What's the Mileage Cap? A Simple Guide to Our Mileage Policy and Avoiding Extra Fees.

claire2389
Oct 27
3 min read

What's the Mileage Cap? A Simple Guide to Our Mileage Policy and Avoiding Extra Fees.

One of the most common questions we get at Hometown Vehicle Hire in Petersfield is: "How far can I actually drive the van?"

Whether you're moving house across West Sussex or making a few trips for a big renovation project, understanding your mileage allowance is essential to staying on budget. The good news is that for most local jobs around Petersfield and Hampshire, our generous allowance is more than enough.

Here is a clear guide to the Hometown Vehicle Hire mileage policy.

Our Policy: A Generous 150 Miles Per Day

At Hometown Vehicle Hire, we cap the mileage allowance on all our vehicles—from the smallest van to the largest Luton—at 150 miles per rental day.

This means if you book a van for 24 hours, you have 150 miles included in your price. If your job requires a longer rental—say, three days—your included mileage cap automatically increases to a total of 450 miles. For a week-long hire, you get a substantial 1,050 miles.

This allowance is more than enough for the vast majority of our local customers.

Is 150 Miles Enough for My Trip?

To put this in perspective, almost all local moves around the Petersfield area, including making a few trips to and from the local Household Waste Recycling Centre or picking up supplies from a nearby town, will only use a fraction of your allowance.

Even if you’re planning a longer single journey—for example, a one-way move from Petersfield to Central London and back to our depot—the total round trip mileage typically falls well under the 150-mile limit.

In fact, a move is generally only going to push you over the 150-mile cap if you are moving long-distance, such as from Hampshire up to a major city like Bristol or Manchester, and returning the van in the same day. For all other local moving and DIY needs, you can drive with confidence.

What Happens If You Exceed the Limit?

We know sometimes you need to go the extra mile, and we make that process completely transparent. If your journey takes you beyond the included daily allowance, the charges are straightforward and cost-effective.

Any mileage after the 150-mile cap is charged at a flat rate of £0.15 per mile, plus VAT.

For example, if you drive 200 miles on a one-day hire, your overage is 50 miles. At just 15 pence per mile, this would add only a minor, nominal charge to your final bill. This charge is there to ensure our vehicles are maintained for optimal condition, not to penalise longer trips.

3 Tips to Plan Your Mileage and Stay on Budget

Map Your Route Accurately: Use a reliable online mapping tool to plan your specific route: from our Hometown Depot → Old House → New House → Back to Depot. Add a small buffer for local errands or unexpected diversions.
Move Everything in One Go: This is where hiring the right vehicle matters most. A Luton Van with a Tail Lift might cost slightly more upfront than a smaller van, but by guaranteeing a single trip, it saves you hundreds of miles compared to making two or three round trips in a smaller vehicle.
Opt for a Longer Rental: If you anticipate making several back-and-forth trips over a weekend, it may be more economical to book a 2-day or 3-day hire. This immediately raises your included mileage cap to 300 or 450 miles, respectively, giving you ample room to manoeuvre without any mileage worries.

Don't let mileage concerns add stress to your moving day. Be accurate with your plan, and trust that our 150-mile daily allowance is designed to cover the vast majority of jobs around Petersfield and the surrounding areas.

Let the team at Hometown Vehicle Hire in Petersfield help you plan your move and ensure your mileage is covered perfectly.

Visit our website at www.hometownvehiclehire.com or call us on 01730 719810. Hometown Vehicle Hire, based in Petersfield, Hampshire. Heath Farm, Petersfield, GU31 4HT.