Modernised Platform
We delivered a modernised WordPress website for Salford Van Hire, replacing a legacy platform used for over a decade and creating a robust foundation for growth, usability and automation.
The Challenge
Vehicle hire pricing is inherently complex. Costs vary based on vehicle type, hire duration, day of the week, licence length, driver age, residency status and multiple other factors. Insurers also impose strict eligibility rules and document requirements that must be met before a vehicle can be released.
In practice, this often led to common bottlenecks: customers arriving with missing or incorrect documents, repeated clarification calls, and manual checks carried out by the head office team. While the team handled this well, it consumed time and introduced unnecessary friction on both sides.
The challenge was to build a system that could surface accurate pricing and eligibility instantly, guide customers correctly before they arrived, and support the team’s existing workflows rather than attempting to replace them.
Our Approach
We rebuilt Salford Van Hire’s website on WordPress with a focus on clarity, speed and ease of use. The site acts as both a modern marketing platform and a structured entry point into a fully custom booking and pricing system.
Alongside the website, we designed and developed a bespoke quote engine and reservation system built around how the Salford Van Hire team actually operate. Every rule, variable and edge case was considered based on real-world interactions with customers, from licence checks to common documentation issues.
The system was deliberately designed to be flexible and future-proof, allowing pricing variables, eligibility rules and operational constraints to be adjusted easily as the business evolves.
The Solution
Customers can enter their hire details and personal information to receive accurate, real-time pricing based on their individual circumstances. The system automatically accounts for weekends, opening hours, bank holidays, licence conditions, age restrictions and deposit options.
Only vehicles the customer is eligible to hire are displayed, removing confusion and reducing failed enquiries. Pricing and deposit requirements update dynamically, ensuring customers know exactly what is required before submitting a reservation or arriving on site.
An AI chatbot was integrated into the website to answer common questions, explain requirements and guide users towards suitable vehicles, helping to prevent issues such as missing or incorrect documents before they occur.
On the operational side, we built a custom backend that works alongside the head office team. Staff retain full control over vehicles, pricing logic, eligibility rules and availability from one central system. Reservations are reviewed and processed efficiently, with document uploads and validation aligned to insurer requirements, reducing manual checks and repetitive communication.
The Outcome
The new platform strengthens Salford Van Hire’s position as a trusted, forward-thinking operator while preserving the human service that customers value.
Customers can self-serve with confidence, arriving informed and prepared, while the internal team benefits from reduced admin, fewer avoidable issues and greater control over pricing and operations.
The result is a robust, future-proof digital system that enhances day-to-day workflows, supports long-term growth and delivers a smoother experience for both customers and staff.