A van breaking down or needing to go in for repair can be a massive inconvenience for your business. With the cost of new vans rising in line with inflation, and the research needed to undertake looking at purchasing a new van, hiring a van in the meantime can save you a lot of the stress, inconvenience and cost to you and your business. Especially when it comes to fleet vehicles! Leasing vans is an option, but as with purchasing a new van it can be a risky investment, compounded by maintenance, administration, and compliance costs. That’s why as a self-drive company, we offer flexible van hire to suit the short or longer term needs of your business. Here is everything you need to know about the benefits of hiring a van for your business.
What is flexible van hire?
Flexible van hire was a concept born to assist businesses who needed to hire a van for a specific amount of time, perhaps with a varying amounts of vans depending on the demands on your business. You could be a sole trader needing just the one van or a fleet manager requiring several. The purchase of just one fleet vehicle can be expensive, let alone a few so instead of hiring a van through standard hire such long term lease agreements, flexible hire offers competitive, customised quotes to assist your business. It also eliminates the need for long term contracts that often have the same financial commitment as purchasing new vehicles.
So, what are the benefits?
When you purchase a new vehicle, you are not just paying for the new van. You would also be paying to insure it, any maintenance needed or consequent repair costs in the event this vehicle also broke down. Recent studies have indicated that a van breakdown can cost a business on average £500 per day when taking into account loss of earnings and covering staff wages etc. At Skipton Self Drive, we can help you get back on the road quickly and ensure your business can continue to operate whilst your own vehicle is being repaired. Although as a hirer you’re ultimately responsible for the vehicle under the terms of the rental agreement and insurance, having the ability to replace your van with a like-for-like is great peace of mind for many of our business customers.
It's important to note that the actual cost of a van breakdown will depend on the specific circumstances, the size of the business, and the duration of the breakdown. Having a contingency plan, regular vehicle maintenance, and proper insurance coverage can help mitigate some of these costs and minimise the impact of a breakdown on your business.
You have a safety net
Aside from needing to purchase, insure and protect a new van, you would also need to ensure that your vehicles receive regular servicing and MOT’s, as well as the cost of any preventative maintenance. This can be very costly for a small business, and if you have not had enough business to cover this eventuality, you may find that flexible van hire is actually a cheaper alternative. Flexible van hire also ensures that you have 24/7, 365 days a year cover, meaning you don’t need to worry about paying a premium on insurance if you have a last minute delivery to make!
Besides from having unexpected demand on your business, which is obviously a good thing, there’s also the unfortunate occasions when your vans might suffer a breakdown, and you need to hire a van in the short term out of necessity. Many of our business customers like knowing they have a local business they can call upon last minute to ensure their business can keep operating, even if one or more of their fleet vehicles are out of action. We will always try where possible to accommodate last minute bookings.
Expansion
Flexible van hire is not just to cover emergencies. If you have a surge in demand or you quickly need to expand your team and operations, flexible van hire can allow you to expand quickly whilst you are sourcing a more permanent vehicle solution. We may even be able to assist you with that! The last thing you need is to have to say no to more prospective business, on the basis that you don’t have the fleet capacity to fulfil the demand.
Flexibility of options
Another issue many small businesses face is buying a versatile van for many different purposes. If one business day you require a small van but the next day you could benefit from a Luton van, you may find yourself having to make extra trips and so decreasing your profit margin. Having the ability to hire the exact van for your specific requirements means there’s not wastage and your business can operate in a lean and efficient way.
Contract Hire & Leasing
As well as offering flexible rentals, we also offer contract hire and leasing for both cars and vans, therefore offering a longer-term selection for your business, which over the course of a 2-4 year agreement often works out more cost effective than regular flexible rentals. We work closely with major manufacturers, large motor groups and prominent finance and leasing companies, so we can offer some of the most competitive car and van leasing rates.
Give it a try
If you are still unsure, there is absolutely no harm in having a free consultation to discuss your business needs. We are available 7 days a week, making us perfect for an unexpected weekend journey too. Contact us on 01756 792911 or use our contact form or online booking portal here.
