You've found the car. It's the right colour, the right shape, and it'll look brilliant in the photos. Now comes the question nobody thinks about until the last minute: are you driving it yourself, or is someone driving you?
Both options have their place. Self drive hire gives you the keys and the freedom to go wherever you like for as long as the booking runs. Chauffeur hire hands the whole job to a professional, so you can sit back, have a drink and actually enjoy the day. The right choice depends less on the car than on the event, the people involved and how you want to feel when it's all over.
Here's an honest look at both.
What you're actually paying for
With self drive, you pay for the car. That usually means a daily or weekend rate, a refundable security deposit and sometimes an insurance charge. Fuel is on you. So is parking.
A chauffeur booking costs more per hour, but the price covers far more than the vehicle. You're paying for a trained driver, their time waiting while you're inside, the fuel, a car that arrives cleaned and dressed, and someone who already knows the route. Most chauffeur bookings also have a minimum hire, often around three hours, so a ten-minute hop across town won't come cheap.
Which works out better value? For a full day or a weekend away, self drive nearly always wins on price. For a few hours around an event where timing matters, the gap closes quickly once you add up parking, fuel and the taxi you'll need home.
Who's going to be drinking?
This question settles more decisions than any other. If the plan involves champagne, a wedding toast or a night out, somebody has to stay sober to drive the car. Usually that somebody is you.
A chauffeur removes the problem completely. You arrive, you celebrate, you get home, and nobody draws the short straw. For birthdays, hen and stag dos and nights out, that alone makes chauffeur hire the obvious pick.
How much freedom do you want?
Self drive is all about the drive itself. You choose the route. You stop for coffee when you fancy one. If you want to take a convertible down the coast on Saturday and bring it back on Sunday evening, the only person watching the clock is you.
That kind of freedom suits weekend breaks, birthday treats for a car lover, photo shoots on location, and anyone who has always wondered what a particular car feels like on a good road. You can see what's currently on offer on our self drive hire page.
Chauffeur hire works the other way round. You agree a schedule in advance and the driver sticks to it. That's exactly what you want on a day with fixed times, like a wedding, but it's less flexible if plans change halfway through. Extra time is often possible. It's charged by the hour, though, and depends on whether the car has another booking straight after yours.
Stress, timing and parking
Ask anyone who has driven a large, unfamiliar car into a city centre on a busy Saturday. It isn't relaxing.
A chauffeur deals with the traffic, knows exactly where to drop you, and has already worked out where to wait while you're inside. They'll pull up at the door, open it for you and be there when you come out. On a day that runs to a timetable, that's worth a great deal, because one late arrival at a ceremony or a missed table booking can knock everything else off course.
Driving yourself means all of that falls to you. Some people love it. Others spend the whole day worrying about the paintwork.
The wow factor
There's something about a uniformed chauffeur stepping out to open the door. Guests notice it. It turns an arrival into a moment, which is why it's still the standard for weddings and proms.
Self drive has its own kind of wow, but it's more personal. It's the grin the first time you press the accelerator, and the slow walk back to the car after lunch just to look at it. That one is for the person behind the wheel rather than the people watching.
What you'll need for self drive hire
If you're leaning towards driving yourself, check the requirements before you fall for a particular car. They vary from supplier to supplier, but expect most of these:
- A full UK driving licence, often held for at least two or three years
- A minimum age, commonly 25 for prestige and performance cars and sometimes higher
- A limit on penalty points, with some suppliers turning down recent major convictions
- A DVLA check code, which you can generate online in a couple of minutes
- A refundable security deposit, usually held on a card
- Proof of address
Read the insurance terms closely, especially the excess. That's the amount you'd pay towards any damage, and on a high-value car it can run into thousands of pounds. Some suppliers offer a way to reduce it. Mileage limits are common too, so ask about the daily allowance if you're planning a long trip. Every supplier on Event Car Hire sets and confirms their own self drive terms, so you'll see them before you commit to anything.
Quick guide: which one suits your event?
- Wedding: chauffeur. Fixed times, photos and a drink at the reception make it an easy call.
- Prom: chauffeur. Most students going to a prom are too young to hire a self drive car anyway.
- Birthday treat for a car lover: self drive. Hand them the keys and a free weekend.
- Anniversary dinner: chauffeur, if you'd like a glass of wine with your meal.
- Weekend away or road trip: self drive.
- Corporate guests or airport transfers: chauffeur. It looks professional and nobody gets lost.
- Photo or video shoot: either. Self drive gives you more time with the car, while a chauffeur keeps it moving between locations.
Still not sure?
Start with the event, not the car. Think about who's coming, whether anyone will be drinking and how tightly the day is planned. If timing and celebrating matter most, book a chauffeur. If the drive is the whole point, take the keys.
You can compare both on Event Car Hire. Browse available vehicles near you, look through our self drive listings, or get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction. We've been doing this since 1996, so there's a good chance we've helped someone in exactly your situation before.
