Vintage VW Camper Hire


Frequently Asked Questions What type of campers do you have for hire? Can I come to see the campers? What are Slow Lane office hours? Where is Slow Lane based? Can we leave our car with you whilst we're away with the camper? Can you meet me at the train station? What time do we collect / return the camper? What age do I have to be to rent a Slow Lane campervan? Can more than one of our party drive the camper? Can we travel abroad? How do I make a booking? What is the booking deposit required? Is driving insurance included in the hire charge? I have points on my driving licence, is it still ok for me to hire? I have a non-UK driving licence, can I still drive a Slow Lane camper? Are personal belongings covered by the insurance? Are dogs allowed in the campers? What do we need to bring with us for the hire? Do we need to book a campsite in advance? What type of fuel does the camper take? How is the stove fueled? Can we take our bikes with us? Can the campers take baby / child car-seats? What happens if the campervan should break down?

What type of campers do you have for hire?
Original Classic Volkswagens. Our fleet consists of late 60's and early 70's "Baywindowed" campervans. They are all RHD, have the classic no-nonsense aircooled engines.
Please bear in mind that the campers were not built for speed! Camper driving is all about going where the fancy takes you at a laid back pace. A comfortable maximum speed is 60/65 miles an hour.

Can I come to see the campers?
Of course, Just call to make an appointment to sure we are in, and that not all the campers are booked out. 0161 432 1726. We'll put the kettle on!

What are Slow Lane office hours?
If you wish to have a chat about our services the best time to catch us is in the evening. But feel free to leave a message on our answerphone at any time, and we will call you back asap.

Where is Slow Lane Campers based?
We are on based in Stockport, Cheshire, right on the Manchester border, just 2 miles from the M60 circular motorway. We are 5 miles from Manchester City Centre, 40 miles from Sheffiled, 50 miles from Leeds, 80 miles from Birmingham. Click here for Multimap showing SlowLane Campers

Can we leave our car with you whilst we're away with the camper?
Yes, You are welcome to leave your car outside our premesis, free of charge, but entirely at your own risk. We are looking at purchasing secure parking spaces later in the year, and again this will be free to use.

Can you meet me at the train station?
We are 5 minutes walk from Heaton Chapel Station, however if you want a hand with your bags we are happy to meet you at a station. There is no charge for this service, but please do arrange this with us at the time of booking.

What time do we collect / return the camper?
Peak Season:
During the peak season (mid June to mid September) camper van rental becomes much like holiday cottage letting! Rentals run from Friday afternoon (anytime from 2pm to 6pm). Return of the camper is on Friday morning before 10am. We really do need the camper back in time in order that we can have it ready for the next hirer. However, we can be flexible with advance notice if you have any other dates in mind.
Off peak season:
We can be more flexible with collection/ return times by prior arrangement. Please contact us with your enquiry

What age do I have to be to rent a Slow Lane Camper?
25 years and over. We can insure drivers from 21 years but for these younger drivers there is a surcharge for additional insurance - please contact us for details

Can more than one of our party drive the camper?
Yes. Up to three(??) different people can be named drivers. We will need to see both parts of all drivers' driving licences and a utility bill belonging to the main driver.

European Travel
We do not hire the campers for European travel, this includes travel into Ireland.

How do I make a booking?

Once you have been informed of availability, please telephone us to finalise your booking requirements and to arrange deposit payment either by cheque, credit or debit card (see deposit requirements below).

We will then send you a booking confirmation letter, which tells you about the camper and your hire, together with a receipt for your payment which will also let you know the due date of any balance payable.

We will also send you a copy of the terms and conditions, You need to sign these and send them back with 14 days of booking.

You will need to send us photocopies of the following documents:
the paper and card driving licences for all named drivers
a utility bill or bank statement (less than 8 weeks old)
If necessary, we will contact you the week preceding your hire to make any final arrangements with you. Please do feel free to contact us between making your reservation and your hire start date if you have any queries. 01767 600440

What is the booking deposit required? To secure a reservation we require a non-refundable deposit, of 30% of the total hire charge, with the balance due 6 weeks prior to the reservation start date. If you are hiring within 6 weeks of making the booking we require the full balance to secure the booking.

Is insurance included in the hire charge? Yes, the hire charges we state always include UK insurance for one named driver, aged 25-70 with no convictions or endorsements on their licence.

I have points on my driving licence, is it still ok for me to hire? Yes, you can still drive a Slow Lane Camper although there may be extra charges please contact us for a quote. If you have certain penalties (drink driving, driving without insurance etc) we will not be able to cover you.

I have a non-UK driving licence, can I still drive a Slow Lane camper? Yes, if you have a non-UK driving licence you can still hire a camper, but there will be a surcharge for extra insurance costs, this is usally around £5.00. please contact us for a quote.

Are personal belongings covered by the insurance? No, the insurance provided within the hire charges does not cover you for loss/damage/theft to or of possessions and so we recommend you take holiday/travel insurance to cover this.

Are dogs allowed in the campers? Yes, we do ask that a blanket/towel is used to protect the upholstery at all times and that the dog is not left in the camper unattended. There is room on the floor of the camper for a dog bed. We charge £25 for dog travel for inevitable extra valeting required at the end of the hire.

What do we need to bring with us for the hire? The campers are fully equipped with crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils,etc. Please see our "campers" page for a full list of what is provided. You will need to bring your own bedding (sleeping bags work well as they are neater to store), pillows and towels. A torch/ lantern is a good idea too.
We recommend that you travel light - the less you take with you, the more space the camper can give you!
Remember to bring with you driving licences (both parts) for all the named drivers, together with a utility bill addressed to the main named driver.

Do we need to book a campsite in advance? We would advise that you book your campsites in advance during the peak season and school holidays, particularly if you would like an electric hook-up which will enable you to use all the camper facilities to their full advantage. Take a look at our Useful Links page for campsite suggestions and campsite directories.

What type of fuel does the camper take? The campers run on unleaded petrol.

How is the stove fuelled? The camper is supplied with a CampingGaz bottle which fuels the stove and the blown air heater this is included within the hire charge. We endeavor to ensure there is adequate gas supply for the length of your trip, but if you should run out please replace the bottle at a petrol station, camping shop or Calor Gas centre. Keep the receipt and we will reimburse you the cost on your return.

Can we take our bikes with us? Yes. Bike racks are included in the price of your rental. Each rack holds two bikes.

Can the campers take baby / child car-seats? Yes. Each van is fitted with 1 three-point seatbelt, and 1 two point "lap" seatbelt.

What happens if the campervan should break down? Of course this is highly unlikely! We service our campers once a month (I bet that is more than you do your daily driver). But for peace of mind, you have full roadside assistance cover from the AA. This means that assistance is available wherever you go, 24 hours around the clock. Each camper comes with an AA card with a 24 hour telephone number on it. On collection of the camper we will also provide you with a telephone number to reach us on outside of office hours.
The great thing about the classic VW is they are simple. Any breakdown is usually fixable on the side of the road.