Car & Van Hire FAQs

Every driver must bring original documents so that we can qualify you for our fully comprehensive insurance:

• Full UK driving licence: a valid photocard licence, which must stay valid for the whole hire. The old pink paper licence is still accepted.
• DVLA check code: see below for how to get one.
• Photo ID: a valid passport for all drivers and hirers.
• Two proofs of address: original documents dated within the last two months that match the address on your licence, such as utility bills, bank statements, credit or debit card statements, your current motor insurance or your V5 log book.

Your licence must show your current address. If you are unsure about anything, call us on 01942 874122 or 0161 474 0567.

Go to www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence, enter your driving licence number, your National Insurance number and the postcode shown on your licence, then choose “Share your licence information”. Copy the code exactly as shown, because it is case sensitive.

If you have any difficulty, bring your National Insurance number with you when you collect and we will help you.

Yes. The paper counterpart is no longer valid, so we do not need it. Instead, get a DVLA check code from www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and bring it with you.

Yes, the old pink paper licence is still accepted. We will still need a DVLA check code.

No. We can only accept your original licence. We cannot accept photocopies, scans, photos on your phone or just your licence number.

If you have lived in the UK for more than 12 months, we cannot accept a non-UK licence and you will need to pass a UK driving test.

Yes. You must be staying at a local address where we can contact you, give us a contact phone number and bring two proofs of identification for that address, such as utility bills or bank statements in the property owner’s name.

You must be over 25 and have held a full UK licence for at least two years with no accidents, endorsements or disqualifications.

Drivers aged 23 to 24 can sometimes be accepted, subject to insurance approval. Young drivers pay an extra daily premium plus a £25 administration fee, and approval takes 24 hours.

Drivers over 70 are also subject to insurance approval, with an extra premium and a £25 administration fee. Approval can take 24 hours.

At least two years with a clean licence. That lets you hire at our standard insurance excess of £1,250. Accidents, endorsements or disqualifications will affect the excess and may mean an extra premium.

It depends on what the points were for and when. Some endorsements, convictions or disqualifications we cannot cover. Please call 01942 874122 or email info@cookebros.co.uk before you book so we can check. You may be able to use your own fully comprehensive insurance instead, as long as it covers hire vehicles.

Yes. Every additional driver must be approved by our insurers and bring the same original documents: licence, DVLA check code and two proofs of address. A surcharge applies. Each driver is responsible for the excess on any accident or incident.

All our prices are guaranteed when you book and include:

• VAT at 20%
• Fully comprehensive insurance for one driver and all passengers
• AA or RAC 24-hour breakdown and roadside repair cover
• A replacement vehicle for mechanical problems, warranty work or breakdown
• Replacement tyres for fair wear and tear

Daily hires include 100 miles a day, or 500 miles a week. Extra mileage is charged after that. Weekend hires include 200 miles, then 25p + VAT a mile.

The hirer is responsible for keys, AdBlue, oil, water, punctures and blow-outs, wheel and tyre damage, and windscreen chips, cracks or replacement.

The deposit is £250 and is fully refundable when the vehicle comes back clean, undamaged and within the mileage allowance. It must be paid on a credit or debit card for every hire; this is a condition from our insurers.

The deposit is not the same as the insurance excess. A higher deposit may be needed if your driving history falls outside our normal terms.

The insurance excess on all our vehicles is £1,250. You can reduce it by paying a daily collision damage waiver (subject to insurer approval for each driver):

• £6 a day: excess reduced to £1,000
• £12 a day: excess reduced to £750
• £18 a day: excess reduced to £500

The excess applies to each accident or incident where damage is caused or alleged to our vehicle or to a third party. If your driving history falls outside our insurers’ normal terms, a higher excess or extra premium may apply, and we will explain your options.

Please note: as with every hire company, you remain liable for the daily hire charge while a damaged vehicle is being repaired. This stops once it is repaired and roadworthy.

Yes, if it is fully comprehensive and covers hire vehicles, the use you need the vehicle for, and all drivers and passengers. Bring a valid copy of the policy before the hire. Our insurers need at least 48 hours to approve it. You will be responsible for your own policy’s excess. Ask us about discounts when you use your own insurance.

No. We do not accept cash. Hire charges and the refundable deposit must be paid by credit or debit card.

If the hirer is not the cardholder, the cardholder must be present with photo ID. They become the guarantor and are financially responsible for any charges and the insurance excess.

Yes. We will price match any like-for-like car or van hire on production of a written quote. The price match covers the hire rate, deposit and insurance excess.

For example, other national hire companies can charge up to £95 a day for a Transit van, a deposit of up to £1,500, an excess of up to £2,500 and up to £35 a day for damage waiver. Our Transit Custom is £65 a day, our deposit is £250, our excess is £1,250 and our damage waiver is £12 a day.

Yes. Blue Light Card holders get £10 or 10% off any car or van hire, whichever saves you more. Just quote BLT10. Blue Light Card holders also get our price match guarantee.

Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm. We are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Vehicles cannot be returned or left outside these hours. A vehicle left outside stays on hire and the hirer is responsible for any loss, damage, vandalism or theft. If keys are left with the vehicle, the insurance is void and the hirer is liable for the full cost of the vehicle.

Yes. We have a complimentary free parking facility at our depot on North Road, Atherton, so you can leave your own car with us and save on taxi or bus fares.

Yes. We offer a full valeting service to all Cooke Bros hirers. Just ask when you book.

Yes. One-day hires are available Monday to Friday and cover a full 24 hours: you return the vehicle at the same time the next day as you collected it. Please collect and return at the agreed times, as late returns can affect the next customer, who might be moving house or heading to an interview or appointment.

We offer a courtesy pick-up and drop-off service. We will pick you up from home, work, Manchester Airport, Liverpool Airport (airport charges are paid by the hirer) or a local railway or bus station, bring you to our office to sort the paperwork, and drop you off again at the end of your hire.

No. All vehicles must be returned during opening hours so we can inspect them with you and refund your deposit. If a vehicle is left out of hours, the deposit will be lost and any damage or shortages charged to your card.

We operate an empty-to-empty policy. When you collect, we will show you the fuel level and agree the level it should come back with. Please return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel.

Yes. Please check oil, water, tyres and AdBlue regularly and top them up if needed. They are consumables and the hirer’s responsibility during the hire.

AdBlue is essential: if it runs out, the engine can be affected and some vehicles will not restart. Any costs caused by running out of AdBlue are the hirer’s responsibility. As a guide, vehicles use about 1 litre for every 85 miles. AdBlue is sold at most fuel stations, supermarkets and motor parts shops.

No. The enquiry form is for enquiries only. We will email you the information you asked for and ask whether you would like to reserve. You are free to book or not.

If the vehicle is not available or has not come back in time, we will do our best to provide an equivalent vehicle or a free upgrade where possible. We are committed to honouring every booking.

When you collect, we will give you the roadside assistance number for your vehicle. Call it if you break down or a fault appears. During office hours you can also call us on 01942 874122 or 0161 474 0567.

The patrol will try to fix the problem at the roadside. If it needs further work, the vehicle will be recovered and you will be brought back to our office, where we will provide a replacement for your onward journey.

• Fiat: 00800 3428 0000
• Ford: 0800 111 234
• Kia: 0333 202 1827
• Mazda: 0800 777 179
• MG: 0800 072 3338
• Nissan: 0330 123 1231
• Peugeot: 0800 294 0294
• Skoda: 0800 526 625
• Toyota: 0800 246 824
• Vauxhall: 0800 553 388
• Volkswagen: 0800 777 192

Always use the number we give you when you collect the vehicle. If in doubt, call our office.

Every vehicle has a jack and wheel brace with a spare wheel or an inflator kit. If you have any difficulty, use the roadside assistance cover or call us during office hours on 01942 874122.

Punctures, blow-outs and sidewall damage are the hirer’s responsibility. We cover fair wear and tear and replace worn tyres.

Windscreen and window damage is the hirer’s responsibility. Depending on how bad it is, it may be repaired or need replacing. Use your roadside assistance or call us on 01942 874122 if you need help.

No. Damage to windscreens, windows, tyres and wheels, keys, oil and water are the hirer’s responsibility. We cover tyres for fair wear and tear only.

We will estimate the damage and tell you the cost; you are welcome to get your own estimates. Your deposit will be held and the excess charged. You remain responsible for the daily hire charge while the vehicle is repaired. If the repair costs less than the excess, we will refund the difference to your card.

Do not admit liability. Only the insurance company can accept or decline liability, and admitting it could breach the insurance terms.

• Make sure everyone is safe. If anyone is hurt, call 999 for an ambulance and the police.
• Do not leave the scene without exchanging details. The owner is Cooke Bros Ltd, Unit 2, North Road Industrial Estate, North Road, Atherton M46 0RE, tel 01942 874122. Give your name and the vehicle registration.
• Take photos of the damage to both vehicles and email them to info@cookebros.co.uk from the scene.
• Take the other driver’s name, address, phone number and registration, and the details of any witnesses.
• Call the police if anyone is injured or you are unhappy about the circumstances.
• Call our office as soon as you can, or use the roadside assistance number out of hours if the vehicle cannot be driven.

You will need to come into our office to complete an accident report and have the damage estimated as soon as possible.

All fines and penalties are the hirer’s responsibility. We will transfer the notice into your name and the issuing authority will send it to you. We charge a £36 administration fee for each notice we deal with.