The Vehicle

 Choosing the right car for your business as a driving instructor is often a matter of choice and personal preference. However, unless you are in a position where you can afford two cars then more often than not the vehicle has to serve the dual purpose of suiting both the business and the family requirements. Therefore there are a few points to be considered.

1.        To give the two extremes, neither a Smart car nor a Mercedes Compressor Estate would seem to be the vehicle of choice - the first being too small, the latter too large. A middle of the range 4 door family hatchback or saloon is the most common choice. This still leaves you enormous scope and the DRIVERS WORLD Directory will give you some idea of the huge selection available from both new and second hand dealers.

2.        It is not a legal requirement, but for your own safety and that of all other road users it should be fitted with suitable dual controls. Also test examiners prefer to see a dual controlled vehicle presented for the Driving Test for obvious reasons. Most makes of vehicles can be adapted in this way and there are specialist companies who will fit them for between £200 and £300 depending upon make.

3.        It is not essential, or even necessary, to have a new vehicle from the outset, but your selection should be based upon reliability and a good clean appearance. Obviously the more up-to-date it is the better. It provides more credibility and attracts the younger pupils who are ‘street cred’ conscious.

4.        Unless you are in the fortunate position of being able to buy a vehicle for cash you will need to consider the financing of your purchase,and you should consider how to Get a loan by searching the whole of market. Most dealers will have this covered and providing you have no credit problems you should have no difficulty funding your purchase. You may wish to approach your own or any high street bank whose interest rates are usually better than those of finance companies. Depending upon your circumstances you should be able to put a vehicle on the road for as little as £100 per month, or less than £1 per lesson.

5.        Whatever vehicle you decide upon you should ensure it is regularly serviced and properly maintained. A vehicle off the road means no lessons, which in turn means no revenue. Also it should be remembered that one day you will need to change it and you will not want it to depreciate too much as the result of poor maintenance.

6.        The frequency at which you change your vehicle will depend upon many factors, but in practice it is the norm to replace it about once a year. Indeed there are those who take the trouble to do so every six months, but there are others who change only every two or even three years. In the latter case it is often related to the ending of the relevant financing period, but it has the added advantage of giving pupils continuity in the same car. They do not always like to change to a different vehicle in mid stream.

7.        Finally, if you do not want to purchase a vehicle or enter into a franchise agreement you have the option of Leasing or Contract Hire. This has the advantage of providing a regularly serviced and maintained vehicle which is replaced at frequent intervals depending upon the terms of the contract you sign. Various deals are available, but you would have to budget for between £200 and £400 per month, possibly even more. It all depends upon what vehicle you choose and where you source it from. It may sound a high price to pay, but remember you are funding it from an income expected to be in excess of £2500 per month for a 30 hour week.
 

Advertisements
Books
Costs
Driving Tests
Franchises
Professionalism
Pupils
Self Employment
The Business
Vehicles