A self-driving tour is a fantastic way to explore a new place. Not only does it give you the freedom to visit multiple destinations in one trip, but it also allows you to get off the beaten track and discover the best hidden gems that the UK and Ireland has to offer.
We know that car hire brings up lots of questions, whether this be about insurance and fuel policies or the experience of driving a Land Rover. So whether you’re looking to visit England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, our car hire advice is here to make things as clear and easy as possible.
In this blog, we’ll be answering some common FAQs to help you get all the info you need for your Celtic Routes driving tour. This way, you can spend less time preparing for your trip, and more on looking forward to an unforgettable experience.
insurance (get the boring things out the way first)
You may be wondering what’s included in a car rental, especially when it comes to important factors such as vehicle insurance. When you rent a vehicle through us, you are automatically covered by our standard insurance policy.
Subject to an insurance excess (also known as a deductible) your tour price includes fully comprehensive car insurance, which offers the most extensive coverage, protecting you and your car in various situations. It covers not only damage to your vehicle but also damage to other vehicles, injuries, and property damage caused by an accident, even if you are at fault. It also includes cover for theft, vandalism, and fire damage to your car.
Insurance coverage includes:
- Legal liability for death or injury to any other person, including passengers.
- Legal liability for damage to other people’s property for up to £5,000,000 / EUR 6,000,000.
- Loss or damage caused accidentally, or as a result of malicious damage, fire and theft, up to the market value of the vehicle
- Windscreen repair/replacement subject to the excess
This means you’re covered for liability, collision damage, and comprehensive/all risk coverage. There are no insurance up-sells or additional products available, and your tour price does not include travel insurance or any kind of cancellation insurance.
We highly recommend that you look into travel insurance and renter insurance policies before your trip. Whilst you can cancel your trip up to 8 weeks before your departure date, travel insurance can provide some financial security and peace of mind if anything unexpected arises.
fuel policy – full to full
When it comes to our fuel policy for car hire, each of our vehicles is given to you with a full tank of fuel and should be returned with the same.
Depending on which Land Rover you choose for your journey, you’ll generally be able to travel around 500-600 miles (800-950 km) on a full tank of fuel. We usually find that a week of travelling will require about 1.5 tanks of fuel, so you’ll need to fill up whilst you’re on the road. This policy is standard across all bookings and helps to avoid any surprise fuel fees at the end of your trip.
Our Land Rovers use diesel fuel, which can be easily filled up at a nearby petrol station. Our Mini uses petrol, as well as some of the smaller cars from our partners.
In the UK and Ireland, you fill up your own vehicle with fuel by pulling up to a petrol station pump and selecting the relevant fuel type. Once you’ve refilled the car’s tank, you just need to go inside the station to pay for your fuel at the till. Some petrol stations offer a pay at pump option and will take major credit and debit cards. Not everywhere will take American Express.
breakdown assistance and support
Our 4×4 vehicles are regularly replaced, usually every two years, so you can rest assured that they’re in excellent condition. Each vehicle is covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty and serviced even more frequently than the original service schedule. Between trips, every vehicle is subject to our own multi-point inspection and any interim maintenance is carried out.
At the end of the day, cars are mechanical. Should the unlikely happen, each car comes with full UK and Republic of Ireland breakdown cover by Land Rover Assist, the manufacturer’s breakdown programme, which will get you back on the road in the event of any mechanical failure or breakdown.
In addition to this, our team will be on-hand throughout the journey if help is needed, and easily accessible by our in-vehicle app. Rest assured that we’re not just sending you off with a car – we’re a part of the journey, and just a message away.
Should an accident take place outside our opening hours, leaving the vehicle undriveable, you can call Land Rover Assist for support.
common faqs
When it comes to UK and Ireland car hire, here are some FAQs we often receive from our clients.
Are your hire vehicles automatic?
Yes – all the vehicles in our fleet are automatic. We chose to offer automatic car hire for our UK and Ireland self-drive tours to ensure both comfort and ease throughout the journey. Each of our Land Rovers is also equipped with modern features, including heated and cooled seats, radar cruise control and blind spot detection systems.
Do I need to know how to drive a 4×4?
No – we’ll provide a quick overview before you set off on the road. If you’re new to driving a 4×4, we can also plan your trip so that the drive is smooth and simple, tailoring the route to your needs. You can also decide whether you’d like to share the driving with an eligible travel companion, so you can sit back and relax along the journey.
What kind of luggage space is there?
This varies depending on which vehicle you choose for your Celtic Routes trip.
From the compact Range Rover Evoque, all the way to our most spacious Land Rover, we’ll help you decide which vehicle is best-suited to your experience in terms of luggage space and additional features. The Land Rover Evoque, for instance, can hold up to four large suitcases and seat seven people.
Can you take the vehicle across borders?
Whilst some of our clients prefer to focus their time on one destination, we understand that others want to explore multiple countries within one trip. That’s why each of our trips is tailored to suit your unique interests and ideas.
Our combination tours allow you to build your dream itinerary and visit multiple Celtic nations along the journey. On these multi-country tours, we handle all the paperwork in advance to allow a seamless border crossing by ensuring your vehicle insurance is valid across Europe.
let’s get your celtic adventure on the road
We’re here to ensure that every element of your self-drive trip — including your chosen 4×4 — feels as stress-free and reliable as possible. Whether you’re looking to get off the beaten track or immerse yourself in the inspiring culture of the Celtic regions, our Destination Travel Experts are here to help curate your ideal adventure.
If you have any specific questions that we haven’t answered here, you can always get in touch with us via email or phone call. Learn more about our self-drive tours or speak to a member of the team today. We can’t wait to bring your bespoke Celtic trip to life.
