situation.

12. Who's Responsible for What

12.1 These are the terms the Supplier has agreed to when they list their vehicle with us, alongside our Website Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.

12.2 Our role. Premier Carriage acts as an agent for the Supplier. We're not the supplier, we don't own or hire in vehicles, and the service is provided in the name of the Supplier, not in the name of Premier Carriage. We're a marketing platform for chauffeured wedding cars, buses, coaches, and production vehicle companies UK-wide, and the Supplier has authorised us to arrange the contract between you and them on this basis. We're not a party to that contract, so responsibility for the vehicle, the driver and the service on the day sits with the Supplier, and we'll give you their contact details. We also collect payment on the Supplier's behalf; any refund comes from them directly. Our service to you is free of charge.

12.3 What we are responsible for. We're responsible for our own part: taking your booking, collecting and passing on your payments, and producing your itinerary, all with reasonable care and skill. If we make a mistake in that work (for example, we put the wrong time or address on your itinerary when you'd given us the right one) and it causes you a loss, we'll put it right. Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for anything else the law doesn't allow us to limit.

12.4 How these terms fit with other information. These terms, your quote and your itinerary make up your agreement. If something in them conflicts with something said elsewhere, these terms and your itinerary apply, unless the law says otherwise. This doesn't affect anything we or the Supplier tell you about the service that you rely on when deciding to book. If any part of these terms turns out to be invalid, the rest still stands. English and Welsh law applies. You can bring a claim in the courts of England and Wales, or, if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, in the courts where you live.

12.5 Changes to these terms. We can update these terms from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website and will apply to bookings made after the updated terms take effect. The terms accepted when you made your booking will continue to apply to that booking.

13. Complaints and Reviews

13.1 Raising a complaint. If something's gone wrong with the vehicle or service, please raise it in writing directly with the Supplier first; their details are on your itinerary. Please copy us in. If the Supplier hasn't given you a decision within 14 days, or you're unhappy with it, tell us and we'll take it up with them (see section 9.6). If your complaint is about something Premier Carriage did, we'll deal with it ourselves. Our Complaints page sets out the full steps and our response times.

13.2 Leaving a review. Every vehicle page on our site can show reviews for that Supplier, and we're happy to add genuine reviews there. If your review is about a specific Supplier's vehicle or service on the day, please post it on their page or social channels, or send it to us to add to the right listing; that way, future clients see feedback that's actually relevant to the company involved. We welcome honest reviews about Premier Carriage itself too, positive or critical, as long as they're accurate and relevant. Our Reviews Policy explains how we collect and check reviews.

14. Your Consumer Rights

14.1 Cooling off. UK law doesn't give a statutory cooling-off period for vehicle hire booked online, since it's tied to a specific date. As a goodwill gesture, we offer a 48-hour window from when we receive your payment, during which you can switch to a different available vehicle or Supplier at no charge, or cancel and receive a refund of everything you've paid (including your deposit) less an administration charge of 10% of the amount paid, capped at £50. This covers administration and payment processing associated with arranging and confirming your booking. Any change or cancellation within this window needs to be in writing, and we'll confirm we've received it by email.

14.2 Your legal rights. Nothing in these terms affects your legal rights as a consumer, including under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. For more information, contact your local Citizens Advice or visit citizensadvice.org.uk.

14.3 When you book. By ticking the box on the booking form, you're confirming you understand that your contract for the vehicle and service is with the Vehicle Supplier, not with Premier Carriage, and that our responsibility is as set out in sections 12.2 and 12.3. We'll always help where we can, in good faith, but we can't promise a particular outcome to any complaint against a Supplier.