Why consider short-term PCO car hire?

Working as a private hire driver in London can be incredibly rewarding. You get to tap into almost ten million potential passengers, choose your own hours, and decide how much you work every week.

Of course, one of the most important things you’ll have to sort out is the car that you’ll drive. Here, we take a look at the benefits associated with choosing a short-term PCO car hire solution – from the opportunity it can provide you with to try different vehicles, to its potential use as a stop gap solution while your usual car is getting fixed.

 

The chance to try different vehicles

To truly thrive as a private hire driver in London, you first need to find the right vehicle. Exactly what this vehicle is depends on a number of factors, including the target audience you’re aiming to work for, your budget, and, of course, any personal preferences you have surrounding vehicle comfort and driving styles.

By using a short-term PCO car hire service, you get the opportunity to try out a range of different vehicles without having to commit to them in the long term from the very beginning. 

You can try out a few different models that you’re considering, and then once you have a better idea of what those options are like when actually used on the job, you can make an informed decision about which one you want to choose in the long run.

 

No long-term commitment

There are multiple reasons besides trying different vehicles why it might be beneficial to have access to a car, without having to commit to long-term hire or purchase arrangements. For example, you may not be sure whether or not you want to work in the private hire niche, and might want to try it out for a couple of months before committing to a longer-term plan.

Similarly, you may have another form of employment already that you’re quite happy with, and only need to work as a private hire driver between contracts or while you take a pause from your main career. 

Being able to access a high-quality vehicle that is ready to go, without having to commit to it for a longer period of time, can make it possible to work as a private hire driver in London without those commitment-related barriers to entry.

 

Start earning ASAP

If you have another vehicle sorted out, or want to more seriously consider other options that are potentially available to you, then a short term PCO car hire solution allows you to start earning ASAP, while you sort out those other issues.

It means that you can avoid those damaging breaks in income that can be particularly stressful, especially in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. 

If you really need to minimise the amount of time that you’re left without a stream of income, then it could be worth crunching the numbers and going for a short-term hire solution to keep you on the road.

 

A quick fix while your car is broken

Being unable to work because your car has broken down can be an incredibly stressful situation to find yourself in as a private hire driver. You will already have your license fully set up, and likely have your entire personal and professional life oriented around that kind of work, but simply be unable to work because of technical difficulties.

A short-term PCO car hire solution allows you to stay on the road with minimal interruption while your regular car is being fixed. You’re not forced to sign up for a long-term plan, and if you go on a short, rolling contract, you can simply keep the car for as long as you need, and then give it back to the car hire provider when your regular car is good to go again.

 

When it might not be a good idea

There are also some situations where a short-term hire solution might not be an appropriate option. For example, if you already know exactly what vehicle you want to drive, and know that you will be driving that specific vehicle for the foreseeable future, you will likely want to go with a long-term hire option, or even purchase that vehicle.

Short-term hire options tend to be a little bit more expensive, a price premium that is worth paying if you need that increased flexibility. However, if you know what your professional driving situation will look like for a while to come, it could be more cost-effective to choose a longer-term solution.

 

Testing the numbers

It’s worth doing some basic calculations to see how things will work out financially before you choose a car hire solution. Try to do some basic predictions on how much you will be able to earn over a week, based on how many hours you’re able to put in, the time of day that you will be able to work, and the kinds of rides that you will be doing (airport runs, events, commute, post nights-out, etc.). 

Next, you’ll want to add up all of the costs associated with working as a private hire driver. With car hire services, this calculation is often simplified somewhat, given that the hire fee often also includes servicing, licensing, MOT, and a range of other bureaucratic fees. Your operating costs will likely primarily consist of car hire, fuel costs, and, if you want to be really detailed about it, income tax and national insurance deductions.

If you can subtract your costs from your predicted earnings, and end up with a figure that comfortably covers your living costs plus a tiny bit extra (ideally), then it’s likely the case that the car hire solution will be financially appropriate for you. 

Short term PCO car hire Solutions can be incredibly useful for a range of Private Hire drivers. They can either get you on or keep you on the road in a range of potentially tricky situations, allowing you to maintain a steady stream of income and keep your financial worries to a minimum.