WhatsAppHow does PCO car hire work?
People looking for reliable, flexible work with low requirements when it comes to qualifications often end up turning to private hire work.
Apps like Uber and Bolt employ vast quantities of drivers around the world, and if you decide that’s the right option for you, it’s important that you get yourself set up properly.
One of the main things you’ll need to sort out is getting your hands on an appropriate vehicle, but what’s the best way to go about doing that? Here, we take a look at one of the most popular solutions – PCO car hire – providing some important insight into how that solution works.
What is PCO car hire?
As the name suggests, PCO car hire companies provide cars on short, medium and long-term contracts for private hire work.
What makes these services different from regular car hire companies is that the vehicle will normally already be registered with TfL, with all the necessary documentation and checks.
As a result, so long as you have an appropriate private hire driver’s license, you can start working as soon as you get your vehicle, rather than having to wait to sort out a whole bunch of paperwork.
PCO car hire services also often take on the burden of servicing and maintaining the vehicle, substantially reducing the administrative and practical burden associated with operating a vehicle.
That being said, it’s important to clarify with any services that you’re considering using who is responsible for what, as not all companies will do things the same way.
Who will PCO car hire suit?
PCO car hire is one of the most popular solutions among the majority of private hire drivers.
First, it substantially reduces the cost-related barriers to entry often associated with gaining access to private hire vehicles. To be eligible and appropriate for private hire work, especially in places like London, you’ll often need a relatively modern vehicle with good fuel efficiency – buying a second-hand vehicle that matches these criteria can easily cost over £20,000.
When you use a PCO car hire service, you just have to be able to afford a small deposit and the first week or month’s hire fees.
Second, buying a vehicle really ties you into that kind of work, and into that specific vehicle. As a result, PCO car hire is a really attractive solution for drivers who aren’t sure if they want to commit to private hire work for years to come, or who want to have the ability to change the vehicle they’re using every now and then.
How it works
These are the basic stages involved in the PCO car hire process.
Find a PCO car hire service
The first step is to find a PCO car hire provider. The option you end up going with will obviously depend on your requirements, which we outline below, but you can come up with a shortlist even before that.
Make sure that the company specialises in PCO car hire, that they have good reviews from their clients, and that the prices they offer are competitive with the other options on the market.
Choose a car
Next, you can choose a vehicle. Which one you end up going with will depend on the kind of customer you want to offer your services to.
For example, if you’re trying to drive clients who require a more premium service, you may want to go with a luxury sedan from Mercedes or BMW.
If you’re planning on doing airport runs, then it might be better to go with a people carrier or SUV, with at least 7 seats and sufficient space for luggage.
If you’re just trying to offer a regular service that targets the largest possible potential audience, then an efficient, reliable option like a Toyota Prius could be perfect.
The great thing about PCO car hire is that you won’t necessarily be tied to that vehicle. So long as you choose a flexible contract, you can keep on changing until you find the perfect option for your needs.
Discuss your contract requirements
Once you’ve found a provider with the right vehicles, you can reach out and discuss contract requirements. While longer contracts will often work out to be cheaper, if you need more flexibility, this can also be included in your arrangement.
Exchange documents
Once you’re happy with the vehicle and your contract terms, you can exchange documents.
The car hire provider may need to carry out a credit check and see your driving history and private hire driver’s license, and you’ll want to have a proper look at your contract.
Sign your contracts and pay
Once all parties are happy with all the paperwork side of things, you can sign your contracts and pay the deposit and initial hire fees. The contract will also outline clear responsibilities, including who is responsible for servicing, any mileage limitations, and the notice period that you need to adhere to should you decide to cancel your contract prematurely.
Get your vehicle
Once everything is signed and you’ve paid, you’re ready to collect your vehicle. As with any car rental, make sure that you carefully inspect the vehicle for any damage, taking pictures and bringing that damage to the attention of the rental company before driving away.
The vehicle should come with private hire vehicle license disks that you can clearly display in both your front and rear windows. Displaying these disks is a legal requirement before you can start working.
Make sure that you also have all of the relevant licensing and insurance-related documentation, so that you are covered in the case you’re in an incident or otherwise required to provide this information to the police.
PCO car hire means that pretty much anyone with the right license can get themselves working as a private hire driver, in a high-quality, safe and reliable vehicle. The flexibility and support that you also gain access to via these services make it a truly attractive option, and it’s easy to see why so many choose to go that way.