Finding the best PCO car in London is a bit of an overwhelming process for a PCO driver. There are a lot of considerations and requirements that you need to factor in when making your decision. For a successful PCO car, you need to ensure that it fits the London PCO car criteria. You also need to ensure that it is a reliable option that won’t give up on you in the middle of a ride. Besides this, you need to factor in the fuel costs, maintenance costs, the condition of the car, and its capacity. More importantly, the fuel type has to meet your city’s requirements to ensure that you can pass the inspection test.
Below, we have reviewed London’s top 5 most popular PCO cars so that you can consider renting them out when making your decision.
What Are London’s Top 5 Most Popular PCO Cars?
1-Kia E-Niro Full Electric
Kia E-Niro is one of the most affordable fully electric cars offering ample space for comfort and luggage. The car has even won the 2019 Driving Electric Car of the Year award for a good reason. The car meets all the zero-emission standards of the city and is highly efficient and comfortable. The materials used in the comfortable seats are of high quality and the boot space is huge to fit in multiple pieces of luggage. All in all, it is one of the most popular PCO cars that PCO drivers opt for today.
2-Toyota Prius and Toyota Prius+
Toyota Prius and Toyota Prius+ are hands down the most common cars that you would find on the road used by PCO drivers. Thanks to its hybrid engine and fuel efficiency, it is the go-to option for PCO drivers and is a great choice for London roads. Although the shape of this hatchback is not as pleasing as you would like it to be, it is a great choice for a PCO driver. It offers all-wheel drive and is quite a reliable option to consider. The main difference between Prius and Prius+ is the size of the vehicle. Prius+ is actually a bigger, seven-seat version of Prius.
3-Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf is yet another popular electric car that offers a driving range of 149 miles on its standard battery pack. There are plenty of high-tech features combined with comfortable seating in its spacious interior. The 2022 model of Nissan Leaf has been released at a reduced price, making it the cheapest electric car in the market. What’s more, the luggage capacity in this car is huge. Even without folding the backseats, you can fit up to 7 carry-on suitcases in the back, which is great.
4-Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla is one of the most popular cars for PCO drivers, and for good reason. The safety features in this car are better than normal, with more than enough airbags. Moreover, this hybrid car comes with a fully-featured interior and comfortable seating. In terms of space, it is a highly spacious car that can not only seat your riders comfortably but can also carry 3 big suitcases and multiple small bags in the boot.
5-Mercedes Benz E Class
For a more premium experience, Mercedes Benz E Class offers comfort combined with luxury. If you want to drive for a service like Uber, you can use your Mercedes E Class to make more money as you can drive for Uber’s luxury category. With a sleek design and an incredibly comfortable interior, you will be able to offer a premium experience to your passengers. It is ideal for driving long hours as this car won’t ever give up on you.
But before you make your decision about the best PCO car, you should ensure that the car meets vehicle requirements for London.
What Are London’s PCO Car Requirements?
The PCO requirements for London are quite strict due to the city’s attempts to limit CO2 emissions. If you are a PCO driver in London, your vehicle should meet the following requirements:
- The car should have four doors and a minimum of five seats. No more than 8 seats.
- It should have no cosmetic damage, including dents or scratches.
- It should meet all the emission requirements.
- It should be not older than ten years.
- It should not look like a London-style cab.
- It should display license discs.
What Do the Best PCO Cars Have in Common?
The best PCO cars have a lot of attributes in common, including fuel efficiency, low maintenance, and a lot of space. To make sure you get your hands on the best PCO car, your car should have the following:
- Great Fuel Efficiency
The biggest cost for PCO drivers is the fuel that their car consumes when driving around the city. While every vehicle has its benefits and drawbacks, you should consider going for a fully-electric vehicle as London, like all major cities, will be definitely moving towards using fully-electric vehicles in the coming years.
- Enough Space
Spacious cars are very much in demand for ride-hailing and delivery services. While many cars would perform well in the city traffic, you should opt for a spacious car that does not only offer a lot of legroom for the passengers to feel comfortable, but enough luggage space so that you can use them for airport rides. This is important since a big part of your job would be taking airport rides, which involves carrying luggage.
- Low Maintenance Costs
Another cost that you would be paying as a PCO driver is the maintenance cost. Since you will be driving more than 8 hours a day (mostly), your car will often require maintenance. You would want to make sure that your car is completely reliable and functions at 100%. Therefore, consider getting a car that has minimal maintenance costs.
Wrapping It Up
This list pretty much sums up London’s top 5 most popular PCO cars. If you are looking for an ideal PCO car, contact G&M Direct Hire today and rent out the most affordable, reliable, and comfortable PCO cars. Happy driving!