Buying fleet cars for your business is a major investment.
For some businesses, a fleet of cars is a necessary part of daily operations. Whether you are delivering your own goods, running a courier service or dispatching your team to meet with clients, if your business needs its own wheels, it only makes sense to look for the best deal.
What are some of the things to take into consideration when searching for fleet cars for your business?
Choose the Right Vehicles for Your Business
Every business has different needs when it comes to company vehicles.
Ask yourself:
• Will my employees be driving mostly in urban or rural areas?
• What kind of mileage do I anticipate each year?
• How many people will each vehicle typically carry?
• Will the vehicles be carrying any goods?
A vehicle that is well suited to long distance rural driving may not be well suited to the stop and start of city motoring, and vice versa.
By getting a clear idea of how your company will use the vehicle, you can better match the wheels to the road they’ll be traveling.
Think about Green Choices
Choosing greener options isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for your business, too.
Cars with lower fuel consumption mean less fuel costs for you. Depending on your needs, you might find that a hybrid electric car is a good choice for your business.
Some states offer tax breaks for investing in hybrid cars – check out your local jurisdiction to find out.
If hybrid vehicles aren’t the right investment for you, you will find there are plenty of traditional vehicles on the market that offer lower fuel consumption and emissions, which is good for your business budget and the environment.
Talk to the Right Salesperson
When you’re shopping around for your fleet cars, ask if the dealer you’re talking with has a dedicated fleet sales manager.
Many vehicle dealerships have fleet sales managers who will be able to give you the best advice on the vehicles that are available and which ones are most likely to suit your needs.
Fleet sales managers are also the best source of information on potential bulk purchase deals, which can save your business hundreds of dollars on the purchase of fleet vehicles.
Consider Your Finance Options
One of the biggest considerations when buying your fleet is financing it, and as “Better Business in Car Financing” points out, choosing the right finance option for your car purchase is vital to getting a good deal.
For some businesses, leasing rather than buying is helpful, as costs are spread over the course of the lease agreement, and at the end of the lease period the car can be returned without the need to take it on as a permanent asset.
Buying the vehicle at the end of the lease is also a possibility.
Leasing is a particularly good option if your business will only keep the vehicle for three or four years, if you are going to run up a lot of miles, or if you want to spread the cost.
Looking for a loan rather than outright purchase is also a viable option for some businesses – if you can find a loan with a low or even zero interest rate, you can purchase the vehicles you need for your business without making a large payment out of your coffers up front.
Vehicles are useful assets for your business.
If you are looking for the most amount of miles for your money, it’s important to shop around in terms of the vehicles you choose, where you purchase them and how you finance them.
Careful consideration and comparison is key to finding the right vehicles for your business at the right price.
About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a wide variety of topics, including social media, fleet cars, loans and financing and SEO.