Hire Terms & Conditions

If you wish to see a copy of our contract before you arrive at our premises then please email us or drop us a line via facebook.
A PDF copy of our Hire Terms and Conditions is available to download at the bottom of this page.

Hire Agreement - Terms and conditions
Updated 23rd November 2025 - effective immediately and applies to all new and existing hirers.

For the purposes of this agreement the ownership of any trailer hired under this agreement remains with Equinity Trailers Ltd. Equinity Trailers Ltd will herein be referred to as ETL. Where ETL is referred to in this document it shall include all individuals associated with the company.
ETL reserve the right to vary the terms and conditions of your contract at any time. Updates will be provided on our facebook page and website.

Liability
1. The person hiring the trailer is liable for all damage to and loss of the trailer whilst on hire.
2. The person hiring the trailer agrees:
  1. To pay the Hire fee on the due date.
  2. Late hire fees will incur a charge of £20 for each late payment which will be deducted from your deposit.
  3. Where hire fees are not paid within 5 calendar days of the due date, the trailer will be reported as stolen to the police.
  4. If the trailer is not available for immediate collection, the hirer will also be liable for any loss incurred, including recovery costs.
  5. If the trailer has to be recovered by ETL, any deposit paid will be forfeited.
  6. Any hire period paid for in advance is non-refundable. If a hirer wishes to return a trailer before the agreed hire period has ended then the remaining pro-rata fee for any outstanding period shall be forfeited.
  7. Where the trailer is stored away from the hirers own property the hirer agrees to inform the landowner that we may attend to inspect or recover the trailer without warning which may necessitate peaceful entry onto the land. ETL will assume that this grants us a right of entry to enable us to do so.
3. To return the trailer in a clean condition, as when it was hired.
4. To pay the full cost of any damage or loss. Lost keys will automatically incur a charge of £50 which will be deducted from your deposit.
5. To pay the replacement value as stated if the trailer is ‘written off’ or stolen.
6. In the event of theft of the trailer the hirer agrees to continue paying the agreed hire fees until the trailer is recovered and returned to ETL, or the agreed value of the trailer is paid in full.
7. Any repair costs or loss valued at less than £100, such as minor damage, damage to tyres, broken lights, breakaway cables, jockey wheels etc., will be deducted immediately from the deposit.
8. Loss or damage in excess of £100 (up to the market value of the trailer stated on the hire contract) will be due on the date of return. ETL reserves the right to charge a full day hire fee for each day until the date that full payment is received.
9. During the hire period the person hiring the trailer will be liable for any injuries caused to themselves, their agents, any third parties or to any animals transported, arising out of the use of the trailer.
10. The person hiring the trailer shall completely indemnify ETL in respect of all claims by any person for injury to person or property caused by or in connection with, or arising out of the use of the trailer.
11. ETL cannot be held liable for any consequential losses arising out of the use of the trailer during the hire period.
Insurance
1. We highly recommend that the hirer informs their motor insurance provider that they will be towing the trailer and insures themselves for any damages to, or loss of the trailer. ETL recommends the Insurance Emporium for affordable trailer insurance and a leaflet is provided. The Hirer agrees to indemnify ETL against theft of the trailer. Thefts must be reported to Police in the first instance using the serial numbers on your Hire contract to identify the trailer and an incident report number obtained before contacting us.
Conditions of Use
1. The person hiring the trailer agrees:
2. To ensure that they hold the correct driving licence entitlements to allow them to tow any trailer as required in law
3. To drive the towing vehicle in accordance with all legal requirements and towing vehicle limitations.
4. To operate and maintain the trailer in accordance with all current legal requirements
5. To ensure loads are securely restrained, the trailer is correctly attached to the tow vehicle, and that the trailer is in a roadworthy and safe condition prior to each journey.
6. Not to leave the UK mainland without the prior agreement of ETL and a trailer recovery service.
7. Not to allow horses with studs to travel in the trailer – all studs must be removed from horse’s shoes before travel.
8. The trailer is for personal use only. Use for any business purposes and any use that requires DEFRA and/or APHA licencing is strictly prohibited.
Care and Custody of the trailer
1. The trailer remains the property of ETL at all times and must be returned on request. The person hiring the trailer agrees :
  1. At all times to keep the trailer at the hirer’s home address or storage address supplied by the hirer as detailed on the hire agreement.
  2. To notify ETL immediately for any change of address for the hirer’s address or the trailer storage address
  3. Not to sub-let, hire out, loan or sell the trailer to any other party.
  4. To ensure the trailer is always left locked onto the towing vehicle using the integral coupling lock when in use and the wheel clamp and/or hitch lock provided is used overnight or during periods when the trailer is left unattended. The coupling lock must be locked in addition to any security device used and must be locked prior to attaching a hitch lock
  5. To take all reasonable steps to prevent loss, damage or accidents and maintain the trailer in a sound and roadworthy condition.
  6. To remove all contents and the remains of any loads from the trailer, prior to return
  7. To ensure that the trailer is cleaned out internally after every use and prior to the trailer being returned to ETL.
  8. To ensure that all trailer doors, windows and roof vents are closed when the trailer is not being used.
  9. Not to remove Equinity Trailer stickers or any other insignia attached to the trailer. Removal of any stickers or insignia will be charged at £25 each.
2. During a period of hire, normal levels of road dirt are expected. However if the trailer is subject to unusual levels of dirt or where animals have been transported, the person hiring the trailer agrees to clean (and disinfect as required) the trailer prior to return. Cleaning charges will be at the discretion of ETL and will be deducted from the deposit when necessary.
3. Sale of the trailer is expressly forbidden. Failure to disclose the trailers whereabouts at any time is a breach of contract and will be considered as theft. These constitute criminal acts of theft by misappropriation which will be reported to the police immediately. Failure to advise ETL of any changes of home or storage address will be in breach of this contract and the contract may be terminated by ETL without warning. If ETL is unable to locate the trailer or make contact with the hirer it will then be reported as stolen to the police.
Reporting of defects, accidents or losses
1. The person hiring the trailer agrees to report any defects found with the trailer to ETL as soon as is reasonably practical. ETL will then arrange for the trailer to be inspected and repaired if necessary.
2. ETL cannot be held liable for any trailer defects which are not reported during the hire period, nor for any repairs to the trailer made without referring to ETL in the first instance.
3. Any repairs must be agreed and authorised by ETL before they are undertaken.
4. The person hiring the trailer agrees to report any accidents or thefts to the police and to ETL within 2 hours of any incident, unless exceptional circumstances preclude this. In such circumstances you must report any incident to ETL within 24 hours.
Extension of Hire Period
1. The person hiring the trailer agrees to promptly inform ETL if the trailer cannot be returned by the agreed date and time.
2. Any extension to the hire period must be agreed with ETL, subject to other bookings, and paid for in advance. Such authorised extensions will be charged at the agreed rate for the hire term.
3. If the trailer is returned late without prior arrangement, additional days or part days will be charged at the full single day rate, unless otherwise agreed with ETL.
4. ETL will deduct from the deposit any charges for late return of the trailer or any late payments. Should The deposit not fully cover any charges incurred, ETL will request a further deposit from the hirer which becomes payable immediately.
5. Hire trailers can be collected / returned at a time pre-agreed with ETL. Trailers cannot be left when we are closed. For long term hires, a minimum notice period of one calendar month is required for the return of any trailer. If it is not possible to give one months notice then you will forfeit your deposit.
6. It is the hirer’s responsibility to collect and return trailers to Equinity’s premises. Failure to return a trailer to the premises will incur a collection charge which will forfeit any deposit paid.
7. In the event you wish to end your hire contract and have someone you would like to transfer the contract to, this must be communicated to us immediately. All hire contracts, ID documentation, and full payment from the new hirer must be provided to us prior to hand over and no later than your original contract hire date. There is a £100 contract transfer fee which must be paid by the original hirer.

Please Contact Us for any assistance on 07768 627703 or 07973 185059

You can download a copy of the terms and conditions by clicking on the PDF icon below.

etl_hire_ts_cs.pdf
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