Why Buying Ex-Fleet Vehicles Is a Good Idea

Buying a vehicle for your business is a tough decision every time. If you’re in the market for commercial trucks, cargo vans, or any other vehicle types necessary for your business operations, you might be in a bit of a pickle from the get-go.

And we understand why that is. Starting your own fleet from scratch is not an easy task in any way. You want your motorized transportation ready and able to tackle all assignments you throw its way with great ease and security. But, how can you make sure?

Just imagine how nerve-racking it is to buy a car for you and your family. First, you need to choose your primary course of action. Are you going to buy new, are you going to lease it, or are you going to visit a wheeler dealer and try to find a good piece of used motoring?

Then, you have to choose the brand, the model, the engine, the color probably as well, and many other things along the way. You’re probably getting an idea of how difficult even the simplest among vehicle-acquisition decisions is.

Now imagine you’re building your own business fleet. All the uncertainties remain the same, only at a much higher level? How is that? Fleet vehicles are the backbone of your business uproar, and they have to be the best, all the time. Any undesired failures or mechanical breakdowns will cost you money, and that is certainly something you wouldn’t want. Nobody would.

So, that is why many people choose to go down the leasing path, buying cheaper, new vehicles for their fleet, thinking and hoping that they would thus circumvent any unforeseen circumstances. But, are they really going to? Does buying new definitely mean that you are free from worry forever? And, oppositely, does going for a used corporate fleet vehicle mean you’re doomed to failure?

Well, we disagree entirely.

Used fleet vehicles are not a cat in the sack. Or, more precisely, they don’t have to be. It all depends on whom you’re buying the vehicle from, but it also depends on the precautions you should always take to avoid possible hidden pitfalls of pre-owned fleet trucks or cargo vans.

So, are fleet vehicles a good buy?

We think they certainly are, and we are going to present you the reasons for feeling so. Plus, we’re going to give you some tips on how find the best vehicles used in business fleet once you decide to buy pre-owned. Read on and see for yourself.

What is Fleet Vehicle Exactly?

Many people fail to understand what fleet vehicles actually are. They’re not some beat-down rust-buckets, driven mercilessly within the inch of their life by bad-tempered, quick-bursting, white Tee-wearing uncouth individuals.

The reality of the modern corporate fleet vehicle is altogether different. They are groups of various motor vehicles used by a business venture, as opposed to a family or an individual. They can be used for private transportation, public utilities, police departments, and goods-delivering business.

So, does this sound all that bad to you? No, nor should it. Fleet vans or trucks are just like any other, with the added downside of being labeled as “urgh, fleet vehicles”. It’s high time that misconception be broken, and we have taken that job upon ourselves. So, let’s see why we think buying used fleet vehicles is not only a good, but a great idea!

Regular and Strict Maintenance

No matter the corporate niche you can be sure of one thing – the maintenance procedures and their regularity and frequency are unparalleled.

Whereas a non-commercial vehicle is often maintained according to the good graces of its owner, this is something that is simply impossible in the professional world of fleet vehicles. They undergo extremely stringent and thorough checks all the time, as it is necessary due to the nature of the business world.

The company owner has to make sure that every vehicle is in top-notch state constantly, as not all of these regular checks are announced prior to the visit. And, even if they were, do you really think that an up-and-coming entrepreneur would risk losing money due to breakdowns?
Plus, all maintenance is performed by insured and certified professionals. No chop shops here. The service history of vehicles used in business fleets is sometimes as important as the vehicle itself. It has to be valid, and it has to be authorized. Regular maintenance is not a matter to be trifled with, and most of business owners do take it very seriously indeed.

Professional Care

Wait a minute. Haven’t you already spent half a page telling us how used fleet vehicles have been regularly maintained by proper mechanics, and how they are undeserving of the flak they take? Yes we have, but, in this instance, it is not that kind of professionalism that we imply. It is, in fact, professionalism of an entirely different kind.

You see, it is time we stepped forward in defense of professional cargo van, truck, and all other corporate drivers in existence. The vast majority of them are exactly as we have said – utmost professionals who do their jobs dedicatedly. Not every professional commercial fleet vehicle driver is an always-late individual who has to put pedal to the metal in order to deliver the cargo on time.

What’s more, it is simply not true for cargo transportation professionals. Their job is not to burn fuel while rushing about to get their job done. Their job is, first and foremost, about safety and diligence. Since they’re constantly on the road, do you really think they would allow themselves to succumb to the pressure of bumper driving?

When we say professional care, we mean that vehicles are driven by carefully vetted drivers who value their own peace of mind, safety, as well as the safety of other traffic participants. Plus, they tend to take great care of their vehicles, because being inside the same vehicle day in, day out makes you form a bond with it. You are in it together, the machine stops being a tool and starts being a companion, a companion that, if you take care of it, takes care of you in return.

They are a great idea not only because they are regularly maintained by the mechanics, not only because they have to undergo checks, and not only because of the money they bring in if they work flawlessly. Fleet vehicles are an excellent buy because of the professionals who drive them too. Trust us, it was about time this myth was busted!

We could spend a lot more time telling you about the various perks of buying used fleet vehicles, but we feel that these two are just enough for any individual to consider buying one. Now, because we have shed some light on the matter, we are going to focus on the tips we would like to share with you, concerning the actual acquisition of used fleet cargo van or truck. You are going to learn how to pick the best one!

Vehicle History Report

The trick to every successful purchase of any kind is to get as informed as possible. Yes, you can google all the information you want about the brand and the model of the corporate fleet vehicle you are interested in, but that is only the tip of the ice berg, the general information that may, but may also not hold true for the vehicle you have your sights on.

In order to get quality information on any vehicles, commercial cargo vans and trucks included, the first thing you should do is request a detailed report on the vehicle’s history. Most businesses that employ vehicles for their operations perform their maintenance at verified mechanics. Some, however, have built their own maintenance facilities, and do repairs and regular maintenance on site.

In such cases, the vehicle’s history report may not be as full as you’d want it to be. There may be blind spots, because who has the time to write down every little repair that has taken place. This doesn’t have to mean that somebody’s out to trick you. It just means that the business operates with great intensity, and that regular visits to a mechanic were out of the question due to time-and-money lost.

However, if this is the case, there is only one sure way to be certain that the corporate fleet vehicle you would like to buy is in perfect working order, and that way is to have your mechanic to check vehicle condition.

Have an Independent Mechanic Inspect the Vehicle

This is a step as important as the vehicle history, and it is the one step that will probably provide you with the peace of mind that you might think buying used fleet vehicles simply doesn’t offer. Chances are that you will feel a lot better about your purchase if you have an experienced mechanic slide under the vehicle with a flashlight, ready to do some digging.

As we’ve already said, all this can be physically and mentally an extremely draining process, and you should take every action to make sure that your purchase is a sound one. A mechanic on sight is the surest way to do so.

A professional mechanic will know where to look and what to look for. He will make sure that no expenses were saved on a fleet vehicle by inspecting the originality and the quality of the parts. They will make sure that the owner didn’t cut any corners by installing low-grade replacement parts in an effort to save a dollar or two.

They will closely inspect all items that tend to wear out, just to be extra sure that the maintenance procedure was carried out according to set standards of safety and good practice. If any parts show signs of overuse, it can mean that not that close attention has been paid to vehicle maintenance as the owner would have you believe.

Finally, the request for the vehicle to be inspected by an independent mechanic has one additional boon, and that is for you to see if the owner is as sincere as he or she would have you believe. If the owner starts squirming at the very mention of a visit by a mechanic, it can serve as a red flag, alarming you to reconsider the place where you wanted to make your purchase.

Go for a Test Drive

If everything checks out, if the service history is up to par, if the mechanic has given you the “go” sign, there’s still the matter of the vehicle suiting you. How can you know if you’ll like the feel behind the wheel unless you actually get behind it prior to acquiring it?

That is why you should always test drive every used corporate fleet vehicle before sealing the deal. Make a polite request to drive it around the block, get the key in the ignition, and feel for yourself if it is the proper vehicle for you. We don’t mean to sound melodramatic, but most of the time, this is the part where people actually decide on a vehicle.

Pay close attention to any odors in the car, as they may signalize excessive smoking habits, dampness, mold, or mildew. Also, perform a detailed visual inspection of all the nooks and crannies, only to make sure that everything is in perfect working order, and that it is per your liking.

Finally, be wary of any unwanted auditory sensations as you’re driving along. Not every mechanical issue can be caught by a mechanic inspecting vehicles. Some of them can only be felt or heard during a test drive. So smell vigorously, look intensely, and listen carefully.