Are you a first-time company car owner? Then read on to find out what our 4 top tips are:
1) Look after your car
It might seem obvious, but if you take care of your car, you will save money in the long term. Taking note of dashboard messages, acquainting yourself with your owner’s manual and ensuring your car has regular services, are simple steps that will help you get the most from your car.
2) Driving techniques
Another top tip for company car owners is to keep abreast of energy-efficient driving techniques, as these will help you to save on fuel costs. There’s lots of advice out there to help you, but here’s an overview of what to bear in mind if you want to drive efficiently. Firstly, before you even set off, check your tyre pressure, as if they are underinflated you can’t drive efficiently or safely. Also, lighten you load as much as possible, as extra weight equates to extra fuel consumption. Don’t have roof racks or boxes fixed to your vehicle unless absolutely necessary, as these will cause drag and hence less fuel efficiency. Once you are out on the road, drive smoothly, at a reasonable speed and in an appropriate gear.
Don’t let your engine idle if you’re stationary. If you are travelling at under 60 mph, open your windows rather than use your air conditioning, but if you’re driving over 60 mph, then use your air conditioning instead. These might seem relatively insignificant factors to be mindful of, but if you do drive with energy efficiency in mind, you’ll save the pennies and pounds on your fuel bill.
3) Embrace technology
If you’re a first-time company car owner then embrace technology to ensure you get the best from your car. Consider installing a camera system in your company car, as it can help you in manoeuvring in congested places and tight spaces. Plus, if you have a system approved by your insurance company, it could help cut your insurance costs too. In addition, camera and CCTV systems can provide reassurance in the event of an incident, especially in an instance where it would otherwise be your word against someone else’s. A comprehensive camera system can help you establish what’s happened quickly and give you protection against false ‘crash for cash’ claims.
Telematics systems sometime referred to as black box technology, can be a boon for company car owners. They can help you make informed business decisions driving forward and keep you on the right track. Whether you are driving the car yourself, or a colleague is, you’ll be provided with a range of benefits including a better understanding of fuel usage, routes and the mileage undertaken for your company. Feedback received by the Energy Saving Trustsuggests that installing telematics systems has led to a reduction in accidents, reductions in speeding, increases in staff productivity and cuts in company fuel costs. So the benefits are clear.
In addition, you can integrate tracking technology with telematics systems, so you’ll always know where your vehicles are. If one of your cars is stolen you’ll be in a good position to track its whereabouts.
Telematics can help your business in a broader way too, by integrating it with your other business systems you can plan and deliver better customer service. You’ll make better use of resources and be able to give your customers give real-time delivery information. So as you can see, embrace technology and it will help you as a first-time company car owner.
4) Save on insurance
Company car insurance can be more expensive than regular car insurance, for the very good reason that company cars are used so intensively. As a company car owner you’ll have to drive at peak travel times in heavy traffic, potentially cover a vast amount of mileage and travel on unfamiliar routes. This puts your car at greater risk of an accident when compared to cars used for private use – hence your premiums are likely to be higher.
However, there are steps you can take to save money on your company car insurance. Firstly, just like anything else, it’s sensible to shop around. Do look online at price comparison websites, but remember that these don’t include all insurance providers. Talk to an experienced insurance advisor to find the right cover for your company cars, try the team at Call Wiserwho’ll find a policy tailored to your company needs. This way you’ll know that you’ll be getting expert advice, have a comprehensive range of providers to choose from and get the best deal.
So there you have our 4 top tips for first-time company car owners, which will help to keep you and your business on the move.