What To Consider When Buying a Car For Your Taxi Business
The number of people interested in the taxi business has increased in recent years. To get into this business, the most important thing you need is a vehicle. Now all vehicles are made equal, and some vehicles perform much better as taxis than others. Regardless, there are some things you need to look at and consider before adding a vehicle to your fleet.
Five Doors
Every taxi should have five doors. If you are confused about the five doors, the fifth one is the boot. The doors should be wide enough and should open enough to let passengers embark and alight without issue.
Additionally, you should check that the vehicle is not too high as that could make it difficult for your passengers to get in or out. Remember that a good taxi business is not only about ferrying clients from one place to another but also about providing excellent customer service, and that means ensuring a good experience for those getting in and out of the vehicle.
An exception is if you are offering executive taxi services where you ferry specific passengers who do not mind a higher car.
Fuel Consumption
As with any other business, you want to keep your running expenses low. In the taxi business, one of the most significant running costs is fuel. As fuel gets more expensive, taxi business owners need to think about how much fuel their cars consume, and this is why it is important to consider how much fuel the car(s) you buy consumes. The fuel consumption of cars is measured in miles per gallon (mpg), with a higher number being better.
If you do not want to deal with liquid fuel but find electric vehicles to be too expensive, you should opt for a hybrid. Hybrids have great fuel consumption, and you can always go full-electric to save fuel or in case you are not ready to fuel.
Hybrids like the Kia Niro are a great option due to their favourable fuel consumption and lower running costs. If you are interested in this and other hybrid taxis, you can enquire online at cabdirect.com where you can also see other new and used taxi options.
Reliability and Maintenance Costs
You want the taxi to be on the road as much as possible because the more time it spends on the road, the more fares it collects. A vehicle that breaks down all the time costs money for every minute it is not on the road, and for each repair that it needs.
Unreliable vehicles that break down all the time will end up costing you a lot every time you take them to the garage, ultimately making them unprofitable. If you buy a used taxi, first have a mechanic with you to ensure that it is in great order. Ensure that it comes with a warranty for repairs within a given period or specific mileage.
Next, you should research the vehicles you are thinking of adding to your fleet to ensure you can find spare parts easily. There may be certified car part dealers in your area, but that will not help you if they are unable to find the spare parts you need.
Amount of Space
When talking about space, you need to consider the amount of space available to the passengers and that available in the boot. The car should be large enough to allow your passengers to stretch their legs. You will provide a horrible service if a customer cannot stretch, which will lead to them never choosing your service again.
The same goes for the boot. You should have enough back there to fit at least a few medium-sized bags. Keep in mind special considerations for people living with disabilities who may book your taxi. You should have enough space for their wheelchair and any other equipment they require.
Lastly, spare some space for essentials like a first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
New or Used?
Both new and used cars have pros and cons. New cars are more expensive than used ones, but they provide you with more peace of mind as they are more likely to be reliable and have lower maintenance costs.
You get a much wider selection of cars if you decide to go with used cars. This makes it easier to find a car with the exact specifications you are looking for. You only have a limited selection of new cars that will fit your criteria from the current or previous year.
The third thing to think about is wait time. Many people are surprised that new cars can take months to be delivered. With a used car, you can drive it out of the dealership after payment or have it delivered within weeks after completing payment.
Your fleet of vehicles is the backbone of your taxi business. For this reason, you need to ensure that you pick the best car. Such a car will help keep costs low, ensure profitability, and make your customers and clients happy.
