Choosing The Right Vehicle For Your Business

The options for your business vehicle are endless. You can choose from a hatchback, saloon, estate, van, MPV or a long wheel base truck. Getting the decision wrong can be a costly mistake for your business and one that it can be hard to recover from. This is not a decision that you should make in isolation. Consult with other members of your team and establish what their needs and opinions are. Here are some things that you should always bear in mind when you are choosing your vehicle.

Vehicle price and acquisition

The cost of the vehicle is always going to be your prime deciding factor. Work out what your budget is and stick to it. You need to factor in the original purchase price of the vehicle, taxes, delivery costs, insurance costs and running costs such as fuel and tyres.

A top tip is to get in touch with a van insurance broker and work out the best deal for your business vehicle insurance. Because you will be comparing quotes from up to 20 insurers via an online quotation system you can be certain that you are getting the best deal.

Try to look at the long-term as well as the short-term implications of your purchase. If you are financially tied to the into the wrong vehicle it could prove to be a very costly mistake.

The driver of the vehicle makes a big difference

The driver of the vehicle must be consulted. They are the one that will be spending the most time in the car or van. They must find it comfortable and suitable for their job. They must also like it! If they like the vehicle they are more likely to treat it with respect and look after it and that will cut down on your maintenance costs. In-cab aesthetics and ergonomics are taken seriously by vehicle manufacturers now. If you are able to let your drivers test-drive the vehicles that is ideal.

You also have to bear in mind the experience and skills of the driver. Will they be able to drive the new vehicle and do they have the appropriate licence to do so.

Plan out the loads that you need to transport

Think about the loads that you need to carry. Will they fit into the vehicle? Also, think about how you will load them into the vehicle. Do you need drop sides or even an integrated lift system?

Choosing an inappropriate size will cost you money. If it’s too big you are paying for wasted space. If it is too small you will end up having to make multiple journeys. You can find useful information and guidance on how to load a van correctly on the DVSA website.

Plan out the vehicle usage

Think through the fuel type, annual mileage and journey type as these all have a huge impact on running costs. You need to plan out the number of passengers, the load, and the type of terrain that you will be driving over when you consider the power that you need the vehicle to have. Do you need to tow any heavy loads? If you do then you will need a bigger engine and pay for a tow hitch to be fitted.

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