Guarantor car & van hire with bad credit
Updated August 2026 · 3 min read
A guarantor is someone who agrees to cover your payments if you cannot. Adding one can tip a borderline car or van hire application from "maybe" to "yes", because it lowers the supplier's risk. They usually need to be over 21, a UK resident with a steady income, and comfortable with the responsibility.
What is a guarantor, and when does one help?
A guarantor is a trusted person — often a parent, partner or close friend — who signs to say they will step in and make the payments if you are unable to. For car or van hire, a guarantor is not always required, but offering one can strengthen a marginal application. If your credit is thin, you are newly on the road, or you have a recent blip, a guarantor reassures the supplier that the monthly is covered either way. It can turn a borderline decision your way.
Who can be a guarantor?
Requirements are set by the supplying partner, but the common picture is: over 21, a UK resident, in stable employment or with a reliable income, and with a reasonable credit history of their own. Many suppliers prefer a homeowner, though not all insist on it. The key point is that the guarantor must genuinely be able to afford the payments if called upon — this is a real commitment, not a formality.
What does a guarantor actually agree to?
They agree that if you miss payments, they become responsible for them. That means it is essential the guarantor understands the full cost and trusts that you will keep up your side. Handled well — you pay as agreed and they are never called on — it is simply a bit of extra reassurance for the supplier. Handled badly, it can strain a relationship and affect the guarantor's own finances, so both of you should go in clear-eyed.
Do you actually need a guarantor?
Often, no. Because short-term hire is judged on affordability now rather than credit history, many people with poor credit are approved without one. A guarantor is a useful lever if your application is genuinely marginal — but so is a larger upfront payment or choosing a more affordable vehicle. When you enquire, tell us your situation and we will match you to a partner accordingly.
Alternatives to a guarantor
If you would rather not ask someone to guarantee for you, there are other ways to lower the supplier's risk: put down a bigger initial payment, pick a cheaper car or van so the monthly is comfortably within reach, or make sure your income is easy to evidence on paper. Being honest and well prepared often does as much as a guarantor would.
FAQs
Do I need a guarantor to hire a car with bad credit?
Usually not. Short-term hire is assessed mainly on whether you can afford the monthly now, so many people with poor credit are approved without a guarantor. One can help if your application is genuinely marginal, but it is rarely a strict requirement.
Who can be my guarantor?
Typically someone over 21 who is a UK resident, in stable work or with a reliable income, and with a reasonable credit history. Many suppliers prefer a homeowner. The exact requirements are set by the supplying partner and confirmed before anything is agreed.
What happens to my guarantor if I miss a payment?
They become responsible for covering the missed payments. That is why a guarantor must genuinely be able to afford the cost and trust that you will keep up your side. Kept up properly, they are never called upon.
Can a guarantor have bad credit too?
Generally no — the point of a guarantor is to reassure the supplier, so they usually need a reasonable credit history and provable income of their own. If a suitable guarantor is not available, a larger upfront payment can be an alternative.
Is a guarantor the same as a co-signer?
They are similar but not identical. A guarantor only pays if you cannot, whereas a co-signer is jointly responsible from the start. For hire, a guarantor arrangement is the more common of the two.
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