U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire Reviews 

6,152
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.6

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 88 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their welcoming, attentive, and helpful demeanor, often highlighting individuals who go above and beyond to assist them. The service is frequently described as exceptional, efficient, and stress-free, making the rental process easy for first-time users and repeat customers alike. Many also appreciate the quality and cleanliness of the vehicles, finding them comfortable and suitable for their needs. However, some people were dissatisfied with customer service, citing instances of rudeness, dismissiveness, and a lack of accountability, particularly regarding issues with vehicle conditions or unexpected charges. These reviewers mentioned problems with fleet management, unaddressed vehicle issues, and challenging interactions with senior management.

What people talk about most

Staff

Users describe positive interactions with staff, frequently highlighting their helpfulness, professionalism,... See more

Service

People report positive experiences with service, often highlighting the friendly, professional, and helpful... See more

Customer service

Customers generally report positive experiences with customer service, highlighting excellent communication,... See more

Product

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of product, with many finding the vehicles clean, well-presented, and... See more

User experience

Customers consistently note positive experiences with user experience, highlighting brilliant service and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ty went above and beyond regarding some important documentation for me. His customer service is second to none! ALWAYS a pleasure! Thank you!! Also want to thank, Steve, Alex and Callum for ALWAYS... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had been left dangling after Enterprise let us down for a pre-booked hire, the night before the hire. We tried Europcar but they couldn't provide a vehicle. We then contacted U-Drive and all our wo... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We hired a van from Poole, the online booking tool was easy to use, follow up questions on the phone were easily resolved, staff were very friendly, explained everything clearly and the pick up and re... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional service and assistance. Another firm let me down and with just two hours to find another car and to get to Stonehenge for a tour they delivered a service efficiently and without fuss.... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Car Rental Agency
  2. Car Leasing Service
  3. Truck Rental Agency
  4. Van Rental Agency

About U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Written by the company

U-Drive is a family-run vehicle hire company based in the South West, with a network of locations across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Glamorgan, and the North West. We’ve been providing high-quality vehicles and excellent customer service since 1982. Our fleet is maintained to the highest standard, and our knowledgeable team is here to help with all your vehicle hire needs.

In addition to our car and van hire services, we offer flexible short-term and long-term hire options for businesses and public sector organisations available through U-Drive Pro at u-drivepro.co.uk. Explore our wide range of commercial vehicles, including EVs and specialist options. We can also fit any accessories, vehicle livery, and Chapter 8 requirements. Experience the difference of working with a company dedicated to providing the best vehicle hire experience.

Contact info

4.6

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

6K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 60% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 48 hours

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4.6

All reviews

(6,152)

85 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Hire process is simple,damage log was…

Hire process is simple,damage log was more extensive than I would have been able to identify.
The vehicle was well presented and performed perfectly.

March 6, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Chris,

Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear the vehicle was well presented and performed perfectly, and that the hire process was straightforward. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Bristol Dept. Friendly and Professional Service, Cheap Prices

Quick and easy online booking system. Dealt with the Bristol branch, good accessibility. Asha was brilliant, super friendly and professional; made the check in and out process a breeze - highly recommend

March 8, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your 5-star review, Jess! We're delighted to hear that Achia made your experience so smooth and enjoyable. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to her, and we really appreciate your recommendation.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had been left dangling after…

We had been left dangling after Enterprise let us down for a pre-booked hire, the night before the hire. We tried Europcar but they couldn't provide a vehicle. We then contacted U-Drive and all our worried vanished. The van we hired was perfect for our needs, and Asha, who processed our booking could not have better. We are now converts to U-DRIVE and will definitely use them in the future.

March 6, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your fantastic 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear that Achia and the team were able to turn things around and get you the perfect van for your needs. We really appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again in the future!

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Cardiff branch

Cardiff branch, amazing team!

March 9, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your 5-star review, Benjamin! We're delighted to hear you had a great experience with the team at our Cardiff branch. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to them, and we hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ty was a huge help in quickly getting…

Ty was a huge help in quickly getting me back on the road with a hire van. A friendly and very helpful team

March 5, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Rebecca,

Thank you for your 5-star review,! We're really pleased Ty and the team were able to help get you back on the road quickly. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to helping you again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Easy van rental

Easy van rental, no stress

March 6, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your 5-star review, Anthony! We're glad to hear the van hire was easy and stress-free. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great experience

The booking process was easy and helpful and all necessary information was provided. The phone was answered quickly too! Upon collection, Ty was very friendly, completed the adminstration efficiently and explained all we needed to know. The van itself was ideal for purpose and in pristine condition. Could have done with a little more support with instructions on using a hybrid electric as unfamiliar with it. Maybe an email or text with basic instructions would have been helpful and reassuring, but this is probably just me being out of date! Overall great experience and would recommend.

March 5, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your review. We’re pleased to hear the booking process was easy and that Ty provided friendly and efficient service when you collected the van. It’s great to know the vehicle suited your needs and that you had an overall positive experience. We appreciate your feedback and recommendations, and hope to see you again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I hired a van from the Southampton…

I hired a van from the Southampton branch. The whole process from booking online to collecting in person was incredibly simple and straightforward. I was served by Euan who explained every detail of the hire process clearly and professionally.
The van was well presented and great to drive. I received copies of the inspection sheets at both the start and end of my hire, which were also concise and easy to understand.
I will definitely use U-Drive again.

February 27, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Sean,

Thank you for your 5-star review! We’re really pleased to hear that the whole process, from booking online to collecting the van, was simple and straightforward. It’s great to know Euan explained everything clearly and that the van met your expectations. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

U-Drive with Callum!

First time using U-Drive, expecting renting a car to be a difficult process, and they couldn't have made it easier. Callum in Poole has sorted my friend and I out with a van, he was positive, friendly, and helpful, and helped to sort out some issues whilst on the road as well! Callum is an asset to your team.

January 30, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Thomas,

Thank you for your 5-star review, Thomas! We’re thrilled to hear that your first experience with U-Drive was easy and positive. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Callum – he’ll be delighted to hear your feedback. We look forward to helping you again in the future!

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We hired a van from Poole

We hired a van from Poole, the online booking tool was easy to use, follow up questions on the phone were easily resolved, staff were very friendly, explained everything clearly and the pick up and return were handled smoothly and efficiently. I would definitely recommend U-Drive and will use them again, thanks all!

January 30, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your 5-star review! We’re delighted to hear that the booking, collection, and return process all went smoothly and that our team made everything clear and friendly. We really appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back to U-Drive soon!

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ty was very helpful

Ty was very helpful, polite and EXTREMELY funny. The experience was very smooth and easy. We hope that the next time we hire its just as pleasurable.

January 31, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Kirsty,

Thank you for your 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear that Ty made your experience smooth, easy, and even a bit fun. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to him and look forward to welcoming you back for your next hire!

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great, stress-free van hire experience

I had a great experience with U-Drive and would happily use them again.

The booking process was easy to complete online. After booking, I called with a couple of questions and the staff were friendly, helpful, and took the time to explain everything clearly. Picking the van up on Saturday morning was straightforward, and the staff were professional and easy to deal with.

The van itself was excellent. It was a Volkswagen long wheel base, very clean, comfortable, and easy to drive. Returning the van on Sunday morning was simple and stress-free, which I really appreciated as I needed it for a full 24 hours and was initially a bit worried about the return timing.

I did go over the daily mileage allowance, but this had all been explained clearly beforehand. The additional charge was very reasonable and was simply deducted from the deposit with no issues.

Overall, a smooth and hassle-free experience with great customer service throughout. Highly recommended.

January 24, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your fantastic review and 5-star rating, Lawrence! We’re delighted to hear that the whole process, from online booking to returning the van, was smooth and hassle-free. It’s great to know the team were friendly and helpful, and that the Volkswagen van met your expectations.

We really appreciate your recommendation and look forward to helping you again in the future!

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent customer service from start…

Excellent customer service from start to finish. Helpful and professional throughout the process. The team at Poole come highly recommended.

January 10, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your 5-star rating and review! We’re really pleased to hear you received excellent service from start to finish and that the team were helpful and professional throughout. Your recommendation means a lot, and we hope to assist you again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Scores 100% on customer service.

We had a medical emergency just before Christmas and were unable to return the vehicle at the agreed time. U drive collected next day costing us no more than a train fayre and also refueled it at cost. We'll done all involved and thank you.

December 22, 2025
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for your 5-star review! We’re glad we could help during a stressful situation and that our team made the process easier for you. We really appreciate your kind words and hope to assist you again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Ty made my experience great

Ty made my experience great - he was friendly with the admin at the outset, and a cheery presence throughout the pick up. When I returned the excellent van on a bitterly cold morning, my car wouldn’t start and he jumped started it using his own car despite having other things to do - Ty is a legend.
The reason I give 4 is because I later received an email claiming that I had created a scratch on the van - but this was a clearly obvious damage from the off; the guy who did the initial sign out check didn’t raise it so I assumed it was logged as pre-existing. Have contacted U-drive to raise this and would expect there to be no further action. But it is worth it to raise clear damage for them to acknowledge in similar circumstances.
Anyhow, respect to Ty!

January 3, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Simon,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for sharing your experience. It’s great to hear that Ty made such a positive impression and went the extra mile to help. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to him.

We also appreciate your feedback and comments. Thanks again for choosing U-Drive, and we hope to welcome you back in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Kayleigh from the Southampton branch…

Kayleigh from the Southampton branch was so friendly and helpful she explained the process of hiring clearly . Thank you kayleigh!!!

December 27, 2025
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for the 5-star review, Jasmin! We’re delighted to hear that Kayleigh at our Southampton branch was friendly and helpful, and that she clearly explained the hire process. We’ll be sure to pass on your thanks to her. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So much better than Enterprise!

So much better than Enterprise!

January 5, 2026
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Hi Jackson,

Thank you for the 5-star review! We’re really pleased to hear you had a great experience with us. We appreciate you choosing U-Drive and hope to help you again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Journey

​"I had a fantastic experience with Euan at U drive in Southampton, He made the entire rental process incredibly smooth and stress-free and never rental a car in my life. He was professional, quick to respond, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of as I payment would go through for some reason and he patiently waited. If you’re looking for cam rental please look no further then Udrive.

November 12, 2025
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear that Euan made your first car rental experience smooth and stress-free. It’s great to know he went above and beyond to help with the payment issue and made you feel well taken care of. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to him and look forward to helping you again in the future.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Short term van hire. Great.

Short term van hire. Booked pn line which worked well. Had to extend and make some changes quite late...phoned and they could not do enough to help me. Friendly and efficient Tracy thanks. Collect and return was very straightforward. Euan was v helpful showing me round yhe van...thanks Euan. Overall a great experience and good value for money. Have used before. Will use again.

December 15, 2025
Unprompted review
U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire logo

Reply from U-Drive | Car, Van, Minibus & Truck Hire

Thank you for your 5-star review. We’re really pleased to hear everything went smoothly, from booking online to making last-minute changes. It’s great to know the team were friendly and efficient, and that collection and return were straightforward. We’ll be sure to pass your kind feedback on to Tracy and Euan. We really appreciate your continued support and look forward to helping you again next time.

Kind Regards,
U-Drive Customer Service

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I am extremely disappointed with my…

I am extremely disappointed with my experience renting a van from U Drive.

Around six weeks ago, after returning the vehicle, I was told there was a nail in one of the tyres and my deposit was put on hold. From that point onward, I received no communication whatsoever for over a month. No explanation, no inspection report, no invoice, and no confirmation of what action was being taken.

Only today, after I personally chased this up via their hotline, I was suddenly told that I would be charged £100 because the tyre had been replaced. This was the first time I was informed of any replacement or cost. I was never given the option to see evidence, approve the work, or even be notified in advance. I had to specifically request an invoice before they agreed to provide one.

I find this charge highly questionable. A nail in a tyre does not automatically justify a full tyre replacement, and even if replacement were genuinely necessary, holding a customer’s deposit for over six weeks without any update or consent is completely unacceptable. If a tyre can fail entirely due to a single nail, that raises serious concerns about vehicle maintenance to begin with.

To be clear, this is not about the £100 itself — it is about lack of transparency, poor communication, and what feels like an arbitrary post-hoc charge. This experience has left me with the impression that customers are vulnerable to unexplained deductions with little accountability.

I would strongly advise others to be cautious, document everything, and clarify tyre and damage policies very carefully before renting.

November 15, 2025
Unprompted review

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