If you are a PCO driver, having the right car is essential to start earning. However, the world of PCO car hire is full of shiny promises. If you trust them blindly, you could end up with a lot of headaches that could have been easily avoided.
Too many drivers make the mistake of choosing low weekly rates, only to find out later on that their insurance coverage isn’t what they had expected, or they are not getting 24/7 breakdown assistance which is norm in the PCO world.
As a result, when something goes wrong with their car, they are left to deal with the issues on their own, which can be extremely stressful at times.
In this article, we will mention the mistakes that most PCO drivers make when choosing a package. We will also explain how to avoid those mistakes so you can make an informed decision when getting a PCO car.
Mistake 1: Not Reading the Fine Print on Insurance Coverage
Many PCO drivers believe that all car insurance plans are the same. They assume that once they sign the contract, they will be covered from every angle. It’s not entirely their fault because many PCO hire companies advertise their packages using the ‘fully insured’ term. However, when you go into the details or are in the middle of a claim, you realise that certain types of damages or claims are not covered in your package.
Typically, these types of packages only include third-party coverage, which means you are only covered if you cause damage or injuries to a third party. In case you damage your own car, you are on your own.
What’s worse, some companies require you to pay sky high excess fees. An excess fee around £500 is reasonable but if you are asked to pay like £1500 before the insurance even kicks in, that’s a red flag.
How to avoid this?
Read the fine print carefully before signing the contract. Ask the right questions and demand comprehensive insurance, which typically includes:
- Third-party liability (for damage or injuries caused to others)
- Passenger liability (for injuries caused to passengers while you were driving)
- Vehicle damage cover (for when you are involved in an accident and damage your own car)
- Reasonable excess (normally between £500-£750)
- Legal assistance where possible
PCO car providers that work with good car insurance companies will have no problem offering you comprehensive insurance.
Mistake 2: Overlooking Breakdown Assistance
Every PCO driver dreads breakdowns because they can hit you out of nowhere and leave you stuck for hours if you don’t have the right support. It doesn’t matter if you are doing airport runs or driving in the middle of the night in East London, the moment your car stops working, you will be unable to earn money.
Things become even more frustrating when your car provider refuses to offer assistance, or their idea of assistance is to forward your name to a third party that doesn’t answer the phone after 6:00 pm. As a result, you will be left on your own to find a tow truck or garage and pay the bills out of your own pocket.
How to avoid this?
Before signing the contract, ask if the package includes 24/7 breakdown assistance, not just cover or availability during working hours. Also, ask for a guarantee that if your car breaks down at 3:00 am, the support will be available and help will be on the way immediately. No waiting around. No wondering.
Remember that time is money in the PCO world. Every minute you spend off the road due to a car fault is a minute you are not earning. So, make sure your car provider will be available when you need them the most.
Mistake 3: Falling for Cheap Weekly Rates Without Checking the Hidden Charges
Another mistake PCO drivers make when signing the PCO car hire contract is falling for cheap rates without checking the mileage cap. You might be tempted to sign a £199 per week deal because it seems great on the surface. However, when you dig a little deeper, you realise that it comes with a small mileage cap – something between 500 to 700 miles per week.
If you are a new driver who doesn’t know much about rental or rent to buy cars, you may not pay attention to it at first but when you actually start offering rides, you will discover that this mileage cap is not enough and you end up consuming all of it by mid week.
As a result, you will have to pay extra charges for every mile you cover. Usually, the cost ranges between £0.15 and £0.25 per extra mile. This may not seem much at first but when you are doing airport runs or long haul trips, the costs can pile up soon.
Suddenly, the £199 per week deal is costing you £250 or even £300 per week.
How to avoid this?
Before agreeing to anything, ask how many miles you are getting per week. Also ask what are the charges per extra mile and whether they offer unlimited mileage or not. A package with high or unlimited mileage cap may cost you extra £20 or £30. However, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Mistake 4: Choosing a Provider That Doesn’t Prioritise Fast Repairs
When you rent PCO car, you should prioritise a company that offers fast repairs. This is because the more quickly your car gets fixed, the more quickly you will be back on the road earning.
Some PCO drivers don’t consider this aspect. As a result, they get stuck with companies that don’t value their time and take days or weeks to repair the car issues.
We are not talking about major issues. We are talking about small problems such as a faulty indicator, a blown tyre, paint correction, etc. These types of issues usually take hours to fix. However, with the wrong company, you will mostly get one of the following responses:
- We’ll get back to you.
- We have informed the garage.
- Can you get the repairs done yourself? We’ll reimburse you later.
The truth is that very few companies reimburse the drivers. The ones that offer reimbursements do so after countless emails and runarounds.
How to avoid this?
If you are searching auto body repair near me online because your car provider refused to handle repairs, there’s a way to avoid this. Simply ask the following questions before signing the contract:
- How quickly do you offer repairs?
- Do you have an in-house team of mechanics or do you partner with third-party garages to fix car issues?
- Do you provide replacement vehicles if my car is expected to be off-road for a long time?
If you don’t get a satisfactory answer to these questions, it’s time to consider other options.
Mistake 5: Forgetting to Ask About Licensing and Compliance
A harsh reality of PCO world is that just because a car is available for rent doesn’t mean it’s road legal. Some companies try to trick drivers by offering them cars with invalid MOTs, expired PHV licenses, or vehicles that are older than 10 years.
TfL has strict criteria for private hire vehicles. If you are caught driving a vehicle that doesn’t meet their criteria, you could end up with hefty fines and you may also have your PCO licence revoked.
The worst part is that TfL won’t hold the car provider responsible. You will be the one who takes the fall.
How to avoid this?
Before agreeing the terms, ask questions like:
- Is this car PHV licensed and ULEZ compliant?
- How old is the vehicle?
- When was the last MOT done and when will the next one be?
Don’t just believe what they say. Ask for proof. A reliable company should be transparent, confident, and able to show you documents. However, if they are hesitant or vague in their answers and refuse to provide you with documented proof, consider this a red flag.
Conclusion
This was some essential information on mistakes that drivers make when choosing PCO cars for rent and how to avoid them. Although the process of picking a PCO car can be tricky at times, if you do your homework and go into the market well prepared, you can find the right deal which is important to drive with peace of mind. So, follow the tips we mentioned in this article and good luck with your car hunt.
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