How to be a Private Hire Driver - Upgrading to A Mercedes S Class

Upgrading to Mercedes S Class

As a Private Hire operator you will have aspirations and goals which will affect your business decisions.

Business decisions and options will be made after careful consideration and research. The wrong path may lead to a different outcome with the resulting learning experience and financial repercussions.

Arguably the Mercedes S Class is the best and most luxurious Private Hire chauffeur car. Rivals include BMW Series 7, Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ.

My personal choice at Southampton Chauffeur Hire is the Mercedes S Class and is the most popular choice for the discerning customer. All the requirements that suit a client who demands and expects the best.

A vehicle built to a high specification and build quality.

Long wheel Base

Legroom and cabin space is a priority for top paying clients.

Move the front passenger seat forward to allow more room and cabin area. Be aware that the rear alloy wheels, especially the nearside, will be susceptible to damage as a driver has to adapt to accommodate a long wheel base car.

Don’t consider a vehicle which is not long wheel base.

Bells & Whistles

Luxury comfort fittings make all the difference between the high and standard cars.

Leather seats are the standard but adjustable electric and heated seats of the S Class are for enhanced passenger comfort. For first time passengers always point out seat adjustment to make their journey the most comfortable.

A panoramic roof and rear blind can be optimised on a lovely sunny day.

Air suspension will provide a smooth and enhanced ride.

Consequently a Mercedes S Class commands a high price and, as a result, a higher rate charged to the customer.

Lower Volume but More Profit Per Transfer

Customers wanting and prepared to pay the higher S Class rate are fewer than that of the standard rate and higher volume E Class and equivalent car.

Generally a new operator will start with a cheaper and standard car progressing to a higher capital outlay if income allows.

An S Class will therefore be an option for an established  operator who has built up a good reliable customer base over time and has the income to specialise in a market that has less volume but more profit per transfer.

If you are thinking of starting as an operator an S Class, or equivalent, is not advisable.

Level of Service

It is not just a bigger and better car but the level of service must be at a higher level. 

All the basic requirements of a standard car apply. Therefore car cleanliness, well-presented suited driver and job preparation go without saying.

Many companies will select their best drivers for S Class work. Driving ability, communication skills and service delivery go hand in hand with the highest and most expensive tier of Private Hire work.

Marketing

Your website, advertising etc. will have to be adjusted to attract the S Class customer. All other aspects of the service expected will also have to be reflected in your marketing ‘shop window’.

Buying

How old and how much? A question that can be subject to so many variables.

How long will you keep it?

How can you finance payment and eventual replacement?

These considerations will dictate what you can afford.

All cars depreciate and the first three years are the worst levelling out to an acceptable level.

Unfortunately you will never have the best and newest model but you will have an acceptable and affordable chauffeur car. Expenditure of £25,000-£30,000 will be required with a replacement after 2-3 years depending upon mileage.

Upgrading the car, ultimately, will not be affected by condition or mileage but with keeping up with the competition that will have a newer model.

After 2-3 years your older model will start to look dated and fall out of favour with CEOs and top executive who want, and will pay for, the best.

The Transition to S Class Rates

Will your E Class customers automatically pay your S Class rates? The easy answer is no.

A proportion of your customers will require an E Class service and not wish to upgrade and pay more. The best way to address this obvious problem is to discuss and negotiate. Be flexible and be prepared to lose your customer if they are not prepared to pay more.

I have found that compromise normally works with customers paying half-way towards the higher rate.

You can always quote S Class rates to new customers. An alternative for new customers is to offer two rates that include both S Class and E Class. Be prepared to take the lower rate to ‘win’ the job.

Learn for your experiences

Making mistakes is ok as long as you learn from them. It’s all part of the process of building your company. Everyone makes mistakes and can be a positive experience that progresses you along the right path. Consider alternatives, be flexible and compromise.

I started with an E Class and upgraded to an S Class. A successful but more business demanding choice. Adding a Viano to my previous E Class did not work but was a valuable lesson which enabled me to learn and adapt.

Southampton Chauffeur Hire website is an example of reflecting a Mercedes S Class service.

How To Be A Private Hire Driver - Avoiding Road Rage

Introduction
Road rage is a product of several factors including higher volumes of traffic, road works and more people commuting by car due to an expensive and sometimes unreliable public transport system.
By identifying the signs of potential road rage and adjusting your driving plans you can drastically reduce your chances in becoming involved in a road rage incident.
As a professional driver, carrying a client, you must supply a comfortable, stress free, expeditious journey. Will your client be aware of what has led to an incident or will he/she just see the resulting behaviour.

The recipe for Road Rage
All drivers have experienced road rage to varying degrees from slight annoyance to frustration and anger.
From motorway and city driving to A roads and winding country lanes. They all have potential for road rage.
Frustrated and stressed drivers can make poor driving decisions in an attempt to make progress. Inexperienced drivers exceed their capability. Some drivers drive too slow and queues form behind them. Lane hogging and tail gating. Driving too close in poor driving conditions. Undertaking, cutting in front, moving into the space left as a safe following distance. The list could go on and on.
Muttering and mouthing expletives, horn sounding, accompanied by hand gestures are just some of some driver's reactions.
The vast majority of incidents are not reported and put down to experience as not something the police would, or are able, to investigate.
High profile cases such as the recent case of 79 year old Donald Lock, a cyclist, who was stabbed to death by Matthew Daly, a mentally ill driver. 1996 when Kenneth Noye murdered another driver after a road rage incident on the M25.
These serious incidents are rare and should be considered in context compared to the thousands and thousands of vehicle journeys in the UK.

Driving Plans
Time - Allow plenty of time for your journey and make recommendations for a collection time.
Route - Use Google Maps to plan your route and look at the alternatives. Try and anticipate the variables that will affect journey time.
Research - Date and time of travel. There may be an event that will affect progress or access.

Your Driving Skills
Observation, hazard perception and anticipation are the key words to a good driving standard. Your driving skill is such a large part of the service you provide and avoiding road rage incidents is critical.
I can not identify all potential scenarios as there are too many. A good driver is aware of their surroundings. Driving plans that others make may also affect you. A good example is on the motorway approaching a junction 'on slip' which is used as an acceleration lane/s for traffic joining. Yes, you are entitled to use lane 1 (adjacent to the hard shoulder). However, by not using lane 2 or 3 you may come into conflict with joining traffic.

Your Reaction to Bad Driving
Don't react negatively and draw attention to yourself.
It is always better that the bad driver is ahead rather than behind.

Perception is all
Perception is based upon an individual's experience, attitudes and standards. A perception may not be accurate and correct resulting in conflict with another driver.   
Negative reaction may be taken personally and the other driver may direct their attention at you. This may develop into a Road Rage incident and result in an upsetting and stressful event. You don't know what the other driver is capable and he may be the Kenneth Noye or Matthew Daly type!
Right or wrong - You may be in the right but will the 'bad driver' have that opinion? Or would he/she care?
My aim is always to have a stress free journey and to avoid any potential road rage incident.

Reporting to the Police and What They Require
The Police will consider various crucial aspects of your complaint. Some of which I have included.
All police forces have policies and procedures which are affected by several factors and most importantly budgets.
All investigated complaints are investigated according to the severity of the case and with more than a 50% chance of a successful prosecution. For example, a minor damage hit & run car park accident will not result in paint samples being analysed. For a criminal prosecution it is 'beyond all reasonable doubt'. This compares to a civil case where it is 'a balance of probabilities.'
Generally, the Police will not investigate if there are no other witnesses, or available reasonable lines of enquiry, because it will be your account against the other driver's.
Evidence, evidence, evidence. Without evidence the Police are powerless to investigate or come to any acceptable resolution.
Witnesses - Can corroborate your evidence. A passenger in your car will be taken into account but would not be considered unbiased or independent. An independent witness is the best witness as they have nothing to gain by offering their account of the incident.
If you can't get names and addresses then record registration numbers for police to contact the DVLA keepers.
CCTV - With council budgets being cut and some systems being shut down CCTV evidence may be less available. The Police can obtain available evidence from councils and motorway camera systems.
Dash Cams - Valuable evidence which can corroborate your account. Also good for any insurance claim. Recordings may identify the vehicle subject to the complaint and supply witness car registrations.

Avoid Road Rage for a Stress Free Journey
I believe in Karma (cause and effect) and 'what goes around comes around'. A bad driver who continually draws attention to themselves will eventually get there 'comeuppance' whether by a legal document from the Police or attract the attention of a driver who will react inappropriately.
Deliver your client to their destination having had a relaxed and comfortable journey. You will be relaxed and happy too.

Southampton Chauffeur Hire provides Mercedes S & E Class and Mercedes Viano executive vehicles for chauffeur driven car hire.
Southampton Cruise Tours is operated with Southampton Chauffeur Hire and provides executive standard tours and transfers.

How To Be A Private Hire Driver - Southampton Cruise Tours