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Uncertainty among fleets about the impact of the incoming WLTP vehicle testing regime is leading to a rise in daily rental bookings, according to software firm Epyx.
Activity through the company's 1link rental platform has been increasing in recent months, with a 17% increase in bookings compared with the same period last year.
Epyx commercial director Tim Meadows said fleets were waiting for the government to make the future tax situation around WLTP clearer, and for many manufacturers to release up-to-date information, with the new tests expected to bring rises in official fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures.
Figures correlated from WLTP to resemble the old NEDC regime - but still set to show increases - come into use for tax purposes on 1 September.
Meadows said the situation was making operators wary about the cars they were buying, causing them to delay decisions where possible until they had more information.
He said: "Some are extending contracts that are ending, as many leasing companies have reported., Bbut others are using daily rental, which allows them to defer acquiring a new car in a very flexible manner.
"We have seen an increase in the number of cars that are being booked on an ongoing basis and WLTP appears to be the cause of this, both anecdotally from our conversations with customers and from examining the patterns of the bookings.
"The platform provides an excellent means for fleets to book the most cost-effective solution in these circumstances and we expect the trend to continue until the WLTP situation is resolved."
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