DAILY rental is becoming a popular option for fleet operators who are either fed up with the hassles of running a pool vehicle or want a flexible alternative to a company car.

The onus for issues such as health and safety or maintenance is shifted to the rental provider and it can be an ideal way to source a vehicle for temporary staff or if businesses are affected by a seasonal influx of employees.

But how do fleet operators ensure that the rental provider they have is doing the best possible job? The answer is simple – ensure that a thorough evaluation of several providers is completed prior to agreeing a contract.

This evaluation should cover more than just the monetary rate being offered – follow our 10-step guide to the key questions you should ask.

ACCESSIBILITY

Ask if the company can provide a car to anywhere in the UK. Nearly every rental company will say they do, but is it true?

BOOKING

CONTROL

DELIVERIES

Does the company deliver on time? Ask to see information on late deliveries and service statistics. If rentals go wrong or arrive late, it becomes a nightmare for the fleet manager and makes the rental company look bad and the service poor

EXTENSION

TERMINATIONS

If a vehicle is no longer needed, how easy it is to cancel the contract? And are there any charges?

DAMAGE

This is a headache for companies using rental. Fleets need to ensure they are only charged for the damage which has actually occurred. Most fleets have unattended collections which is where most disputes happen. Make sure the rental company has a system for damage and understand how the procedures work.

Ask for testimonials from another customer of how the damage system works and ask providers for statistics on damage claims by customers as a percentage of hires

COLLECTION

Is the supplier good a picking up cars? Can they prove it? Prompt collection is a key indicator of performance

BILLING

Make sure the rental provider sticks to the time schedules agreed and billing is accurate. If billing is inaccurate it causes disputes and credit control issues. Get them to tell you what policies they have in place for this

RATES

There needs to be a degree of competition on rates but the average fleet manager also wants the car delivered, clean, on time, billed properly and with no problems