Charity Fleetcare & Arnold Clark – Preferential Vehicle Leasing For Charities

In 2016, Charity Fleetcare’s founder Tony Hilton went to Arnold Clark Vehicle Management (ACVM), leading vehicle leasing company and part of the UK’s largest car retailer, Arnold Clark Automobiles the UK’s largest car retailer with a vision. A vision to create an all-in-one vehicle leasing and telematics package – a modern charity fleet management solution to solve modern charity-specific fleet challenges.

Eight years later, what started with a single Renault Master Low Loader for the Cheshire charity Changing Lives Together, has now grown to become the go-to fleet management choice for charities all across the UK.

The way things were

Historically, much of the charity sector would purchase their fleet vehicles, run them into the ground, and then go to market for a replacement. A purchase/exhaust/repeat model that came with all kinds of operational and financial challenges when compared to leasing. For example:

• Higher upfront costs – buying a vehicle requires a large upfront investment or an expensive loan
• Depreciation – vehicles will usually depreciate significantly over time
• Maintenance – with charities responsible for upkeep and repairs
• Resale hassle – it takes time and effort to resell a van. It can be stressful too
• Long-term commitment – when you own, you own, however old and inefficient your vehicle becomes. However much you want to upgrade it.

With the old purchase model relatively inflexible, expensive and old-fashioned, the charity sector was crying out for a new, more efficient way to run their fleets. And that’s exactly what we’ve created.

The way things are now

Offering more than just the typical cost and flexibility benefits of leasing, ACVM have tailored their contracts to help meet the specific needs of the charity sector and make leasing even more affordable and accessible with:

• A charity-friendly approach to rental profiles and credit applications that takes into account even the smallest charities
• Lower costs and commitment  – replacing the standard six-month B2B down payment with a one-month deposit
• Manufacturer discounts
• Free collection and delivery
• Maintenance fully including no quibble tyre replacement
• Relief vehicle within 24 hours
• No admin fees on parking tickets
• Mileage rebates
• 24/7 UK dedicated driver assistance helpline

Add to that the benefits of Charity Fleet Pro:

• Real-time telematics to optimise routes, improve driver performance, and handle all your important pickup and collection information.
• Collect customer signatures for Gift Aid from the convenience of your tablet and increase Gift Aid penetration by up to 70%
• Safety-first driver dash cams and 360-degree cameras
• Protection from questionable insurance claims
• Realtime stock and vehicle insights that radically reduce the chances of stock going walkabouts, strangely thirsty vehicles, or complaints about someone’s driving
• Legal compliance that protects charities and trustees

Suddenly, it’s easy to see why so many charities value our partnership so highly – especially when it comes to… 

The transition to electric

Though most vans we supply are still diesel, the charity sector’s commitment to EV transition is clear.

What’s often not so clear for many charities is the best way to go about making that transition – the simplest, most cost-effective way to run a more sustainable, environmentally friendly fleet.

Not only are you faced with all your typical vehicle options like model, capacity and performance, but there are plenty of new EV-specific issues to take on board too. Do you go hybrid? Plug-in hybrid? Fully electric? And what about vehicle range, charging infrastructure or specialist EV maintenance and support?

Expert and experienced in sustainable vehicle leasing ACVM is perfectly placed to help our charity customers always make the perfect EV choice. After a multi-million pound investment from the company, Arnold Clark opened their Innovation Centres in Glasgow and Stafford, offering interactive vehicle guides and tailored test drives, so you can always make the right fleet decisions.

Add Charity Fleet Pro technology to that ACVM leased EV insight and what would have been a confusing, time-consuming and potentially expensive shift to a sustainable fleet is suddenly made easy.

How it all works

Whether you choose petrol, diesel or electric, specifying, ordering and equipping your new connected vehicle is a simple step-by-step process.

You tell us what you want to achieve, we’ll recommend your ideal vehicle and then contact AVCM to work out the lease details.

They’ll come back with a great deal, we’ll bundle the tech and any other add-ons then give you your costs.

Once you give us the go-ahead, we’ll firm up the order with ACVM, they’ll place it with the manufacturer and update us on lead times.

When your new vehicle arrives we’ll fit your Charity Fleet Pro tech and get it straight to you.

It’s exactly the kind of simple, common-sense solution that recently saw Royal Trinity Hospice pick up a fully electric Transit. Wrapped in charity branding by Arnold Clark’s digital print team, the van has been such a hit that RTH have already ordered another.

Find out for yourself

Looking at leasing? Exploring electric? Intent on staying ICE (internal combustion engine)? Talk to us!