Category Archives: Europcar 4 Vans

News and special offers from Europcar 4 Vans – Europcar’s specialist van hire division. One of the larger van rental companies in the UK.

Europcar Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive

Europcar upgrades hire fleet with Vivaro Sportive vans

Europcar Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive

Europcar now has Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive vans for hire.

Customers of van hire giant Europcar can now choose to rent a high-specification Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive van.

These generously-equipped vans have been added to the firm’s fleet as part of an upgrade aimed at attracting drivers who need a mobile office space, not just a load carrier.

Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive cab

The middle seat of the Vivaro Sportive can be folded flat to form a desk large enough for a laptop or paperwork. It’s an ideal choice for van drivers who also manage sales on the move or have complex paperwork to handle.

“Adding the Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive to our fleet shows our commitment to reviewing and upgrading our offering to meet the constantly evolving demands of UK businesses”, explained Stuart Russell, Director Commercial Vehicles, Europcar Mobility Group in the UK.

Other treats in-store for Vivaro Sportive drivers include a leather-covered steering wheel, cruise control and rear parking sensors. All popular extras that make life easier or more comfortable for regular drivers.

A new model is coming

As a result of PSA Group’s acquisition of Opel/Vauxhall, the current model is due to be replaced by a new Vivaro based on a PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) vehicle platform in 2019.

I suspect the introduction of the Sportive to Europcar’s fleet may also be due to the fact that the current model Vivaro is now in run-out mode.

Manufacturers tend to offer good deals on high-spec vehicles when a model is nearing replacement as a way of boosting sales. And high-spec models like the Sportive are likely to have stronger resale value when the time comes for Europcar to move them on.

The good news is that the new PSA-based Vivaro will still be built at Vauxhall’s Luton plant, preserving its Made in Britain status. Indeed, PSA plans to upgrade the Luton factory to increase production capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 vans per year.

Europcar UK wins Alphabet Rental Provider of the Year award

Europcar UK wins rental provider of the year award

Europcar UK wins Alphabet Rental Provider of the Year award

Congratulations to vanrental.co.uk partner Europcar UK, which has won the  the Rental Provider of the Year category in the inaugural Alphabet Supplier Awards.

Mobility and fleet leasing experts Alphabet GB selected Europcar UK as a result of its continued focus on development and service improvement in 2016. The judges recognised the wide range of vehicles available, as well as Europcar’s focus on delivering a consistently high customer experience.

Gary Smith, Managing Director of Europcar UK said:

“Winning the Alphabet Rental Provider of the Year award demonstrates Europcar’s commitment to helping our customers keep their businesses moving by offering a wide range of mobility solutions. It also acknowledges the dedication and enthusiasm of the whole Europcar team, working with Alphabet to always deliver a service that focuses on innovation and partnership.”

Europcar Iveco Luton vans at Heathrow

Europcar Ireland sold for €26m

Europcar Iveco Luton vans at HeathrowEuropcar Ireland has been sold to Europcar for an estimated €26m! If you’re not familiar with how big rental brands work, that statement could seem a bit confusing. So let me explain.

Travelling around Europe, you see the same car and van hire brands everywhere you go. Most people probably assume that they are all run by the same company, but in fact many are operated as franchises under licence from a parent company.

Expanding into new countries has pros and cons for big companies. One the one hand, much lower levels of investment are required, as the franchisee foots much of the bill. On the other hand, it’s necessary to sacrifice some profit and control of the business to the franchisee.

Since Europcar floated on the Paris stock exchange last year, it has introduced a policy of buying back some of its best-performing franchises. Europcar Ireland is the second major franchise Europcar has bought back during this period.

By taking control of franchises such as this one, Europcar is likely to be able to make cost savings in terms of vehicle procurement and back office functions. The group will also gain firmer control of pricing in the country.

Europcar’s customers in Ireland are unlikely to notice any difference. The firm’s branding, staffing and service offerings will remain broadly unchanged. So there’s no need to worry if you’re a regular Europcar customer.

Europcar Iveco Luton vans at Heathrow

Skip the queues with Europcar Deliver & Collect service

Europcar Iveco Luton vans at HeathrowDriving to collect a hire van can be the slowest part of the process, especially if you have to battle through rush hour traffic.

To help customers save time in queues, Europcar will deliver and collect your rental van to your home or office.

Here’s what Robert Shaw, Operations Director, Europcar UK Group, had to say about the new service:

“Our research shows that 58% of people waste up to an hour a day and traffic is cited as the most annoying waste of time. With the latest enhancements to our Deliver & Collect service, now including delivery and collection at workplaces as well as home addresses, we’re helping busy travellers get back some of that wasted time.

“We will do the tedious job of sitting in a traffic jam – which means our customers can get on with their journey as soon as the car or van arrives.  And there’s no hassle at the end of the trip either – we will collect the vehicle too.  No other national rental company offers such a convenient service.”

This service costs £5 for addresses that are within 10 miles of the nearest Europcar branch. For addresses more than 10 miles away, there is an additional charge of £1.50 per mile.

Bookings must be made 24 hours in advance for delivery to a business address and customers will need to provide an extra form of ID or photo ID, plus proof of home address. Usual age restrictions apply.

Europcar opens new van hire branch in Bristol

Europcar Bristol South branchEuropcar has opened a new car and van hire branch in south Bristol, just five minutes’ walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station.

The new Europcar Bristol South branch provides an ideal location for customers to get on the road quickly and cost-effectively, open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

The opening of the branch will initially create roles in customer service, fleet management and driver representatives, and will be the 6th Europcar rental location in Bristol.

Bristol is a thriving business centre, as well as a great starting point for holidaymakers heading to Wales and the South West”, said Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group.  “It therefore made sense for us to expand our branch network to include a location in the South of Bristol”.

With free drop-off and collection, Europcar customers can step off the train at Bristol South and get straight into their hire vehicle, with the minimum of delays. This new branch is another example of our focus on keeping our customers on the move, with greater vehicle choice and more locations than ever.”

Europcar’s new Bristol South branch is located at:

Remember, you can find details of all Europcar van hire branches on our website here.

Van hire from just £14 per day with Europcar this summer! [EXPIRED]

Europcar van hire

Europcar summer van hire from £14 per day

Are you moving house this summer? Planning a big DIY project? Hitting the festival trail or planning a big outdoor trip?

Whatever you’re up to, you may need to hire a van.

The good news is that Europcar is currently offering van hire from just £14 per day.

 

 

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

 

This offer is valid until 31 July 2015 for pick-up dates until 30 September 2015.

Terms and conditions may apply, see Europcar website for details.

Europcar targets corporate market with fleet van rental centres

Europcar Chapter 8 van

A Europcar hire van with Chapter 8 markings at one of the firm’s new UK Van Supersites.

Corporate hire plays a big role in the van rental business, as you’d expect.

Many companies now run part-rental or even 100% rental fleets, enabling them to add or subtract vans to meet demand, without committing to finance or long-term leases.

Europcar has now joined Hertz in opening a number of corporate rental van supersites around the UK.

Located in Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, London and Bristol, Europcar’s Van Supersites create a network running down the spine of the UK.

Each supersite offers a range of vehicles targeting the fleet market, including crew cab vans, 4×4 pick-ups and a comprehensive range of Chapter 8 vehicles (vans with reflective markings required is the vehicle will stop on a main road for work purpose, such as road works — see picture for an example).

Europcar’s Ken McCall says that the firm’s goal is to playing its role in the UK’s economic recovery:

“The launch of Europcar’s Van Supersites is part of our commitment to helping UK businesses that are making the most of an increasingly positive economy.”

“By having a dedicated focus on a range of commercial vehicles – combined with specialist account management – these Supersites mean we can deliver both efficiency and cost savings to the businesses that need the confidence of supply for their own continuity”

Europcar’s network of Van Supersites will run alongside the firm’s existing 170-strong branch network, which serves the needs of retail and corporate customers.

Winter offer: Europcar van hire from just £16 per day [EXPIRED]

Europcar winter van hire from £16 per day

Although the weather seems to have warmed up slightly, winter is still with us — and to help you save money during the cold season, Europcar is currently offering van hire from just £16 per day.

This is a generous and long-running offer that’s available on bookings made by 29 March 2015 for checkouts until 30 June 2015 (some dates excluded, see website for details).

Europcar is one of the most flexible van hire firms around, too — hourly van hire, one-way van hire and overnight options are all available.

All Europcar rental vans includes 24-hour roadside assistance, and a choice of short wheelbase, long wheelbase and luton box vans with tail lift are available — ideal for small moves or big DIY jobs!

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

 

Terms & conditions apply, see Europcar website for details.

Van hire tips for students (and parents) heading to university

Europcar van hire

Europcar van hire starts from just £16 per day

With more students than ever before expected to start university this autumn, the annual migration from home to student digs could be busier than ever.

According to The Guardian More than 400,000 students have a university or college place confirmed for this autumn — and many of those will shortly be making their way up and down the motorways to university, to experience their first taste of life away from home.

Although the family car is the traditional form of transport for these yearly journeys, it isn’t always the best choice, especially as today’s students seem to take more with them — from kitchen equipment to furniture to exercise gear — than previous generations of students.

As I’ve mentioned before, hiring a van for the trip can be a cheaper, less stressful and safer way of making the journey, something that Ken McCall, Managing Director of Europcar UK Group, is keen to emphasise:

“From personal experience, I know that the first year trip to student halls is stressful enough without having to worry about getting everything packed into the family car.

Van hire from Europcar makes a real difference because it offers the flexibility of hourly rates and one way and overnight rentals.  Plus, to reduce the stress even further, we deliver to home addresses through our delivery and collection service.”

If you haven’t got a quote for van hire yet, I’d recommend a quick visit to our price comparison system — plus we also have more information on one-way hire and hourly hire, including from Europcar.

However, if you’ve already sorted out a hire van but have never driven one before, I’d strongly recommend a quick look at these van driving tips, which have been put together by Europcar:

Watch your speed

  • Depending on the size of the van, the speed at which it can be driven may well be slower than the national limit so make sure you check the limits when collecting the vehicle.
  • vanrental.co.uk tip: As a general rule, the speed limit for vans on single carriageway roads is 50mph and on dual carriageways it’s 60mph –for more information on van speed limits, click here.

Handle with caution

  • Take the time to get to know the size and responsiveness of the van before you head out onto busy roads.
  • Remember that the van will handle differently when you collect it empty to how it will feel once it is fully loaded.

Secure the load

  • Even a small amount of movement in a van can cause it to move around dangerously, so ensure items are packed securely.

Know your size: 

  • Make sure you are aware of the additional height and width of the van, remembering to take extra care under low bridges and overhanging trees. Also remember vans need extra room to turn corners, due to the extra length of the vehicle.

Take it slowly

  • Larger vehicles require a much longer braking distance, especially when fully-loaded or in poor weather, so watch your speed. In addition, make sure you take tight bends slowly as vans are more liable to tip over due to their height and increased centre of gravity.

Pick your positioning

  • Take advantage of the higher seat in a van and make sure you look around and use your mirrors often. There is no option to look over your shoulder in a van so make sure you angle your mirror to give you sight at junctions.

Changing lanes

  • Be more cautious when changing lanes and be sure to look out for two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians.

Mind the doors

  • It might seem obvious, but it is easy to overlook closing the door after packing a van. Make sure both the rear and side doors are securely shut before setting off.

Parking assistance

  • Ask someone to guide you when reversing or parking if the van has blind spots. It might take longer, but it is a lot safer.

Europcar scores official car and van rental role with Arsenal FC

Europcar is official Arsenal car and van hire partnerEuropcar, has today announced a new brand partnership with Arsenal Football Club, which will see the hire company become Arsenal’s official car and van rental partner.

Europcar will promote its partnership with Arsenal in a large number of territories around the world including South Africa, USA, selected countries in Asia and Latin America, and throughout Europe.

The company’s marketing rights include significant branding presence at Emirates Stadium, and throughout Arsenal FC’s online and social media channels.

As the world-renowned football club embarks on a new season as reigning FA Cup champions and Community Shield winners, the three year deal will see Europcar branding at all Barclays Premier League and domestic cup matches played at Emirates Stadium.  In particular, both organisations aim to capitalise on the synergies between their brand values, focusing on innovation, quality and social conscience.

The significant international reach the Club can provide for the global rental provider is also a key factor in the partnership.  As well as the 3 million people that attend matches and events at Emirates Stadium each year, Arsenal has 27.4 million fans on Facebook and 4.2 million followers on twitter.

“This is a tremendously exciting partnership for Europcar”, explained Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group.  “It gives us fantastic branding opportunities in the UK, and also reaching millions of football fans who follow the Premier League throughout the world.  As well as promoting the Europcar global brand message, ‘Moving your way’, the partnership also gives us access to the Arsenal players and imagery for our own promotional activity.

“As the official car and van rental partner of Arsenal FC, we can help fans travelling to away games with convenient and cost-effective mobility solutions, as well as bring the benefits of our comprehensive range of services tailored to the needs of business and leisure users. We are confident that this relationship will enable us to significantly increase reservations as well as raise the bar on our engagement with both consumer and business customers.”

Speaking about the partnership ahead of the new season Arsenal Sales and Marketing Director, Vinai Venkatesham said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Europcar for the next three years.  We are already working closely together to develop engaging marketing campaigns targeted at football fans in many territories all around the world.”