Introduction
Education students using their car to travel to placement may be eligible to claim a contribution towards the costs incurred through completion of a Travel Claim Form. For eligibility criteria, please see Travel and Subsistence.
Health Students can complete a travel claim form by clicking here.
Students Using Their Own Car
Students who use their own vehicle to travel to placements are responsible for ensuring that they have the following:
- Appropriate insurance
- Valid MOT
- Valid licence
- Valid car tax
Students must complete a Student Insurance and MOT Check Form in order to be eligible to claim expenses when using their own car for travel to placement. Students will be required to complete a new form each academic year.
The University will undertake random checks of students' documentation and selected students will be notified by the University. Students selected for a spot check of their documents must provide the relevant supporting documents to their local Placement Unit. Students have 30 days to comply with a request; once this period has expired their expenses will be withheld.
Students Using Hire Cars
In certain circumstances the University will meet the costs of providing students with a hire car through Enterprise Rent-a-Car, where there are no alternative cost effective means of transport available.
Students must be over 18 at the start of the hire period and have a full driving licence. Endorsements/points on a licence will not affect eligibility to use a hire car unless a driver is serving a ban.
When a hire car is approved the full cost of the hire of the vehicle will be met by the University for the agreed period of placement. Hire cars will only be approved on condition that the driver is willing to carry other named students as passengers.
The Placement Unit will place an online reservation for a vehicle with the hire firm. The student will then receive an e-mail notification to their University e-mail account giving details of the hire. If a vehicle is not returned at the end of the agreed hire period, the student will be liable for any additional costs arising. Students should return the hire car to the same Enterprise depot it was collected from unless prior approval has been granted by the Placement Unit for the car to be returned to a different Enterprise depot. A fee may be incurred if this is not adhered to which the student will be liable for.
Whilst you are using the hire car, please pay due care and attention, and ensure traffic laws and regulations are adhered to:
- no speeding
- be aware of where you park
- no driving in bus lanes
- no driving in restricted areas
Students are required to pay any motoring fines and associated administrative costs incurred during the hire period of the car.
Parking fine penalty notices can vary but on average they are between £60.00 to £85.00. The invoice will be sent to you directly from the University for payment.
In the event of a breakdown, phone – 0800 316 0977
In the event of an accident or damage to an Enterprise hire car, the driver must do the following:
- Avoid admitting liability e.g. don’t say that was my fault.
- Assess the damage.
- Phone the Placement Unit informing them about the incident as soon as it is safe to do so: 01228 279 289
- Phone Enterprise Hire Car (contact the branch who delivered car, details can be found on top of the rental contract or call 0800 800 227)
- Phone Gallagher Bassett Claims Line number 03330 156 446 (Option 1 followed by Option 1) to advise them of the accident. Quote certificate number Y131226FLT0123A and advise that you are a University of Cumbria student.
- Complete an AccidentReport.doc and e-mail within 48 hours of the accident to incidentreporting@cumbria.ac.uk and EducationPlacements@Cumbria.ac.uk
Where damage is caused to a vehicle which is not recoverable from a third party, the University may charge the driver the costs of repair, up to a maximum of the insurance excess (currently £500).
Use of hire cars by students to travel to placement and for personal use at evenings and weekends is covered by the University’s insurance policy, however students may wish to consider taking out their own personal accident cover as specialist medical cover is not included in the policy.
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