We know that part of managing a fleet involves finding short-term solutions when a driver is without a vehicle, which is why business vehicle hire can be a great tool for you to utilise. We’ve put all the key information into this helpful guide so you can see how you might use car rentals within your fleet.
What is business car rental?
Car rental is simply when a business uses a car for a short period of time and pays the rental company for the use of it.
Having access to business car rental is a great solution for fleets as there are many occasions when your drivers may be in need of a vehicle for a short period of time where it might otherwise be impractical or difficult to arrange one.
Renting a car can be less of a commitment than a lease as you don't have to agree to have the vehicle for a set period of time and won't usually need to pay a charge to hand the vehicle back (unless you have agreed to a long-term business rental arrangement for a lower price, such as our flexifleet offering, and you terminate before the agreed period).
Business car rental is much more flexible and you can often agree to keep a vehicle on a rolling basis, paying a daily rental charge, or if you know it will definitely be needed for at least 84 days our flexifleet offering could be exactly what you need.
Business vehicle hire versus business leasing
We mentioned above that there are occasions when renting a car rather than leasing might be a better choice. Here are five of the most common circumstances where renting provides a more sensible, economical alternative to leasing:
1. You’ve employed a new member of staff and are waiting for their company car to arrive but need to keep them mobile until then.
2. A driver is visiting another location for a business meeting and though they could get a train there, they need the freedom their own vehicle will provide.
3. An existing vehicle has been involved in an accident or needs some maintenance and you're unable to arrange an alternative vehicle via other methods.
4. A lease vehicle has been returned to the funder at the end of its contract but the replacement hasn't been delivered and you need a stop gap that can be returned with little notice.
5. You need a vehicle for a specific job but won't need it after the project is complete.
There are many other reasons that you might find yourself looking for a business rental vehicle but these are some common situations that we encounter with our clients.
How does business car rental work?
Whether you're renting for your business or personal use the process is fairly similar so if you've ever hired a car for a holiday or short term vehicle solution then you'll know how it works. You request a vehicle for hire and then arrange to collect it or for it to be dropped off to you and use the vehicle until it's time to return it.
If you want to discuss how car and van rental will work for you then please give us a call on 01722 322 888 and our rental team will be happy to help.
Benefits of car rental for businesses
There are many benefits to using a rental vehicle for short to mid-term vehicle solutions within your fleet, including:
- The ability to have the vehicle for a flexible time period from as little as a few hours to several months on end
- Aqcuiring the vehicle at short notice
- Returning the vehicle quickly with no extra charges
- Convenient pick up / collection locations around the UK
- Only using vehicles as and when you need them
- No depreciating assets on your books
- Zero responsibility for maintaining and servicing the vehicle
- Longer rentals of set periods get better rates than daily rental prices
Things to consider when renting business vehicles
Although there are many benefits to utilising a rental vehicle there are also factors that you need to be aware of and accommodate for.
If you're looking for a more long term solution and know you will need the vehicle for over 18 months then a lease agreement may better suit you with potentially cheaper prices and the ability to select the specific vehicle make and model.
With a rental car you can choose a category of vehicle but not the specific model, as this can’t always be guaranteed to be available when you want it or for the duration of the time you require it. This means there may not always be the convenience and safety features that your drivers are accustomed to.
You may decide to take out additional products such as rental insurance, which provides a higher level of insurance coverage than the basic insurance most vehicles are supplied with.
A rental vehicle will need returning to the rental company and when you do so it will be inspected for any damage, excessive wear or fault due to driver negligence and so depending on how the vehicle has been cared for, you may receive additional charges.
Is car rental the right option for my business?
Only you can decide if car rental is the right choice for your business, but if your fleet is managed by Wessex Fleet or you want to discuss your options then our team is always on hand in order to help you make an informed decision.
We find that car rental is a useful funding method for short-term vehicle needs and a great tool to have in your fleet management box, most effective when used as part of a larger fleet policy and combined funding strategy.
What are the alternatives to business car rental?
As well as car rental we recommend looking at more long-term funding methods including car leasing and outright purchase. These are two great alternatives if you're looking to create a more permanent fleet and can be used in combination with rental vehicles to get the right balance.
Wessex Fleet business rental
Here at Wessex Fleet, we are able to provide our business clients with a straightforward and easy to use rental solution for their business.
We’re here to help with your rental needs whether that's short-term daily vehicles around the country or a longer monthly rental.
As we work with all of the UK’s main rental suppliers we can supply vehicles to customers around the UK with access to over 550,000 at three hundred locations and can usually arrange a rental car within two hours.
We have an easy to use online booking system which has been designed to make it as quick and simple as possible for you to get the right hire car for your needs. We'll set you up on this system once you are a Wessex Fleet rentals customer and our rental team are also available to help you on the phone.
If you’d like to learn more about arranging business car rental with Wessex Fleet then please get in touch on 01722 322 888 or request a call back here.
Which cars can I rent from Wessex Fleet?
Here at Wessex Fleet, we work with a number of large national vehicle rental providers as well as having our own fleet of business rental vehicles available. This means that we can arrange the hire of nearly any vehicle you want - from a Toyota Aygo X all the way up to a 17-seat minibus and everything in between! For our corporate clients, we're also able to arrange rental of more specialist vehicles including refrigerated vans.
To learn more about how we can help you head over to our main business vehicle rental page.
Can I take a rental car abroad?
Yes, your drivers can travel abroad with a business rental vehicle but there are a few extra steps that need to be taken to arrange this. You'll need to contact us in order to arrange additional documentation, like the VE103 which proves your right to use a vehicle, and there may be additional insurance requirements.
We recommend contacting the rental provider at least a week or so before you travel to make sure everything is in place before your trip.