A car can set the year before a character speaks. Choosing a supplier is about both that frame and the arrangements behind it: the real car, its owner and the work planned on set.
What to look for in a picture car supplier
Look at the breadth of the catalogue, but start with the scene rather than a make alone. A featured car and the traffic around it have different jobs. Ask how the supplier casts for the period, character and location, how it confirms the real car, and whether it will be clear about what is possible on your dates.
A clear process should explain what goes in the brief, what comes back in the shortlist and what must be agreed before booking. Browse CarSeen's picture car catalogue, including Jaguar picture cars and Ford picture cars, or explore 1960s cars and 1980s cars.
Questions to ask about insurance
Ask any supplier: who arranges the insurance, who is named and what paperwork does the production need to provide? At CarSeen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner.
We stay on the checklist — paperwork, certificates, condition reports — so nothing is left to the night before. Read our buyer FAQs for the established arrangements.
Questions to ask about drivers
Who will drive, and has the planned use been discussed? That depends on the car, the owner and the insurance in place. On some jobs the owner drives; on others a production or precision driver takes over. Tell us how the car will be used, and we confirm who drives and on what terms before the shoot.
For driving sequences, read how to film driving scenes. Permissions depend on the location and the filming planned; our London picture car guide covers the existing public-road arrangements.
Questions to ask about plates
Does the registration suit the year of the scene? Most period cars keep their original registrations. If a plate does not suit the year, tell us early so we can talk through options with the owner and your art department. On public roads, a picture car should carry its own legal plates.
Read number plates for filming and browse period cars for film.
Questions to ask about lead times
Tell us your shoot dates as early as you can, especially for rare hero cars or large background groups. We usually return a shortlist within forty-eight hours. Ask what can be confirmed for your dates, rather than treating a catalogue photograph as a booking.
Before sending your requirements, read the checklist for booking a car for a commercial or photoshoot.
How CarSeen works
CarSeen is London-based, with 2,500+ cars in its catalogue, sourcing picture cars across the UK. It is one option for your production, not a ranking of suppliers.
- Send a brief with the scene, dates, location and split between hero and background cars.
- We come back with a shortlist, usually within forty-eight hours. Catalogue images are representative; the shortlist shows the real cars.
- Once a car is chosen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner.
- Booking locks the date, call time and on-set rules. Every job is quoted individually.
Our team have worked with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC, Channel 4, Paramount, Apple TV, Meta, Google, Disney+, and Discovery. See our credits and how CarSeen works.
Related
Explore TV car hire, police and emergency vehicles, or the meaning of picture car rentals and UK hire terms. To see how an owner-sourced picture car agency differs from a fleet, read our agency guide, and for a fair comparison of brokers, fleets and owner marketplaces read picture car hire companies in the UK. For coverage beyond the capital, see picture car hire UK wide.
FAQ
How do I choose a picture car hire company?
Ask which cars fit your scene, what is possible on your dates, who drives and what insurance is needed. Look for a clear process from brief to shortlist and booking. CarSeen is one option; choose the supplier whose answers fit your production.
What should I ask about insurance?
Ask any supplier who arranges the insurance, who is named and what paperwork the production needs to provide. At CarSeen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner.
Who drives the car?
That depends on the car, the owner and the insurance in place. On some jobs the owner drives; on others a production or precision driver takes over. Tell us how the car will be used, and we confirm who drives and on what terms before the shoot.
Can picture cars use public roads?
Permissions depend on the location and the filming planned. In London, on-street filming is handled by the local Borough Film Service, and TfL red routes need TfL permission. Filming from moving vehicles also involves the Metropolitan Police Film Unit.
Do I need period-correct number plates?
Most period cars keep their original registrations. If a plate does not suit the year of your scene, tell us early so we can talk through options with the owner and your art department. On public roads, a picture car should carry its own legal plates.
How far ahead should I book?
Tell us your shoot dates as early as you can, especially for rare hero cars or large background groups. We usually return a shortlist within forty-eight hours. Availability is confirmed with the owner after your brief.
Are catalogue photos the actual cars?
Catalogue images are representative of each model. The shortlist shows the real cars, and we confirm the exact car, colour and availability after your brief. Photographs supplied by an owner are labelled Owner photo.
How is picture car hire priced?
Every job is quoted individually. The price depends on the car, the number of days, how it is used, transport and drivers. Send a brief and we will confirm it on your quote.
Can you supply police and emergency vehicles?
Our catalogue includes police and emergency vehicles, including ex-Met Police cars. Tell us the period, scene and shoot dates so we can confirm suitable options. Police lookalike use in London involves the Metropolitan Police Film Unit.
Do you work outside London?
Yes. CarSeen is based in Shoreditch, London, and sources picture cars across the UK. Tell us your shoot location and dates in the brief so we can confirm suitable options.
Have a scene in mind?