How much does it cost to hire a car for a film shoot?

It's one of the first questions on any production budget, and the honest answer is that it depends. Picture car hire is typically quoted per job, because two bookings for the same car can look completely different once you factor in the hours, the driving and the travel.

Rather than give you a figure that won't fit your shoot, this guide explains what actually shapes the cost. If you know these factors before you send a brief, you'll get an accurate quote faster and avoid surprises later.

The make, model, age and rarity of the car make the biggest difference. A common 1990s hatchback that suits a background slot is very different from a rare pre-war tourer that there may only be a handful of in the country. Condition matters too. A concours-standard car that's rarely used will usually come with more conditions attached than an honest, well-used classic.

If you're flexible on the exact model, say so. Being open to "a 1970s British family saloon in a muted colour" gives you far more options than asking for one specific car in one specific colour. Browse our catalogue of cars to see the range.

Hire is usually worked out around the length of the day, including travel, standby and wrap, not just the minutes the car is on camera. A car that's needed for one shot at 7am and another at 6pm is booked for the whole day. Longer days, overnight shoots, multiple shoot days and holds on future dates all affect the quote.

Be realistic about timings in your brief. It's better to plan for a full day and wrap early than to run over.

A car parked in the background is the simplest booking. Costs and conditions change when the car:

• is driven past camera repeatedly
• is driven by cast
• is mounted on a low-loader or tracking vehicle
• is rigged with cameras, lights or suction mounts
• appears in rain, mud, snow or a beach scene

For anything involving demanding driving, see our page on action vehicles.

Many owners prefer to drive their own car on set, and many productions like having someone who knows the car's habits. Owner-driver time is usually part of the booking. If the production's own precision or stunt drivers will be at the wheel, that needs to be agreed with the owner early, and it can affect insurance and conditions.

Distance is a big factor. A car that's driven twenty minutes to a location is very different from one that has to be trailered across the country. Older or delicate cars sometimes travel on a trailer even for shorter trips, to protect them and to make sure they arrive clean. Unit moves between locations during the day add to this as well.

That's why we look for suitable cars close to your location first.

Insurance needs careful thought on every booking. A private owner's policy may not cover the car being used for filming, and the production's own cover needs to be checked to see whether it includes hired-in vehicles and the people driving them. Sorting this early avoids last-minute delays on the day.

Cleaning a car before a shoot is normal. Anything beyond that, such as covering badges, removing modern stickers, fitting period accessories or temporary ageing, takes time and needs the owner's agreement. Permanent changes are rarely an option with privately owned cars.

For commercials in particular, how the footage will be used can come into the conversation. A car featured prominently in a national advert is a different proposition from a car glimpsed in the background of a short film.

Short-notice bookings can limit choice, especially for rarer cars. Changes to dates, extra days and cancellations should be covered in the terms agreed before the shoot, so everyone knows where they stand if the schedule moves.

The more detail you give, the more accurate the quote. A good brief includes:

• the scene and what the car does in it
• the period, and any must-have make, model or colour
• dates, call times and expected wrap
• the location, including access and parking
• who you'd like to drive
• how the footage will be used

Send us a brief with as much of this as you have, and we'll come back with options and a quote for your shoot. If you're after an older car, our classic car hire for filming page is a good place to start.