Terms & Conditions

1. About DriveCircle

DriveCircle is a car rental marketplace that connects people who want to rent cars ("renters") with people who want to make their cars available for hire ("hosts"). We provide the platform, payment handling, identity verification and support tools. We do not own or operate the vehicles listed on the platform.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into a binding contract to use DriveCircle. To book a car, you must hold a valid driving licence that meets the host's requirements and have passed our identity verification checks. To list a car, you must be the legal owner or authorised operator of the vehicle and hold appropriate insurance and registration.

3. Account registration

You must provide accurate, complete and up-to-date information when registering an account. You are responsible for keeping your login details secure and for all activity under your account. You must not impersonate another person or create multiple accounts for deceptive purposes.

4. Listing a car

When listing a car, you agree to:

• Provide accurate details about the vehicle, including make, model, year, fuel type, transmission, seats, pricing, location, availability and condition.
• Upload genuine photos and videos that fairly represent the vehicle.
• Maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy, clean and safe condition.
• Hold valid insurance, tax, MOT and registration for the vehicle as required by law.
• Clearly disclose any ULEZ charges, driver requirements, insurance details and pick-up procedures.
• Honour accepted bookings and make the vehicle available at the agreed time and place.

5. Booking and renting a car

When booking a car, you agree to:

• Meet the host's driver requirements and provide a valid driving licence when requested.
• Collect and return the vehicle on time and in the same condition as received, allowing for normal wear.
• Use the vehicle only for lawful purposes and in line with the host's stated restrictions.
• Pay the agreed rental amount, any applicable platform fees, congestion or ULEZ charges, tolls, fines, fuel costs and damage costs.
• Report any accidents, damage, theft or breakdowns to the host and DriveCircle as soon as possible.

6. Payments, fees and commission

Rental payments are processed through the platform. Hosts keep the majority of each booking as set out in the listing flow, and DriveCircle retains a commission. All prices are displayed before confirmation. Refunds and cancellation terms are determined by the cancellation policy selected by the host and shown at checkout. Payment processing fees are set by our payment provider and may be passed on where applicable.

7. Insurance and liability

Hosts are responsible for ensuring the vehicle is properly insured for rental use. Insurance details provided by the host form part of the rental agreement between host and renter. DriveCircle is not an insurer and does not guarantee coverage. You are responsible for understanding what is and is not covered before each trip. Any damage caused by misuse, negligence or breach of these terms is the financial responsibility of the renter.

8. Cancellations and refunds

Cancellation and refund terms are shown on the listing and at checkout. The following platform-wide rules always apply and take precedence over any host-selected policy:

• Host cancellations. A host may cancel a confirmed booking at any time before the rental starts. When a host cancels, the renter automatically receives a full refund of the rental amount, platform fees and any booking fees paid.
• Renter cancellations within 24 hours of booking. A renter may cancel their booking for any reason within 24 hours of confirming it and receive a full refund of the rental amount, platform fees and any booking fees paid, provided the trip has not yet started.
• No renter cancellations after 24 hours. Once 24 hours have passed since the booking was confirmed, renters are no longer able to cancel the booking through the platform and no refund will be issued for a renter-initiated cancellation. If the renter can no longer take the trip, they should contact the host, and any goodwill refund is at the host's sole discretion.
• Refunds are typically processed within 5–10 working days to the original payment method.

8a. Grace period for pick-up and return

Renters are given a 30-minute grace period at both pick-up and return. A renter who arrives to collect the car up to 30 minutes after the agreed pick-up time, or who returns the car up to 30 minutes after the agreed return time, will not be treated as late and will not incur late fees for that period. Arrivals or returns beyond the 30-minute grace period may result in late-return charges, cancellation, or forfeiture of the booking as set out in the host's terms. The grace period does not extend the rental period for the purpose of calculating rental cost, and hosts and renters are expected to communicate promptly if either party will be late.

9. Prohibited use

You must not use DriveCircle or any vehicle booked through the platform for:

• Any illegal activity, racing, off-roading, towing, or driving instruction for reward.
• Transporting hazardous, illegal or prohibited goods.
• Subletting or re-renting the vehicle to another person.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that impairs ability.
• Any purpose that would void the vehicle's insurance.

10. User conduct

All users must treat each other with respect, communicate honestly, and not harass, discriminate, defraud or mislead other users. Fake listings, fake reviews, collusion, payment evasion or abuse of the platform may result in account suspension, removal of content and forfeiture of fees.

11. Disputes between users

We encourage hosts and renters to communicate openly and resolve issues directly as soon as they arise. If a dispute cannot be settled between the parties, the process set out in sections 12 to 18 below applies.

12. Incident reporting process

Any accident, damage, theft, breakdown, injury or other incident involving a vehicle booked through DriveCircle must be reported through the platform as soon as it is safe and practicable to do so. The reporting flow requires the person making the report to provide a clear description of what happened, when and where it happened, who was involved, and the immediate steps taken. Both the host and the renter will receive a copy of the report and may add further information. You must also comply with any legal obligations, such as reporting a road traffic accident to the police or exchanging details with third parties.

13. Time limits for reporting damage or accidents

To ensure that claims can be investigated fairly, the following time limits apply:

• Accidents, theft, injuries or breakdowns must be reported within 24 hours of the incident, or within 24 hours of the end of the rental period if the incident was not discovered sooner.
• Damage discovered at pick-up or return must be reported before the vehicle leaves the exchange location or before the rental is marked as complete, whichever is earlier.
• Disputes about additional charges, fuel, cleanliness or other issues must be raised within 48 hours of the end of the rental period.
• Claims or disputes raised after these time limits may still be logged for information, but DriveCircle may decline to investigate or take action on them unless there are exceptional circumstances.

14. Evidence requirements

Users must keep and, when requested, provide evidence to support any incident report or dispute claim. Acceptable evidence includes, but is not limited to:

• Clear, dated photographs and videos of the vehicle taken before and after the rental, including any existing damage, the odometer, the fuel or charge level, and the interior and exterior condition.
• Any telematics, GPS, dashcam or other recorded data available from the vehicle or a compatible device, provided it was collected lawfully and in line with data protection rules.
• Contact details and statements from any witnesses, police officers, recovery services or other relevant third parties.
• Repair estimates, invoices, police reports, crime reference numbers, insurance correspondence and any other documents that help establish the facts or the cost of putting the matter right.

DriveCircle may refuse to accept a claim or dispute if the evidence provided is insufficient, fabricated, or withheld.

15. Internal dispute resolution process

If the parties cannot resolve a matter directly, either party may escalate the dispute to DriveCircle through the platform. DriveCircle will review the incident report, the messages exchanged, the evidence provided, and any other relevant information. We may contact both parties to request further information or clarification. Once DriveCircle has enough information, we will issue a decision setting out the outcome and any action required, such as a charge, refund, account note, or direction to the parties. We aim to issue a decision within 10 working days of receiving all necessary evidence, though complex cases may take longer.

16. Appeals process

If you disagree with a DriveCircle decision, you may submit an appeal within 7 days of the decision being issued. The appeal must be made through the platform and must explain clearly why the decision should be reconsidered, supported by any new evidence that was not reasonably available during the original investigation. A different member of the DriveCircle team will review the appeal and either uphold, amend or overturn the original decision. The appeal decision is final in relation to the platform's internal process.

17. Insurance claims and route to the insurer

Where a host has arranged insurance for rental use, or where a third-party insurer is involved, DriveCircle may direct the parties to make or continue a claim through that insurer. The host remains responsible for providing accurate insurance information and for cooperating with the insurer. DriveCircle may share relevant evidence with the insurer to help the claim proceed, but we are not a party to the insurance contract and cannot bind the insurer. Any payment, excess or settlement is a matter between the host, the renter and the insurer.

18. Finality of platform decisions and external resolution

DriveCircle's final appeal decision, or the original decision if no appeal is submitted, is the final position of the platform in relation to the matters we have agreed to decide. It does not prevent either party from pursuing remedies available outside the platform, such as a claim against an insurer, a court claim, or a complaint to a relevant ombudsman or regulator. However, once a matter has been decided by DriveCircle, we will not re-open the same issue unless new and material evidence becomes available that could not reasonably have been provided earlier. DriveCircle is not liable for any loss or cost arising from a dispute between users, including where a party chooses to resolve the matter externally.

19. Suspension and termination

We may suspend or terminate any account at our discretion if we believe these terms have been breached, if required by law, or to protect the safety and integrity of the platform. You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Certain provisions of these terms survive termination.

20. Limitation of liability

DriveCircle provides the marketplace on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We are not liable for the actions of hosts or renters, for the condition of any vehicle, or for events outside our reasonable control. Our total liability to you for any claim arising from the platform is limited to the amount you paid to DriveCircle in connection with the relevant booking, except where liability cannot be excluded by law.

21. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

22. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The latest version will always be available on this page. If you continue to use DriveCircle after changes are posted, you accept the updated terms. For significant changes, we will notify you by email or through the platform.

23. Contact us

If you have questions about these terms, please contact us at: