TERMS & CONDITIONS

RESERVATION, CONFIRMATION, DEPOSITS & BALANCES

To secure your Reservation, you must return the reservation form, along with the full deposit stated on the form, within SEVEN working days from the date of receipt.
All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable once received by Duchess Cars.
Balances for Wedding hire will be by prior agreement between the Hirer and Duchess Cars.
Balances for Special Occasion hire must be paid prior to the commencement of the journey.

METHODS OF PAYMENT

Wedding Hire
The payment method will be by prior arrangement between the Hirer and Duchess Cars. If paying balance by cheque, payment must be received 1 calendar month before the Hire date. Card payments can be made via our website at least 7 (seven) days before Hire date. Cash can be paid on the day, by prior arrangement.

Special Occasion Hire
Duchess Cars only accept deposit payment’s by cash or cheque. Cash balance can be paid on the day, by prior arrangement. If paying balance by cheque, payment must be received 1 calendar month before the Hire date.

Cheques should be made payable to: DUCHESS CARS.

PASSENGERS

The maximum LEGAL number of passengers allowed to travel in our cars is four or six (4 or 6 plus Driver = 5 or 7 in total). This will NOT be exceeded under any circumstances.
Duchess Cars reserve the right to refuse any person deemed unfit to travel, for any reason. (E.g. intoxication, etc).
We expect all passengers to behave in a manner that is respectful to the Car, Chauffeur and General Public.

Special Occasion Hire.
Any Passenger engaged in ‘Mooning’, Chest Exposure, Offensive Hand Gestures, Shouting Abuse/Expletives from the Car or, allowing minors to consume alcohol whilst in the Car:

WILL HAVE BROKEN THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS AND THE HIRE WILL TERMINATE AT A CONVENIENT POINT FOR ALL PASSENGERS TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THERE WILL BE NO ‘SECOND CHANCE’ AS THIS IS THE WARNING. THE HIRER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING OTHER PASSENGERS AWARE OF THIS CONDITION. NO REFUND FOR THE HIRE WILL BE GIVEN IN WHOLE OR PART.

Duchess Cars operates a NO Smoking, Drinking or Eating policy for Special Occasion hire, whilst in the Car. ((Drinking may be permitted through prior arrangement with Duchess Cars. (Conditions apply)).

CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL

Wedding Hire
Alcohol is usually always permitted if agreed by prior arrangement with Duchess Cars.

Special Occasion Hire
Alcohol will only be permitted through prior arrangement with Duchess Cars. Without prior arrangement, passengers will be asked to put unopened items in the boot (these will be returned to you at the end of the journey) or, consume opened items before the journey commences. (Your attention is drawn to the ‘deemed fit to travel’ clause in the above PASSENGERS paragraph).

CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINORS

Irrespective of who has supplied the alcohol or, that a prior agreement has been made, consumption of alcohol by minors will NOT be permitted during any part of the Hire. Duchess Cars operates the following Policy: ‘if you are fortunate to look under 21, you will be required to prove that you are over 18’. (Your attention is drawn to the ‘Special Occasion Hire’ clause above, with reference to allowing minors to consume alcohol).

WEATHER AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

Special Occasion Hire.
Duchess Cars can accept no responsibility for adverse weather conditions, (snow, flooding, etc.), which may cause delay and/or cancellation of the Hire by Duchess Cars.
In the event of cancellation by Duchess Cars, due to weather conditions, you will have the opportunity to move your booking to a new date, or a credit voucher will be issued for a Hire at a later date.

Wedding Hire
Duchess Cars will not accept any responsibility for any missed connections, functions or consequential loss, however caused.

VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the car(s) are well maintained, breakdowns can still occur.

Special Occasion Hire
Refunds, (minus the deposit), due to a breakdown, will only be given if the time/distance travelled is at least 75% complete. This would then be a 25% refund of the Hire cost. If the time/distance travelled is less than 75%, there is no monetary refund offer. You will be offered a ‘complementary’ Hire at a later date.

Wedding Hire
Duchess Cars operate a refund policy for customers paying full Tariff Guide price, (minus the deposit) in the event of a breakdown during a ‘Wedding Hire’. The cost of providing an alternative transportation method, (which may be a Taxi), will be met by Duchess Cars. In the event that we supply a suitable replacement Wedding Car, there is no refund option. If a Taxi is supplied, a full refund (minus deposit) would be given.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGES

‘Duchess Cars’ reserve the right to charge a £25.00 fee, for interior cleaning, caused by extraordinary confetti/rice, party poppers/favours or such like. (A certain amount is inevitable and is allowed for).
‘Duchess Cars’ reserve the right to charge a £25.00 fee, for interior cleaning, caused by extraordinary tracking of mud, grass, gravel and such like. (In the event of inclement weather a foot mat will be provided before entering the car).
Passengers that are sick inside, or FROM inside the car, will be charged a £50.00 fee for interior/exterior cleaning of the car.
Failure to pay any extraordinary charges levied, may result in Court proceedings. An additional amount of £50.00 or 10% of the amount outstanding, (whichever is the greater), would be added to the outstanding balance.

GENERAL

Smoking and the consumption of food is not permitted in the car(s).
Passengers are not permitted to bring their own alcohol into the car(s) without prior arrangement with ‘Duchess Cars’
‘Duchess Cars’ accept no liability or responsibility for any loss, damage or soiling, to any item, (including special outfits worn for Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays and such like), that are left or carried in the car(s).
Any damage caused to the car(s) exterior or interior fixtures/fittings, equipment or upholstery would be charged to the person hiring the car(s). Any upholstery damage to the Rolls Royce will ONLY be carried out by Dave Nicholls Upholstery of Plymouth. No other upholsterer/estimate will be accepted.
‘Duchess Cars’ accept no responsibility, or claim, for any injuries caused, to any passenger, whilst getting in/out or travelling in the car(s). Any claims for injuries caused during a Road Traffic Accident will be dealt with through our Insurers, or the Third Party’s Insurers, once liability and/or fault has been established, by the relevant authority.

When signing the reservation form, you are signing to say you have read and understood these Terms and Conditions of the Hire.