Switch Car Rental

Switch Car Rental: car and van hire in the UK

Switch Car Rental is a British vehicle rental company, operating in the UK with a fleet ranging from compact cars to SUVs, vans, and luxury models. The company presents itself as the official rental partner of England Rugby, a detail that features in its corporate identity.

Its offering is structured around three main rental options: short-term rental, long-term rental, and corporate rental. The long-term service, marketed under the MySwitch brand, allows rentals from one month up to twelve months or more, with roadside assistance, maintenance, and a pre-agreed mileage allowance included. The short-term option covers one-off needs, weekend getaways, or one-way rentals with drop-off at a different location.

Vehicle fleet

Switch Car Rental's catalogue includes a wide variety of models, with a strong presence of hybrid and electric vehicles. Available options include compact cars such as the VW Polo, compact SUVs such as the Dacia Duster, Skoda Kamiq, or MG HS, and electric models such as the Cupra Born, Skoda Enyaq, or BYD Seal. The fleet also includes vans of various sizes, such as the Ford Connect or Ford Custom, and high-end and performance vehicles, such as the BMW X5, Range Rover Sport, or BMW M5 Touring.

The company notes that, due to the number of manufacturers it works with, it cannot display every vehicle available in each category. Its policy is to show the most representative model in each category at any given time, and the term 'or similar' means the provision of a vehicle of comparable size, body type, and rental value. If a vehicle in the booked category is unavailable, Switch offers a free upgrade, defined as a vehicle with a higher rental value than the one booked.

MySwitch: flexible long-term rental

MySwitch is the company's long-term rental programme, designed for contracts from one month onwards. The process is structured in three steps: the customer chooses the vehicle, the rental duration, and the mileage option; collects the vehicle with maintenance and roadside assistance included; and can change cars from the first month onwards at no extra charge. The company describes this option as a flexible solution tailored to the user.

Corporate service

Switch Car Rental offers a dedicated service for businesses, aimed at managing business travel. The company highlights its award-winning service and the breadth of its fleet as arguments for corporate rental, and has a dedicated enquiry channel for this segment.

Rental requirements and conditions

To complete a rental, the company requires specific documentation: a valid and current passport and driving licence, two proofs of address, a credit or debit card in the driver's name, and a DVLA check code obtained no more than 21 days before the start of the rental. Additional drivers must also provide a passport, driving licence, and DVLA code. One of the proofs of address must be a bank or card statement corresponding to the payment method presented for the deposit, and the other a formal document such as a utility bill, both dated within the eight weeks prior to the rental.

Mileage is limited on all rentals. For contracts of 28 days or more, the limit is 2,000 free miles per 28-day period or part thereof. For rentals of 1 to 14 days, the limit is 100 miles per day; for 15 to 27 days, 70 miles per day. Excess mileage is charged at 15 pence plus VAT per mile on all vehicles except those in the Luxury and Elite categories, which are charged at 50 pence plus VAT per mile.

Cancellation policy

Bookings made through the Switch Car Rental website are subject to special rates and a specific cancellation and no-show policy. For confirmed and prepaid online bookings, cancellation within 24 hours of booking results in a full refund; after that period, no refund is given. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the pick-up date and time are non-refundable. No refund will be given if the required documentation or deposit is not presented at the time of pick-up, or if the general conditions are not met. Cancellations can be managed on the website and generate a cancellation number sent by email; once the rental period has started, they cannot be made online and must be requested at the pick-up location.