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One in three company car drivers 'would not report minor damage'
Date: 01 February 2019 | Author: Sean Keywood
The number of company car drivers who would not report minor damage to their employer has nearly doubled since 2015, according to a survey by Venson Automotive Solutions.
The survey found 33% or drivers would keep quiet about a knock, compared with 17.5% in a survey conducted four years ago.
However, the survey did find that drivers were more aware of car maintenance: 57% said they would make a concerted effort to top up water coolants, compared with 54% in 2015, and 24% saying they were likely to ignore dashboard warning lights, down from 28%.
Almost unchanged, at 57%, is the number of employees who mistakenly believe their employer is responsible for servicing their company car.
Venson has warned that failing to keep on top of simple maintenance checks or rectifying accident damage could result in a significant repair bill at the end of a lease, as well as an employee driving a vehicle that is potentially unfit-for-purpose and poses a risk to their safety.
Venson client management director Simon Staton said: "It is worrying to see the high proportion of company car drivers who do not think car maintenance is their responsibility.
"Not only is this putting them at risk of the car breaking down, or causing a serious incident, it also creates potentially high repair costs for their employer.
"Implementing a few simple changes could significantly reduce wear and tear costs to the business. For example, regular maintenance checks by employees or the business can help identify issues early and avoid things getting worse and causing further damage.
"In relation to end of contract damages, it is important for fleet operators to ensure they fully understand the contract they have with their fleet provider, so that they can avoid unnecessary costs at the end of the vehicle's contract term."
