What should you look for when Choosing a Business Vehicle?
If you’re investing in a car for business use as well as personal, then your decision might be informed by an entirely different set of criteria. What’s good for a weekend trip to the shops, or a drive over to a friend’s house, might not be quite so suitable if you’re travelling the length and breadth of the country, and trying to impress clients along the way.
So, what sort of things should we look for when picking out a new vehicle for business?
Emissions
With clean-air zones being rolled out across the UK, drivers will find themselves increasingly punished for driving high-emission cars through city centres. If you’re doing this regularly, then the financial burden might well be considerable. It might well work out that paying a little bit extra for a low-emissions, or no-emission, vehicle is far preferable. This pressure toward making the switch to electric is compounded by the road tax system, which heavily favours electric vehicles.
Fuel Efficiency
By the same token, the more money you’re spending on actually getting from place to place, the more your business costs will escalate. This is something that’s especially pertinent if you’re travelling long distances for business reasons.
Comfort
Ensuring that your time in the driver’s seat is pleasant will make a difference if you’re going to be spending a lot of time there. If you’re going to be entertaining clients, or would-be investors and collaborators, then the experience inside your car is going to be that much more important. It’ll help you to establish the right message.
Lifestyle
Your choice of occupation will go a long way toward determining what’s important in your car. If you’re going to be using your car to do the school run, then getting something that’s appropriately spacious might be critical. Getting something with foldable seats in the back might help you to adapt the car to the different parts of your life.
Depreciation
The price you pay for a new car comes with a significant premium built-in. Go instead to the used market, and you’ll avoid paying it. You can still retain the convenience and security of buying new by visiting a reputable vendor.
The Future
You’re not just buying a car for the here and now; ideally, it’ll be an investment for the future. Think about how much difficulty you’ll have in moving it on, should your needs change. Your family might grow, or you might find that you need extra room in the boot.
If you anticipate that you’re going to need something in a year’s time, or even less, then it might be worth looking at a long-term lease rather than a purchase.