When you started your business, having a fleet probably wasn’t part of the plan.
What begins as one company car or van quickly becomes a replacement vehicle for a colleague. Then a new starter needs one. Then someone needs something bigger. Then a vehicle comes off the road and a rental is needed to keep things moving.
Before long, what was once a simple business decision has become one of the biggest costs in the organisation.
In fact, for many businesses, vehicles are second only to payroll when it comes to expenditure.
The surprising part? It often happens without anyone ever making a conscious decision to build a fleet.
Vehicles have a habit of creeping up on businesses. One becomes three. Three becomes ten. Before long, you’re committing significant amounts of money every month while juggling multiple suppliers, agreements and challenges.
Some vehicles are leased. Others were purchased years ago. A few are rented when things get busy. Every agreement sits somewhere different. Every supplier has their own process. Every vehicle issue somehow ends up landing on the desk of somebody who’s already got a full-time job.
It carries on like that until someone eventually asks the question:
‘How did we end up managing all of this?’
That’s typically where we get involved.
Not because businesses suddenly decide they want a fleet provider.
Because they want more control. Less administration. Better visibility of costs. And a vehicle strategy that actually supports growth rather than creating headaches.
Your vehicles shouldn’t be running the business
Whether you’re operating five vehicles or five hundred, the objectives are usually the same:
- Keep costs predictable
- Look after employees
- Stay flexible when plans change
- Spend less time dealing with vehicle administration.
Simple enough in theory.
The reality is often very different.
Many organisations end up managing vehicle provision through multiple suppliers and disconnected solutions:
- One provider for company cars
- Another for rental
- Another for employee vehicle schemes
- Different account managers
- Different invoices
- Different systems.
And a lot more administration than anyone ever expected.
We think businesses are overcomplicating vehicle provision.
There is a better way
A joined-up mobility strategy gives businesses a single partner capable of supporting vehicle requirements at every stage of growth.
From Business Contract Hire and Salary Sacrifice through to Daily Rental and Fleet Management, the goal should be simple: create a solution that works for your people, your operation and your budget.
Better for employees
Attracting and retaining good people has become one of the biggest challenges facing employers. Salary is still important, but increasingly employees are looking at the wider package and asking what else their employer can offer.
That’s one of the reasons salary sacrifice has become such a popular option.
A well-structured scheme allows employees to drive a brand-new electric vehicle through a single monthly deduction from gross salary, with insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and other running costs included. For many employees it provides access to a vehicle that would otherwise sit outside their budget, while employers gain a benefit that genuinely adds value to their employee proposition.
Better for cash flow
Business Contract Hire helps organisations access the vehicles they need without tying up valuable capital. Predictable monthly costs, clear replacement cycles and reduced exposure to depreciation create a scalable approach to vehicle provision.
Many businesses are surprised when they compare true ownership costs against modern funding options. That’s why we start with the numbers, not assumptions.
Better for flexibility
Businesses win contracts, projects get extended and vehicle requirements change quickly.
Our Daily Rental solutions provide access to vehicles when they’re needed without long-term commitment, helping organisations remain productive when circumstances change.
Backed by automotive muscle.
Delivered by real people.
As part of one of the UK’s largest automotive retail groups, Lithia UK, Driveway Vehicle Solutions combines national capability with a personal approach.
With more than 170 locations, over 50 automotive brands and access to thousands of service centres nationwide, we have the scale to support businesses of all sizes.
What customers value most, however, is knowing there are experienced people behind the technology. People who answer the phone, take ownership and help solve problems when they arise.
Visiting The Business Show?
Let’s find out if you’ve accidentally ended up with a fleet.
Bring us your current vehicle arrangements and we’ll give you an honest assessment of where you stand.
You might leave with confirmation that everything is working exactly as it should.
Or you might discover opportunities to reduce costs, simplify administration and improve the way your business manages one of its largest operational expenses.
Driveway Vehicle Solutions:
T +44 (0)3301 735767
drivewayuk@lithia.com
www.drivewayvehiclesolutions.co.uk