The Ultimate Guide to Car Discounts for Fleet Programs

https://www.findthebestcarprice.com/author-ftbcp

Geoff Cudd

Geoff Cudd

I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.

I run a cause marketing agency and serve on the board of Vayu Global Health where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.

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Nearly all car manufacturers offer a fleet program for commercial businesses, government, law enforcement, or emergency service use. Incentives are typically either bulk pricing discounts on each vehicle or flexible group financing or leasing.

Here are some of the other benefits of joining a fleet program:

• Competitive APRs
• Flexible terms for much longer periods
• Parts and service programs
• Discount on parts
• Personal customer service and support
• Prepaid maintenance plans
• Access to a large dealership network

The dealership's fleet manager will assist you in what type of vehicle is right for your company’s needs.

Let's take a closer look at how to qualify and the requirements for each of the first fleet savings programs.  At the bottom, we also list all the current discounts for fleet programs offered by each manufacturer.

Key Takeaways

• Purchasing a fleet of vehicles will usually get you some type of discount either on the bulk of the vehicles or individually, and you could get financing deals as well
• Almost any type of organization can save money purchasing a fleet of vehicles including government organizations, limo/funeral fleets, rental companies, and any size of commercial business
• The best deals on fleet purchases for small businesses come from GM

How to Qualify for a Fleet Program

To qualify for a fleet program you must already own or be planning to acquire a fleet of vehicles, typically consisting of at least five cars.

What Type of Companies Qualify?

Almost any type of organization can qualify for a fleet deal, but each manufacturer has different requirements. It usually boils down to the number of cars you are buying or leasing. Some types of companies that can benefit from a fleet program are:

• Commercial business (any size)
• Delivery services
• Government
• Leasing company
• Livery/Limo/Funeral
• Public Utility
• Rental
• Taxi

IMPORTANT: Even if you do not meet a manufacturers' specific program terms, chances are high you can still contact a fleet manager and negotiate a bulk discount if you are buying more than one vehicle.

Fleet Program Requirements

Each manufacturer has its own set of requirements for fleet programs, with minimum vehicles in fleet size ranging from 5 to 25 vehicles. For example, manufacturers like Subaru require a company to have at least 25 vehicles in their fleet in order to join their program. GM Fleet, which consists of Buick, GMC, Cadillac, and Chevrolet, shows a more representative example of eligibility terms for businesses:

• Purchased or leased five or more vehicles of any make or model in the past 12 months
• Currently own five or more medium-duty trucks
• Currently own or lease 15 or more cars and trucks

Most manufacturers require a company to apply for a Fleet Account Number (FAN) or Fleet Identification Number (FIN) before joining their program. Some forms of eligible documentation include:

• Vehicle titles
• Registration or proof of insurance on company vehicles
• Lease agreements
• Billing statement

The fleet programs may also require documentation to verify the existence of the business, which can include the following:

• Copy of fictitious name filing (or DBA)
• Article of Incorporation
• Partnership Agreement
• Business License
• Financial documentation

All vehicles through the fleet program must be registered under the company. Almost all fleet programs also require the vehicles to be in service for certain period time, ranging from 6 months to 12 months or 12,000 to 20,000 miles.

Best Deals for Fleet Programs

It depends on the size of the business to determine which fleet program is best for your needs; if you’re a small-sized company then Lincoln, Ford, and Subaru are not viable options because of their high minimum fleet size.

GM Fleet seems to offer the most comprehensive support and maintenance package and has realistic fleet size requirements for small to medium-sized businesses.

As a GM Fleet member you also have access to vehicles from the four different manufacturers that use the program.

Below is a list of fleet program car deals offered by every manufacturer:

These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed.  So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.

Conclusion

Purchasing a fleet of vehicles will often give you a great discount and financing deals, depending on your business, but you have to purchase from the right place. Most manufacturers require a company to apply for a Fleet Account Number (FAN) or Fleet Identification Number (FIN) before joining their program, with vehicle titles and registrations being to most common acceptable form of documentation. As for the best places to buy, GM offers great deals for smaller businesses looking to purchase cars in bulk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What car companies give fleet discounts?

Almost every brand has a fleet discount.

What is a fleet discount?

Fleet pricing is a special discount offered when you buy multiple cars for commercial use.

How much is a fleet discount?

Discounts range from $1,00 to as high as $7,000 per vehicle depending on the brand.

What types of companies qualify for a discount?

Almost any commercial business or government entity can qualify.

How many vehicles count as a fleet?

You typically must own five or more vehicles.  The more vehicles you buy from a dealer the better the deal you will usually get.