Is PCO car hire right for you?

Working as a private hire driver has become increasingly popular in recent years. Drivers gain access to reliable but flexible, well-paid work, with minimal set-up required; anyone who is at least 21 years old, has had their license for over 3 years, and can pass right to work, DBS and English language tests is likely eligible. 

Getting access to the right work vehicle is the next step, and there are a few different ways of going about this. Here, we explore PCO car hire services in particular, to see whether it might be the right option for you. 

What is PCO car hire?

PCO car hire refers to rental solutions that specifically cater to the needs of professionals who work as private hire drivers. These kinds of services tend to provide a more complete package than a more ‘regular’ car hire service.

As part of the service, you’ll receive a car that is fully licensed for PCO work, taxed, and has the appropriate form of insurance. The hire company will often also deal with car maintenance and repair, providing a temporary replacement vehicle while your hire car is at the mechanic’s.

When PCO car hire is the right option

PCO car hire can be an excellent solution for a lot of reasons. 

You need flexibility

One of the main benefits of PCO car hire is the flexibility that you get. You can choose a rental contract for as long as you need, whether that’s an option that you can cancel with just a few days’ notice or a multi-year contract. 

If you’re not sure how long you’ll be working as a private hire driver, this is a great way of remaining adaptable to other life changes. 

You’re not sure what vehicle to use

When starting out as a private hire driver, it’s difficult to know what vehicle will be best for you to work with. There are a number of important considerations, from fuel efficiency to passenger capacity, that you’ll need to figure out.

PCO car hire companies allow you to try a vehicle out, and then if you don’t get along with it, change to another one. You’ll have to make sure that you communicate these possible changes at the beginning of the process, to make sure that you sign up to an appropriate contract. 

You can’t afford to purchase a vehicle

Buying a vehicle that meets all the requirements for driving with a company like Uber can be massively expensive. Very few people will have that kind of cash saved up, and it can become a big barrier to entry.

A PCO car hire solution only requires having a small amount saved as a deposit, along with the first week or month’s rental cost. If you do want to save up to buy a car, you can then use the rental vehicle to work and save that money.

You’re unsure how long you’ll be working as a private hire driver

If you’re not sure whether private hire work is for you, then a PCO car hire solution can be perfect. If you get along with it, you can stick with the contract and keep on working. If you find that you don’t get along with it, you can stop at any time. 

That added peace of mind that you’re not trapped in for the long haul can be very important to those who are experimenting with a career change, or don’t know how their circumstances are set to change over the coming months. 

You want a smaller administrative load

PCO car hire companies don’t just provide you with a car. They provide you with the vehicle, but also often take care of the administrative and maintenance side of things. 

As a result, you won’t need to deal with insurance, licensing, sorting out breakdowns, or MOTs – all of that will be taken care of. You’ll get a vehicle that’s ready to go from day one, meaning you can get on the road and start working straight away. 

This is often the biggest benefit of using such a service. The stress of managing your own vehicle can be significant, and costs can quickly arise from unexpected breakdowns, both due to the repair costs themselves and from being unable to work while your vehicle is being fixed. 

PCO car hire companies are there to keep you on the road no matter what, all with minimal disruptions and administrative hurdles. 

When an alternative might be better

Of course, there may be some situations where PCO car hire isn’t right for you. 

You want to own your vehicle

If you’re set on owning your own vehicle, and you have the cash to buy it outright, then PCO car hire might not be worth it. You may be better off just buying a vehicle, so long as you can find one in your price range that matches your requirements. 

That being said, there are also PCO car hire contracts that allow you to buy the vehicle after a certain period of time, providing the best of both worlds. 

If you’re interested in this kind of hybrid hire-purchase agreement, it’s worth asking your hire company for more information, to make sure you’re fully aware of all the options. 

You want a very specific vehicle

For drivers who want to work with a very specific model, it might not be possible to use a PCO car hire service. While you’ll be able to choose between a wide range of vehicles already, from luxury Mercedes sedans, BMW’s and KIA’s to the latest Toyota hybrids, if you’re absolutely set on driving a more niche model due to your own personal and professional preferences, you might have to go another route. 

In most cases, private hire drivers will find that PCO car hire is the best option available. There are plenty of different vehicles and rental contracts to choose from, depending on your precise needs. 

Make sure that you ask about all the different options that are available when discussing the terms of your contract, so that you can find the best fit for you.