Interesting, thanks for the insight. It's generated some questions!
What about insurance, is it much higher for rental cars? What sort of price for a focus?
You obtain a fleet policy specicially designed for rental companies which covers your entire fleet not just one car. For 50 cars your looking around 20k if your just starting out
If the car is written off, the insurance pays you out so you still have something left of that car?
They will only pay the market value which would be less than your buy back price
What does rebate mean in this context?
Rebate is quite simple. The more you spend the more you get back. Its like a thankyou for yourbusiness payment
What do the manufacturers get out of it, is just that they get to sell XX amount of cars in one go?
Manufactures get an awfull lot out of it. They get the sale of the car and they get there product into consumers easier
If Ford buys back the car £2-3k less than what was paid for it upfront after 6 months, it really isn't that bad. But what sort of miles would they expect, is there a set criteria laid out as to how much a car is worth given its condition after 6 months? (sometimes you can get people who hire out a car for a week, and drive up and down the country adding 2k miles instantly!)
Yes there are mileage limits, most are around 16000 miles over rhe 6 months
When you give the car back, do you just buy another one and do the same again?
Yes if you want to or you can keep the car
Do all manufacturers do this scheme, including the more expensive, Jag, RR, Bentley etc.
Yes the majority of manufacturers do this scheme , but it is limited to certain models
So it seems that getting a car from the companies which give cars to hire companies is safer, and requires less capital to start with?
Yes if you are just starting out it is the best way and easiest way to get you going until your in a position to source your vehicles another way.
If you are considering going into this business then please do your homework as if you make a mistake it will be very very costly
Hope this answers your Q's
John