Subscribing to a car is becoming increasingly popular with fleet operators. The car subscription offers companies the opportunity to easily adjust their own stock of Tuesday cars for any duration and flexibly on a monthly basis as required. In this article, we have summarized for you what you should consider when deciding on a car subscription.
Contents
Subscribe to a car: What does that mean for the fleet?
Subscribing to one or more cars in the fleet means that a company purchases vehicles from a flexible subscription provider instead of a traditional purchase or lease. As part of a car subscription, the company pays a monthly rate that covers all central costs such as insurance, maintenance, taxes and often also repairs.
The terms are usually between two and six months. The vehicle can then be returned or exchanged for a new one. This offers the fleet a high degree of flexibility and makes administration easier, as the subscription provider takes over many administrative tasks.
These are the advantages of a car subscription for your fleet
Testing alternative drives
If you want to test new models, brands, or different types of powertrains, a car subscription can be a flexible option. For example, companies can use it to test electric or hybrid vehicles and see how alternative powertrains can be integrated into their own fleets.
Avoiding supply bottlenecks
Fast availability
Companies that need a company vehicle at short notice can subscribe to a car. Car subscriptions usually offer a large selection of different vehicles that are available at any time. You don’t usually have to worry about whether the car you want is currently available or not.
Fixed rates
A car subscription typically includes a fixed monthly payment that is paid in advance. This gives you better control over your costs and ensures you always know exactly how much you’ll pay each month to use the car. The payment usually covers all essential costs, such as maintenance and repairs, taxes, and tire replacements. Only the refueling and charging costs have to be borne by the customer.
Insurance included
Most car subscription providers already include car insurance for company cars. This is also the case with FINN, Fleethouse’s partner. In this case, the monthly installment also covers the cost of car insurance and fully comprehensive insurance. Even minor scratches in the paintwork or other wear and tear are included in the monthly price.
Cost savings
In some cases, subscribing to a car can be cheaper than leasing a company car or booking a rental car. You only pay per month for the time you actually use the car and don’t have to pay high purchase costs or interest. However, if you want to subscribe to a car for longer than a year, it is worth comparing leasing offers for commercial vehicles.
No obligation
Instead of signing a long-term leasing contract, you can simply subscribe to a car. How you benefit from more flexibility and there is no commitment to a long term. You are not tied to a specific car and can simply switch to a different vehicle every month if you want to or if your term requirement changes spontaneously.
Digitize your Vehicle Fleet
With Fleethouse, you can organize your vehicles digitally and reduce the workload in the office.
Are there any disadvantages to subscribing to a car?
Restrictions on use
Some providers of car subscriptions have restrictions on use, for example on the number of kilometers you can drive per month or on use abroad.
No individual vehicle configuration
A car subscription usually does not offer the possibility of individual vehicle customization and only allows installations that can be reversed after the term.
Higher rates
Flexibility has its price. That’s why in many cases it’s more expensive to subscribe to a car with a provider for many months instead of leasing. This is the case, for example, if you want to use the vehicle for a longer period of time (usually one year). To find out whether a subscription is worthwhile, you should compare the offers with the costs and ancillary costs for leasing company cars.
Age limit
Some providers set a minimum and maximum age for users. These are usually 21 and 75, respectively. If you’re younger or older than that, it can be difficult to subscribe to a car service.
Subscribe to an e-car: What should you look out for when subscribing to e-cars?
When subscribing to e-vehicles, you should consider a few important points to ensure that their use works as smoothly as possible in your fleet. Firstly, the range of the e-car is crucial, as it must meet the daily requirements of the fleet. On the other hand, battery management plays an important role, as battery maintenance should be covered by the subscription. It is also advisable to keep an eye on the mileage limits of the subscription to avoid additional costs.
In the event that you would like to subscribe to an e-car for your fleet, a sufficient charge is required.infrastructure is a basic requirement. Employees should be able to charge their vehicle at work, on the road or at home.
Arrange an online consultation appointment
Arrange your personal consultation appointment now. You can easily select a suitable appointment using our booking tool.
Anne Fuchs
Ciara Lazeta
FAQ - Subscribe to car
Subscribing to a car is a simple and flexible alternative to buying or leasing. Short contract terms and the ability to cancel at any time are making car subscriptions increasingly popular for fleets as well. You can use the car without having to worry about maintenance, insurance, or repairs. Everything is already included. By subscribing to a car, you have the freedom to choose a different vehicle at any time or to test the use of electric vehicles in operation.
There are also disadvantages that you should weigh up before making a decision. For example, you should be aware that the vehicles cannot be individually configured and the rates are usually higher than with leasing.
Fleet management software like Fleethouse plays an important role in the efficient management of a fleet using car subscription plans. It allows you to centrally monitor and manage vehicles, contracts, and costs. Features for managing subscriptions—such as tracking contract terms and mileage—are particularly useful.
The most important facts about subscribing to a car in the fleet
If you need a company car at short notice or if there are delivery bottlenecks, the car subscription is an easy option to supplement your fleet for a few months.
Costs for insurance, maintenance, repairs, breakdown service, normal wear and tear and vehicle wear and tear are already included in the provider's rate when you subscribe to a car.
A car subscription is a sensible way to test e-vehicles for use in the fleet.
Further Fleet Knowledge
If you liked this article and would like to know more about this topic, we recommend these articles.
Vehicle management: importance in the fleet and helpful tips
Is a car subscription worthwhile for the fleet?
