Explanatory Notes This hire agreement is intended for use where one party, the Owner, hires out a vehicle to another party, the Hirer. It can be used for renting a car, van or other road-going vehicle. The agreement is reasonably straightforward and contains details of the Vehicle, the Hire Charge and the Hire Period in a Schedule, which should be completed and attached to the agreement when it is signed. In the UK many hire agreements, when the hirer is an individual, are covered by the Consumer Credit Act. This Agreement is not written subject to the Consumer Credit Act and is intended for commercial hiring and not when consumers are involved. Specific comments on the model form are set our below: DATE This is the date when the agreement is signed by both parties. It is not necessarily the date upon which the Hire Period starts. PARTIES Here set out the full name of each party and the official address of those parties when they have one – e.g. the registered office in the case of a limited company incorporated in England. 1. DEFINITIONS We have inserted definitions of the Vehicle, the Hire Period and Hire Charges. When filling in the Schedule, care should be taken to include all relevant details. For example, in the case of the Vehicle, it is recommended that you include the chassis and engine no. as well as make, model and registration number. 2. HIRE AGREEMENT This clause sets out the basic agreement between the parties - namely that the Hirer will rent the Vehicle for the specified Hire Period. Clause 2.2 contains provision for the Hire Period to be extended by agreement. It is certainly recommended that any extension is agreed in writing before the initial period (or any extended period) expires. 3. DELIVERY OF VEHICLE This refers to the place where the vehicle will be delivered. 4. HIRER’S GENERAL OBLIGATIONS The general approach of the agreement and, in particular, of this clause, is that the Hirer is fully responsible for the Vehicle whilst it is in his possession. The obligations include: ensuring that it is only driven by qualified drivers, maintaining the Vehicle in good condition, having it serviced regularly (which would only apply on a long-term agreement), not overloading the vehicle, not using it for driving tuition or sporting events etc. Also any loss or damage must be notified immediately by the Hirer. 5. OWNER’S GENERAL OBLIGATIONS The obligations of the Owner are relatively limited. If the vehicle breaks down the Owner only has to provide a replacement vehicle if he has one that is suitable. If he does not, a rebate of the Hire Charge while the Vehicle is unusable would be appropriate if the problem is not the fault of the Hirer. 6. HIRE CHARGES AND PAYMENT This sets out the basic payment terms – it is usual for Vehicle Hire Charges to be payable in advance – either for the entire period or for an initial period of one month, three months etc. Actual amounts will be inserted in the Schedule. 7. INSURANCE & INDEMNITY The Owner is normally responsible for insurance of the vehicle and our clause deals with this. There is alternative wording for when the Hirer is to take out the insurance. The Hirer is liable for paying any parking charges or speeding fines and he also indemnifies the Owner against various liabilities and risks. However, you should bear in mind that it may not always legally possible for an Owner to be exempt from liability if, for example, he supplies a defective Vehicle, which causes death or injury to an individual. 8. TERMINATION The Owner is given the right to terminate and recover the vehicle if the Hirer becomes insolvent or commits any breach of the agreement. 9. ASSIGNMENT An agreement to hire vehicle is essentially an agreement between two parties and it will not be appropriate for the Hirer to pass the Vehicle on to someone else - hence the restriction on assignment or subletting. 10. DISPUTES AND GOVERNING LAW We have kept the wording of this Clause simple, so that it states the governing law and refers to the courts of that country. For more complex provisions relating to the resolution of disputes and governing law, see the free documents on our website. SCHEDULE As previously mentioned, the details in the Schedule need to be filled in with care so that the precise terms of the hiring are clear and unambiguous. SIGNING Each party signs the agreement. In the case of a company, a duly authorised individual, (usually a director) should sign. | 
