WhatsAppWhen to consider PCO car hire if you’re London-based
Choosing to work as a private hire driver in London can be an excellent career move. You get flexibility, access to roughly 9 million potential clients, and decent wages if you play your cards right.
Finding a vehicle that’s right for the job can present a bit of a challenge at first, but not if you know where to look. PCO car hire can be an excellent choice for many London-based drivers – here’s when you should consider it as an option.
What is PCO car hire?
First off, PCO car hire refers to cars that are already licensed with the Public Carriage Office, or PCO. The PCO is the part of Transport for London (TfL) that’s responsible for regulating and licensing private hire vehicles – a PCO car needs to have undergone a series of tests and checks before it can be used for that kind of work.
PCO car hire services provide vehicles that have already undergone these checks, and are basically good to go as soon as you sign the rental agreement and pick up the keys. This comes with a whole host of benefits, most of which we get into below.
When PCO car hire works best
There are a whole host of situations where PCO car hire services can be perfect, from new drivers to part-timers.
You’re a new private hire driver
If you’ve just gotten your private hire license, and want to get to work with a platform like Uber or Bolt as soon as possible, then a PCO car hire service could be a perfect solution.
You won’t have to wait until you can afford to buy your own vehicle, and you also won’t have to wait to get all of the checks completed before you’re able to start.
You can just find a provider that has a vehicle that suits your driving needs, get a small deposit together, and start working.
Your regular vehicle isn’t available
PCO car hire solutions can also be ideal as a stopgap solution for drivers who don’t currently have access to their regular vehicle. Whether it’s in the garage for servicing or broken down, without access to a vehicle, you’re otherwise left unable to work and without an income.
A PCO car hire service can provide you with a vehicle for anything from a few days to a few weeks, while you get your car fixed and ready to go again. This can make a massive difference to the impact that these kinds of events have on your life, both practically and in terms of how stressful they can be.
You want to try out a new vehicle
If you’ve been driving for a little while, and want to try out a few new vehicles to see if you might be ready for a change, then a PCO hire service can also come in very handy.
You can try out larger vehicles, luxury sedans that allow you to offer more premium services like Uber Lux, or something that offers a slightly better fuel economy. You won’t be tied into a long-term contract, and can choose to use a vehicle on a more long-term basis once you’ve found one that works perfectly for you.
You’re a part-time driver
If you’re not working as a private hire driver full-time, then you won’t necessarily want to pay for your vehicle while you’re not actually working.
Whether you just work seasonally, or for bigger events, you can pick a rental agreement that doesn’t tie you in for any longer than necessary, meaning that you’re only paying for a vehicle while you need it.
You don’t want to be tied to a vehicle financially
It’s not a secret that cars make terrible investments. If you buy one new, you’re losing about 20% of its value the second you drive it off onto the forecourt, and more with every extra mile you drive it.
As a vehicle owner, you’re also responsible for paying for vehicle repairs and maintenance costs, all of which can easily add up to staggering sums at the drop of a hat.
If you use a PCO car hire service, all of these financial burdens are alleviated. The hire company takes on depreciation-related costs, of course, but will also take on the costs related to both vehicle breakdowns and routine maintenance.
Your own vehicle isn’t eligible
Even if you do own a car that you’re happy with for your own driving purposes, it’s very possible that it won’t be eligible for driving with private hire companies like Uber.
Your vehicle will need to be Zero Emissions Capable, at most 10 years old, have no cosmetic damage, and pass a range of TfL tests before you can use it for work as a private hire driver.
If your own car does match these requirements, then a PCO car hire service can be a great solution. You can keep your own vehicle for personal driving, and have access to a licensed vehicle only when you need it for work.
What to look for in a London-based PCO car hire service
If you decide that you fit into any of these suitability brackets, then you will need to find a suitable service provider. When looking for an option, make sure that you look out for certain features.
The right provider will need to have the right vehicles, of course, but should also offer a complete service. Their vehicles need to be fully licensed, have passed in-depth safety checks, and be reliable.
You should also make sure that your provider is willing to take care of vehicle maintenance and be able to provide you with a backup vehicle should yours need to be repaired or otherwise be made unavailable for maintenance or other checks.
As you’ve likely seen by now, PCO car hire can be an ideal solution in a whole host of situations. If you have your private hire license and want to get on the road, these kinds of providers can help you leap that important hurdle of getting your hands on the right car, with minimal delay.