Your car’s condition plays an important role in your success as a PCO driver. A well-kept car impresses passengers, leads to higher earnings, and has a higher resale value, while a neglected car has the opposite effect.
When it comes to taking care of cars, many PCO drivers often focus on mechanical parts like the engine, brakes, and suspension. While keeping these parts in good condition is essential to get the best performance out of your car, the vehicle’s cosmetic condition is equally important.
Whether you are driving your own car or using PCO car hire, dents, scratches, a cracked bumper, or chipped paint can put off passengers before they even get into the car. Cosmetic damage may also affect your car’s resale value if you are planning to sell it and upgrade to a newer model. Let’s look at the effects of cosmetic damage on your car.
First Impression Drives Value
When you are selling the car, the buyers don’t care about how well it drives. If it’s full of scratches, dents, or fading paint, the buyer will either refuse to buy it on the spot or start calculating how much they can lower the price in their heads.
That’s the power of the impression your car leaves.
Remember that the used car market is extremely competitive today. Buyers have endless options, and if a car doesn’t impress them at first glance, no matter how hard you try to convince them of its qualities, they will never pay the full asking price.
Dealer Repairs vs Real Costs
When you put your car up for sale, any visual damage is valued at dealer rates, not the actual cost to fix it. This could cost you hundreds of extra pounds.
Here’s what we mean:
A little scratch on the bumper that normally costs you around £50 could cost around £200 at dealer rates. Similarly, a kerbed alloy usually fixed for £40 could suddenly cost you over £100 at dealer rates.
There are many other examples, but you get the idea.
For PCO drivers, this matters even more because when you return the car with cosmetic damage, you will be charged extra costs that could have been easily avoided. So, make sure you act in time.
Passenger Perception and Ratings
If you drive for Uber or Bolt, then the cosmetic damage could also affect your daily earnings. This is because the passengers don’t only care about getting from one point to another; they care about the ride experience as well which starts right from the moment they see your car.
A neglected car makes you look unprofessional in the rider’s eyes, and they often express their opinion of you through their ratings.
If your ratings are low, you will get fewer trip requests, wait longer, and earn less, all because you didn’t properly care for your car. If you want to thrive, not just survive in the PCO world, then treat your car with care. Your income depends on it.
Insurance Implications for Cosmetic Damage
Car insurance, whether PCO or regular, doesn’t cover small stuff like a scrape on the bumper, alloy scuff, or a shallow dent left by a cyclist. Normally, you need extra protection for such damage.
So, when you are selling your car, you will need to pay for minor car body repairs out of your own pocket, which could be a significant financial burden.
Even if you drive a hired PCO car, your car provider won’t be responsible for fixing these issues and may ask you to pay the repair bill yourself. So, never assume that your car insurance will cover the cost of these repairs, as it could put you under a false sense of security.
Cosmetic Damage Accumulates Over Time
Cosmetic damage doesn’t appear instantly. It grows slowly and quietly until one day, it becomes too apparent, and you are looking at a hefty repair bill in shock.
If you are driving a hired PCO vehicle, then the cost of neglecting the cosmetic issues when they were minor could be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. If you are on a rent to buy deal, then the resale value of car may have already dropped before the contract ends.
The truth is that you only have two options to deal with the cosmetic damage: either ignore it initially and pay a heavy price later on or get it fixed the moment you notice it to protect your car’s value.
PCO Hire Companies Favour Well-Maintained Cars
If you are using a PCO car hire service, your car provider knows what condition the car was in when it was given to you and how well you are using it. If the car develops scuffs, scratches, or excessive wear while in your use, the car provider may terminate the contract and charge hefty penalties.
On the other hand, drivers who use the cars carefully get longer term renewals, lower deposit requirements, and discounted rates on their next deals. This is particularly helpful for drivers who want car ownership through rent to buy service and later sell the car at a profit because well-kept cars always have a higher value.
Tips to Prevent Cosmetic Damage
- Use parking sensors to avoid scraping other cars.
- Park away from tight spots.
- Thoroughly inspect your vehicle at least once a week.
Conclusion
Cosmetic damage can have a serious impact on your car’s resale value and profits if you drive a hired car. The best way to prevent it is to inspect your car regularly. If somehow your car still gets scuffs, scratches, or other visual damage, try to repair it as soon as possible to preserve your car’s condition and save money in the long run.
