Got a question about hiring a roof box? We've got you covered. Browse our frequently asked questions to find answers about booking, vehicle compatibility, pricing, and more. If you can't find what you're looking for, don't hesitate to get in touch.
We recommend booking your roof box as soon as you book your holiday. There is no deposit to pay, so it doesn’t hurt to secure your booking. In most cases, we recommend you book at least 2 weeks in advance. If your trip is within a school holiday or in July or August, we recommend you book at least 6 weeks in advance.
We get it, plans change, and that’s not a problem. Just let us know if your dates change, and where possible, we will do what we can to keep your booking. If you need to cancel your booking, all we ask is that you give us as much notice as possible.
We can usually accommodate last-minute and same-day hires. If we have a box here, you are welcome to use it. What we cannot guarantee is that we have bars in stock if your vehicle isn’t suitable for our roof bars. When you book in advance, it gives us time to order in any parts we might need.
It is normally possible to extend your hire for a few days without any issue. If your booking is within a school holiday, or in July or August, this might not be possible. Let us know as soon as possible if something changes and you need to extend your hire.
We kindly request that you return the box on the agreed-upon date so that we can prepare it for our next customer. We understand that sometimes things happen outside of your control, so if you think you will be late, please contact us as soon as possible. In most cases, we can extend your hire or make alternative return arrangements.
All of our collections and returns are by appointment. We can be flexible to your requirements and can often arrange early or late appointments. We do not normally arrange collections or returns on a weekend, but this can be arranged in some cases.
No, you do not need your own roof bars to hire a roof box from us. We have a large range of roof bars available to hire that will fit most SUVs, MPVs and estate cars. If your car has raised or flush rails running the length of the roof, there is a good chance we have bars to suit. Please contact us to confirm.
We have roof bars to suit a wide range of vehicles. Our semi-universal bars fit most vehicles with raised or flush roof rails. For vehicles with “fix points” in the roof, which may be hidden under a plastic cover, we can usually get the correct adapters for a small surcharge.
If your vehicle has “fix points”, we can usually source adapters within a few days. If your vehicle has a completely flat roof, it may be possible to find suitable bars, so please contact us to check.
You are welcome to use your own roof bars, as long as they are rated for a minimum load capacity of 75kg. The bars need to be spaced between 70cm and 85cm apart, and the bars should not be more than 7cm wide or 3cm deep. Please provide details when you book, as if your bars are not suitable when you arrive, we may have to cancel your booking.
Most vehicles with flush or integrated roof rails are suitable for our bars. We ask that you double-check with us before you arrive. Please note that some more recent vehicles appear to have roof rails but actually have fix points, such as some Peugeot and Citroen people carriers. We can only mount to solid metal roof rails, so if in doubt, please get in touch, and we can confirm.
Our roof boxes are rated to carry upto 75kg. Please note that the box weighs around 20kg and that the box and contents must not exceed the maximum rating of your roof bars or the rating of the roof of your vehicle.
Small cars and small hatchback vehicles are not always compatible with our roof boxes. We would not normally recommend using a vehicle smaller than a Volkswagen Polo, as smaller vehicles are not normally rated to carry heavy loads on the roof. Please contact us in advance if you have any concerns about the suitability of your vehicle.
If you are bringing your own bars it can take a little as 5 minutes to mount the roof box and take you through the safety briefing. For most box and bar fittings, it will take around 15-20 minutes. We recommend you allow upto 30 minutes when you arrange your collection.
We provide a full roof box fitting service. This ensures that the roof bars and box are securely fastened to your vehicle, giving you peace of mind on your trip.
Once fitted, we recommend keeping the box on for the duration of your hire. If you do want to remove the box, you can do so by loosening the power-grip fixing from inside the box. When mounting the roof box again, ensure it is straight on the vehicle and tighten the power-grip control until it clicks twice.
If you are a roof box beginner or a seasoned pro, everyone gets the same safety demonstration every time they hire. Our boxes are easy to use and have built-in safety features that prevent you from making a mistake. It is not possible to remove the key unless the box is fully secure, so you will know everything is correct.
The maximum recommended speed you can travel with a roof box is 70mph. When travelling in mainland Europe, where the motorway speeds are higher, we recommend you stick to 70mph.
Depending on the size of your vehicle and how fast you drive, you may see a 3-4% drop in fuel efficiency. Our boxes are aerodynamically designed to minimise the extra fuel consumption, but to get the best result, keep to the speed limits.
It is important to remember that your vehicle will be taller with a roof box fitted. We will measure the height of your vehicle when you have the box fitted. If you are booking a ferry crossing, you will need to know how tall your vehicle is, and you may need to pay more with a roof box fitted. We also recommend checking for height barriers at car parks, as some areas, such as beaches in Cornwall, now have barriers fitted.
We recommend that you do not use any drive-through or automated car washes when you have a roof box fitted. Due to the shape of the box, the car wash might not detect it correctly and may damage the box and your vehicle.
We ask that you look after our boxes and return them in the same condition as they were collected, but we also appreciate that accidents happen. If the box is scratched or dented, it should still be fine, and we allow for some wear and tear. If the box is cracked or otherwise broken, we may ask you to pay for repairs as explained in our terms and conditions. If your box is damaged or develops a fault while you are away, please contact us immediately to discuss your options.
Yes, all our roof boxes have triple-locking mechanisms. These locks are designed to hold the box securely shut and provide adequate protection in most cases; however, we do remind you that you are responsible for the contents within the box and that we do not recommend storing valuables in the box.
Our boxes are weather-resistant, but they are not waterproof. They will keep their contents dry from any rain falling from the sky, but they will not keep the contents dry if you submerge the box in water. In most cases, you’ll be absolutely fine.
Your hire cost will cover the roof box and the roof bars (where booked). The fitting and removal of the box is included within the price. The hire price does not include any surcharges, for example, where we need to purchase additional adapters for your vehicle. The price does not include any insurance or guarantees.
You do not need to pay a deposit to hire a roof box or bars. If we need to order in adapters for your vehicle, we may ask for a non-returnable deposit to offset the cost of the additional parts.
We prefer, where possible, to take payment by bank transfer. We can send you a payment link that allows you to pay securely from within your existing mobile banking app, with no need to key in bank details or reference numbers. Alternatively, we accept cash on collection. Payments by card can only be made in person and not online.
We will give you an “all-in” price when you contact us for a quote. We will only charge more than our list price if we need to purchase additional adapters for your vehicle, and we will always agree on that with you in advance. More than 90% of our bookings have no additional charges.
We are located just outside Williton on the A358. We are approximately a 20-minute drive from Minehead, 30 minutes from Taunton, and 40 minutes from Bridgwater. We are easy to find, and full directions will be given with your booking confirmation.
We strongly recommend that you collect from us, so that if we need to change over any components, we can do so without delay. In some cases, we may be able to arrange collection from an alternative location for an additional fee, but generally we do not offer a delivery service. Please contact us if you have a specific requirement.
Our premium 580 litre boxes are big enough to store around 4 suitcases, more if you are using cabin size bags, and less if you are taking jumbo suitcases. On our own trips, we have packed a 4-berth tent, 4 chairs, 4 sleeping bags, a gas grill, a gas bottle, and two windbreaks with room to spare!
Roof boxes are best for smaller, lighter objects that you can lift over your head to put into the box. If you need to move heavier or bulky items, you might be better off with a trailer.
If you need to take a lot of things with you, hiring a box and trailer together is a great idea. We will also offer you an extra discount. Put your heavy items in the trailer and your lighter things in the roof box.
Our premium roof boxes are manufactured by Thule and sold under the Halfords Advanced brand name.
Anything that is heavy, fragile, or valuable is best packed in the car. Loading items into a roof box requires you to lift over your head height, so we recommend planning accordingly. When packing the box, we suggest putting soft items towards the front, heavy items between the roof bars, and everything else in the back.
We expect our boxes to be returned in the same condition as they went out, but you do not need to clean them. We know that sometimes you’ll go to the beach, and sometimes there will be sand left over, and that’s fine. We give all our boxes a clean between hires and vacuum them out.
Our roof boxes are made of premium materials and will remain dry inside in all weather. As long as you don’t submerge the box under water, you will be fine.
Absolutely, our boxes are perfect for winter sports equipment. Just remember that the inside length is around 200cm, so any skis need to be less than 2 metres long.
Yes, we are happy to hire to businesses and trade customers. If you need more than one box or a hire of more than 1 month, we can arrange custom pricing.
We offer long-term hire for our roof boxes and trailers. Contact us for more information
Absolutely, we often get people travelling from Devon, Dorset, and beyond to hire from us. Just get in touch to discuss your requirements, and we will do what we can to help you.