Picture vehicle hire across the UK: vehicles for film and TV, from single hero cars to full street scenes. Start with the story, not just the make: who drives it, where it appears and what it does. Browse the catalogue to find the look your brief needs, or read about picture car hire UK wide.
Our team have worked with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC, Channel 4, Paramount, Apple TV, Meta, Google, Disney+, and Discovery. See our credits
What vehicles can I hire for a film or TV shoot?
It depends on what the scene needs and what owners can offer for your dates. The catalogue covers cars, vans, buses, trucks, campers, taxis and police or emergency lookalikes, from vintage to modern. Tell us the period, the location and whether each vehicle drives or stays static, and we confirm suitable options with their owners before anything is booked.
As of October 2026, the catalogue lists 2,500+ cars.
Updated
Vehicles for film and TV, by production
A period drama needs cars that match the year down to the badges. A commercial may need one hero car in perfect condition. A music video might want something bold for a single afternoon, and a returning series needs the same vehicles back for every block. Tell us the production type, dates and locations, and we shortlist vehicles for film and TV that fit the job, including classic, modern, commercial and emergency vehicles.
For one-off cars and quick turnarounds, start with our picture car hire service, or browse the picture cars in the catalogue.
Vehicles for film productions: what we supply
Picture vehicle hire covers every vehicle that appears in front of the camera, not only the lead car. The live catalogue categories below show the breadth of vehicles for film productions we source; counts describe listings, not confirmed availability, and a vehicle can belong to more than one category.
- Classic cars — 1,651
- Vintage and pre-war — 66
- Modern cars — 771
- Luxury and executive — 220
- American vehicles — 482
- Taxis — 32
- Vans and commercials — 100
- Buses and coaches — 10
- Trucks and lorries — 24
- Motorhomes and campers — 34
- Police and emergency — 93
- Motorcycles and scooters — 55
Tell us which categories your vehicle list touches and the period each belongs to. A single brief can combine a hero car, a background street and the specialist vehicles around them.
Hero, featured and background vehicles
A hero vehicle is featured on camera, often driven by a character and photographed closely, so condition, colour and detail matter. Featured vehicles appear in the action without carrying the story. Background vehicles dress the world around the scene: parked cars, passing traffic, the van outside the shop.
One brief can cover all three. Tell us the split, which positions the camera sees clearly and which read only as shapes, and we cast accordingly. The same vehicle can play different roles on different jobs: a family estate is background on one production and the hero car on another. What matters is that the brief says what the camera asks of it. For streets and passing traffic, see background vehicles for film.
Picture vehicles vs action vehicles
The terms overlap. A picture vehicle is any vehicle seen on camera; an action vehicle has something to do in the scene, such as driving, chasing or carrying cast. Stunts and precision driving stay with the production's specialist team. For vehicles with a job to do, see action vehicle hire, and read picture cars vs action vehicles for the terminology.
Vehicle categories
- A character's hero car, featured on camera.
- Background vehicles to dress the street.
- Action vehicles with something to do in the scene.
- Period cars cast to the story's year.
- American cars for US-set scenes; check each car's steering details for left-hand drive.
- Police and emergency vehicles for filming and prop use.
- Taxis for arrivals and journeys.
- Vans and commercial vehicles and buses and coaches.
Regions we source from
We are based in Shoreditch, London, and work with owners across the UK. Recorded catalogue locations include London, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Yorkshire. Location information is not complete enough for regional vehicle counts; send the actual shoot location so we can search for suitable options.
For a shoot in the capital, see picture car hire London. For series work across locations, see TV car hire and TV production vehicle hire.
Cars from the catalogue
A spread of real catalogue vehicles across the categories above. Every listing can be briefed; availability is confirmed when you send your requirements.
Browse by make: Ford · Mercedes-Benz · Volkswagen · BMW · Chevrolet · Land Rover · Porsche · Austin
Browse by decade: 1910s · 1920s · 1930s · 1940s · 1950s · 1960s · 1970s · 1980s · 1990s · 2000s · 2010s · 2020s
How it works
Send a brief with the scene, dates, location, references and planned use. We come back with a shortlist, usually within forty-eight hours, with photos and practical notes on each vehicle.
Once a vehicle is chosen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner. Booking locks the date, call time and on-set rules. Read how it works and the buyer FAQs.
What affects the cost
Every job is quoted individually. The vehicle, number of days, driver, transport and on-camera use shape the arrangements. Tell us whether a vehicle stays static, moves, carries cast or needs specialist planning. The production's picture-car insurance is another part of that planning; do not assume cover is included.
Why owner-sourced
CarSeen sources vehicles from owners, matching the vehicle to the scene and confirming the practical details with the person who knows it. Catalogue images are representative of each model; the shortlist shows the real vehicles. Exact appearance and availability are confirmed after your brief.
Our team have worked with productions across film, TV and commercials. The vehicle is cast for your story, not chosen from a generic rental category. That means the conversation stays specific: the real vehicle, its owner, your dates and the scene it has to play.
Why CarSeen
- 2,500+ cars in the catalogue
- Based in Shoreditch, London, sourcing from owners across the UK
- Our team have worked with productions for film, TV and advertising — see our credits
- How we protect owners: owner-submitted listings use the owner's own photos with plates covered, and never show names, addresses or registrations
FAQ
What is picture vehicle hire?
Picture vehicle hire means sourcing the vehicles that appear on camera: a character's hero car, background traffic, period vehicles and specialist vehicles such as cabs, vans, buses and police lookalikes. CarSeen sources them from owners across the UK and coordinates them to set.
Which vehicles can you supply for film productions?
Cars from the pre-war years to today, plus vans and commercial vehicles, buses and coaches, trucks and lorries, motorhomes and campers, taxis, police and emergency lookalikes, motorcycles and American vehicles for US-set scenes. One brief can cover the whole on-screen list.
Do you cover productions outside London?
Yes. CarSeen is based in Shoreditch, London, and sources picture vehicles from owners across the UK. Send the shoot location and dates so we can search for suitable options nearby wherever possible.
How far ahead should we brief?
As early as you can, especially for rare hero vehicles or large background groups. Tell us your shoot dates in the brief and we will be straight with you about what is possible. We come back with a shortlist, usually within forty-eight hours.
Who insures a picture vehicle?
Once a vehicle is chosen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner. Do not assume insurance is included; tell us the planned use in your brief so the arrangements can be discussed before booking.
Can vehicles be moved by low loader?
Often, yes. Many hero and period vehicles travel to set on a covered transporter or low loader rather than being driven. We can discuss transport for each vehicle when we send options; tell us the locations and access in your brief.
Do owners drive?
That depends on the vehicle, the owner and the insurance. Tell us who you want to drive and what is planned in your brief; who drives and on what terms is confirmed before the shoot.
How do I brief?
Send the scene, shoot dates, location, story period, reference images and planned use. Tell us how many vehicles you need and the split between hero and background vehicles, including who will drive.
Where does your story take place?