Penalty charges
At Midhire, we pride ourselves on transparency. Our goal is for you to have a safe and enjoyable rental experience without any surprise costs at the end. However, certain situations—such as traffic violations, returning a vehicle in a poor condition, or smoking inside the cabin—incur additional charges to cover our administrative and cleaning costs. This guide outlines these potential charges so you can easily avoid them.
Handling Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)
As the registered keeper of the vehicle, we receive any notifications regarding traffic offences committed during your hire. This includes parking fines, speeding tickets, bus lane contraventions, and unpaid Congestion or ULEZ charges.
Administration Fee:
If we receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) related to your hire period, we are required to process this and transfer liability to you as the driver. An administration fee of £25.00 applies for each PCN we handle. This fee covers the administrative work involved in representing the ticket to the relevant authority. You will then be responsible for paying the fine directly to the issuing body.
We expect our vehicles to be returned in a reasonable condition. While we accept normal wear and tear, charges will apply for negligence or disregard for the vehicle's interior.
Smoking Policy:
It is illegal to smoke in any of our vehicles, as they are considered public workplaces. We operate a strict no-smoking policy. If evidence of smoking (including odours or ash) is found, a minimum fine of £100.00 will be charged. This can increase up to the full insurance excess value if specialist deep cleaning is required to remove smoke damage.
Valeting Charges:
Vehicles returned with excessive rubbish, stains, pet hair, or mud will incur a valeting charge. The cost depends on the time and specialist equipment required to return the vehicle to a hireable standard.
Refuelling Surcharge:
All vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel and must be returned full. If the vehicle is not returned with a full tank, a refuelling surcharge of £25.00 will apply, in addition to the cost of the fuel required to fill the tank.
Our rental periods operate on a 24-hour cycle (e.g., 08:00 to 08:00). If you return the vehicle late, you may be charged for an additional day's rental. If you know you will be delayed, please contact us immediately so we can adjust the booking and advise on costs.
Yes. Vehicle keys are expensive to replace and require coding to the vehicle. If keys are lost or damaged, you will be liable for the full cost of the replacement key and any associated recovery costs if the vehicle is stranded.
Yes. It is the driver's responsibility to pay any applicable road tolls or charges, such as the London Congestion Charge, Dart Charge, or M6 Toll. Failure to pay these will result in a PCN and our standard administration fee.
The best way to avoid these charges is to drive carefully, park legally, keep the interior clean, and fill up the tank just before you return. If you have any questions about specific charges or policies, our team is always here to help.
