TV car hire from CarSeen covers the cars a series puts on screen. We provide TV car hire for period drama and contemporary series, casting character cars and the background traffic around them. Browse picture cars by make, decade and type, then send a brief so we can check the real options with owners. For vans, buses, trucks and other on-screen vehicles alongside cars, see TV production vehicle hire.
Our team have worked with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC, Channel 4, Paramount, Apple TV, Meta, Google, Disney+, and Discovery. See our credits
How are cars cast for a TV series?
It depends on the script, the period and how often each car returns. Send a brief with the scenes, shoot dates, locations and the split between character cars and background traffic, and mark any car that must reappear across shooting days. We shortlist cars that fit, check continuity with each owner and confirm availability before anything is booked.
As of October 2026, the catalogue lists 2,500+ cars.
Updated
What we supply for film & TV car hire
Television asks a lot of its cars: a character's car may return episode after episode, and every street around it has to read as the right year. We cast hero cars and background vehicles together, so the whole frame belongs to the story.
- Cars by decade. See period cars for film and period cars for TV drama, or browse 1960s cars, 1970s cars, 1980s cars and 1990s cars.
- Cars by type. From classic cars and vintage and pre-war cars to modern cars and vans and commercial vehicles.
- Police and emergency vehicles. Browse police and emergency vehicles, including ex-Met Police cars.
- Taxis. See black cab hire for filming or browse taxis and black cabs.
- Background vehicles. Dressing a whole street? See background vehicles for film.
- Action vehicles. For stunts and driving sequences, see action vehicles in the UK.
For everything else, browse all picture cars. Catalogue images are representative of each model, and the shortlist shows the real cars available for your dates.
How a TV brief becomes a shortlist
- Send a brief. Tell us the scene, shoot dates, location and the split between hero and background cars.
- Get a shortlist. We come back with options, usually within forty-eight hours, with photos and practical notes on each car.
- Arrange the insurance. Once a car is chosen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner.
- Confirm the booking. Booking locks the date, call time and on-set rules.
Every job is quoted individually. For the full process, see how it works. For a television advert rather than a series, see advert car hire. For a 1980s or 1990s story, see 1980s and 1990s cars for film.
Related
Before booking for a series, read about police car hire for filming, choosing a picture car hire company and picture car rental terminology.
Browse all picture cars · Picture car hire London · Music video car hire · Advert car hire · 1980s and 1990s cars for film · Period cars for film
TV drama car hire
TV drama car hire usually means continuity: the same cars, looking the same, across several blocks and sometimes several series. We note the cars used on each production so you can ask for them again, and we brief owners on how long the car may be needed, including possible reshoots. For period drama, we match cars to the year the story is set, not just the decade.
For single cars and short shoots, see our picture car hire service.
TV genres
For drama, start with period cars for TV drama or modern cars. Soaps may call for returning character cars and background vehicles. Factual and entertainment briefs can start with the catalogue: tell us what appears on screen and how it will be used.
Cars from the catalogue
A spread of real catalogue cars across the decades a series might need. Every listing can be briefed, and 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
When a series needs more than cars
A delivery van, a passing coach or an emergency vehicle can belong to the same story as a character's car. Our TV production vehicle hire guide covers that wider on-screen list and distinguishes it from the facilities used by the crew.
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 TV car hire?
TV car hire means sourcing picture cars for a television production: the hero car a character drives, the cars around them and the traffic that fills the street. CarSeen casts each car for the scene, the period and the location, then confirms it with the owner.
How do I hire cars for a TV series?
Send a brief with the scene, shoot dates, location and the split between hero and background cars. We come back with a shortlist, usually within forty-eight hours, with photos and practical notes on each car.
Can you supply period cars for TV drama?
Yes. Our catalogue of 2,500+ cars covers the 1910s to today. Tell us the year the story is set and we will shortlist cars that belong to it, from hero cars to period background traffic.
Can you supply police and emergency vehicles?
Yes. Our catalogue includes police and emergency vehicles, including ex-Met Police cars. In London, using police lookalike cars also involves the Metropolitan Police Film Unit.
Can you supply taxis and black cabs?
Yes. Our catalogue includes London black cabs from several eras, as well as other taxis. Tell us the period and the scene and we will confirm which are available for your dates.
What is the difference between hero cars and background vehicles?
A hero car is featured on camera, often driven by a character. Background vehicles dress the street around the action. One brief can cover both, so tell us the split when you send it.
How quickly will I hear back?
We come back with a shortlist, usually within forty-eight hours. Tell us your shoot dates in the brief and we will be straight with you about what is possible.
Who arranges insurance?
Once a car is chosen, the production arranges picture-car insurance naming the owner. Booking then locks the date, call time and on-set rules.
Are the catalogue photos of the exact car?
No. Catalogue images are representative of each model. Your shortlist shows the real cars available for your dates.
How much does TV car hire cost?
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 we use the same car across a returning series?
We can ask the same owner for each block or series. Availability is confirmed each time, so tell us your schedule as early as you can.
Can you supply several cars for one TV episode?
Yes. Send the full list with your dates and we put together a shortlist across our owners.
Casting cars for a series?