We know that hiring a campervan can be a big decision and you may have a couple of questions before you book. On this page we have compiled a list of the most common questions we receive here at Spaceships HQ.
If your question isn't answered here then please get in touch. We are available 9am to 4pm UK time on the phone (+44 208 573 2300) or you can send us an email
What type of license do i require?
You are valid to drive if issued a full license from one of the following: UK, All EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, China, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Hong Kong.
For other countries, please contact [email protected] to check current regulations.
Are Pets allowed in a Spaceship?
Due to Health and Safety concerns, Pets are not allowed in any Spaceships.
Where can I collect my Spaceship?
What countries can I drive in?
You can drive your Spaceship in the UK and all Member countries of the European Union + Andorra, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Serbia & Switzerland,
EU member countries are currently: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK
We cannot supply registration numbers of Spaceships as they may be a change of the vehicle at the last minute. Many ferry companies will be happy if you offer them the dimensions of the Spaceship and enter either "HIRE CAR" or "TBA" when asked for the vehicle registration.
Vehicle dimensions are:
Beta 2 berth
Height: 1.82 metres
Width: 1.69 metres
Length: 4.69 metres
VW Camper Car
Height: 1.82 metres
Width: 1.82 metres
Length: 4.40 metres
Voyager 4-berth
Height: 1.92 metres
Width: 1.99 metres
Length: 5.34 metres
Delta
Height: 1.90 metres
Width: 1.80 metres
Length: 4.90 metres
Motorhome
Height: 3.40 metres
Width: 2.80 metres
Length: 6.99 metres
Why is hiring a campervan popular in the UK?
The UK is full of beautiful landscapes and amazing history. What better way to explore the big cities and small laneways of the local villages than at your own pace? A Spaceship offers you the freedom and flexibility of a campervan, while being easy to drive and park, like a car.
Enjoy the world-class attractions, great camping grounds and friendly locals - travel the UK and Europe in a Spaceship and do what you want, when you want!
Is there parking at the depot to leave my car when I pick up the Spaceship?
Our depot in Hayes unfortunately doesn’t have a secure area for parking. However, the nearest paid parking area is Purple Parking, Hayes or alternatively try the website www.parkatmyhouse.com for a cheap alternative to leave your car.
We always recommend, if you can, to reach our depot via public transport. Hayes & Harlington is the nearest train station to us and can be reached from Paddington Station in Central London (20 minutes) or Heathrow airport (6 minutes). We are only 2 minute walk from Hayes & Harlington station.
The Edinburgh and Dublin depots have on-street parking close to the depot.
Can I use a Spaceship to go to festivals in the UK?
Yes! Spaceships are perfect for your festival road trip. Whether you're interested in just transportation to a festival or whether you want to camp at a festival, there's always a Spaceships campervan, camping car or people mover that's perfect for you (and your mates).
Check out the amazing UK music festivals that are taking place this year. All the festival info, bands, camping & ticket information can be found there.
The Beta Spaceship has 2 seats in the front and 2 smaller seats in the back. It can seat 4 people or 3 large people comfortably. A few of our fleet have three seats instead of four so please let us know in advance if you need four seats.
The VW Camper Car has seating for two.
The Voyager 4-berth has seating for five
The Delta has seating for four.
How many people can sleep in a Spaceship?
Every Spaceship comes with a full size double bed. This bed can sleep 2 adults with a maximum of 3 people if you're really good friends! With the Beta and Delta vehicles you can sleep in the bed fully inside the vehicle or extended out the back into the canvas awning for 30% more space and ventilation. Click here to find out more info.
The Voyager 4-berth comes with two double beds, but also works perfectly as a luxury 2-berth.
Does a Spaceship come with bedding and living gear?
Yes, in your Spaceship you get a bottom sheet, two pillows, pillow cases and a duvet with a duvet cover. You’ll also get plates, cups, cutlery, bowls, a pot and pan, can opener and much more provided free of charge.
Is the driving and sleeping comfortable for tall people (over 2m tall) as well?
You can adjust the driver’s seat and steering wheel so you will be comfortable while driving round the UK & Europe.
The bed in the Beta is basically a standard double at 1.4m wide and 1.92m long but has the unique option of additional space when you extend the bed outside and can easily fit up to 2.1m for taller people to be able to stretch out.
The VW Camper Car has a double bed measuring 1.92m long by 1.46m wide and a little extra headroom.
The Voyager 4-berth has one large double bed and smaller double. It also has the most headroom out of all of our vehicles.
The Delta has a double bed measuring 1.90m long by 1.46 wide however is does have the unique option to extend the bed outside with a rear awning on the back.
Can I plug in my MP3 player or iPod?
A FREE ipod / MP3 cord is attached to your Spaceship stereo so you are able to listen to your favourite tunes while you travel around. You will need to bring your own charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
Should we bring suitcases or soft bags?
If possible we recommend you bring soft bags (like a backpack) to make the most of the storage area. There is room for 2 large backpacks in the rear storage area.
Can I choose the name of my Spaceship?
Every Spaceship has its own ‘spacey’ name. Due to the popularity of vehicles we cannot ensure you one with a specific name you could be after. We’re sure you’ll enjoy whichever you get.
What are the vehicle dimensions?
What type of car is a Spaceship?
All the Beta model Spaceships are Toyota Lucidas or Estimas (people movers), these are basically the same as Previas in Europe and Taragos in Australia. They were built as high specification, good quality vehicles (rather than just being vans) in the first place so even though we start with low milage second-hand vehicles we can ensure they are structurally and mechanically very good cars to drive and extremely safe.
The VW Camper Car is based on a brand new Volkswagen Caddy so have very low mileage. They have the best fuel economy of any campervan available to hire in Europe and are built to Volkswagen's renowned high standards.
The Voyager 4-berth is based on the brand new Ford Transit Kombi and comes with start-stop technology for greater fuel efficiency.
The Delta is the big sister of the VW Camper car and is based on a brand new Volkswagen Caddy Maxi so have very low mileage. They have the best fuel economy of any campervan available to hire in Europe and are built to Volkswagen's renowned high standards.
The Beta model Spaceships have 2.4 litre environmentally friendly (Euro 3 standard) engines.
The Volkswagen Camper Car has a 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine and is the most fuel-efficient camper available for hire in Europe.
The Voyager 4-berth has a 2.2 litre TDCI diesel engine.
The Delta has a 1.6-2 litre diesel engine.
Is the Spaceship a petrol engine?
The Beta and 8-seater model Spaceships run on unleaded petrol.
The VW Camper Car, Voyager 4-Berth, Delta and Motorhome run on diesel
Do you have left-hand drive vans
At the moment all of our vehicles are UK spec right-hand drive. This isn't a problem when driving in continental Europe and is something many British people do all the time with their own car.
Are there any One Way hire fees?
One way hires are available between all of our depots.
One-way fees do change depending on demand. To see the exact cost for your one way hire get a quote here.
We take an excess from your credit card when you pick up your Spaceship. This is the amount of the insurance excess if an accident occurs during your Spaceship hire for which you are deemed at fault. The excess is £1500.
We do not deduct the excess from the credit card, but instead freeze the funds to deduct in an event of an accident. The funds are then released when the vehicle is returned provided no damage has occurred. Credit card details must be on all rental agreements and must be the credit card of the main hirer unless prior arrangements have been made. Where a credit card is not available, a cash bond will be held by Spaceships UK Ltd for 21 days following hire and a staff administration fee will be charged.
You can choose if you want to pay Full or Half Cover and reduce your excess or we will hold the full amount of excess to cover your liability – any accident-damages costs plus any extra cost or any traffic infringements, losses or breakages.
What insurance options do I have for a camervan? What would you recommend?
All Spaceships come with standard insurance included for no extra cost in the daily rate.
As the hirer you are responsible for the excess (bond) of £1500.
This covers the cost of damage to Third Party property or to the rented vehicle, including single vehicle accident, towing and recovery costs, theft of the vehicle, fire, break in or vandalism.
There are a number of options available to you if you wish to reduce your excess:
Campervans
|
Cost per day |
Bond/Liability |
Maximum Collectable Insurance* |
|
|
Standard Cover |
included |
£1500 |
n/a |
|
Half Cover |
£10 |
£750 |
£300 |
|
All Inclusive |
£15 |
No bond |
£500 |
Motorhome
|
Cost per day |
Bond/Liability |
Maximum Collectable Insurance* |
|
|
Standard Cover |
included |
£2000 |
n/a |
|
Half Cover |
£10 |
£1000 |
£300 |
|
All Inclusive |
£20 |
No bond |
£500 |
The cover provided by each insurance option is set out below:
|
Coverage |
Standard Cover |
Half Cover |
All Inclusive |
|
Windscreen Cover |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Window/Glass damage |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Tyres |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Roof |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Under body |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Free Table & Chairs Hire |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Out of hours collection/return |
No | No | Yes |
Spaceships recommends that you take the All Inclusive option for your own peace of mind.
What insurance options do I have for a Motorhome? What would you recommend?
All Motorhomes come with standard insurance included for no extra cost in the daily rate.
As the hirer you are responsible for the excess (bond) of £2000.
This covers the cost of damage to Third Party property or to the rented vehicle, including single vehicle accident, towing and recovery costs, theft of the vehicle, fire, break in or vandalism.
There are a number of options available to you if you wish to reduce your excess:
Motorhome
|
Cost per day |
Bond/Liability |
Maximum Collectable Insurance* |
|
|
Standard Cover |
included |
£2000 |
n/a |
|
Half Cover |
£10 |
£1000 |
£300 |
|
All Inclusive |
£20 |
No bond |
£500 |
* Maximum collectable insurance means the total maximum cost for selecting a particular insurance option.
The cover provided by each insurance option is set out below:
| Coverage | Standard Cover | Half Cover | All Inclusive |
| Windscreen Cover | No | No | Yes |
| Window/Glass damage | No | No | Yes |
| Tyres | No | No | Yes |
| Roof | No | No | No, covered to 1.80m |
| Reversing | No | No | No |
| Under body | No | No | Yes |
| Free Table & Chairs Hire | No | No | Yes |
| Out of hours collection/return | No | No | No |
Spaceships recommends that you take the All Inclusive option for your own peace of mind.
What age do you have to be to drive a Spaceship?
To drive a Spaceship you must be aged 21 or over and under the age of 75 (increased excess for people 70 years and over may apply).
To drive an 8-Seater or the Motorhome you will need to be 25 or over.
Is there a minimum hire period?
The minimum rental period is 3 days for pick up in London and 7 days when hiring from Edinburgh and Dublin. The minimum to hire a Motorhome is 5 days.
Please note there may be greater minimum hire periods at peak times (April - September). This may vary based on availability.
Are there any hidden costs once I pay for my hire?
There are no nasty hidden costs to surprise you when you arrive to collect your Spaceship. Tax (VAT), standard insurance and unlimited kilometres are included in your daily rate along with extra driver fees, road user charges, all equipment, roadside support service etc. Please note: personal insurance is not included in your Spaceship hire and we strongly recommend you get it to cover yourself and your personal belongings in the event of an accident or theft.
Is there a charge for additional drivers?
You are welcome to have all your passengers drive (up to 4 different drivers per vehicle) for no extra charge.
Is it possible to multiply the hire in the UK, Australia and New Zealand?
Unfortunately, We CANNOT combine UK, Australia and New Zealand hires because of the different currencies. If you do hire a Spaceship in Australia or New Zealand before the UK we will give you a special deal – please email us [email protected] and ask!
When should I book my Spaceship Camper?
If you can, we advise you to book in advance (we often have early bird specials). If you’re travelling in peak season (June to August and over Christmas) we recommend you book a couple of months in advance. Please note: if you are trying to book last minute please email us as there are occasionally a few cancellations and last minute availability can sometimes be offered.
Can I amend my booking later? How flexible are the dates?
If you are booking your Spaceship well in advance it is usually no problem to slightly adjust your pick up or drop off dates (subject to availability). During peak season (May – September) you will need to give us as much notice as possible. The hire price will not be reduced if you chose to significantly shorten your trip. Once you start your hire it can be more difficult and you will need to contact us as soon as possible to see if you can.
What payment methods do you accept?
Online and phone bookings require non-refundable 20% deposits, these must be made by Visa or Mastercard. The balance of your rental can be paid with a different Visa, MasterCard or Debit Card if required, or with cash.
If you would like to discuss other payment options, please contact us: [email protected]
How do I secure a booking via the website?
To book your Spaceship simply click on the 'GET A QUOTE’ button then enter your travel dates and enter your details into the booking form. Then you can choose to confirm your booking and pay a 20% deposit (via credit card on our secure online payment system), or you can submit your Spaceship booking details as a request and we will contact you via email to answer any questions you may have.
Are the online payments secure?
Yes. We use a secure server for processing your credit card payments. You can check this is working by looking for the padlock symbol in your browser during processing. This means your data is being encrypted using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol.
Do I have to pay a deposit when booking?
To secure a booking you need to pay a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the overall hire cost. The easiest way is to pay securely online via our website with your credit card. If you would rather pay over the phone, by fax or email then you can submit your details as a booking request and we will then contact you to arrange payment and discuss any questions you have about your booking and travelling in the UK.
When should we pay the balance of the hire?
For London pickups you need to pay the remaining balance of your hire when you pick up your Spaceship. You can pay this by Visa, MasterCard, Debit Card or cash.
For Dublin and Edinburgh the balance of the hire needs to be paid 7 days in advance of the pickup date.
We will also need credit card details to secure your bond/excess. Card details need to be provided irrespective of the insurance option chosen.
If you would rather pay via phone, fax, email or other payment option you can submit your booking details as a request (no deposit will be paid at this stage). Please write all your comments, questions or further requirements in the comments box. We will contact you within 24 hours to arrange payment, answer any questions you may have and confirm your booking.
Can I call the office to make a booking?
You can call the UK office to make a booking however email or via our webiste is our preferred method of contact. Phone +44 (0) 208 573 2300. Our London offices handles enquiries for all Spaceships Europe locations
Can I sleep anywhere or do I have to stay in campgrounds? Is free camping allowed in the UK?
There are only a few areas in the UK that free-camping is illegal though in England and Wales the law states that you should seek permission before camping. If you can’t find anyone to ask we suggest you use your discretion and follow any local signs. Spaceships ask you to respect all areas of UK and not just camp anywhere. Please be responsible to the environment and dispose of all your waste correctly. There are lots of public toilet facilities to use free of charge all around the UK so please use these. We have a comprehensive list of places to free (wild) camp all over the UK listed here.
Holiday or caravan park campgrounds have an average cost £8-£15 for non-power campsites and £15-£25 for powered sites. You can also check these web pages to find more about campsites: ukcampsite.co.uk Pitch Up or ACSI.
Please see the basic information below about free (wild) camping in the UK:
Should I book campgrounds in advance?
Travelling from June – August you may have to book the more popular campgrounds in advance so not to be disappointed, otherwise you should be fine. Please note: some campgrounds are closed in winter (between November and February)
How far can I travel on a full tank of fuel?
You should expect to cover around 400 miles in a Beta and 600 miles in a VW Camper Car or Voyager 4-berth.
The Camper Car is Europe's most fuel efficient camper.
Am I insured to drive the camper on unsealed roads?
No, you are non insured to drive on unsealed roads.
ROAD RESTRICTIONS
Please note that vehicles are not covered by insurance when travelling on the following roads and countries:
- non-sealed roads
- non-European Union countries
Will we be warm enough in our Spaceship during the winter nights?
Winter is a great time to see the UK. The crowds are gone and there are good deals on campgrounds and activities to be had. Spaceship vehicles are insulated like a good car unlike a steel van (like a Hiace or other vans) keeping you naturally far warmer.
Can I pick-up late or drop-off early?
We are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Sunday. Weekend pickups and drop-offs are by appointment only. You need to pick up and drop off your vehicle between 9am and 4pm.
We can offer late collections and returns in London between 4pm and midnight provided you have chosen the All-Inclusive insurance option. You can select this option when you make your booking online.
The Spaceships depot is just a 6-minute train ride and a 3-minute walk from London Heathrow airport. If you are coming from one of the other London airports (Gatwick, Stansted or Luton) you can take a National Express coach to Heathrow.
Transfers can be arranged for Dublin and Edinburgh at an additional cost. Prices are available when you get a quote online.
Are you based at London Heathrow airport?
Our London depot isn't based on Heathrow airport, but it's super close and easy to reach. From Heathrow airport, it's only a 6-minutes train ride (on the Heathrow Connect train to Hayes & Harlington) or a 15-minutes bus ride (bus 140 to Hayes & Harlington station) to the Spaceships London depot. That's why we're London's most conveniently located campervan, car & motorhome rental company.
Can we take our Spaceship to Europe?
Yes you can! The Spaceships office is located only 30 minutes from the centre of London and close to motorways to get you quickly on your way to catch the ferry/train to Europe. European Insurance is now included in the daily hire price so there will no longer be any extra cost for your travels in Europe! Check our other FAQ's for a list of European countries you can take your Spaceship to.
How much does the ferry cost and do I need to pre-book?
With the exception of the Voyager 4-berth and Family Motorhome, your Spaceship will classify as a car on the ferry to France. For 2 adults and 1 Spaceship return the prices range from £38 - £80. If you want to go through the channel tunnel Spaceships may also be classified as a car and the prices range from £96 - £397! Most of the time you won’t need to pre-book but you can get early bird or last minute specials!
Will we be covered by insurance in Europe?
Yes, you are insured to drive in the UK and all Member countries of the European Union + Andorra, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Serbia & Switzerland,
EU member countries are currently: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK
You will need to purchase headlamp converters and a VoH Certificate from us. This costs just £10 in total and is compulsory when travelling in Europe. We will explain what they do when you pick up your Spaceship!
Can I camp at festivals in Europe with a Spaceship?
It depends on the festival, but when they have a campsite available or nearby then yes you can camp at that festival. Have a look at these awesome music festivals in Europe of which most of them offer camping spaces. Just make sure to check whether you need to purchase a separate campervan / camping ticket or if it's already included in your festival ticket.
A Spaceship is perfect for festivals as they are classified as a (camping) car and not as big motorhomes. They're easy to drive around and it'll save you heaps of money. Plus, you'll have your drinks and snacks in the fridge or storage, a gas cooker and everything to refuel yourself before partying hard again. Oh and all your belongings are stored safe and secure in a Spaceship.
