A fleet car can be one of the most valuable assets any company can possess. Though it can be an expensive initial outlay and requires additional funds to run and maintain, firms that invest in a vehicle will find that the advantages more than outweigh the costs.
Businesses with a fleet of well-maintained cars will find it easier to transport workers and goods between locations, allowing them to reach a more geographically diverse range of clients, while the availability of company-provided transportation can also make the organisation more attractive to prospective employees.
When investing in a car for business usage, however, it is important that bosses consider a number of different factors and criteria in order to ensure they find a vehicle that will serve their needs in a cost-effective manner.
As such, when shopping around for new car deals, it could be crucial for business leaders to bear the following considerations in mind.
Consider why the car is needed
Many different types of business invest in company cars, and as such, each organisation's specific needs and expectations of how the vehicle will perform also differ greatly. As such, it is important for bosses to think about why they need the car, and the purpose for which it will be used.
For example, it is worth considering how many people the car will typically be carrying at a time before deciding on the size of the vehicle and its number of seats, as well as whether or not the car is likely to be used to transport goods.
If a company will be relying on the car to ferry bulky or oddly-size objects on a regular basis, this will naturally affect their decision on whether to purchase a larger or smaller unit, as well as the importance of ease of access features.
Some firms purchase fleet cars for functional purposes, in which case safety and usability will be paramount, whereas businesses that are offering access to company cars primarily as a perk might wish to favour something with a bit more ergonomic flair.
Assess how the vehicle will be used
Another related consideration pertains to the way in which the vehicle is likely to be used, both in terms of the average length of journeys and how frequently travel will be required. Different cars offer varying levels of efficiency depending on the circumstances – petrol engines perform better on frequent short journeys, for example, while diesel cars are better for long motorway routes.
Bosses will also need to think about whether their staff will mostly be travelling in urban centres or taking long road journeys that might take in country routes, as this could also affect the type of vehicle they purchase. It could be worth analysing data on recent travel trends in order to get a realistic estimate of their needs.
Factor in efficiency concerns
Energy efficiency is a key concern for modern business leaders, one that spans all facets of their operation. Not only does superior efficiency offer environmental protection benefits and money saving advantages, it could also become a legal compliance issue in some cases.
As such, fuel efficiency must be taken into account when purchasing a fleet car. Buying a car with low CO2 emissions will qualify companies for a lower tax bill, while a fuel-efficient car also needs to be refilled much less often, thus considerably minimising one of the key areas of expenditure for any vehicle-owning organisation. For businesses on a budget, accepting a greater initial outlay for a more efficient car could result in considerable savings later down the line.
Think about quantity
For larger companies, it might be necessary to purchase more than one fleet car, particularly if they foresee their needs or business capacity increasing in the coming years. For organisations that are anticipating a considerable expansion in the scope of their operations or their geographic catchment area, it may be worth buying several vehicles in order to make sure their future needs are covered.
They may decide against buying all of the cars at once – after all, unused vehicles still cost money to keep and could be considered an unnecessary money sink – but it is nevertheless advisable to exercise some foresight when making a purchasing decision of this kind.
Consult with the drivers
Finally, it is always worth speaking to the people who will actually be using the vehicles in question before committing to the purchase. After all, these are the individuals who will be spending time using the cars, so it is likely they will be able to offer feedback on which models are most likely to suit their needs.
It is also important to make sure that those who will be driving the vehicles are properly qualified to do so in a safe and efficient manner, so driver training may be a wise investment around the same time as purchasing the cars themselves.