The time has come when renting a supercar has become less interesting (and necessary) than renting an armored vehicle. And while a year ago only a few clients were interested in such services, today any armored car has become just ‘golden.’ And there are both obvious and very unexpected reasons and needs for this…
Let’s start with the fact that over the past six months, all armored cars, both new and ‘not the freshest,’ have virtually disappeared from car sales websites. This includes those ‘monuments’ that had been on sale for more than one or even two years. Only the excessively expensive ones remain (given their condition and level of protection), or cash-in-transit vehicles. Regarding the rental of armored vehicles, Mercedes S-class and SUVs are the most popular.
One might think that if a person needs an armored car, they are not likely to be a beggar and can probably afford it. But that is a misconception. It turns out that most often, armored cars are rented not by oligarchs and not even by their children. This is stated by the company TopGuard, which was the first in Ukraine to offer a wide range of armored vehicles with security, escort, and safety guarantees.
For what purposes are protected vehicles most often rented in Ukraine during both wartime and peacetime:
- Real estate transaction deals
- Cash and securities transactions
- Escort and protection during ‘unwanted’ meetings
- Escort and protection of individuals who have received threats
- Investment agreements
- Transfer and escort of VIP guests from the airport/station
Speaking about the present, one might think that an armored car is needed for moving through ‘hot spots’ and/or to prevent shootings, but in reality, the highest demand is for escort during property sales and similar activities.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent an Armored Car
Depending on the car class and level of protection, rental costs range from $260 to $650 per hour. But there are certain tips that can help you save your money. For example, if you book an armored Mercedes-Benz W221 with a minimum fixed working time (up to 4 hours), the fixed price at TopGuard in Kyiv city will be only $400, which is a quite acceptable cost to protect your assets and life! Usually, this package is ordered for financial transactions or transfers and meetings.
The same goes for renting an armored car for a certain period – the longer, the cheaper.
Armored Vehicles in the Highest Demand
- Mercedes S-class of different generations (from W220 to W222)
- Toyota Land Cruiser
As for the level of protection, the most popular armored vehicles for civilians are B7 cars – such armor can withstand a hit from a 7.62 caliber rifle with heat-treated core bullets (the most powerful small arms), as well as protect passengers’ lives from a grenade explosion.
By the way, this is usually only shared with clients, but we managed to learn some rather interesting details. It turns out that when it comes to traveling in a rented armored car, it also has very unusual additional functions for ordinary citizens (at least those vehicles provided for rent by TopGuard). Namely:
- Large tactical first aid kit
- Defibrillator
- Artificial respiration and oxygen pump
- Encrypted communication channel available
- Before the vehicle is issued (with or without a driver – it doesn’t matter), it is checked for listening devices and bugs
- The driver of the armored vehicle has certified knowledge and skills in providing first aid
More details about renting armored vehicles and personal and physical protection can be found on the TopGuard website