Marcus Richards
Company cars are a crucial perk for businesses to offer today, for a number of reasons. The cost of running personal vehicles continues to rise against other household expenses, making it harder for workers to afford what may be an essential travel provision. Meanwhile, the UK’s working population is becoming more discerning in general, actively seeking roles with better progression and benefits. While company cars are a cost to the business, they also attract and keep solid talent – making their regular servicing all the more important. But why, exactly?
Vehicle Safety
The single most important reason for which you should keep on top of servicing your company cars or fleet is safety. The safety of your employees is paramount, and without due care and attention given to the cars they drive, the likelihood of an accident or incident could increase.
Regular services mean that mechanics are much more likely to catch potential issues before they develop further. These issues could be as small as a wheel alignment issue or as serious as a failing timing belt; if left to develop or worsen, they could cause serious harm.
Mitigating Unexpected Costs
This same wear and tear also comes with a financial cost, which is another key cause for closer management of company car condition. If a fault is allowed to continue, it can have knock-on effects on other parts of the vehicle – causing repairs, and their respective costs, to snowball.
Even non-mechanical faults and failures can cause additional costs. A car battery replacement is much less expensive than an emergency breakdown call-out due to a flat battery. Regular services dramatically reduce the likelihood of surprise breakdowns and their associated costs.
Value and Depreciation
Finances also come into play over the long term, as well as in the short and medium term. Company cars are significant cash investments if bought outright – cash investments that depreciate quickly and considerably in value, particularly if bought new.
Keeping services regular allows you to keep on top of deteriorations that could otherwise accelerate the depreciation of your cars’ value. This makes it easier for you to sell them on, and ensures you recoup as much of your initial investment as possible.
Best Practice for Servicing
Casual car owners will make their servicing an annual event, usually in preparation for or following an MOT. As a business owner, you should consider servicing your vehicles twice a year. If your employees drive long distances frequently, then every 12,000 miles may be a better guideline for service dates.
