Choosing the right type of car for you with PCO hire

When starting out as a PCO driver, one of the first things you’ll need to do is choose a vehicle. There are an almost overwhelming number of options on the market, and deciding which one best suits your personal needs can take a lot of work.

Luckily, there are a few basic areas that you can focus on in order to simplify the process somewhat. From compliance to customer suitability, these are a few things to keep in mind.

Compliance

The first thing you need to make sure of is that the car you choose is compliant with the kind of PCO work you want to do. One of the most important requirements is age – most need to be less than 10 years old when being licensed. There is a little leniency when it comes to electric cars, but in general, this is the rule. 

Diesel vehicles must meet Euro 6 standards, while petrol ones must meet Euro 4 standards. They need to be able to meet TfL safety standards as well, and must have four doors and be able to carry at least four passengers.

Comfort

As you’ll be spending the vast majority of your working week in your car, you need to choose something that’s comfortable. That means a seat that suits your specific physiology, climate control, and any other personal requirements that you might have. 

You may find that there are certain features that also make driving a lot easier for you, like lane assist or cruise control. Working out what these are takes some trial and error, of course. 

Cost

You’ll also want to figure out how much you can spend on a car, both on the initial purchase (or lease) and on running costs. Buying a car outright can be prohibitively expensive for a lot of people, but rental services like Westgate PCO Car Hire can make that a lot more manageable. 

You’ll also want to look at things like running costs, perhaps most importantly at fuel efficiency. With EVs and hybrids, you can find some very efficient models nowadays, and even if they cost a little more, they can pay for themselves in a relatively short time frame.

Customer suitability

Lastly, you’ll need to make sure that the vehicle you choose is suitable for the passengers you want to take. For standard services, something relatively normal like a Toyota Prius should be fine. 

If you want to carry more passengers, however, or offer a more premium service, then you’ll need to be a bit more specific. Either an SUV or a luxury saloon could be more suited to these needs, depending on your precise driving goals.

Choosing a PCO car isn’t too difficult, it just takes a bit of planning. By getting clear on your personal criteria before you start with your search, you can help to hone down what it is that you’re actually looking for, making the whole thing a bit less overwhelming. The car you choose will have a big impact on your experience – it’s important that you get it just right.