When buying fleet vehicles for your business, you must find the perfect balance between cost savings and efficiency. Fleet vehicles are one of the most expensive assets you will purchase, so it’s a significant investment.
Even though you want to get the best value, you want to ensure you also get the best truck for the job. We’re here to provide five tips on how to buy fleet vehicles so you can purchase with confidence.
No. 1: Weigh All of Your Options
Only you know exactly how your vehicles will be used. You’ll need to come up with a list of must-haves for your vehicle, but be open-minded. Try not to choose anything specific to a particular brand or manufacturer. Some of your parameters may offer some wiggle room, while others may be steadfast. It is up to you to decide which are which. Some questions you can ask may include:
- What will the vehicle be hauling, and how much space will it require?
- What weight capacity will the truck need?
- How will the payload be organized? Will the vehicle need special accommodations like shelving, toolboxes, or ladder racks?
- How many people will be in the vehicle at once?
- Will the vehicle need to pull a trailer?
- Does the vehicle require two-wheel or four-wheel drive?
No. 2: Take Vehicles for a Test Drive
The test drive process is critical. Don’t just test drive the final vehicle on your list; visit many dealerships and test drive all vehicles that meet your parameters.
This makes it easier to focus on business later. Because you are test driving so many vehicles, you will want to take good notes during each run to ensure that you remember the vehicle later. Ask questions from the drivers’ perspective since they will be operating these vehicles daily.
No. 3: Work With Fleet Sales Representatives
There is a big difference between someone who sells vehicles to the average driver and someone who sells vehicles to fleets. If you’re dealing with a fleet salesperson, you’ll typically find them more straightforward. They handle most things, like financing, so you don’t have to jump through hoops. Dealing with a consumer purchase may take hours, but purchasing through a fleet department is far more efficient.
No. 4: Check for Best Pricing
Once you’ve selected your vehicles, you can start looking for quotes. You don’t have to stick to your immediate area; you may find deals where you least expect them. And the sticker price may not be the best indicator of what you’ll pay.
It’s a good idea to ask the dealer to invoice the purchase to get a ballpark idea of what you’ll be paying. Consider a fair mark-up (usually $250 to $1,000), and you can estimate what you’ll pay for the vehicles. This helps you proactively make an offer on your vehicles.
No. 5: Be Aware of Discounts
A lot of times, the more you buy, the more discounts are available. But this isn’t the only time you can receive discounts. The preferred pricing method is also available to business owners when they purchase as few as five vehicles. Each manufacturer has a different requirement for preferred pricing, so determine the specifics for the manufacturer you’re interested in and see what discounts are available.
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