If the rented car cannot be used for more than 4 hours due to scheduled service, maintenance, repairs or a damage event that was not your fault, we provide a free replacement car. This is a mobility service, not a separate rental – it is part of the monthly fee. So with us the holiday or tomorrow's out-of-town meeting does not hinge on a repair or a no-fault bump: the car is a working tool, and we guarantee that you always have one to drive.
What does the 4-hour availability guarantee mean?
Availability means that for the entire term of the contract we make sure you have a usable car. If the rented car is out of action for a reason that is not your fault – scheduled service, maintenance, repairs, a technical failure not attributable to you, or an accident that was not your fault – and the downtime exceeds 4 hours, you get a replacement car for the duration of the repair. At no extra charge: this mobility service is part of the monthly fee, not a second rental contract.
When does it apply, and when not?
- It applies – for scheduled service, maintenance or repairs, a technical failure not attributable to you, or an accident or damage event that was not your fault, whenever the downtime exceeds 4 hours.
- It is not automatic – a quick job of a few hours does not trigger a replacement car on a "dropping it off for an hour, give me another one in the meantime" basis. The guarantee is about not being left without a car for an extended period when you genuinely need one.
- Own-fault damage – that is a separate case: the replacement car is not free then, but we can provide one at a favourable rate. Details in our article on damage protection.
The category, model and manner of providing the replacement car are determined by us – always a BMW Group car, and we do our best to match it to your intended use, so you can carry on without disruption.
Two situations from real life
- The day before the holiday. The car has to go in for service, and the family is due to leave the next morning. Thanks to the guarantee the departure still happens – in a replacement car.
- A bump before the meeting. You are not at fault, but the car is damaged and you have an out-of-town meeting tomorrow. The repair is our job; the meeting is yours, in a replacement car.
The availability guarantee shows what we mean by a complete solution: you are not just renting a car – you get a full mobility service, with maintenance, damage protection, trip logging and availability, for a single predictable monthly fee.
Related:
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for the replacement car?
No. If the car is out for more than 4 hours through no fault of yours, the replacement car is part of the monthly fee – a mobility service, not a separate rental.
Do I get one automatically whenever I bring the car in for service?
Not in every case. The guarantee applies to downtime exceeding 4 hours. A quick job of a few hours, where the car is ready the same day, does not come with a separate replacement car.
What kind of car will I get?
Always a BMW Group car – that is all we work with. The category, model, equipment and manner of provision are chosen by us, and we do everything we can to match your intended use: for a family of five before a holiday, for example, we aim to provide a spacious car, even an estate. What we cannot guarantee is that it will always be exactly the same category as your rented car.
Is it free for own-fault damage too?
That is a different case. For own-fault damage the replacement car is not free, but we provide one at a favourable rate. We cover this and the damage-protection scheme in a separate article.
