About us - Helston Classic Car Hire

TERMS & CONDITIONS

CONTACT DETAILS

PLACES TO VISIT

About Us

Indulge in a motoring experience of a lifetime and hire one of our beautiful classic cars to roam the coast and countryside of Cornwall. Based in Helston, we have a unique selection of cars, including saloons and convertibles, that are perfect for touring and exploring this magical county. Helston Classic Car Hire is owned and operated by Ian and Louise Dean, being based in the Market town of Helston famous for the “Flora Day” traditional dances, held every year on 8th May. Helston is ideally situated for touring the Lizard peninsular the most southerly point in Great Britain, plus St. Michaels Mount, Penzance, Lands End, St. Ives or Falmouth. For those wanting to travel further there is a wonderful day out to be had at the world-renowned Eden Project. There are hotels, bed & breakfasts and guesthouses to suit most tastes in the local area. Our Places to visit page lists various accommodation options.

Our cars are available for day, weekend or weekly rental periods, and make a fantastic gift idea to celebrate a special occasion such as Birthday, Anniversary, wedding, or retirement. They also represent a good opportunity to experience driving a classic car prior to buying your own. This is your chance to step back in time and drive your dream car of yesteryear, in an idyllic setting.

Questions and answers:

Q. What is the security deposit?
Q. When are the cars available?
Q. How much deposit is required when making a booking?
Q. When is full payment required?
Q. Can I make a provisional booking?
Q. What happens if I have to cancel?
Q. How is the hire period worked out?
Q. What are the driver restrictions?
Q. What if I don’t hold a full U.K. driving licence?
Q. How about an additional driver?
Q. What type of fuel do the cars use?
Q. Is there a mileage limit or restrictions?
Q. Will the car be checked over before I take it out?
Q. Will I be shown the controls of the car?
Q. What happens if the car breaks down while it is out on hire?
Q. Where can we leave our car?
Q. Can you suggest some attractions that we may visit?
Q. Do you offer gift vouchers?
Q. Are the cars on your website and in your brochure the actual cars for hire?
Q. Are the cars on your website and in your brochure the only cars available?
Q. Can you recommend any accommodation in the area?
Q. What sort of picnics and packed lunches do you provide?
Q. Can we carry pets in the car?

What is the security deposit?

A security deposit in the form of a pre-authorisation against a credit or debit card is taken on the first day of hire. It is to cover the insurance excess, should any damage be done to the car. The deposit is £500 for the Triumph TR5 PI, MG ‘C’ and MG TD; £750 for the Mercedes 230SL, Jaguar MKII, Austin Healey 3000, “E” type Jaguar, Jaguar XK 150 and the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

When are the cars available?

Bookings are taken from 1st March through to 30th November inclusive. Cars are not hired out during December, January or February due to the corrosive effect of the salt on the roads during the winter months.

How much deposit is required when making a booking?

Unless you pay in full at the time of booking, a non-refundable booking deposit of 25% of the total charge is payable by debit or credit card. This can be paid over the phone.

When is full payment required?

After the deposit has been paid, the balance of the hire charge must be paid in full by debit or credit card at least two weeks before the date of hire.

Can I make a provisional booking?

We will reserve a car for your requested dates for a maximum of 48 hours. We reserve the right to contact you during this time, if another customer expresses an interest in the same car for the same period.

What happens if I have to cancel?

If you have to cancel your booking, provided it is more than two weeks before your hire date, we will give you a credit voucher to the value of your payment. Vouchers are redeemable against vehicle hire on another date and are valid for 12 months.

How is the hire period worked out?

The hire periods are calculated in 24 hour days e.g. a collection time of 9am for a one day hire would mean a drop off time by 9am the next day. We are open for collections and drop offs from 9am to 5.30pm on most working days and will try to fit in with your plans whenever possible.

What are the driver restrictions?

All drivers must be:

-be aged between 30 and 70 years

-be of good general health

-have had a full British driving licence for at least 5 years, although we do welcome and cater for hirers from overseas, driving in the UK on a foreign licence

-have no more than 6 penalty points on their driving licence

-have had no more than one accident in the past three years.

If you cannot meet the above insurance restrictions, then please inform us BEFORE booking and we will approach our insurance company to see if cover can be extended to include you.

What if I don’t hold a full U.K. driving licence?

Most licences issued in another country can be accepted, but please check BEFORE making a booking.

How about an additional driver?

Additional drivers will be charged at a single payment of £20.00. All drivers must be aged between 30 and 70 years.

What type of fuel do the cars use?

All the cars can be run on unleaded fuel, but perform better on LRP fuel. This is available locally at Flora Motors Ltd in Helston and at some other fuel stations in the area. All the cars start with a full fuel tank and we ask that they be returned the same, as our prices do not allow for fuel usage. If you are unable to refuel the cars we will do it for you and charge it to your payment card.

Is there a mileage limit or restrictions?

Being based in the far South West of Cornwall we have set a restriction that the car may only be used in Cornwall. However, there are no mileage restrictions and hence no extra costs at the end of the hire period except for topping up the fuel tank.

Will the car be checked over before I take it out?

Before going out on hire, each car undergoes a full check including all fluid levels, tyre pressures etc, plus a full clean inside and out and a polish.

Will I be shown the controls of the car?

You will be given a full and thorough description of all the controls, plus any “oddities” on your chosen classic, to make sure you are comfortable with the car before you set off. If you would like a short driving lesson around the block to familiarise you with the car then we will be happy to oblige, though this is at your request and not a requirement of ours.
Should you have any questions or queries, or if there is something that we have not fully explained to you after you have set off then please feel free to call and we will talk you through any problems you might have. You will be given the contact numbers when you collect the car.

What happens if the car breaks down while it is out on hire?

In the event of a mechanical breakdown the cars are fully covered by the A.A. whose phone number you will be given at the start of the hire. In the unlikely event that the car cannot be repaired at the roadside then it will be recovered to our base and we will replace the car with an equivalent vehicle.

Where can we leave our car?

You may leave your car at our premises.

Can you suggest some attractions that we may visit?

All customers receive an information pack, which includes a touring map and information about places of local interest to visit.

Do you offer gift vouchers?

We have gift vouchers in £50 denominations, which will be presented in a special card with a photograph of the car to be hired, just leaving you to fill in the name of the lucky recipient.

Are the cars on your website and in your brochure the actual cars for hire?

All the photographs are of the actual cars that you will drive.

Are the cars on your website and in your brochure the only cars available?

Yes, these are all the cars that we have available, but should demand be strong for a particular model that we don’t have, we might get one. So if you don’t see what you want then please ask!

Can you recommend any accommodation in the area?

There are many good hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in the area and we have provided links to some of these from our website. Alternatively, please visit the local tourist information website, which will provide you with a full list of ALL the local places to stay.

What sort of picnics and packed lunches do you provide?

We are able to cater for most tastes, with food that is sourced locally and includes fresh local produce. For obvious reasons no alcoholic drinks can be included.

Can we carry pets in the car?

Animals are not allowed in any of our cars. In addition to the risk of damage to the interiors, we must consider the comfort of any future customers with regard to potential pet allergies.