Picture cars vs action vehicles: what productions need to know

"Picture car" and "action vehicle" are terms you'll hear on almost every production that puts a vehicle on screen. They're often used to mean the same thing, which can cause confusion when a brief lands. This guide explains how the terms are usually used, and what you need to plan for insurance, drivers, doubles and logistics.

A picture car is any vehicle that appears on camera. It might be the hero car the story turns on, a car a character steps out of, or one of many cars parked along a street.

An action vehicle is a term that's widely used in the UK for vehicles on screen, and some directories use it as their main category. When a distinction is made, it usually means a vehicle with something to do in the scene: driving, arriving, chasing, towing or carrying cast.

In practice, the label matters less than the job. When you send a brief, describe what the vehicle actually does. "Parked outside the pub in three scenes" and "driven at speed down a country lane by the lead actor" are very different bookings, even if both are the same car.

Insurance needs attention on every vehicle booking, and even more so when the vehicle moves.

• The owner's policy: a private owner's insurance may not cover the car being used for filming, and some policies have mileage or usage limits.
• The production's policy: check whether your production insurance covers hired-in vehicles, and who's covered to drive them.
• Public roads: any vehicle driven on a public road must be road legal, taxed (or exempt) and insured for that use. Many older cars are exempt from the MOT, but they still need to be roadworthy.

Agree who's covering what before the shoot, in writing. It's much easier to sort out in pre-production than on the day.

Who drives the vehicle is one of the biggest decisions.

• The owner: many owners prefer to drive their own cars, especially older or valuable ones. They know the car's quirks, such as a stiff gearbox or a car that needs warming up.
• Cast: actors can often drive picture cars for straightforward scenes, with the owner's agreement. Check that they're comfortable with older cars, which may have no power steering and heavier brakes.
• Precision and stunt drivers: for fast or risky driving, the production's stunt coordinator and specialist drivers take over. The owner should know exactly what's planned before agreeing to the booking.

For tracking shots, the car may be mounted on a low-loader or towed, so cast can act without driving.

A double is a second vehicle that matches the first. Productions use doubles to:

• shoot with two units at once
• protect the hero car from scenes with a risk of damage
• keep filming if one car breaks down

Finding a true match depends on how common the car is. Popular models are easier to pair. Rare cars may have no realistic double, so plan your schedule and driving with that in mind. Small differences in trim, wheels or interior colour may or may not matter depending on how close the camera gets.

Getting vehicles to set and keeping them ready is where much of the work lies.

• Transport: some cars are driven to set, others travel on a trailer to arrive clean or because they're delicate.
• Unit base and parking: vehicles need somewhere safe to wait, ideally close to set and away from catering and generators.
• Standby: older cars may not like idling for long, especially in hot weather. Plan for them to be switched off between takes.
• Fuel and charging: agree who refuels, and remember electric vehicles need charging time.
• Road filming: filming on public roads usually needs permission from the local authority or film office, and sometimes the police.
• Weather: some owners are reluctant to have their car out in heavy rain or on salted roads, so discuss contingencies early.

If you're filming in the capital, our page on picture car hire in London covers the extra planning that London locations need.

The simplest way to avoid problems is to give a clear brief. Describe each scene, what the vehicle does, who drives, where you're filming and for how long. Browse our catalogue of vehicles, read more about action vehicles, then send us a brief. We'll come back with suitable options and talk through the practical side with you and the owners.