Self-drive minibus hire at Christmas: why it makes perfect sense
Need transport for a festive family reunion or Christmas getaway? Learn how hiring a minibus could help you skip the holiday headaches.
Christmas is a time for togetherness. But all too often, it feels like the festive forces of nature are conspiring to keep us apart.
Traffic jams, train strikes, parking problems… By the time you've wrestled your Yuletide travel woes, you'd be forgiven for wanting to take one bite of turkey and head straight to bed.
We've all been there. We know the pain. Most of us see it as one more stress to deal with among our mounting pile of Christmas prep. Heck, some of you masochists out there might even consider it all part of the fun. (Shudder.)
But allow us to blow your merry minds: it doesn't have to be this way.
Yes – if you need to ferry a group of people from A to B this Christmas, self-drive minibus hire might just change everything. With a little forward planning, you could box up your transport troubles, stick a bow on top and ship them off to the North Pole.
Here's why.
The perks of self-drive minibus hire at Christmas
1. It puts you in the driving seat
There are plenty of good reasons to choose self-drive minibus hire during the festive period. But the biggest benefit is right there in the name.
It's self-drive, so you
drive it yourself. That means you're in control from the first pickup to the last glass of eggnog. (Non-alcoholic eggnog for the driver, of course.)
No cancelled trains. No waiting around. No need to scour for 17 parking spaces. You're in control of your timings, your route and your destiny. More of that, please.
2. It keeps everyone together
It's Christmas. You've got places to be and crackers to pull. The last thing you want is to deal with guests who arrive fashionably late or – worse – not at all.
Whether you're planning a work do, organising an outing or just trying to herd extended family members to your home, self-drive hire has it sussed. It makes sure everyone stays together and arrives on time. And who knows? The trip might be just as fun as the destination.
3. It comes with legroom (and luggage room)
Minibuses come in a range of shapes and sizes. Here at MVH Rental, we have nippy nine-seaters, spacious 17-seaters and that perennial all-rounder, the 12-seat Ford Transit.
In any case, it means more room for your pals and all their paraphernalia. Everyone can travel in comfort, and there'll be designated space for luggage, gifts and other Christmas clobber. What's not to like?
4. It's cost-effective
"It's the most wonderful time of the year", crooned Andy Williams on his famously festive 1963 album track. What Andy neglected to mention, however, was that it's also the most expensive time of the year.
Yes – Christmas is a time to count your coins, as well as your blessings. And while self-drive minibus hire comes at a price, it could soon pay for itself when you consider fuel costs, parking fees and train fares. One fee, all in. Lovely.
Who can benefit from Christmas minibus hire?
We'll level with you. If you're planning a frugal Christmas with a few close pals, minibus hire probably won't factor on your festive to-do list.
But if you have a large-ish group of people to move and a place to be, you might just try it and never look back. Consider these situations:
- Festive shopping trips:
who doesn't love a Christmas market? With minibus hire, you can ferry the whole family in one car and avoid parking chaos.
- Office Christmas parties:
with a 17-seater minibus, you can get the whole team there on time – and back again. (Taxis? Who needs them?)
- Cross-country family visits:
spending Christmas with your uncle in Tintagel this year? Get the whole family on board and you can make the trip part of the fun.
- Winter weekends away:
December staycation? You'll be sorted for luggage space, legroom and all the trimmings.
- Airport runs: whether you're going abroad or your family's flying to the UK, self-drive minibus hire helps you nail the drop-off or pickup like a pro.
Things to consider
If you've hired a car, you can hire a minibus. It's as simple as choosing a vehicle and rental period, showing us your documents and driving off into the winter sunset.
For documents, we'll need two recent proofs of address (a utility bill, bank statement or council tax statement) and a DVLA check code. You can request one of these on the GOV.UK website.
We'll also need to see a valid UK driving licence. In the majority of cases, you can drive a minibus with a standard car licence.
Easy, right? It sure is. But there
are
a few things to consider with minibuses that don't crop up with cars. Keep these tips in mind and you'll be as golden as a slow-roasted turkey:
- Taking payments:
asking for any contribution towards the journey counts as "hire or reward". This isn't allowed as per our
terms and conditions.
- Winter driving safety:
minibuses don't handle like cars. Be extra careful in icy weather and make sure to read up on our
winter safety tips.
- Congestion charges: the rules for congestion charges and low-emission zones might be different for minibuses. Be sure to check with your local council before you drive.
How we can help
All aboard for Christmas minibus hire? If you're in the northeast of England, we've got it all wrapped up.
Here at MVH Rental, we have a fleet of modern, well-maintained minibuses ready to go. All are thoroughly checked and fully valeted before you ever see the keys, so you'll know your festive excursion is in safe hands.
And best of all, you won't find a better price anywhere in the North East. Seriously. If you get a cheaper quote from another local firm, we'll match it.*
Let's get your Christmas transport sorted. Call our friendly local team on 0191 4888 700 for a quote – or skip the chat and hire a minibus online.
