WhatsAppWhat to look for in a PCO car hire provider
Using a PCO car hire provider is one of the easiest ways to get yourself on the road as a private hire driver. These comprehensive services provide you with vehicles that are ready to get going as soon as you need, without any of the faff usually associated with owning, servicing, insuring and licensing a car.
For things to be really quite that easy, you do need to make sure that you go with the right option for your needs. From licensing to customer support, these are a few of the main things to look out for in a PCO car hire provider.
Fully licensed cars
What typically marks a PCO Car Hire provider apart from a regular car hire provider is the fact that the cars they provide will be ready to work in as soon as you get them.
The car hire service will already have taken care of all of the bureaucratic parts like TfL PHV licensing, and potentially even insurance, meaning all you need to do is sort out your own private hire driver’s license, and you’re ready to get working.
Check whether this is actually the case with the options that you’re considering. Ask them exactly what parts of the paperwork side of things you’re expected to deal with, so that you’re not hit with any unexpected bureaucratic burdens.
Suitable contracts
It’s important that you find a car hire company that can provide a suitable contract. For example, if you’re not sure how long you’ll need the vehicle for, it might be important that your contract has early release options that don’t come with extortionate fees.
Make sure that you read through the contract thoroughly before you sign anything, looking at minimum term, damage waivers, missed payment fees, and anything else that might be relevant to your driving needs. If English is your second language, it could be a good idea to have a friend read through the contract with you to make sure that you’ve understood everything properly.
A solid range of options
Unless you know exactly what vehicle you want to drive, it can be a good idea to choose a hire service that has a few different vehicles for you to choose from. If you can find a contract that allows for vehicle swapping at certain intervals, you can try out different models, allowing you to find the perfect option for specific professional needs.
Different models will provide different levels of personal comfort, and also allow you to tap into different private hire markets. Whether you go for a premium option or a more basic, economy option, the opportunity to test out a range of models can be really beneficial.
Clear costs
Something that you absolutely want to avoid is a car hire company that slides in hidden costs. Make sure that you know exactly how much the deposit is, how much all the administration fees will add up to, any mileage limits, tyre replacement policies, and ask to have all of these put together in your final quote so that you don’t have to add them up yourself.
It can be a good idea to check online reviews to see whether the provider you’re considering is known for slipping in hidden fee rises. Previous customers will likely have reported these kinds of issues, and by quickly checking, you can hopefully avoid them.
Sorting out car issues
Another aspect that’s critical to look into is how the car hire provider will aim to keep you on the road should something go wrong with your vehicle. Cars can and do go wrong – what’s important is that you find a service that can deal with those issues quickly and efficiently, resulting in minimal downtime on your side of things.
Ask about who is responsible for vehicle maintenance and repair, and look into the kind of breakdown support that you will be eligible for. It’s also important to look into whether or not the hire company will be able to provide you with a replacement vehicle while your vehicle is in for servicing or repair, so that you don’t have to deal with any unnecessary downtime in your earnings.
Customer support
Dealing with car issues can be stressful enough without also having to navigate subpar customer support services. Ideally, you want to find a car hire provider with a team of support agents who are easy to get hold of, and who can help you to sort out your issues as soon as reasonably possible.
You should be able to get some kind of idea as to the quality of customer support that you’ll receive from your initial interactions. That being said, it’s also worth checking reviews from prior customers, to see if there’s anything that they’ve noted in that area of service, whether positive or negative.
Vehicles that come as-described
This one might sound obvious, but you’ll be surprised by how many car hire providers don’t actually give you the vehicle that they’ve promised. Unless you’re happy receiving a generic model of a general type, make sure that the company you’re considering going with actually provides the specific make, model and year that you request.
This should be easy enough to double-check. Simply ask the company rep that you’re in contact with what their policy is in this area, and if they can’t give you a straightforward answer right away, you should probably look somewhere else.
Finding the right PCO car hire provider can take a bit of effort in terms of research, but it’s well worth putting in that extra time. If you’re planning on potentially using that same vehicle for years to come, you don’t want to find yourself tied to an organisation that’s difficult to deal with.
All those seemingly inconsequential issues, like customer support and breakdown cover, can end up making a huge difference to your experience as a private hire driver. Make sure you find a solution that’s perfect for your needs, and doesn’t just scrape by with the bare minimum.