As a chartered surveyor looking to choose a car, there are a number of factors to take into consideration. The geographical area covered in the role might give you the need to look at fuel efficiency and possible wear and tear on the vehicle. The amount and size of equipment needed to carry around from job to job will need to be taken into account. This may depend on the type of work undertaken; whether it is mostly residential house visits or more construction projects might mean different equipment is needed.

Are there any financial deals available for RICS members?

Chartered surveyors can get financial deals if they are a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors(RICS). RICS have various exclusive offers providing specialist services to members at discounted rates. Among other benefits of membership, they offer a comprehensive service to get excellent deals on company cars, pick-ups, and light commercial vehicles. Even if your budget is tight, you can save money on acquiring and running a company vehicle.

What size of car would be most suitable for a Chartered Surveyor?

As we mentioned earlier, this is going to depend on the size and amount of professional equipment needed on a daily basis to do the job. It may be that the vehicle has to double-up as a family car too, so comfort, as well as space, should be considered. Thanks to technology advances, much of the equipment needed will take up less room in the car than it would have done many years ago, but there will still be the need to carry a ladder, although there are now telescopic options available. Taking this into consideration, it might be a good choice for a chartered surveyor to look at a pick-up type vehicle or a light commercial vehicle.

Is an ‘All-Inclusive Package’ worth having for a Chartered Surveyor?

An all-inclusive package is a straightforward approach to buying or leasing and then running your company car. It means paying a monthly fee which will then cover all of your motoring costs. Not only can you drive a new model car; your monthly payment will cover all your other costs, including insurance, road tax, maintenance and tyres. It also means that apart from your fuel costs (which will not be included), you know exactly what your car related expenses will be every month, making financial planning a breeze.

 As a Chartered Surveyor, should I consider an electric car?

Electric vehicles are a great choice for a chartered surveyor, and certainly worth consideration. There is plenty of choice in the electric vehicle market. A pure electric vehicle may not suit some chartered surveyors depending on the amount of miles covered, as the range may not be enough for some. However, a PHEV, or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, would be a good option for a chartered surveyor. Not only would you pay less in tax and congestion charges, but fuel costs can be lower too. These cars run on a small electric battery that will power the car over short distances, then a petrol or diesel engine will kick in once the battery is depleted, so the amount of miles travelled each day shouldn’t be an issue.

There are plenty of considerations needed when making the decision about which car to choose, but as most chartered surveyors will have a membership to RICS, this would be a great place to start. Check out all of the deals available to make the decision simple.