When it pays for sole traders to rent a van
For sole traders and smaller businesses, renting a van makes sense when you don't need one every day. What matters isn't the price of one rental, but how many days a month your own vehicle would just stand idle and still cost you money.
Your own vehicle costs money even when it's not being driven
The purchase price is just the beginning. On top of that come compulsory third-party insurance, comprehensive insurance, servicing, tyres, the MOT, a parking space and gradual depreciation. These costs keep running even in a month when the vehicle goes out three times.
Seasonality changes the calculation
Trades have quiet periods, and you pay for them. A gardener, builder or tradesperson with a markedly busier and quieter season often finds that for several months a year their own van is hardly used. Rental removes this problem.
A one-off job outside your usual work
Sometimes you need a different vehicle from the one you have. You have a car and a job comes in that requires transporting materials. Or you have a smaller van and an unusual item won't fit in it. Short-term rental solves this without any investment.
When your own vehicle is out of action
Servicing won't wait until you have time off. When your own van is in the garage, rental keeps your jobs going. We operate non-stop, so you can get a vehicle even at the weekend or first thing in the morning.
Count in days, not by feel
Take a calendar and count how many days in the last six months you actually needed a van. The number usually comes out lower than you'd expect. Only against this number does it make sense to compare the costs of your own vehicle — otherwise you're comparing the price of rental with an impression.
When owning a vehicle makes sense instead
Rental isn't the answer to everything. If you drive every day, or need built-in shelving, workshop equipment or company livery, your own vehicle pays off. The threshold tends to be where the vehicle goes out on most working days in a month.
Terms for businesses in one place
If you're looking at repeated rentals, take a look at the PROFI programme. It's designed precisely for sole traders and businesses. You'll find an overview of the vehicles, including their dimensions, in our fleet.
How van rental works in practice
Whoever will drive must be in the contract
For businesses, this is the most common snag. The owner places the booking, but an employee drives. Only the person named in the contract is allowed to drive, so notify us of the driver in advance and make sure they have two identity documents ready — a category B driving licence and a second document.
Gearbox and fuel
All the vehicles have a manual gearbox and run on diesel. If any of your people has a driving entitlement restricted to automatic vehicles, they can't drive the van. With temporary workers and new employees, it's worth checking this in advance.
You don't need to worry about kilometres
Mileage within the Czech Republic is unlimited and no excess kilometres are charged. Deliveries all over the country therefore don't complicate your job costings. A valid Czech motorway vignette is included in the price of the vehicles. Trips abroad are not permitted; the vehicles may only be used in the Czech Republic.
Payload by model
The payload differs depending on the specific vehicle, usually between 1 100 and 1 450 kg. With building materials, this is a crucial figure — bags of dry mix or paving tiles will use up the limit before you fill the load floor. An overloaded vehicle is a risk and a breach of traffic rules.
Book the vehicle to fit around the job
The most common mistake is booking the vehicle for the same time the work is due to start. Allow for the journey to the location, the pick-up and the drive to the customer. For morning jobs, that means picking up the vehicle ahead of time — we operate non-stop, so nothing is stopping you.
Pick-up without waiting for staff
Pick-up is contactless via the web app. You photograph the vehicle, unlock it with your phone and find the keys in the glovebox on the passenger side. You don't have to create an account or register, and you pay online by card. At six in the morning it works the same way as during working hours.
Choose your cover according to the type of job
The amount of the excess depends on the cover package chosen when booking. When driving around building sites and narrow yards, the risk of a scrape is higher than when doing deliveries between warehouses. Think it over when booking, not after the damage is done.
Plan the return too
The vehicle is returned with a full tank and to the same location. So include refuelling and the journey back in the job schedule. You can park your own car at the location free of charge for the duration of the rental. You'll find other businesses' experiences in the reviews.
