What Make and Model are you vehicles?
We now have three vehicles on our recently expanded fleet. Our first vehicle which we call ‘Marge‘ is a 2019 Swift Escape 674 5 berth with 5 seat belts. This vehicle is a special edition model called a Searcher and comes with an automatic gearbox. You can drive this vehicle on a normal category B licence.
Our second and third vehicles are brand new in 2021 and are both identical – ‘Marvin‘ and ‘Mavis‘ we think they could be twins. They are a Swift Edge Black Edition 6 berth and 6 seatbelts. They both come with manual gearboxes and can also be driven on a normal category B licence.
How many people can they comfortably sleep?
‘Marge‘ our Swift Escape 674 can sleep up to 6 people. It has a u-shaped lounge at the rear which can be made into two single beds or a a large double bed. There is also a manual drop down bed at the front of the vehicle that sleeps two people, this benefits from a duvalet mattress which are renown for been extremely comfortable. The dinette area also makes up a small bed which is fine for an adult, or would be ok for two smaller children. (just remember though, that it only has 5 seatbelts so by law you can only carry this number of people whilst travelling). A good point to consider for families with a baby or toddler is the space at the rear of this vehicle where the u-shaped lounge is situated is a perfect fit for a travel cot, so you can have peace of mind knowing your little treasure is safe an sound and you can also sleep alongside them in the single bed configuration.
‘Marvin’ and ‘Mavis‘ our Swift 476’s can both sleep 6 adults. With twin single beds at the rear which can also make up into a large double. There is a large over-cab double bed and the dinette area again transforms into a bed which will sleep two adults due to a slightly different configuration.
What configuration are the vehicles?
‘Marge‘ the Escape 674 as we mentioned earlier has the luxury of having 2 seating areas – a large u-shaped back lounge, as well as a front seating/dinette area just behind the cab. Both can have a table put up so you can dine at either end and both these areas convert into double beds. The other double is the new style “drop down bed” above the front lounge/3rd double.
‘Marvin‘ and ‘Mavis‘ the Edge 476 have a 4 seater dinette area with a fixed table and 4 three point seat belts. the rear of the vehicles have the fixed rear twin single/double bed. These are in a raised position towards the rear end to create space for the large external garage.
Do I need a special licence to drive your vehicle?
No. All of our vehicles can be driven on the normal category B licence which allows you drive up to 3500kg.
You will however need to have a minimum of 2yrs driving experience with no recent insurance claims and a maximum of 6 points on your licence. Details of any endorsements/penalty points for driver are now kept online and not on the driving licence or paper counterpart. Each driver will need to visit www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence before collecting the vehicle to generate a licence check code for us to then use to conduct the necessary check. This code is only valid for 21 days. Over 6 points or recent endorsements may cause a higher excess or refusal of hire from ourselves. Mattika reserve the right to refuse hire for certain endorsements. If in doubt, please ring us with the details of your endorsements and conviction dates etc. at the earliest opportunity.
What if I don’t have a UK driving licence?
Licence issued in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries are treated equally. It is a criminal offence to drive using a licence that is not valid in the UK. In addition, if you do so, the insurance will be invalidated and you will be committing a further criminal offence of ‘driving without valid motor insurance. Such licences must be valid for the duration of the rental period. Should such foreign licences be in a foreign alphabet
they must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
N.B. International Driving Permits issued in the UK are not valid in the UK.
PLEASE NOTE: If we discover that an uninsured driver is driving our vehicle, then the hire will cease immediately and the hirer will be responsible for all costs plus an additional charge of £300.00 inclusive of VAT. For the avoidance of doubt if we have not seen, verified and recorded the licence details on the Rental Agreement, then the driver is uninsured and unauthorised to drive.
Do I need my own insurance?
No, we provide fully comprehensive self-drive hire Insurance that covers anyone aged 23-75yrs old. This is included in your hire price.
What happens if the vehicle breaks down or something goes wrong?
We don’t envisage any issues do to the age and condition of our vehicles however if you are unfortunate enough to encounter a mechanical problem all of our vehicles are covered under a manufacturer warranty complete with breakdown assistance.
We also provide all the user manuals you need, a troubleshooting/fault code manual, a 24hr helpline and if it still won’t fix, we will get an engineer out. All at no extra cost to you* *(subject to availability and any fault not been user/hirer derived fault)
What if we damage or lose something from the vehicle?
Although we want you to enjoy your motorhome experience, it is only fair to say that we also want you to respect our motorhome and its contents.
You will be charged for any damage to the vehicle interior, exterior, or its contents, or loss of vehicle contents, howsoever caused. We provide you with a “Drive away Checklist” which reminds you of things such as – before moving off, please ensure all skylights, roof vents, windows and doors are closed and secure. Ensure the aerial is retracted. Ensure the gas is turned off and the power lead is unplugged and stowed away. When reversing we suggest you ask any other responsible passenger(s) to guide you from the outside of the vehicle.
In the event of any damage occurring to any part of the vehicle please inform Mattika Motorhome Hire immediately. This enables us to, wherever possible, order the parts early enough, so we can hopefully fit them on your return, ready for the next customer.
Can we take the vehicle out of the UK?
Unfortunately NOT AT THIS CURRENT TIME due to Covid-19 Quarantine rules. Hopefully this is a temporary restriction that we have had to put in place, and we can reinstate this option soon. Please note there is an additional cost for EU travel. Please refer to our price list. you can find this on our website under the Our Vehicles
Can we take the vehicle to a Festival?
Yes we can offer hire for Festivals however we do have different terms and conditions and additional costs that will be applied. please contact us for further details. We are happy to discuss arrangements with you.
Please note; all of our vehicles are armed with ‘vehicle trackers’ and locations can be checked at any point throughout the hire period. any misrepresentation of hire booking details would be viewed as a violation of our T&C’s and we reserve the right to cancel any remaining hire period and arrange repatriation of the vehicle. Any costs would be the responsibility of the hirer and the self-drive hire Insurance may be voided.
Do you limit the number of miles we can do?
No. Unlike some rental companies, ours is UNLIMITED MILEAGE.
Do you hire the vehicle out during winter?
Absolutely. We hire 365 days per year as there are some fantastic places you can visit during the winter, but still stay cosy and warm in our vehicle. The vehicle also comes with a “winter pack” (additional insulation around pipework).
Do you accept dogs?
Yes, for a small fee of £5 per day we accept well-behaved dogs. However, we kindly ask that you please consider the next guest may have allergies, and to use the throes provided, keep them off the furniture, and NEVER LEAVE THEM unattended in the vehicle.
Can we bring our bikes?
Yes! Our vehicles are fitted with a 4 bike rack on the rear at no extra charge. They hold a maximum total weight of 60kg.
Can we tow a car behind the motorhome?
No, sorry. Our vehicles do not have a tow bar fitted.
What is the minimum hire period?
3 nights in low and mid-season and 4 nights in high season. However, if during the quieter months you wish to hire for less than this it is worth making an enquiry and we will do our upmost to accommodate this.
What are the collection/drop off days?
We don’t really have any specific days as we like to try and be as flexible as possible.
Do you supply bedding?
Unfortunately we do not supply bedding as careful research has led us to believe that guests prefer to bring their own bedding, as some prefer sleeping bags, others prefer the full on duvet set. One thing I would say is bear in mind the space your bedding will take up in the vehicle. We do offer a “bedding package” to hire if you don’t want the hassle of bringing yours.
How much storage is there?
Loads! You will be pleasantly surprised at how much thought has gone into maximising the space available by Swift – there is an abundance of cupboards, lots of under seat storage and even a wardrobe to hang clothes. Outside the vehicle there is also a “garage” and bike rack.
‘Marge‘ has more internal storage and a smaller external garage, whereas ‘Marvin‘ and ‘Mavis‘ have a larger external garage and less internal cupboard space.
Do you provide much for the kitchen?
Absolutely. We want to ensure your experience is as stress free as possible so we have ensured our vehicle everything you could need whilst you are away so it’s like home from home. Such things include, include pans, numerous utensils, crockery, glasses, cutlery, tea towels, etc as well as a very wide range of cleaning equipment. Please see our Our Vehicles for precise details.
And what about stuff for the bathroom?
As with the kitchen, the bathroom is also very well kitted out. We provide a hand towel, a bath mat, special biodegradable toilet roll, hand-wash and cleaning equipment. As with most motorhomes the bathroom is quite tight for space, but it does have an overhead cupboard as well as an under sink cupboard too.
Is there a TV?
Of course. It’s wall mounted (watch your head!) and comes with an integral DVD player and a remote control. We provide this as a goodwill gesture and therefore depending on where you go, we can’t accept responsibility for poor TV signal, as this is of course out of our control.
Do you deliver or do we need to collect the vehicle?
Sorry, we do not deliver as we will be too busy prepping it and making it perfect for you after the previous guests have dropped it off.
Do you have somewhere to leave my own car when I’ve gone?
There is on street parking directly outside our premises. We of course cannot accept any liability for the security of the vehicle and its contents.
Does the vehicle come with a gas bottle?
Yes. Every hire comes with the minimum of one full gas bottle (or equivalent) which should be more than enough for your hire period. Each vehicle has space for two gas bottles.
Is the vehicle able to stay “off-grid” for any duration?
Absolutely. The leisure battery should last a couple of days depending on your usage of electricity and gas and if this isn’t enough, we also have a solar panel to help. However, the battery power needs to be used with careful consideration – we would not advise staying off-grid longer than 3 nights. It is a nice idea to go off-grid for a couple of days and then utilise a campsite to re-charge the batteries, fill up the water tank and empty the chemical (toilet!)
waste. However, you need to be mindful and look for signs as to where you can/can’t park overnight so you don’t get landed with a fine.
I have never stayed in a motorhome before, help!
Don’t worry – we are all newcomers at some point. We provide a very comprehensive handover to show you how to use everything and answer all your questions, so please allow a good hour for this on collection day. Not only that, we provide you with the Swift handbook, a troubleshooting/error codes handbook, some excellent video links should you be stuck while away. You also have our direct numbers available to call 24/7.
Can we view the vehicle before booking?
Absolutely and we would strongly advise it as there are so many different configurations of vehicles and you can never get a true feel from the gallery photos. Please be mindful though, it is likely to be unavailable the majority of the time due to other bookings, but it is worth asking and we can try to accommodate this. The most likely time would be just before a collection when they are cleaned, sanitised and washed off ready to go.
How do I go about making a booking?
1. Send us a message enquiring about the dates you’re interested in.
2. If the vehicle is available then we require a deposit of £250 (unless it is within 4 weeks of the hire date and then we require the full amount) to secure your hire.
3. Once the booking has been made you will then have until 4 weeks prior to departure to settle the balance.
4. 48hrs before collecting the vehicle we will require a security/damage deposit of £750* which is held until you return the vehicle and a full inspection has been carried out. If there are no issues with the condition (e.g. cleanliness or damage) of the vehicle, this deposit will be returned to you within 5 working days.
5. On the day of collection you need to bring all your proof of ID so we can verify you.
*Festival hire deposit is higher.
What if I book and need to cancel?
Sometimes things happen so we will try and be as flexible as possible. Should you need to cancel earlier than 4 weeks prior to your collection date, we would just keep the deposit. For cancellations between 2-4 weeks prior to the collection, we would require 50% of the booking total. For cancellations, less than 2 weeks, or no shows we would require 100% of the booking total. **see our Covid-19 refund policy in our Terms & Condition**
*Although we do not offer this service, we do advice you to take out Personal Holiday Insurance.*
What Covid-19 precautions are you putting in place?
We deep clean the vehicle with anti-viral products after each hire as well as wearing gloves and face masks to do this. We provide anti-bacterial hand wash and hand sanitiser gel on the vehicle.
If/when you come to view, we will provide masks, gloves and hand sanitiser and endeavour to keep a 2m distance from yourselves.
What do we need to bring when we collect the vehicle?
- Driving licence ‐ We must see EACH drivers driving licence at the office.
- Your 2 forms of ID (that you used to secure the booking) showing current name and address, dated within the last 3 months)—i.e. utility bill, bank statement, council tax bill, If Travelling outside of the UK ‐ your passport.
**Please bring the original documents as we do not accept photocopies.**