This massive societal attitude change towards cars is what is now being referred to as the Carpocalypse. The world is gradually shifting away from car ownership and opting for Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) instead. Individuals – particularly millennials and younger generations – are buying fewer cars, mostly because they value affordability, convenience, and instant access when it comes to travel. But for businesses, not only is renting vehicles the more cost-effective transportation solution, but it also offers better flexibility and customisation.

If you're considering whether a car rental service offers the best solutions for your business mobility issues, here are some of its advantages:

Reduction in operational costs

Renting corporate vehicles rather than purchasing allows you to save on overhead and operational costs, given that you are no longer maintaining an entire fleet. You can also take your pick among a variety of vehicles, allowing you to select economical cars that reduce your fuel expenditure, providing you with more savings. There is also no unplanned downtime and you can scale your fleet depending on your needs at any given time.

Service and maintenance are not required

Rental cars are fully serviced and maintained, which doesn't just take a load off your mind and make it more convenient for you, but can also help you cut costs in the future. Verizon Connect’s Simon Austin-Beckett emphasises how proper maintenance helps vehicles reduce fuel usage – in fact, in some cases, fixing serious engine issues have been found to improve MPG by up to 40%. And that's not all: knowing that your vehicles are adequately maintained helps you save on operational costs, unplanned fleet downtime, and even unnecessary administration. Your rental company will take care of the maintenance schedule, and you'll often even be provided with a replacement vehicle for when yours is due for its maintenance checks.

Environmental benefits

Road transport in the UK contributes to a fifth of the nation's total greenhouse emissions. Company fleets are under pressure to make massive changes to reduce their environmental impact, and with your business pivoting to rentals, you can significantly contribute to the progress of reducing the adverse environmental consequences of vehicles. Additionally, rental cars also help reduce the total number of vehicles on the road. Data from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association highlights how rental vehicles are rented up to 80% of the time, meaning they not only make an impact in terms of reducing greenhouse emissions, but they also help ease congestion on roads and help mitigate the demand for parking. On top of that, daily rentals are also useful for staff on short-term contracts, and the option to experience electric or hybrid cards can lead to greater adoption of cleaner vehicles by your employees.

The utmost flexibility

One of the biggest boons of corporate car rentals is getting the flexibility you need. As with all organisations, it's not every day that business is booming. During the less busy months of the year, you have the option to scale down your rentals and adjust your fleet again when the situation calls for it. You have free rein to rent more vehicles or cut back as you go, with no pressure to keep the cars when you don't need them. Even better, you don't usually incur any penalty fees, so long as you return the vehicle when not in use. That way, you can streamline your operations depending on your cashflow and inbound revenue.

exclusively written for govirtuo.com

by Rita James