This section has information about renting, purchasing or operating a vehicle outside the UK for missionaries and overseas aid workers.
Taking your own vehicle abroad/overseas
If you're taking your own vehicle out of the UK, whether it's to drive to another country or to have shipped to another country, here are a few links to help you:
European Driving Advice
If you are planning to drive on the Continent, these are the essentials you need to be aware of, including seatbelt and drink/driving laws, speed limits and headlight requirements.
Website: www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/index.html
Purchasing a vehicle for overseas
For advice on buying a vehicle for overseas, see:
One facility that many missions use is to buy a used vehicle direct from Japan. This can provide a good quality used vehicle at a very reasonable price (and one that often hasn't been driven in rough conditions!). Take a look at the following websites for details:
Road safety
For advice on Road Safety for Aid Workers, see:
Online mechanics
The following services can help you diagnose and fix any problem you may be having with your vehicle:
vehicle related services
Mission vehicle services
Automotive Repair Ministries of Missionary Ventures SA
ARM SA is a non-profit organization that was established as a division of Missionary Ventures South Africa. MV SA is a registered non-profit interdenominational organization. We send out short-term mission teams, throughout Africa, to repair, maintain and replace vehicles of field missionaries, through fund raising. We also aim to establish a pool of vehicles, to rent to visiting missionaries, at a minimal cost.Website: www.armrsa.co.za
Email:
Tel: ++ 27 74 2038 348 (SOUTH AFRICA)
Hands to Serve
Located in the Netherlands and the USA, Hands to Serve provides technical aid to missionaries. This includes vehicle repair facilities, computer help and other technical services.Website: www.handstoserve.org
Email: (NETHERLANDS) or (USA)
Tel: ++ 31 078 674 1509 (NL) or ++ 1 402 293 1780 (USA)
MATS International
If you're either working or deputising in the USA, these folks will help you buy, lease or rent a vehicle for ministry. They can also help you if you're looking for a vehicle to purchase and ship to Africa, Central or South America, or most any where.Website: www.mats.org
Email:
Tel: ++1 765 965 7777 (USA)
Car hire
AutoReservation.com
Car Hire broker, offering competitive discounted rates on car hire with various car rental companies.Website: www.autoreservation.com
Car Hire Centre
They compare the best car hire brokers on the web for any location worldwide.Website: www.car-hire-centre.co.uk
Cheap Flights
Launched in 1996, cheapflights.com pioneered internet travel in the UK. They do not sell tickets themselves but allow travellers to find the best value airfare for their destination and to research and prepare every aspect of their trip, including car hire.Website: www.cheapflights.co.uk
Worldwide Reservations
A commercial company who provide good deals for renting the larger rental companies' cars (like a broker!).Website: www.wwideres.com
Email:
Tel: 0871 900 1145
www.alamo.com
www.avis.co.uk
www.budget.co.uk
www.dollar.co.uk
www.hertz.co.uk
www.nationalcar.com
www.800-payless.com
www.thrifty.co.uk
Insurance4carhire.com
For a low, annual premium, Insurance4carhire.com provides excess insurance protecting the customer against excess charges whenever they rent a car.Website: www.insurance4carhire.com