Ask these questions when choosing a fleet or commercial vehicle provider

Whether you are exploring or looking to change vehicle providers, the following information will help you find the best provider for your business.

Not all vehicle providers are made equal. Differences in price, the services they can provide, how well-established they are, and how many locations they have are just some of the big factors that set providers apart.

To help you get the most from your vehicle provider, we’ve put together a list of questions to ask them.

How can you tailor your service around my needs?

The right vehicle provider is one that can get you the vehicles you need, as and when you need them.
Checking the number of vehicles, type, delivery times, and durations that a provider has vehicles for is a good place to start in ensuring they can meet your needs.

The best providers won’t just be ‘order-takers’. It is a good sign if a provider is advising you on the most economical vehicle to meet your requirements.

Bigger providers that have strong partnerships with manufacturers may also be able to find a vehicle that is modified to your needs.

Having answers to the above will give you an idea of how a provider can fulfil your needs in the long-term.

How will you ensure the vehicle you’re providing me works?

No one likes paying for something that’s broken. Unfortunately, it’s a fact of running any vehicle that they need continuous maintenance and are subject to breaking down.

To keep the costs of vehicle downtime to a minimum, asking your provider about their process for breakdown cover, replacement vehicles,  repairs, servicing and manufacturer recalls is a must.

 Finding out whether your provider owns their workshops and the location of them is also good-practice.
If issues occurred, knowing that there’s a workshop nearby to get back up and running is helpful. The bigger providers will have nationwide coverage.

These factors can influence how quickly your vehicle provider can get your business back on the road.

What is included in the price I pay?

Vehicle providers offering the cheapest prices tend to offer less as part of the package. Going for the cheapest price could mean paying more over the long term.

Here are some of the services to look for that tend to get dropped from cheaper deals:

• Servicing and Maintenance
• Tyres
• Breakdown Cover
• Replacement Vehicles
• Road tax

If you plan to rent or lease a vehicle, it can be worth checking the provider’s policy on damages and excess mileage to avoid surprise costs. Any charges should be transparent.

Predicting the running costs of a vehicle can be easier when you know what’s included in its cost.

How can you support my business’s growth and continued success?

Asking a provider about their add-on services could help you distinguish them from the others.

If fleet management is offered by your provider, they can help you reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and free up time so you or your team can focus on your core business.

Other services and benefits to ask about include fuel cards, accident management, insurance, and telematics. 

How can Northgate help?

Northgate can provide you with hire vans and fleet management services tailored to your business.

With the UK’s largest LCV provider behind you and over 52,000 vehicles to choose from, you can scale your fleet size up or down easily and make use of over 35 years of industry experience. 

Our hire options include servicing, maintenance, 24/7 breakdown cover, and road tax as standard – all for just one regular payment.

 If you’re looking to find out more about the many benefits of choosing Northgate as your vehicle provider, why not speak with one of our expert fleet consultants?

Contact us or take a look at our Hire Options for more details