Drover (company) facts for kids

Drover was a company from the United Kingdom. It offered a special way to use cars called "vehicle subscriptions." Instead of buying a car, people paid a regular fee to use one. This fee covered things like insurance, car repairs, taxes, and help if the car broke down. Users could also switch cars or stop their subscription whenever they wanted.

Drover's Journey: A Look Back

How Drover Started

Drover began in late 2015. It was started by two people, Felix Leuschner and Matt Varughese. They noticed that many new ideas in transportation focused on how to get from one place to another. But not many ideas were about how people owned or used cars. They wanted to change that.

Growing the Company

In March 2018, Drover received a lot of money, about £5.5 million. This money came from different investors, like BP Ventures. Before this, they had already received £2 million to help them start. This money helped Drover grow its services.

In April 2018, Drover teamed up with the BMW Group. This partnership meant that cars like BMWs and Minis could be offered through Drover's service.

What Happened to Drover

In December 2020, another company called Cazoo announced that it was buying Drover. Cazoo is a large online car retailer.

Later, in June 2022, Cazoo decided to close its car subscription services. They said these services cost too much money to run. Because of this decision, Drover's car subscription service also ended.

How Drover's Service Worked

Understanding Car Subscriptions

Drover did not own any cars itself. Instead, it created an online place where people could subscribe to use cars. Think of it like a marketplace for car subscriptions. Users paid a monthly fee to use a car.

What Was Included

The monthly fee covered many important things. It included car insurance, help if the car broke down, and money for car maintenance. It also covered taxes and the MOT test, which checks if a car is safe.

Flexibility for Users

One of the best parts of Drover's service was its flexibility. Users did not have to commit to long-term contracts. They could easily swap their car for a different one. They could also upgrade to a fancier car or downgrade to a simpler one. If they no longer needed a car, they could cancel their subscription.

Felix Leuschner, the CEO, believed Drover made getting a car much easier. He thought it was better than the usual way of buying a car.

The Future of Car Use

In 2018, some experts thought that car subscription services would become very popular. They believed this would happen as self-driving cars became more common. They thought these services might replace traditional ways of owning cars.