Book early for Christmas and new vehicles

Vehicle Hire

Book early for Christmas and new vehicles

We are advising people to book now if they are going to need to rent a car during Christmas.

There are very few spaces left so please let us know as soon as possible.

Meanwhile our search for replacement vehicles goes on.

We have recently taken delivery of two new seven-seater people carriers made by Dacia and three Maxus drop-sided vans.

Given the delays in deliveries of replacement vehicles we are actively seeking alternative manufacturers who can deliver on time.

Vehicle Hire

Security

In the last few weeks four of our vehicles have been stolen, one of them our own recovery vehicle.

One, a brand new car, was found written off a short time later. We also lost a Transit tipper and a minibus.

As times get harder vehicle theft is likely to increase so we would ask all of you as rental customers to be security aware.

Please think about where you are parking your rented vehicle at night and ensure it is somewhere safe and well lit.

Please also be careful where you are putting the keys.

The same applies to car owners and their own vehicles.

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We are ordering a wider range of cars

Vehicle Hire

We are ordering a wider range of cars

Some of the orders for new cars that we told you about last month have been cancelled by their manufacturers.

They say that they are unable to source the parts they need to make some models.

So we are ordering a wider range of makes and models to ensure we cans supply or fleet and private rental customer order s.

In the meantime, as demand for rentals remains high please allow at least two weeks when ordering your rental – and more if you can manage it.

We will do our best to make sure you can get what you need when you need it.

Blog Cars New Robertsons Vehicle Hire

Vehicle Hire

Fuel supply and prices

The climate change activists protests have disrupted fuel supplies, particularly diesel for motorists. However, we have fuel on site to ensure all our vehicles are topped up before they go out for rental.

So if customers have had difficulty topping up their rental vehicles before returning them, we can do it.

However, the prices we are charged by our supplier are higher than they are at an ordinary, public garage, and this is reflected in your charges when you return a vehicle.

Hopefully, this will only be a fairly short term issue and prices will return to normal in due course but in the meantime it may be worth trying to top up your rental before you return it.

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Please be patient!

Vehicle Hire

Please be patient!

The removal of many of the restrictions imposed by Covid has prompted more demand for vehicles as businesses try to return to normal.

However, it will take time to recover from the slump in car and van manufacture that was caused by Covid and in part by supply chain issues.

While Robertsons is doing its best to diversify its fleet, sourcing replacement vehicles even by selecting from a wider range of makers is proving difficult.

We do try to keep some vehicles in reserve for private rental customers but whether you are renting for business or personal reasons please understand that it will take time for things to get back to normal.

Please give us as much notices as you can when you want to rent and we will do everything we can to help.

Blog COVID Robertsons Vehicle Hire

Lockdown easing and high demand for vehicles

Vehicle Hire

Lockdown Easing and High Demand for Vehicles

While the demand for vans has eased off slightly, demand for cars has rocketed thanks to the partial easing of lock-down restrictions this month.

At last people are able to visit loved ones who live at a distance, but they cannot stay overnight. However, this may make using public transport an unrealistic option.

Similarly, people can now get away to self-catering accommodation.

Consequently, as many of our cars are already rented out to local authorities and businesses we have a limited supply for private rental.

We will do everything we can to accommodate you but we ask that you please give us at least a week’s notice ahead of the date when you need a car.

Please remember we are still sticking to all the Covid-19 safety requirements, such as limiting numbers in our offices, providing hand sanitisers to visitors and ensuring all our vehicles are thoroughly sanitised between rentals.

Blog Car Hiring Hiring Lockdown Rental Vehicle Robertsons Van Hire Vehicle Hire

Reassurance for customers

Vehicle Hire

Reassurance for customers

Some of you may be wondering whether Essex being recently upgraded to Tier 2 because of the Coronavirus pandemic has prevented us from operating.

For your reassurance, we can confirm that our offices are all still open for collection and return of rentals.

However, we have some additional measures in place for your safety.

To maintain social distancing no more than two customers can be in our offices at any time and we are asking everyone to wear a face mask, as all staff are doing.

The NHS track and trace app system is also now in operation at all our offices, but if for any reason you could not download it to your mobile our paperwork will in any case provide a record of anyone who has been in the office.

Otherwise, we continue to operate all the safety measures we introduced earlier in the pandemic.

We provide hand sanitising equipment and there are lines on the floor to show people the accepted social distances. Card machines and door handles are sanitised between each customer.

All vehicles are thoroughly sanitised and spray cleaned with anti-bacterial cleaner and wiped before each customer goes out with a vehicle.

We are making every effort to keep our customers safe and able to continue business as “normal”.

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Staycations are on the rise

Vehicle Hire

Research Shows Staycations are on the Rise

http://www.travelbulletin.co.uk/news-mainmenu/the-rise-of-staycations-expected-to-continue-over-summer-2019

11 April 2019

More British holidaymakers are choosing to stay close to home this summer instead of travelling abroad as the trend for staycations continues to grow, according to data gleaned from booking details and online travel searches by British consumers.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8451001/The-return-Great-British-staycation-Holidaymakers-book-breaks-hotspots-July-4.html

Brits will be able to take holidays in beauty spots in places like Devon and Cornwall – as the Prime Minister officially announced staycations from July 4.

Boris Johnson made the announcement in the House of Commons, paving the way for families languishing in lockdown to finally get away from a break.

Hotels were given the green light to throw open their doors as long as they were kept clean and safe.

Holidaymakers will expect to see some big changes when they do finally start their staycation. They include:

Contactless check-in at hotels, bed and breakfast and camp sites
Campers will have to stay in their car until they are directed to their pitch
In all settings they will be expected to stay over a metre apart from someone else
Breakfast buffets and mini bars are all out for the time being
Visitors could be asked to bring their own toilets with them
Guests will also be asked to bring their own hand sanitiser and soap
All paperwork and phones will be removed from hotel rooms
Camp sites will clean their toilets six times a day

https://www.financialreporter.co.uk/blogs/e-year-of-the-staycation-utilising-holiday-let-opportunities-in-2020.html

After the Government confirmed that it is revising the 14-day quarantine measures for a number of popular overseas destinations, this leads to the question: how many people will be comfortable travelling abroad for their holidays and how many will opt to stay within the UK borders?

At the moment, it appears that staycations are tipping the balance. After another Government announcement around the reopening of the hospitality sector in England from 4 July, holiday bookings across the UK are reported to have risen significantly with coastal counties and holiday destinations, such as Devon and Cornwall, seeing notable surges. Although when you see the recent photos taken at some coastal resorts, the back garden, a tent, a BBQ and ready access to fridge with an array of cold beverages also remains attractive! Hoseasons and Cottages.com, two of the largest self-catered holiday accommodation providers in the UK, were said to have recently seen their best online sales days, with the former seeing a booking every 11 seconds, and the latter seeing a 455% surge. Sykes Holiday Cottages saw similar growth, with a 417% booking growth over the past month, and a 221% growth compared to the previous June. These figures demonstrate the demand for a post-lockdown break and how many people either can’t afford an overseas holiday or are choosing to holiday in the UK.

Blog Robertsons Staycation Vehicle Hire

Business as usual – well almost!

Vehicle Hire

Business as usual – well almost!

We believe we are one of the few remaining vehicle rental businesses continuing to rent to private customers.

So, it is business as usual, but, of course, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, with modifications.

Mindful of both staff and customer safety, we are allowing only one customer into the office when they come to complete the paperwork and pick up their vehicles.

We provide hand sanitising equipment and there are lines on the floor to show people the accepted social distances. Card machines and door handles are sanitised between each customer.

All vehicles are spray cleaned with anti-bacterial cleaner and wiped before each customer goes out with a vehicle.

Office hours have been reduced very slightly and we are asking all customers to make sure they ring us before 4pm if they need to speak to us.

Anyone who wants a vehicle during a weekend is getting a little extra for their money! We are asking all weekend renters to collect their vehicles on Fridays, which means they get some extra hours for free.

These are the arrangements for the foreseeable future and please be assured we are doing everything we can to ensure your safety.

Take care and stay safe.

Blog Business COVID Robertsons Vehicle Hire

Business exhibition season

Vehicle Hire

Business exhibition season

It’s the start of the annual business exhibition season and that means transport for delegates and equipment.

Many businesses have their own portable stands, from roller banners to more elaborate self-assembly enclosures all featuring their company’s branding and details.

It may be that your company needs to rent a van for a few days to transport the equipment to the location and we can help. If your company also has magnetic signs you can attach them to the outside without any problem.

Or you may need a car to transport your representatives to and from the venue.

Generally, when businesses rent fleet vehicles from us for longer periods, they want to put their own branding decals on them.

If we cannot provide you with a vehicle that is free of our branding we are happy for you to remove ours for the duration of the rental period and replace it with your own. We would then remove your decals when you return the vehicles to us.

Demand for vehicles for business exhibitions tends to increase at this time of year, so if you can give us a week’s notice it helps us to make sure you can have the right vehicle for your needs.

Vehicle Hire

Blog Business Robertsons Vehicle Hire

Tag: Vehicle Hire

Book early for Christmas and new vehicles

Security

We are ordering a wider range of cars

Fuel supply and prices

Please be patient!

Lockdown Easing and High Demand for Vehicles

Reassurance for customers

Research Shows Staycations are on the Rise

Business as usual – well almost!

Business exhibition season