For a family holiday earlier this month, we hired a 7-seater from a well-known multinational rental company. We were told, at the time of booking, that we were getting a Ford Galaxy. They were quite specific about this.

 

When we picked up the "car", it was a Ford Tourneo Connect. The rental company said nothing to us about the class of the vehicle or the appropriate speed limits in place for it.

 

I was immediately concerned that, as the vehicle was based on a Transit, that it would be subject to the lower speed limits of the Transit, i,e. 60mph on dual carriageways, 50mph on single carriageways. I know from experiences at a previous company that several people used company vans and got speeding tickets for doing 60mph in them.

 

I called the number on the reservation ticket and explained my concerns to the person at their call centre. They agreed with me and told me that it would be subject to the lower limits.  Therefore we went all the way from Yorkshire to Somerset being paranoid about inadvertently exceeding the limits for that class of vehicle.

 

When we returned the vehicle, the manager of the branch insisted that because the van was fitted with seats, as opposed to being a goods vehicle, that it was subject to ordinary national speed limits the same as a normal car. He said he would find out from the local police and let me know. Predictably he never got back to me.

 

It seems disgraceful to me that a major multinational rental company doesn't know what speed limits apply to the vehicles its renting out. The major lesson is buyer beware.

 

Anyone happen to know what the appropriate class is for that type of vehicle? What is the rule? My prior understanding was that if the vehicle was a car-derived van AND had a gross laden weight of under 2.5 tonnes then it would class as a car. Other than that it would be on the lower limits.

Edited 20 August, 201510 yr by 2SkodaFamily

From what I understand the specification is based on what the v5 says. Such as passenger vehicle, light goods vehicle and car derived van.

I will stay away from the car derived van part of things to be more on topic with your situation.

 

However I believe the vehicle you hired is under car speed limits as it's a passenger car (seats and windows at the back with 7 seats) So (70 motorway, 70 dual, and 60 single)

 

The equivalent transit van would be flat floor with no windows and designed to take more weight for goods. Therefore the (70 motorway, 60 dual and 50 single)

 

The specifications aren't that great. You will notice a lot of VW Transporter T25 vehicles with windows which are also under passenger car limits from what I understand.

 

The hire company I got a van from advised me of the van speed limits and even asked me to sign a form saying I had been told about them. As you got a 7 seater passenger car they didn't have to say but would be nice to have confirmation that it's on passenger car speed limits.

 

I may be wrong, but that's based from my understanding.

I take your point but I wouldn't want to argue a speeding ticket on the basis that it must be car limits because I wasn't told otherwise. 

No agreed. They were assume that you know the highway code even if the whole area is a minefield in my opinion. Not a gripe at you, there is too many variables for classification. I'd be interested to know how other countries work on speed limits and class of vehicles

 

The rental company should be able to answer something like that straight away instead of on your return. They own and should know the vehicles they have in stock.

I think Alan is right, but for the wrong reason. This specific vehicle counts as a "car" rather than a "minibus" because it only has 7 seats, where a "minibus" must have at least 9.

They don't even know what they have. Clueless. When we called to make the booking, we were told that we could choose between a Galaxy or a Zafira at Scarborough but that both were unavailable until the Monday. We chose the Galaxy. When we arrived at Scarborough, we said "this isn't ours, we booked a Galaxy" we were told they didn't even have a Galaxy at Scarborough.

I think Alan is right, but for the wrong reason. This specific vehicle counts as a "car" rather than a "minibus" because it only has 7 seats, where a "minibus" must have at least 9.

The manager told me that even their 9-seater minibus was on car speed limits. I wanted to call "bullsh*t" but didn't want to give him the excuse that I'd sworn at him.

It is difficult but not one single car/van hire company I've dealt with can guarantee any specific vehicle. Not unless you speak to the local branch and book it direct, if done online/phone on national number they will tell you anything to get a booking.

AFAIK the transit tourneo is same as a car just like a Citreon berlingo multi space or any other 7 seat passenger vehicle.

It's a van derived passenger vehicle so passenger vehicle limits apply.

The manager told me that even their 9-seater minibus was on car speed limits. I wanted to call "bullsh*t" but didn't want to give him the excuse that I'd sworn at him.

 

9 seater is still a car, 10 seater and up is a PCV (including driver)

 

There was a thread on here recently about the same thing, although it was more specifically regarding smaller vans and which are classed as car derived. If I was unsure, a quick google of 'Transit Tourneo speed limits' gave the first result as a thread on a Transit forum where someone had emailed the DFT and helpfully posted their reply confirming as it's a passenger carrying vehicle, and 9 seats or less it's on car limits. 

Edited 21 August, 201510 yr by matt1chelski

Aren't these limits altering/altered some time this year. I vaguely remember something from a speed awareness course I did last christmas

It would make life easier if the hire companies put a sticker visible to the driver stating what the speed limits are for any vehicle that is not a standard car. Many hirers are not aware of the lower limits for vans (not that many regular van drivers seem to take any notice anyway!).

I'd say it's van speed limits as its MAM is over two tonnes. See link for explanation.

http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/advice_centre/casualty_reduction_partnership/speed/know_your_speed_limits.aspx

The first line of that though says 'A goods vehicle which....' a 7/8/9 seat transit isn't a goods vehicle.

I've said before this particular rule is over complicated.

Edited 24 August, 201510 yr by matt1chelski

It's a van derived passenger vehicle so passenger vehicle limits apply.

It might be classed as an mpv because of the extra seats.

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