Rent to Buy cars explained: A guide for private hire drivers
Looking for a Rent to Buy car for private hire driving? Our Rent to Buy plan gives you a way to get behind the wheel of an Uber-approved car while working towards owning it.
As the UK's largest community of private hire drivers, you're in good hands. We've supported over 20,000 drivers with their cars, plans, and day-to-day driving needs.
With one weekly payment covering a range of essential costs, our Rent to Buy plan is designed to make getting and running your private hire vehicle (PHV) simple and affordable.
Rent to Buy cars: quick summary
Otto Car's Rent to Buy plan is designed for private hire drivers who want to work towards owning their car. Drivers can choose from a range of Uber-approved cars, including EVs and hybrids, with a weekly payment that includes insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, MOT, road tax and PHV licensing, and morw. There are no credit checks, eligible drivers can take up to 8 weeks of payment breaks each year, and the plan is available across multiple regions of the UK.
How does Rent to Buy work?
Getting a Rent to Buy car with Otto Car is easy and our team of experts are here to support you every mile of the journey to choosing and owning your car.
1. Choose your car
Browse our range of Uber-approved Rent to Buy cars and find a vehicle that suits your driving needs, budget and lifestyle.
We offer a range of models, including electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, so you can choose a car that works for you as an Uber driver.
Explore our range of Rent to Buy cars
2. Reserve your car online
Once you've found the right car, you can reserve it online for a £99 online reservation fee. This is deducted from your final down payment and means you'll reserve the car you see.
Before reserving, you'll need to check your location, as some cars aren't available in all regions. You can choose to reserve a car in:
- London and the South East of England
- The North of England
- The Midlands
- Wales and the South West of England
Find out more about reserving your car online on our 'Reserving your car' page.
3. Get on the road and earning
Once you've completed the application process and your car is ready, you'll be able to get behind the wheel and start earning as a private hire driver.
Your weekly payment covers your Rent to Buy plan and a range of essential costs, including insurance, helping you avoid having to arrange everything separately.
What’s included with a Rent to Buy car?
One of the biggest benefits of Rent to Buy car with Otto Car is that your weekly payment includes a package covering a range of costs associated with running a private hire vehicle.
With no hidden costs, you can rely on your plan to give you added peace of mind on every trip.
Your Rent to Buy plan includes:
- Insurance
- Servicing
- Breakdown cover
- MOT
- Road tax*
- Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licence
- 12-month battery warranty on all used EVs
- HD dashcam (TfL-approved for London drivers)
"When thinking about value for money, you might think at first it's a lot of money but when you look at it long-term, it really isn't. Within that weekly price is your insurance, maintenance, and licensing. And when you own your own car, things can go wrong, so at least you're covered." - Charlie, Rent to Buy driver
Having these costs included means fewer separate bills to manage and makes it easier to understand what you're paying each week.
*Applicable to 25 plates and new plates moving forward.
Why choose Rent to Buy with Otto Car?
With a plan designed specifically for private hire drivers and the support of the UK's largest community of private hire drivers, we've built Rent to Buy around what drivers need to get on the road and work towards owning their car.
Work towards owning your car
If you're going to spend thousands of miles behind the wheel, it can make sense to work towards having a car of your own.
With Rent to Buy, you're not simply paying to use a private hire vehicle as a short-term solution. The plan is designed to help you work towards car ownership and support your career as an Uber driver.
1. No credit checks
Our Rent to Buy plan doesn’t require a credit check, including soft credit checks.
This makes it a more accessible option for private hire drivers who don’t want to use traditional vehicle finance when getting a car.
2. One weekly payment
Running a private hire car comes with plenty of costs, from insurance and servicing to MOTs and breakdown cover.
With our Rent to Buy cars, many of these essentials are included in your weekly payment, helping you budget more easily and focus on earning.
3. Take up to 8 weeks of payment breaks
Private hire driving doesn't always fit neatly around a standard working year.
Eligible drivers can take up to 8 weeks of holiday payment breaks each year, giving you the flexibility to take time away from driving without continuing with your usual weekly payments.
"Personally, my favourite benefit of Rent to Buy is the holiday payment break. The last couple of years I've taken the whole of January as a holiday." - Amar, Rent to Buy driver
4. Cars selected for private hire driving
Your car is your workplace, so choosing the right vehicle matters.
Our range includes Uber-approved cars selected with private hire drivers in mind, from efficient EVs and hybrids to other suitable vehicles. Plus, if you're a London driver, our cars are also TfL-compliant.
Learn more about why private hire drivers choose Otto Car.
Who can get a Rent to Buy car?
Rent to Buy cars are designed for private hire drivers who meet our eligibility requirements.
The criteria can vary depending on the type of car you're applying for, whether it's a Standard or Premium vehicle, and where you're based in the UK.
Our eligibility criteria considers the following:
- Your age
- Your private hire driving experience and number of completed trips
- How long you've held your UK driving licence and any penalty points
- Your fault claims and insurance history
- Your Private Hire Driver's Licence (PHDL) - you must already hold a valid PHDL and be registered with at least one licensed operator in your region.
- Your driving record - including any driving offences or convictions.
Eligibility requirements may differ by vehicle and location, so check the criteria for the car you're interested in before applying.
Rent to Buy vs PCO Car Hire
If you're looking for a private hire car in London, you may be deciding between Rent to Buy and PCO Car Hire.
The biggest difference is what you're working towards.
With PCO Car Hire, you rent a car for an agreed period and return it. With Rent to Buy, you're working towards owning the vehicle.
If ownership isn't your goal, we have other options to suit different driving needs.
Part-time PCO Car Hire is designed for drivers who complete fewer than 400 miles per week and want a more flexible way to access a private hire car.
Accelerate is designed for new Uber drivers who are just getting started and want a lower-cost way to get on the road.
Learn more about all our car plans.
Is Rent to Buy right for you?
A Rent to Buy car could be worth considering if you're a private hire driver who:
- Wants to work towards owning a car
- Doesn't want to buy a car outright
- Doesn't want to use traditional vehicle finance
- Wants a newer or more reliable private hire vehicle
- Wants essential motoring costs included in one weekly payment
- Wants the flexibility to take payment breaks
- Wants an Uber-approved car for private hire driving
Of course, the right option depends on your circumstances, driving style, and budget.
If you're not sure which car or plan is right for you, our team can help you understand your options.
Ready to find your Rent to Buy car?
Explore our range of Uber-approved Rent to Buy cars, compare your options and find a vehicle that works for the way you drive.
Have questions about a vehicle? Feel free to enquire online - we’re here to help.
Or, if you want to understand the plan in more detail first:
Find out more about our Rent to Buy plan
Update: If you've seen our Rent to Buy plan referred to as Rent 2 Buy, Rent 2 Buy Plus or Rent 2 Buy Burst in older content, these were simply previous names for the same Rent to Buy offering, which we've now simplified into one plan.