CAR, van and truck rental company Smith Self Drive has expanded its branch network by more than 25% following its acquisition by TIP Europe, part of GE Capital Fleet Services, earlier this year (Fleet News April 26). At the time of the deal, for an undisclosed sum, Yorkshire-based Smith Self Drive operated a fleet of 7,000 vehicles from 16 branches.

Now additional branches have been added in Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Preston, Liverpool and Stoke on Trent with many of the new openings at existing TIP locations. That provides existing TIP customers with the opportunity to rent their trailers and vehicles from one location.